Nervous (8 page)

jonquinette

Darnetta showed up at my apartment fifteen minutes early. I was ready but I didn’t have my hair done. I let her in and ran into the bathroom to throw it up in my habitual bun.

“Jon, do you need some help?” Darnetta yelled from the living room.

“No, I’m fine.” I glimpsed in the mirror and thought about applying some makeup. Then I thought better of it. I wasn’t trying to meet anyone so why try to enhance my appearance.

I just smeared some lip gloss across my lips so they wouldn’t chap and told Darnetta that I was ready to go.

When we got to the church, it was packed. I had never been to that particular church but I had heard a lot about it. Apparently, it had one of the biggest congregations in the city. At least half of them must have been present, which led me to believe that the groom was very active in the church.

“Darnetta, thanks for inviting me,” I said after we were seated in a pew.

“No problem. Thank you for coming. Since Logan’s in the wedding, I didn’t want to sit out here by myself.”

The processional music started and I was dazed when the groom and best man walked out from the pastor’s study and took their places at the altar. Mason was the best man.

I exhaled a deep breath and Darnetta stared at me. “Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just funny because the best man just moved into my building a little while ago.”

“Oh, you mean Mason?”

“You know him?”

“I didn’t until last night. I met him at the rehearsal dinner. Girl, he’s too fine and nice as hell. You need to jump on him.”

I blushed. “No, he’s just a neighbor but I hope he and I can become good friends.”

“Friends?” Darnetta asked. “You need to be friends and lovers. I asked him if he had a woman last night and he said no. You better snatch him up before someone else does.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Um, I’m not really looking for a man right now. Work is keeping me pretty busy.”

“Forget that stupid job. Besides, it can’t keep you warm at night or blow your back out. Know what I’m saying?”

Darnetta laughed and I faked a smile. We both got quiet as the rest of the wedding party marched in from the back of the church.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful. When the minister pronounced them man and wife, I almost cried. The couple was extremely cute together. Smitty and Robin had met in college and dated on and off for more than six years before deciding to tie the knot. At the reception afterward, many people stood to toast them and reflect on funny times the two of them had been through. I had trouble hearing some of them because Darnetta was too busy acting jealous about the bridesmaid that Logan had to escort throughout the entire evening. I tried to tell her that it was no big deal. I had never had a man and even I knew that. He was simply doing what he was supposed to do; escorting the woman down the aisle and into the reception as well as sitting beside her at the head table. When they had the first dance and the wedding party joined in, I could feel the steam emitting off Darnetta when Logan had his arm dangling from the woman’s waist.

The caterer had it going on. The food was delicious. They served gulf shrimp cocktail, blue crab claws, lobster bisque, smoked salmon, antipasto, shrimp and scallops scampi and veal chops. I was so stuffed that I thought I would burst out of my dress by the time they served the cake, which was incredible as well.

Mason had spotted me during the ceremony. I lowered my eyes in shame. Why, I don’t know. I just felt embarrassed to run into him there. During the greeting line on the way out of the church, I paused just long enough to shake his hand. He pulled it up to his mouth and kissed it gently. Then he leaned in closer to me and whispered, “We’ll talk at the reception.”

The reception was more than halfway over and he hadn’t said a word to me. I found myself wondering if he had a woman present after all. The maid of honor, who he had to escort, was not eye-catching at all but that didn’t mean she lacked a great personality.

Darnetta was elated when Logan finally rescued her from the table where we were seated.

“Logan, you remember Jonquinette that works with me,” Darnetta stated, even though I had never met the man before. I had only heard about him day in and day out and seen his picture.

“No, I don’t recall having met,” he replied. “But it sure is a pleasure.”

I stood up and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Logan. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Logan was extremely attractive and seemed nice enough. Darnetta was a lucky girl. “Jonquinette, you don’t mind if I steal Darnetta away for a dance, do you?” he asked. “I won’t keep her long.”

“No, take your time,” I said. “She’s wanted to dance with you all evening,” I lied. She really had wanted to wring his neck all evening.

As they walked away, I sat back down at the table and scanned the room searching for Mason. After spotting the maid of honor among a group of women on the dance floor getting their boogie on together in their stocking feet, I imagined him off in a quiet corner flirting with one of the many gorgeous women in attendance.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Mason chuckled and took Darnetta’s unoccupied seat next to me.

“I’m sorry, Jonquinette. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I laughed timidly. “I’m okay.”

We sat there in silence for a moment while we both gathered our thoughts.

“Nice wedding,” I said finally. “I was surprised to see you here.”

“Really?” he asked with an expression of bewilderment on his face. “I don’t know why. After all, I did invite you. I’m just sorry you never responded to my note.”

“Your note? You must be confused.”

He smirked and shook his head. “I’m not confused at all. You mean to tell me that you didn’t get the note I stuck on your door earlier this week asking you to be my date?”

I was at a loss for words and didn’t want to panic. It could have blown away or some bad kid could have taken it off the door. I didn’t want to think the worst.

“Mason, I didn’t receive your note. Thanks for the invitation though.”

He played with the stem of Darnetta’s champagne glass. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“If you had gotten it, would you have said yes?”

“No.”

He sighed deeply. “That’s disappointing. I had hoped that you would.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said, trying to correct myself and spare his feelings. “Darnetta had asked me to come with her first and I promised that I would. She and I work together and I never would have heard the end of it if I had backed out on her.”

He seemed reassured. “Good, I understand. So you would have said yes if it weren’t for that?” he asked, continuing to probe.

“Absolutely.” That wasn’t true but it didn’t matter at that point. I would have been too nervous to go out on a date with Mason, especially to a wedding.

The band slowed the music down and the group of women on the dance floor took their seats, leaving only couples who embraced each other intimately.

“Jonquinette, may I have this dance?” Mason asked, extending his hand to me.

I had never danced with a man before, not ever. But something was different. I really liked Mason.

“I would like that,” I said, taking his hand and allowing him to lead me to the dance floor. When he placed his hands on my waist, I shivered. “I have to warn you. I’m not a very good dancer.”

He grinned. “There’s nothing to it. Just go with the music.”

We danced to “Ribbon in the Sky,” one of my all-time favorite songs. Mason placed his cheek on mine and I almost lost it. It felt so wonderful. I could feel his dick pressing up against me and that felt wonderful also. I had never experienced even that before.

We remained on the dance floor for three songs. Then Smitty, the groom, came over and tapped Mason on the shoulder.

“Mason, can I holler at you for a few before Robin and I leave for the honeymoon?”

Mason looked torn but said, “Sure, man. By the way, this is Jonquinette. Jonquinette, this is Smitty.”

We shook hands.

“Jonquinette, as in your neighbor?” Smitty asked Mason.

“One and the same,” Mason replied.

“Aw, so she ended up at the wedding anyway.” Smitty eyed me up and down. “I can see why Mason is so taken with you.”

I was blushing horribly. Mason had obviously been talking about me to at least one of his friends. I was flattered beyond comprehension.

“Thank you,” I managed to get out of my mouth somehow.

“I won’t keep him long,” Smitty said. “I just need Mason to hold down the fort for me while I’m gone so we need to go over a few things.”

“Where are you honeymooning?” I asked.

“The Caymans,” Smitty said. “Robin and I have always wanted to have an escapade over there.”

Before I knew it, Mason pulled me to him and brushed his lips across mine. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

I watched them walk outside and then I headed for the ladies’ room to pull myself together. That kiss had set my insides on fire.

jude

I sat in the bathroom stall, pissed off. Jon was actually considering dating that fool. I could tell that any day she would be giving up the drawers. I couldn’t and wouldn’t tolerate it. Something drastic had to be done.

I had hoped, if it did turn out to be the same wedding, that Mason would have been there with some other bitch so Jon could see he was just another playa after a quick lay. But no, he had to be there alone and all up on her like her pussy was embedded with gold.

I came out of the stall and glanced in the mirror as I washed my hands. “What to do? What to do?” I asked my reflection. Then my question was answered when two of the bridesmaids walked in talking about my next victim.

“Damn, that Logan sure is fine,” one of them said.

“Yeah, but you can forget it,” the other one replied. “He’s been dating that Darnetta chick for ages.”

“Hmph, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fool around. I was flirting with him at the rehearsal last night and he was feeling me. I could tell.”

I pretended to be fixing my hair so I could hang back long enough to hear their conversation.

“Kassie, he wasn’t feeling you.”

“Alicia, look hoe, I know when a man is feeling me and I’m telling you, if I wanted some, I could get it.”

“That may be true because I don’t know many men that would turn down free sex. But, after you do him, then what? He goes right back to Darnetta and leaves you ass out.”

“I’m not trying to fall in love with Logan. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Alicia cleared her throat and looked in my direction. I turned at them and grinned. “You ladies have a good evening.”

When I was walking out the bathroom door, I heard Alicia ask Kassie, “How do you know that’s not one of Darnetta’s girls or something? Talking about that man like that.”

I laughed. That’s what the bitches deserved. They needed some gossip etiquette training. You never spread your dirt in front of other people because you never know who knows who.

Ironically, I passed Darnetta as she was headed into the very same bathroom. “Jon, there you are. I was looking for you. How are things going with Mason? I saw you on the dance floor getting your freak on.”

That Darnetta trick could get on my nerves at times with her babbling but all in all she was cool. At least she had a life. I should have felt guilty for what I was contemplating. Not!

“Mason and I are getting along just fine,” I responded. “He had to go talk to Smitty about some things but we’ll be back on the dance floor getting our freak on again soon.”

Darnetta giggled. “Good for you, girl. I’m glad to see that you’re loosening up.” She slapped me on the shoulder. “Let me get in here before I pee on myself.”

I watched her go into the ladies’ room and then I went on a hunt. The window of opportunity was a small one. I had to make it work.

I spotted Logan by the back exit door smoking a cigarette. Another brother was standing there for a second but he put his cigarette out and walked away. The reception was being held at a conference center so in addition to the large room where the gathering was actually held, there were numerous smaller rooms.

I walked up to Logan, took his hand, and pulled him toward one.

“Jonquinette, what’s going on?” he asked, confused.

“Just come with me,” I instructed.

“Did Darnetta send you to get me? Is she all right?”

“Darnetta’s fine. Just come.”

I tried a couple of the doorknobs until I found one that was unlocked and pulled Logan inside. It was empty except for two tables, a few scattered chairs, and a helium tank that had been used to blow up the balloons for the reception.

“Jonquinette, what’s going on?” he asked for the second time.

“Just come,” I said for the third time. “That’s all I want you to do. Just come.”

He finally got the hint. “Um, I’m sorry but I don’t know you like that. Besides, I’m dating Darnetta. You know that.”