Beautiful Liar (15 page)

Cairo glanced briefly at the woman who was
staring back at them, then focused back on his bottle of water.
“She’s alright.”

Ray was amazed. “You’re really serious about
his new shit, ain’t you?”

“Dead serious. The next broad I have sex with
is going to be my wife.”

“You was trying to marry shawty at the book
store?”

“It’s not like you think.”

Cairo told him about his two encounters with
Misty, and Ray laughed. “She wasn’t trying to hear that shit,
huh?”

“Apparently not. Her cooling fan doesn’t work
too well.”

“I see you still bought the book.”

“It was the only way that I could break the
ice.”

“I would’ve gave that shit back if she
would’ve rejected my apology. You know what I’m talking about?”

“I’m glad I kept it. It’s a good read, so
far.”

Ray seemed to be lost in thought for a
moment. “Are you going to apologize to every girl you ever done
wrong?”

“If given the opportunity.”

“What about Lindsey? I know you ain’t going
to apologize to her. That broad shot you.”

He nodded. “I already have. That’s why I went
to the D.A. and recanted my statement. She got off with some
probation.”

“The next thing you’re going to tell me is
you’re going to forgive Vicky if you catch her fucking up another
one of your cars.”

“There’s no real proof that she’s the one
doing that.”

“Bull to the shit! You know she’s the one
doing that. Matter of fact, she told you herself that she was going
to crank it up on you.”

“But remember when somebody dented my
Cadillac with a brick?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“You saw the impression that brick made.
Ain’t no way in the world a woman could’ve done that. She would
have to be a body builder.”

“You’re forgetting about that old-ass dude
with her. The one who always wears red.”

Cairo’s thinking had been so unorthodox
lately that he had forgotten all about the stranger named JJ. H was
pondering that thought when the last person he expected to see
walked through the door.

Wendy watched Misty out of the corner of her eye
as she drove and wondered what she was thinking about. It was clear
to her that her friend was a different person since she had been
released from the hospital. She seemed much better off than when
Tywan had first died, but there was something strange about her
that Wendy couldn’t put her finger on. It was almost like she was
dealing with a complete stranger.

Misty stopped for a light. “Why you keep
watching me? Do you have something to ask me?”

“Oh, you noticed?” she asked, feeling
somewhat embarrassed that she had been caught.

“I always notice you doing that, I just don’t
say nothing.”

“I ain’t gay or nothing, so don’t trip.”

“I’m not thinking like that.”

For some reason, Wendy felt like she had to
explain herself further. “The only reason I watch you is because
you seem so different now. So distant-like.”

“I forgot where I heard this. Probably on
Oprah. She was saying that a person changes every seven years. I
just turned twenty-eight, you know?”

“Is that really the reason, or are you just
mad at me?”

Misty blared her horn when the car in front
of them failed to notice that the light had turned green.

“Go, dumbass!”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine! Mad at you for what?”

“For telling the psychiatrist your
business.”

“No, Wendy. I know that you were only trying
to help. Damn! This guy is driving so fucking slow!”

“Why are you so aggravated?”

“It has been one of those days. Okay?”

“That’s the life and times of a successful
writer.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then tell me what it is.”

“I received a real fucked-up call when I was
being interviewed at the radio station today. Some bitch got to
saying all kinds of strange shit about my book, like she knew it
was real shit. Then she asked me if I miss Ty like she missed hers.
That shit just got the ball rolling today.”

“Did you recognize her voice?”

“No. But…I don’t know.”

“What?”

“She did sound vaguely familiar, but so did
everybody else who called. I don’t know.”

“You don’t think it’s someone that Ty used to
deal with, do you?”

Misty gave her a sharp look.

“I’m sorry, Misty. I shouldn’t have said
that.”

Misty blinked back some tears as they got out
of the car in silence. “I thought about the same thing at first,
until I played everything back in my head. The woman asked me if I
missed Ty like she missed hers. So she’s implying right there that
she has a man.”

“Sounds like to me that she lost him,
too.”

“That’s what I was thinking. But what is her
angle by fucking with me?”

“I don’t know, but that bitch better know how
to fight if she tries that shit when I’m around!”

“She better know how to fight if you ain’t
around. I can bump, too!”

They laughed the tension off and entered the
building.

“If the publisher hadn’t mandated my
attendance, I swear I wouldn’t be here.”

“You need to loosen up some. You haven’t done
anything since…in a long time.”

Misty didn’t respond. She was looking in the
direction of the bar.

“Misty, what are you looking at?”

“Remember that guy I told you about at the
book store?”

“Yeah. Is he here?”

“Uh huh. Right there, in the tannish
linen.”

Wendy located the man and grabbed Misty by
the shoulder. “Right there by the bar? Damn! You forgot to mention
how fine he is.”

She shook Wendy off her. “Looks aren’t
everything. He’s a jerk.”

“A fine jerk. Why you bullshitting, he looks
like that guy in all the concrete commercials…something
‘Jenkins.’”

“I believe that’s what he told me his last
name was. But I only remembered his first name.”

“What is it?”

“Cairo.”

Wendy became excited. “That’s it! That’s
him!”

“So what? I just hope he don’t bring his ‘I’m
sorry’ ass over here. I don’t feel like hearing that shit
again.”

“Don’t speak too soon, here comes his friend.
Hook a bitch up!”

“I be damned.”

“What?” Ray asked.

“The broad from the book store just walked
in.”

“Where?”

“The one over there in the green, silk
dress.”

“That’s her?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“I didn’t really get to get a good look at
her at the book store, but damn! You didn’t tell me she was a
dime.”

“Her looks weren’t my focus.”

“You can’t deny it, she’s bad. Know what I’m
talking about?”

“So is her nasty-ass attitude."

“You still trying to apologize to her?”

“I…”

“Go ‘head,” Ray encouraged him. “Go ‘head and
get your shit off, shawty.”

Cairo shook his head. “I’m not up for anymore
verbal abuse.”

“So, you’re just going to abort your
mission?”

“Nah. I tried to make things right with her,
but she’s plain out evil. She said it herself. Some people don’t be
trying to accept apologies.”

“Has it ever crossed your mind that your
timing was bad? She was probably tired from signing books.”

“I got the impression that she had some
animosity with me from our first incident.”

“C’mon! To believe that, you have to believe
she’s been thinking about you all this time.”

“I don’t know,” he responded tiredly. “I’m
just not up for it.”

“I am!”

Cairo tried to prevent him from going over
there, but Ray snatched away and walked up to the ladies, smiling.
“Excuse me, ladies. How are y’all doing?”

“Fine,” Wendy responded, batting her eyes.
“And you?”

“I’m cool.” He then focused on Misty. “I’m
Ray, and that’s my partner, Cairo, back there. He told me that he
tried to apologize about an incident that y’all had awhile back,
but you didn’t accept it.”

“And?”

He ignored her sassiness. “See, this is the
thing. He’s not the person that he used to be. Something very
dramatic happened that changed him for the better. Now he makes his
business to make amends with everyone that he may have offended in
the past. Know what I’m talking about?”

“What part of Atlanta are you from?” asked
Wendy. “You look familiar.”

Misty pulled her back behind her. “Did he
send you over here to tell me that?”

“Actually,” Ray laughed. “He’s going to be
pissed at me for telling you that. But no, I came on my own accord.
I’m happy he’s changed, so I’m doing what I can to keep him on
track.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say about
that.

“So, please, if you would, allow him to
apologize to you. It would mean a lot to me…him, too.”

Misty looked back at Wendy to her nodding. “I
hope this isn’t a scheme so he can try to holler. I’m not
interested in meeting anyone.”

“Don’t take this offensively or nothing, but
he’s not interested in you like that, either. Know what I’m talking
about?”

“Good. Now, please hurry. I’m supposed to be
hosting this party.”

“She want to holler at you,” he said, thumbing
over his back.

“What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. Just that you are different from
when she first ran into you and you really wanted to
apologize.”

“That’s it?”

“Pretty much.”

Cairo eyed Ray suspiciously before looking at
Misty. “I’m going to ask her what you said.”

“Ask her. I don’t care! I got nothing to lie
for.”

He handed Ray his water and approached the
two women. “How are you ladies doing?”

A big smile appeared on Wendy’s face. “Fine.
And you?”

“I’m okay.”

“I’m Wendy, and this is Misty.”

“Nice to meet both of y’all.”

Wendy snickered, “Well, let me let y’all
talk. Misty, I’mma be in the VIP section when you get done.”

“Okay.”

Once she disappeared through the crowd, Cairo
began. “Before I say what I have to say, can you please tell me
what Ray said to you?”

“Nothing, other than the same thing you told
me--you’re different now.”

“That’s it?”

“Oh. And something drastic happened to you
that changed you, and he was helping out to keep you on track.”

Cairo turned sharply to where he last saw Ray
standing, but he was nowhere to be found. “Dirty bastard!”

Misty saw the pain in his eyes that was so
familiar, and she became concerned. “Are you okay?”

“It’s just certain things that you’re not
supposed to do.” He paused to take a deep breath. “Anyway, I want
to apologize for my radical behavior that day. As you know now,
thanks to my dirty-ass partner, something happened that left me in
bad shape. It made me a better person, I guess. But for whatever
it’s worth, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been rude to you.”

She studied him for a long time before
speaking. She couldn’t explain what she was experiencing, but it
was a cross between compassion and familiarity. Since her own ‘bad
experience’, the people close to her had been supportive, but they
became baffled when she displayed symptoms of being traumatized.
Their first suggestion was always psychiatric treatment or
medication. She now knew this was because they couldn’t fully
comprehend what it was like to lose your heart. But this man, he
seemed to know exactly what it was like. And for that reason alone,
she let him in like no one else since Tywan.

“I accept your apology, Cairo. If you like,
you could come to the VIP section with me. We could have a few
drinks and talk, or whatever.”

“I…I hope that I didn’t give you the wrong
impression. I only wanted to apologize.”

“I know. I don’t mind talking. We all have
problems that we could use some insight on.”

“No offense, but I don’t have the average
problems.”

Misty thought about all that she had been
through, and shook her head. “Neither do I.”

Cairo observed the woman who seemed to
somewhat understand his pain, and he couldn’t bring himself to turn
her down. He accepted her offer, and their conversation carried on
well into the early morning.

Misty was sitting inside
Glady’s
Chicken and Waffles, waiting for her takeout order, when her cell
phone started ringing. “Hello?”

“This is a call from a federal correction
facility from inmate, Carlos. You will not be charged for his call.
To accept this—”

“Hello?”

“What’s up, sis?”

“Hey, boy! Why haven’t you been calling
me?”

“’Cause, I know you been on your book grind;
so I fell back.”

“Whatever! You know that everything stops
when you call. I’m going to kill you for that mess!”

“Okay, okay! I’mma start calling back on the
reg.”

“You better!”

“I finished reading your book. I loved
it!”

“Thank you. What did you think about your
character?”

“You had me on some player shit, so you know
I loved that.”

“I know you would. I wanted to surprise
you.”

“You did. Now, I have a surprise for
you.”

“What?” she asked excitedly.

“Remember I told you they passed a new crack
law?”

“Did it help you?”

“Just listen, Misty.”

She humbled herself. “Okay, okay!”

“My counselor called me to the back this
morning, and said that the courts took off fifty months of my
sentence.”

“For real?”

“Yep!”

“So that means you only got…uh…thirty months
left.”

“Thirty-two,” he corrected.

“I’m so happy! And don’t worry about nothing.
I’mma have something sweet for you when you get here.”

“Like what?”

“I’m coming to see you Sunday. I’ll tell you
all about it then.”

“Cool. How are you really doing, though?”

“I’m fine. What made you ask me that?”