Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel (24 page)

She grinned, eyeing down the
definition of his chest. “What’s yours is mine.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” He
checked her out as she turned. He watched her walk away in her oversized tee
shirt with nothing underneath as usual, not even a string. He said, “Wait a
minute.”

She turned back.

“I say we stay up for another half
hour.” His look was playful.

She blushed, saying, “Couldn’t hurt,”
and she led the way.

Sequoia got into bed, the scent of her
angel-food body oil permeated the sheets.

Torino noticed. “You deserve this.”

He stayed at the foot of the bed and
took his masterful giver position under the covers and pleased his wife with an
oral thank you until her body said,
You’re welcome
.

Both were back to sleep, as promised,
thirty minutes later.

26

Mercedes

“. . . is Cameron really tripping like that?”

The next day Mercedes was at home in
her kitchen munching on honey barbeque chips even though she had just come back
from working out. She had not noticed any weight falling off because the more
she worked out to keep busy, the more she ate her favorite food simply for
comfort, to take up the slack of her empty life.

She had a fashion show that Thursday
night and though she had been leaving a lot of the bookings and shows to her
staff, this was one show she planned to organize because it was for the wife of
a top NBA player who was debuting her new clothing line.

Dressed in sweatpants and a crossover
sports top, she grabbed more chips and basked in the salty-sweet sensation upon
her tongue, preparing to chase it down with strawberry soda when her phone rang
from the kitchen table.

She approached it and pressed the
screen, smiling as she said, “Hello there.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Star, it’s good hearing from you. How
are things going in Atlanta?”

“Fine. I wanted you to know I have a
concert this week, on Thursday night, and Rashaad is coming. He said you might
wanna come. I mean both you and Dad.”

She darted her eyes upward and said to
herself.
Of all the dates
. “Well, he’s right. I would like to come.”

“Okay.”

“Not sure about your dad, though. You’ll
have to ask him.”

Star was very matter-of-fact. “I know.
I will. So, do you have a pen?”

“Yeah, I do. Hold on.” Mercedes
grabbed a notepad and pen from the iron kitchen rack. “Okay.”

“It’s at the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra, 1280 Peachtree Street Northeast, and the zip is 30309. Right now,
flights from Los Angeles to Atlanta are right at three-hundred dollars, so book
it soon. But knowing you, you’ll want first-class.”

“No. That’s fine.”

Star said, “I guess that’s it. Oh,
it’s at seven in the evening.”

“Good. I’m proud of you. I miss
talking to you. There’s a lot going on, and you know . . .”

“Mom, that’s Dad on the other line.
I’ll see you on Thursday, okay?”

Mercedes paused. “Okay.”

“Bye.”

Before Mercedes could say goodbye
back, Star clicked over.

Mercedes put the phone down and walked
out of the kitchen. She went into her office with the slip of paper and logged
on to her laptop looking for a flight and hotel. She talked to herself, saying,
“I’ve got to go to this concert. Can’t believe both are on the same day. If I
don’t go, Star would never understand.”

When she opened Internet Explorer, a
screen popped up and the phone rang from the computer. She looked closer and
saw that it was Skype, and the caller was Rashaad Wilson.

She said out loud, “Oh my God.
Rashaad. Oh, no, how do I do this?” And then she clicked a box and his video
image appeared. He was seated on a sofa, looking like he admired his mom for
even trying. She said, “Rashaad?”

“Hi, Mom. You did it.” He sounded
happy.

Her face lit up and her eyes widened.
“I did. How in the world?”

“Mom, I loaded it on your computer
when I was home that day we talked about it.”

“You are so sneaky. Wow. And I didn’t
even notice it until now. This is crazy.”

“You have to click where it says that
you can allow me to see you.”

Mercedes asked, “I do? Lord have
mercy. Wait. Okay.” She clicked an icon and saw a small box with her video pop
up. “There. You see me?” she asked.

“Uh, yep. I do. There you are. You
look good.”

She fluffed up her bangs. “Rashaad. I
know I look a mess. I just came back from the gym. I had no idea I’d be talking
on a video. But you look great. Where are you?”

“I’m home.”

“Oh my. This is such a nice surprise.”
She kept staring at the screen, smiling big.

Rashaad said, “Mom, what I was gonna
tell you was, you can stay with me in Atlanta. I’ll be at the Twelve in
Atlantic Station. Don’t worry about booking a hotel.”

“Oh, okay. I was just about to search
for a hotel and flight. That’ll be fun. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

She asked, “So, Star said you told her
to invite me?”

“No, I suggested she invite both of
you. I made sure I could make this when she told me a few weeks back.”

“Okay. When’s your next tournament?”

“It’s in China on Thanksgiving Day.
You can always go on my website, Mom. My tournament dates are there.”

“I know. Okay. I’m not sure if your
Uncle Claude’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. But we’ll be
watching.”

“Speaking of Uncle Claude, is Cameron
really tripping like that? Dad told me he’s dating some older woman and isn’t
even trying to get back in school.”

“That’s what I hear. He’ll get it
together. He’s been through a lot. Maybe you should reach out to him,” she told
him.

“I did. I called him and he sent me a
text saying he’d call, but he didn’t.”

“Try again maybe.”

“I will. I haven’t seen him since
Grandma’s funeral.”

Mercedes asked, “Yeah, I’m sure that
added to what’s going on with him. I know it’s hard still. So, how’s everything
with you? The girls treating you okay?” She kept running her fingers through
her bangs.

“I’m sticking with Sasha. I’ll bring
her by soon. Her middle name is, believe it or not, Mercedes.”

“No way. Oh my. The family wouldn’t
need two women with that name, first or middle.”

“She’s cool, but it’s not like I’m
gonna marry her or anything.”

“I see. Are you bringing her with you
to Atlanta for Star’s concert?”

“Oh, no. That’s just for the family.”
Rashaad sounded certain.

“I get it. You talk to your dad
lately?”

“Not since he left La Jolla after the
Torrey Pines tournament. I saw him on Facebook. That’s about it.”

Mercedes’s voice lit up even more.
“Facebook. Your dad has a Facebook account?”

“Yep. You didn’t know that?”

“No. How long has he had it?”

“Oh, no, you’re gonna have to ask him.
I’m surprised you don’t have one.”

She assured him by saying, “I don’t
want one. I’ve got enough to do. That to me is a waste of precious time. You
know me.”

“I do. But I know a lot of people who
said they’d never do it, and then they got hooked. It’s a new day. Dad needs to
add it to his website so people can go there and find his link to his Facebook
page.”

She couldn’t help but wonder. “So,
your dad has a Facebook page, huh?”

He scooted back and shook his head.
“Oh Lord, listen. I’ve said enough. I’ve gotta go. You’re making me nervous.”

“And what’s there to be nervous about?”

“Okay, so, I’ll see you in a couple of
days.”

“Deal. You and Sasha Mercedes be
good.”

“And on that note, bye.”

“How do I hang up?”

“Just click
hang up
.”

“Haha. Bye, Son.”

“Bye.”

~~

That Thursday evening in midtown
Atlanta at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Mercedes sat in section three, the
second row, right in-between Mason and Rashaad. Everyone in the concert hall
was dressed in their best after-five attire.

Mercedes was in heaven. She kept her
eyes on her daughter. Star was one of four pianists who made up the chamber
orchestra of fifty musicians. They were led by a female conductor who used
masterful arms movements, keeping everyone together in cadence.

They played a series of songs,
including one by Beethoven and one by Tchaikovsky, both which were led by a
male violinist who was about Star’s age.

Mason had been pretty much silent,
focusing on the sights and sounds from the stage. He leaned in a bit closer to
Mercedes and whispered, “That’s the Terrence that Star mentioned before.
Terrence Willis. Star’s boyfriend.”

Mercedes asked softly, “Really?” She
tried not to look as surprised as she really was. She kept an eye on Terrence,
sizing him up. He was white, tall, and slender. She then focused again upon her
daughter who was taking care of business on a Steinway piano, working the keys
as she played. Mercedes leaned in toward Mason. “They’re both good. I’m so
proud.”

He nodded without looking over and
continued to watch the orchestra.

Mercedes glanced over at Rashaad who
kept his eyes only on his sister, smiling bigger than usual.

When the final song wound down, Mason
stood first and then the rest of the crowd as the musical conductor took a bow
and the musicians stood and bowed, too. The standing ovation was energetic and
boisterous.

~~

After a while, Star had gone backstage
and then came back out with her guy at her side.

She said, “Terrence, this is my dad.
You talked to him already.”

“Hello, Sir. I’m honored to meet you.”

Mason told him, “It’s my pleasure.
Great job. You know how to work that violin.”

“Thanks. I try.”

“Oh my God, your hands are shaking,”
Star told Terrence.

“They’re not.” He tried to play it
off.

“Dad, you’re his idol.”

“Oh, no. I’m just Dad.”

Terrence grinned.

Star said, “And this is my brother,
Rashaad.”

Rashaad said, “Hey dude. Good job.”

Terrence smiled. “Hey, you’ve been
working it out there on the golf course. Congratulations.”

Rashaad looked humble. “Thanks.”

Star looked at Mercedes. “And this is
my mom.”

“Hello, Mrs. Wilson. Pleased to meet
you.”

“Thank you. Pleased as well. You two
are both very talented. I’m so impressed. It was very enjoyable.”

He said, “We’re glad you liked it.”

Mercedes said directly to Star, “Great
job. You looked right at home.”

Star said to everyone, “So, I know
it’s late, but dinner is at the Woodruff Arts Center, not far away.”

“Okay,” Mason said.

Rashaad look at his father. “You are
coming, Dad, right?”

“Yes.”

Rashaad asked, “Can Mom and I ride
with you?”

“Sure. Star, we’ll follow the two of
you.”

“Cool,” Star said, walking toward the
exit door while Terrence stayed close to Mason asking questions about golf.

Mercedes tied the belt to her sheer
wrap coat, holding up the rear.

~~

Dinner at the banquet room in the arts
center was buffet style with every combination of seafood, chicken, beef, and
pork imaginable.

“Are you okay, Mom?” asked Rashaad,
noticing she was a little reserved.

She sat right next to Mason. “Just a
little jet lag. I’m fine.”

“Good. Glad you are,” Mason said. He
was the only one who had gone back for seconds and had a few bites left.

Looking surprised, even by his few
words to her, she asked, “How was your flight?”

“Good,” was all she got from him while
he picked up his phone and scrolled through.

Terrence told Rashaad, “I saw you win
that celebrity tournament in La Jolla. That was crazy.”

“Yeah, it was fun.” Rashaad nodded to
a nearby table full of people who waved to him.

Mercedes looked over and saw them. To
her, it was par for the course when she was with her guys. She asked Terrence,
“So, how’d the two of you meet?”