The Blackbirds (28 page)

“Fun mi fun mi fun mi fun mi.”

Indigo's orgasm was full-body, so intense she didn't hear the sounds of the cold ocean waves crashing into dirty brown sand, didn't hear inebriated people on Ocean Front Walk.

“Oluwa oooo. Oto oto oto oto. Monbo monbo monbo
.
”

She didn't hear someone knock at the front door.

She didn't hear Rickie Sue's lover trying to enter the apartment.

He called out, “Rickie? Rickie? Rickie? Rickie?
Bent u in het huis? Wat ga jij doen? Bent u met een man? Open deze deur onmiddellijk.
Rickie, I know you are in there. Open the door
.
”

Indigo sat up, pushed Rickie away, eyes wide, fear and panic in her every breath.

Rickie motioned for Indigo to calm down, whispered, “Relax, Indigo.”

“Who is that?”

“My bae. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let me think. Wait. Yeah. Just stay where you are.”

“Are you mad?”

“I have this under control.”

“He heard us in here.”

“Just don't move.”

Indigo did what Rickie said, lay on her belly, the sheets over her, still nude.

Rickie Sue put three peppermints in her mouth and pulled on black and gray joggers and a worn
Fear the Walking Dead
T-shirt. There was only one door. There was only one way out.

Rickie Sue went to the door. Indigo heard the locks come undone. Rickie Sue kissed whoever was there, said a couple of things, could tell he was concerned with why she took so long to open the door, and she said she didn't hear him knocking. Rickie Sue brought him toward the bedroom. Indigo looked up and saw an athletic build, six foot three or four, blue eyes, blonde hair, a beach tan on a stunning man who looked like Brad Pitt when he was in
Thelma and Louise.

He was in his early twenties, maybe a few years older than Rickie Sue.

He saw Indigo on the massage table, nude under a sheet, exhaled, and looked relieved.

Rickie Sue said, “Yorick Xander, I want you to meet my cousin from Africa. My cousin's name is Indigo. Indigo, I want you to meet the boyfriend I told you about, Yorick Xander.”

Holding a skateboard, dressed in skinny jeans, a hoodie, and white tee with Luke Cage on the front, Yorick Xander waved, looked a little embarrassed, lost the anxiety that had been in his body language, and in a thankful, accented voice said, “Hello, Indigo. Nice to meet you.”

Indigo coughed twice. “Hello, Yorick Xander. Nice to meet you. Rickie Sue has been talking about you nonstop and I am so glad I have a chance to meet you in person.”

Yorick Xander looked astonished. “You and Rickie Sue could pass for twins.”

Indigo said, “We have strong genes in our family. Tall women with beautiful skin.”

Yorick Xander said, “Women with dark skin are underappreciated and amazing.”

Rickie Sue said, “My cousin is sick and I was putting Vicks all over her to help her feel better. Anyway. Cousin Indigo has to fly out tomorrow and she needs to get better.”

Yorick asked Indigo, “Where are you going?”

“First to Florida to see other cousins, and from there a twelve-hour flight home to Lagos.”

“Your home is in Las Gidi?”

“You know Lagos's nickname?”

“The city of hustlers. That's what some say the nickname means.”

“Yes, but I am considering moving here to the States. More opportunities here.”

Yorick Xander said, “I've been to Lagos many times. The women are
beautiful
. The African women are so fashionable, so well dressed, so cultured. They are amazing.”

Indigo coughed. “Your voice is beautiful. Were you speaking a different language?”

“I am from the Netherlands. Amsterdam. I love your accent too.”

“Are you living here in the United States now?”

“I am living in the country of extremists. I have never seen so much hate.”

Rickie Sue asked, “What was that you told me the other day, Yorick?”

“American extremism has created extremists around the world. America has invaded every country in the world, has created global poverty, and now does not want the immigrants to come here. If you burn down a man's home, destroy a man's country, you owe him refuge.”

Rickie Sue said, “Well, they never fixed up Detroit so I know they're not fixing up Iran. They're not finding homes for the homeless vets here, so they're not going to do that for others. So far as helping those other countries, no one throws a parade for a losing team.”

“Rickie Sue, my beautiful girlfriend, let's not argue in front of your cousin.”

“You're right, Yorick. It would not be a good first impression, and she would think we were as different as chalk and cheese, but I will just say charity begins at home and leave it alone.”

Indigo said, “You are a very interesting couple. I see the attraction between you two.”

“He's atheist, but I'm not going to hold that against him. Right, Yorick?”

He said, “And I will not hold it against you for having a temperamental Sky Daddy.”

“See what I mean, cousin? We agree to disagree. Plus when you date an atheist in California, you have a lot more fun on Sundays at the beach learning to surf.”

Yorick Xander put his arms around Rickie Sue. “Do I smell something cooking?”

“I made some of my world-famous chicken soup for my cousin.”

He asked Rickie Sue, “How much soup did you make?”

“A gigantic pot. I knew you'd come by and want some too. Hungry?”

“I'm always hungry for your chicken soup.”

He followed Rickie Sue to the kitchen, talking and kissing, the sounds of wet lips resounding. Rickie Sue made him a ham sandwich,
gave him that and a bowl of soup, then came back to Indigo, winked, pulled the socks from Indigo's feet and rubbed more Vicks on her soles.

Indigo whispered, “Rickie Sue, your vibrator is right there on the table.”

“It's always there on the table. He probably didn't even notice it.”

“You left it turned on. It was humming while your bae was standing in the door.”

Rickie Sue laughed out loud, then nervously danced over to the toy, turned it off.

She said, “If he asks, I will say I was using it to massage your lower back.”

“Our clothes are all over the floor. My motorcycle helmet and my jacket are right there by the door with my jeans and thong. Either he is naïve as hell, or you are a good liar.”

“Lying is a survival skill. So is denial. Works best when they meet in the middle.”

“Should I leave?”

“Stay right there.”

Yorick Xander returned to the bedroom door, exchanged words with Rickie Sue. Indigo kept her face down, on the massage table, staring at the floor, wondering if Yorick was looking at her ass. Rickie Sue was massaging Indigo's back, the sheets exposing the curve of her butt. Rickie Sue stopped the massage, and Indigo rose up so she could see the Dutchman in the room. Yorick told Indigo that it was a pleasure to meet his girlfriend's beautiful cousin, said he hoped she felt better. Indigo thanked him, then faux-coughed twice. Rickie Sue went to the secondhand dresser, opened her purse, took out her car keys and some money.

Yorick Xander said, “If I didn't see you in front of me, Rickie, I would swear that was you on the table getting a massage. If your cousin had been here alone, I would have walked in and kissed her before I realized my error. There is a remarkable resemblance in all aspects.”

Rickie Sue said, “My hoopty has a flat tire and I need a new one. See if you can find a used one. Maybe try that tire place on Lincoln by Alka Logic, the place we buy water. Buy some more water, too.”

Rickie handed the keys and cash to Yorick before taking his hand and leading him back to the front door. Indigo heard them talking, laughing, kissing. Then they were in the kitchen, trying to be quiet. Indigo exhaled. Almost ten minutes passed before Rickie Sue came back.

Indigo whispered, “Where is Yorick?”

“He's gone.”

Indigo looked up at her and said, “
Cousin?
We don't look anything alike. You don't look Nigerian. You look Ghanaian, maybe from the Ivory Coast or Liberia, if anything.”

“To Willy Wonka we look like we came from the same chocolate factory.”

“Your hair is a mess, you were sweaty, out of breath, have your T-shirt on inside out, and you put your joggers on inside out too, and here I am naked under a sheet in your bedroom.”

“And he didn't have a clue I was making it do what it do while he knocked on the door.”

“When will Yorick be back with your car?”

“Not for about five or six hours. He will spend the night when he comes back.”

“I need to leave and get to Inglewood. I have a birthday dinner to help cook. I need to get a phone back to my mother. I need to call my boyfriend. I need to check on my ex-boyfriend too.”

“Don't leave. I know I will never see you again. So don't hurry to go.”

“I never should have come. What I am doing here, allowing you to do this, isn't right.”

“You are still coughing. There is more soup. Rest a little longer.”

“You are trying to become the devil again. I don't want to be in jail for fourteen years.”

“More Vicks. More vibrator. More me. All you need to do is relax. Let me pay it forward.”

“Your man from Amsterdam could've walked in on us. It could've become very ugly.”

“You don't have to worry. If Yorick Xander comes back, he still has to knock to get in.”

“He heard me through the window before he banged on the door.”

“I told him you had cramps too, said you had them real bad.”

“That was brilliant.”

“Telling a man a woman has the cramps scares him shitless.”

“Yes, it does.”

“We're good. Plus, he knows my sick
cousin
is here. He will call first.”

“Where does he live?”

“Santa Monica. He rode his skateboard down to borrow my car.”

“When you were in the kitchen a minute ago, did you give him a hand job?”

Rickie Sue laughed. “Did it sound like I was slapping a wet steak in there?”

Indigo said, “You are the devil.”

“So you're gonna kick it with your favorite cousin a little longer?”

“This will be my last time. This will not happen again.”

Rickie Sue laughed at Indigo, undressed herself, and was once again naked.

Rickie Sue said, “Get off the massage table. Let's get comfy on the bed for a while.”

Indigo got up, eased off the table, let the sheets fall away, and crawled onto the mattress.

Fresh sheets. Lavender scent. Twin bed. Indigo moaned when Rickie Sue eased onto the bed and put her skin next to hers. She craned her neck, looked back at Rickie Sue.

Indigo asked, “I am not trying to be in a relationship with a woman.”

“Indigo, don't get me wrong. You just saw my man. I have a sexy man from Amsterdam who loves to surf and take me to Burning Man. This isn't nothing I do often, but you are so fine.”

“Whatever you say, my black American cousin.”

Indigo rested on her belly. Rickie Sue put more Vicks on her hands, rubbed them together, straddled Indigo, and then massaged Indigo's back again. Rickie Sue did a slow grind at the same time. Rickie Sue moaned as Indigo's cellular rang. It was Olamilekan's ringtone.

Rickie Sue didn't stop. She kept massaging, kept riding. Indigo felt her come, felt her tremble. Rickie Sue slowed, took breaths, then went to the bathroom, washed her hands.

Indigo stared at Rickie Sue. Rickie Sue blushed.

Indigo quivered. “That was sexy. I felt you on my back. Your energy went inside me.”

Rickie Sue eased back into the bed, up close to Indigo, then masturbated Indigo by simultaneously rubbing her clitoris with the thumb and her anus with the forefinger.

“Indigo, when we first got here, did you like my head game?”

Indigo moaned. “Bet your boyfriend wanted to do that to you a moment ago.”

“He wanted to do that and more.”

“Too bad your sick African cousin was here cock-blocking.”

“Well, my momma always said to take care of family first.”

“Your skin is so soft.”

“So is yours.”

“You're coming.”

“Yeah, yeah. I'm coming.”

When the orgasm was over, Rickie Sue touched Indigo's face, stroked her dark cheeks, and touched her full lips. Indigo touched Rickie Sue's face, stroked her dark cheeks, and touched her full lips. Rickie Sue took Indigo's fingers in her mouth, fellated each digit. Indigo moaned and closed her eyes. Rickie Sue rubbed Indigo's clitoris and anus again, with thumb and forefinger. Indigo made her stop, then did to Rickie Sue what Rickie Sue had been doing to her.

Indigo sucked Rickie Sue's nipple as Rickie Sue came, writhing, holding her hand. Indigo held Rickie Sue like a bowling ball, stimulated by rubbing the thumb and forefinger on her clitoris and anus at the same time. Rickie Sue made faces like she wanted to cry. Her legs began shaking. Her back arched and she reached for Indigo's hand. Indigo didn't back away. Rickie Sue stopped panting, released her hold on Indigo's hand.

“Jesus, Indigo. Jesus. My God. You made me see dead people.”

Indigo rolled away, heard her phone ring, Ericka's ringtone, followed by Destiny's ringtone, followed by Kwanzaa's ringtone, followed by her mother's ringtone, followed by Olamilekan's ringtone, followed by Yaba's ringtone, followed by her father's ringtone.

She wasn't in that world right now. She had escaped them all.

Rickie Sue's chest rose and fell for a while. She dragged herself to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She came back to the door. Indigo saw the serious look on Rickie Sue's face. Saw her aroused nipples. Rickie Sue motioned for Indigo to come to her. Seconds later, Indigo stood under warm water as Rickie Sue soaped their bodies. Indigo was washed from her neck to the bottoms of her feet. They rubbed their breasts together, nipples across nipples, and Rickie Sue kissed Indigo. Indigo panted as Rickie Sue's hand went lower. Rickie Sue put her hand between Indigo's legs, fingered her for while, then took Indigo's hand, placed Nigerian fingers where she ached. Indigo slid her fingers inside Rickie Sue while the same was being done to her. Indigo felt incandescent. Ethereal. As if she had floated up, up, and away.

Soon they were back on the bed, on fresh sheets, soft music playing.

Indigo asked, “How do you do this? How do you get me to do this sort of thing?”