My Best Friend and My Man (19 page)

—31—

V
ERON

I know it’s way
past any normal
person’s bedtime, but I don’t care. I need help. So I find myself once again driving down the familiar tree-lined street with all the brick ranch homes and oversized, landscaped front yards. To be honest, I’m looking for a particular vehicle, but when I don’t see it I sigh in relief and gain the confidence I need to go ring the doorbell. I hop out of my HHR, run up the walkway, and frantically press the doorbell. No one responds…hmmm. I glance at my watch, which glows in the dark.

Midnight.

Nervously, I ring two more times. Finally, I decide I’m being as ridiculous as an adult who believes in Santa Claus, so I turn myself around and head for my car.

But then the front porch lights of the house flash on, and I hear the squeaky front door swing open. “Vee?” says Demetria into the night.

I turn back around and walk hurriedly toward her. “I know it’s late, but I needed someone to talk to. I need you to talk to.”

“It’s cool.” She smiles with encouragement and turns to go back in the house. “We can hang out in the guest room,” she whispers. “I have company.”

“Oh, shoot,” I say, cringing. “I–I don’t want to interrupt.”

“No, it’s cool. Thad just fell asleep, and I was looking at some clothes he bought me. Girl, they are beautiful,” she says and grins contentedly. “Come on in. I’ll show them to you.”

We quietly enter her guest room, where the walls are painted a rich shade of purple. There’s a fairly new marble platform bed with a leather headboard. It looks inviting.

“It’s so late you might as well spend the night. I can set the alarm for five a.m. so you can rush home and get dressed before going to work, if you want. Dang, this feels like old times,” she exclaims. Demetria’s countenance is radiant, and I’m certain it’s due to her sexual afterglow. Seeing her so happy makes me wonder if I could be smiling that big, if I would’ve just given in to Seaphes.

“When did Thad get back?” I whisper.

“We don’t have to whisper. He can’t hear us in here; the walls are thick. He got back tonight, and he couldn’t wait to see his baby. I’m
so
happy. I missed his old ass so much that I practically attacked him. Plus he hooked a sista up with some serious cash. And that’ll work, because I spent a grip getting myself fixed up last weekend, and then I had to pay your boyfriend to fix my computer. Well, I probably didn’t have to pay him, but I volunteered to pay since he was cool about it. He did a good job, fixed me up and everything,” she says joyously.

“So you’re getting a tax refund?”

“Yeah, chump change. Probably enough to buy me some clothes for the cruise.”

“Oh, you’re still going?”

“Yep, Thad told me that we’ll spend a week visiting San Juan, Saint Thomas, and Aruba. I need to remember to fill out a leave request for a vacation. God knows I need a break. I’m so excited.”

“I can tell. I’m happy for you,” I say, hoping she thinks my smile is genuine.

Why her, Lord? Why does she get every single thing she desires and the little things I want are always such a struggle? It’s unfair. I know she’s prettier and more sophisticated than I am, but that shouldn’t mean that I get left out of the blessing department. Are you prejudiced?
I’m getting so angry that tears threaten to flow. But I bury my pain deep inside.

I try to relax, sprawling on Demetria’s guest bed as I wait for her to bring me a pair of pj’s. I’m exhausted. Shoot, I may even call in sick tomorrow and take a mental health day, because as of now, my mind is definitely not sharp enough to handle work.

“Here ya go, boo,” Demetria says sweetly, handing me a maroon spaghetti-strap gown that still has price tags.

“Thad got this for me one time when he went to Quebec. You can actually have it.”

“Oh, no, he’s probably expecting you to model it for him one day.”

“Baby, all the lingerie he gets me never stays on this sexy body for long. Did I tell you we fucked like newlyweds tonight? This girl still got it. I mean, my boy D. hooks me up big-time, but Thad is giving him a run for his money.”

I stare at her and shake my head, amazed that she has at least two men to have fantastic sex with on the regular.

And that’s when I realize that something is terribly imbalanced. This girl definitely can’t be the poster child for the way women ought to act, but she has men coming out her ears, plus a big bag of extra to spread around. Maybe it’s simpler than I’m making it. Maybe if I stop keeping myself from being happy, like Seaphes said, I can be here bragging to her about my own good times.

“Girl, I don’t know,” she continues. “Sex is just the only thing that truly relaxes me. And if don’t get it, I don’t know, I can go kinda crazy.” She stops abruptly, and then casually stares at me. “You know what I mean? I’m sure when Seaphes does you, you feel the tension lower, too.”

“Why would you say that?”

“C’mon, don’t be shy. What’s he like in bed?”

Laughing, I snatch the gown from her hands. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Why not? You think I’ll get jealous and try to hop on his lame ass?”

I pause. “I wouldn’t put it past you.” I turn my back toward her and start taking off my clothes.

“What did you say?” she asks in a sharp tone.

My head is now covered by the gown that I’m trying to pull on, so I don’t respond.

“Why are you acting so funny? Why can’t you just spit it out instead of insulting me? Be a woman and say what ’cha want to say.”

I finally pull the gown over my head and adjust it until I am comfy, and I crawl back on the bed. I’m still not talking.

“You want me to be your mouthpiece?” she asks. “Are you trying to imply that I will have sex with anybody, anytime? Well, I don’t exactly roll like that,” she spits out and starts pacing. “I get far too much dick to need to jump on anyone you chasing after.”

Finally I find my tongue. “Demetria, stop tripping. I didn’t mean to get you riled up.”

“Then tell me what’s going on,” she says, looking concerned. “What the hell happened?”

I begin to describe Seaphes’s and my last encounter. And the more I talk the worse I feel.

“So that’s probably why I’m acting like this. I’m just frustrated.”

“And you’re taking it out on me. See, I’m the last thing you need to be tripping about. You need to do everything you can to make that man know that you want his ass before someone else tries to take him. I mean, I’ll bet Ursula Phillips would jump back in his bed in a second.”

“No, that part of their relationship is over.”

“How you know that? You in Seaphes’s bed every night? Huh?”

“Well, of course I’m not.”

“Then never put it past another woman to be trying to dip back in the pool. Especially if he set her off right.”

“Are you saying that from experience?”

“Well, now, I feel like Seaphes—what the hell, girl? Sounds like you don’t fucking trust me. What is your problem? I’m trying to help your ass out.”

“I know, Demetria. I’m sorry.”

“Well, in spite of all your insults, I’m going to figure out a way to get you back in good graces with your man. And let me tell you that it may entail spending time with your boy so I can develop the best strategy for you. For
you
! As much as Demetria flirts, that’s just her, girl. She knows your name is written on his dick.”

“All right. I believe you. But I don’t know how much good you’re going to do. Seaphes thinks I don’t trust him. He was so mad when he left, and he’s not answering my calls.”

“Oh, he’s just a little bit pissed and probably wasn’t quite ready to talk to you. But he’ll ease up, especially after I get through with him.”

“What do you mean? What you plan to do?”

“Just trust me. I always have a plan. Demetria got your back.”

Honestly, she’s managed to soften my heart up enough to make me feel better. “So anyway,” I ask her. “Now that Thad is back, does that mean you’re letting go of Darren, and whoever else you’re sleeping with?”

“Girl, please. There aren’t
that
many. But, uh, I already have let some of them go. They couldn’t hang. But Darren is different; he’s a keeper.”

We both laugh and end up chitchatting for another hour. It feels like old times—we’re not talking about men, only about hair and makeup, the stress of work, our goals and fears. It’s like the good old days when we’d be girly-girls and just bond through our similar hobbies, interests, and pasts. It feels nice bonding with her.

Early the next morning she knocks on the door of the guest room and lets herself in.

“Wake up, princess,” she coos, trying to balance a large metal tray on the dresser. I sit up in bed, sluggishly rubbing my eyes.

“Oh, wow, what’s all this?”

“I know you love some Morning Star sausage and scrambled eggs. And there’s a chilled cup of chocolate yogurt and two ripe bananas, too.”

“You’re too much, Demetria. It’s been a long time since I had breakfast in bed.”

“Well, hurry it up. Unless you want to wear one of my outfits I figured you’d want to scoot home early and get to work. I need to shower myself,” she says and sniffs under the arms. “I gave Thad some before he left, and wooo, I’m surprised I had energy to cook.”

Laughing, I tell her, “You know, I think I’ll take you up on wearing one of your outfits. I want to sit here and enjoy this. And I’ll drive us to work, since you left your car there yesterday.”

“Sounds good.”

“How were you planning to get to work today, anyway?”

“Uh, what? I, uh…I just figured I could get some guy to come get me.”

“Must be nice.”

—32—

S
EAPHES

When I arrive at
work, Ursula
Phillips is standing outside my office.

“Can I help you?” I ask, sounding unfriendly.

“Yes, you can. You can start off by not being such an asshole.”

I shrug and just insert my key in my office door. But Ursula follows me inside and closes the door behind her.

“What you do that for? I don’t want to be with you in my office behind closed doors.”

“Oh, Seaphes, do you really have to act like this? I just want to talk to you in private. Why so cold?”

“We have no business together anymore.”

Suddenly I realize that Ursula is crying. I grab a box of tissue and thrust it onto her lap.

“I am so sorry,” she whimpers. “I messed up. I should’ve tried to make things work between us. I never should have taken him back.”

“What are you talking about?”

She reopens her eyes and stares straight at me. “My asshole of a husband is cheating on me. And it makes me want revenge.”

“Is that the reason you were trying to get with me? As a pawn between you and dude?”

“I’m not saying that I was trying to use you, Seaphes,” she says, her voice catching. “You were there for me when I needed someone to be there. And when I felt you were sincere, I let you know that I wanted to be with you,” she insists.

“But it was too late. I had moved on.”

“To Ms. Whore?” she spits, her eyes flashing.

“Who’re you talking about?”

“Everybody knows you’re fucking Demetria Sparks.”

“
What?
Everybody is wrong.”

“Oh, please. We aren’t blind. Folks on the job can tell when people are messing around with coworkers. You can lie and deny, but body language reveals what your mouth won’t. Admit it, Seaphes. You two have been intimate.”

“First of all, it’s none of your business who gets in my bed. And second, just because she’s a big-time flirt don’t mean that I want her.”

“Save your lies for someone that’s stupid, Seaphes. I’m telling you that whore is nothing but trouble.”

“That’s fine, you keep talking. I don’t have to listen,” I say, not wanting to go there with her. I’m hoping she’ll leave, but she stands there like I owe her something.

“Screw you, Seaphes,” she finally says. “I hope you get what you deserve. You and Demetria are meant to be with each other. You’re both selfish people who are only out to get what you want, and don’t care how much you hurt others.”

“We have nothing else to talk about. So please leave now.”

She continues to sit with a stony look on her face. I roll my eyes and proceed to read e-mails to distract myself.

But ten of the e-mails in my in box are from her. Ignorant forwards about Microsoft giving away money…fake-ass “You are my friend” messages…even a couple of e-mails with just one line of writing, like, “Hey, what’s up?” Probably sent to me just so I would show her some attention. Jesus. If she wants me, she is going about this the wrong way. I wonder what it is about me that attracts these kinds of women. The only nice, sweet woman I know apparently still doesn’t trust me. Probably never will.

After ten minutes Ursula finally gets the hint and pulls herself up out of my office, loudly slamming the door as she goes. I vow to myself to never get caught up with an undeserving woman again.

I’ve got to make amends. Maybe I overreacted. I pick up the phone.

“Hello, this is Veron Darcey.”

“Good morning, babe.”

She coughs and clears her throat. “Hi. Is this Seaphes?”

Feeling crushed but not wanting her to know it, I playfully ask, “Who do you want it to be?”

“Sorry. But it
is
you, isn’t it? I didn’t recognize the number.”

“Oh, touché. Did you delete me from your address book?”

“Whoever said you were in my address book?” she says, laughing. “Listen, Seaphes…I just want to apologize. I know it looked like I don’t trust you.”

“No, I know I overreacted. I’m sorry, too. Hey,” I say thinking fast. “Can a brotha come by and pick you up for breakfast?”

“Um, that’s fine. Let me go primp real quickly.”

“You do that. Look cute for me. I’ll be right down.”

We head to an IHOP that’s a few miles from the office. Once we’re inside, I ask to see the menu.

“We can get breakfast to go,” I tell Veron. “Whatever you want, it’s on me. I want to make things up to you. I don’t want you to think I’m an asshole. I apologize for leaving. And I should have returned your calls.”

She blushes and laughs. “Have you been talking with Demetria or something?”

“No, babe, I haven’t seen nor heard from her today.”

“So this is all Seaphes Hill this time around?”

“One hundred percent. Let me order for you. Can you trust me to do that?”

“Of course!” Veron beams at me, and I’m grateful because especially compared to Ursula, Veron’s such a good catch. I place the order, and we sit down in the lobby and wait.

“If I never told you this I am telling you now. I feel you, Veron. It’s taken some tough moments to realize it, but I do. I think I haven’t given you a fair chance at all. I know I haven’t. It’s a wonder you still talk to me.”

“Whoa, I can’t believe you’re saying all this. Are you sure you haven’t talked to Demetria?”

I pause. “Why are you bringing her up again?”

“Well, she told me…oh, never mind. It’s just that you’re pouring out your heart like this. I like it, I do. I just…”

“You can’t believe it’s really me? You think I’m feeding you lines of BS? Well, I’m not. As a matter of fact, I’d like to know if you want to spend some time together. Whatever you want to do.”

“Well, I’ve never been to your house before. I’d like to visit. See how you’re living.”

“That’s doable.”

We make plans to head over after work. Our breakfast order finally arrives, and we load it into the car, where it smells so good it drives us nuts on the way back to work.

We’re holding hands on our way from the parking lot, but then I see Ursula out of the corner of my eye. She’s just standing there watching us, staring at us with big crazy eyes. I drop Veron’s hand immediately, not sure Ursula could see it from her angle but wanting to play it safe. I start casually walking further apart from Veron, and then I make one of those cheesy phone gestures at her, meaning “I’ll call you,” and start walking the other way. She looks confused, but I keep going.

I call her when I get to my office, and she answers. “What’s that all about?”

“Ursula’s nosy ass was staring right at us. I didn’t like it and wanted to look strictly professional with you.”

“Seaphes, I will not have you disrespect me.”

“I respect you, babe, I just don’t like how she’s been acting lately. She’s trouble.”

“Why? What has she been doing?”

“She’s just…I mean, I guess Ursula is still carrying a torch for a brotha, but she can’t seem to let go. I feel like she’s a drama queen. Just trust me on this one. Stay as far away from her as possible.”