A Taste of Honey (8 page)

I was silent as we’d pulled up to the hotel. I felt every word she said but still it bothered me. After a few moments I said, “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Anything,” she said. “I’m always going to be here for you, bitch. Just not tonight. I’m exhausted.”

“Old Miles wore you out, huh?”

“You ain’t never lied. His ass must have been on some Cialis or Viagra. Ol’ boy got the coochie hurtin’ a bit. Do you mind if I stay here and sleep it off?”

It was after two o’clock in the morning. “Go ahead, but I’m heading home, I have a Realtor coming the first thing in the morning, I’m putting my place on the market. We can catch up in the morning.”

“Cool,” she said as I packed up my belongings.

“You can bring the dress in the
A.M
. and I’ll have the cash for you.”

She was my girl, but chicks were famous for forgetting that they borrowed some gear.

I
cruised twenty over the speed limit, stoplight to stoplight, pushing the engine of my M3 to the limit. I turned the music down as I turned onto my block and lucked up when I found a spot three houses down.

I took my shoes off and began to skirt my way down the sidewalk. It was humid and the ground felt sweaty under my feet but
I didn’t care. My mind was on one thing, hitting the bed. Well two things, but I’d have to think about that in the morning.

I reached for my keys but was startled when I heard the voice behind me. “Honey, we need to talk.”

Cornered, I had no choice but to face him.

I
blew the entire mood of David’s night on the town after I bumped into Honey. Seeing her looking so good and getting into the car of another man stunned me like a slap from Naomi Campbell. The guy was obviously wealthy but he looked old enough to be her father. Deep down inside I held out hope that it might have been, but I couldn’t make sense of them being at a strip club. I wasn’t in the club twenty minutes before I announced that I was leaving.

We had all met up at David’s spot and then I’d left my car there, so I had no choice but to call Rorrie. She showed up asking twenty questions. “So what’s wrong? What happened?”

I had thoughts of feigning sickness with the fellas but I didn’t want David to worry about my making it to the wedding. I pulled him to the side and explained to him that I was having some problems with Rorrie and that I needed to get home. He wasn’t happy but said he understood.

Now that Rorrie and I were driving to my car I realized that
what I’d told him was true. “I’m not really in the mood to be around a bunch of drunk guys in a strip club.”

“That’s why I love you,” she said. “Most men love that sort of thing, but you are only interested in a virtuous woman.” She was smiling.

“That’s me.” I began thinking back to how I sexed Honey up a few hours after we met. Not much virtue in that, yet I couldn’t figure out why for the life of me I’d begun to slip into this obsession over her. In all practicality, she could have been a whore.

My train of thought was broken when Rorrie spoke. “Khalil,” she said. “I want to ask you something.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Would you mind it if I didn’t make it to the wedding tomorrow! I got a call from one of my old instructors and they are doing a clinic over at Greater Southeast Hospital tomorrow for children who suffer with HIV. It’s like a free physical and treatment program. They are like five physicians short and I’d like to go over and volunteer. Of course I told him that I had a previous engagement and I’d have to ask my fiancé first.”

“Oh, of course I don’t mind. That sounds like a really great way to give back. To be honest, if there was any way that I could get out of going I would too.” I half-laughed. I was relieved that she didn’t ask me anything too heavy.

“You’re not looking forward to David’s big day?”

“It’s not that. I’m just not big on weddings.”

“What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

I thought about what I’d just said. “You know, big productions.”

“Yeah okay. I guess that’s why you haven’t brought up ours in the past month or so. You think it’s going to be too big a production?”

“Ummm, that’s not it at all. I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately.” We were nearly to my car. “Turn right here and then make the left at the stop sign. My truck is halfway up the block.”

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“Just work and pressure that’s it.”

I looked over at her and I almost wanted to blurt out that I was confused about what I was going through.

We stopped at my truck and as I climbed out she asked, “You following me?”

“Yeah, but I want to stop and grab a bite to eat. You want something?”

“No. But you don’t have to stop. I can cook for you.”

“I got a taste for a sub. I’m going to slide over to Eddie’s. I’ll see you at the house.”

She nodded and sped off. So did I, but in a different direction.

I
sat on Honey’s block for an hour before my phone began ringing off the hook with calls from Rorrie.

When I finally answered I said, “Hey, babe. Sorry, but I talked to David and the crew and they all begged me to bring them subs so I wound up turning right around and going back for them. Now I’m on the way back to the club. They really laid a guilt trip on me for leaving so I’m going to hang out with them for just a little while.”

“Khalil, you could have fucking called me to let me know.” I knew she was beyond pissed, because she seldom used the f-word. “I don’t know what you’re tripping off of lately.”

“Sorry babe, but I’ll be home in a bit.”

“Whatever.” Click.

I tossed my cell right back down in the seat and continued on my wait. I didn’t give Rorrie’s feelings a lot of thought as one hour turned into three. The entire time I sat in my truck listening to Maxwell singing “Matrimony: Maybe You,” all the while being sucked into the fantasy world of his lyrics as I sang along. His words talked about finding someone who could turn out to be more than just a one-night stand. About finding the girl who could really be the one. My heart echoed the sentiments of the lyrics as I dreamed that perhaps Honey could be the wife that had been sent to me. Even though I barely knew her at this point, a part of me believed that just like Maxwell’s words, she could teach me about me.

It didn’t get any deeper than that. I had to find out if she was the one. Tuesday I had another appointment to see Cameron again and hopefully by then I’d be able to be honest with her about the things I was feeling. I’d at least know if Honey felt anything for me.

My phone finally rang again at two fifteen. Hearing it angered me. I was feeling too constricted to move. Either my conscience was getting to me or Rorrie sensed something and was trying to slip a noose on my neck. I glanced at the number to be sure it was Rorrie before I put it in the seat next to me and sat up. I finally decided that it was time to go home.

I started my engine and began to pull up the block when a car passed me and took my spot. Wishful thinking or not, I thought I saw Honey driving. I pulled out onto Connecticut Avenue just long enough to make an illegal U and pulled back up the block. When I saw her walking toward her house I felt myself growing light-headed, heart skipping a beat like a kid with his first crush. I saw a spot on the other side and pulled into it quickly. She didn’t see me as I climbed out of the truck and crossed the street.

She was thirty yards or better ahead of me and I was about to call her name when I saw a figure step out from the bushes beside the door of her home. When the man grabbed Honey I heard her scream out. I couldn’t move fast enough. I saw her jerk away and attempt to use pepper spray. She didn’t react in time and he landed a blow to her face that dropped her to her knees. She would have hit the ground except for the fact that he held her.

He didn’t see me coming as I lunged at him like Ray Lewis coming for a quarterback. He was huge, barely moving when I made contact. I did get him to the ground but it turned out to be a bad move as his weight allowed him to pin me down. From there we traded blows with me getting the worse of it. I was glad that he seemed to wind easily, almost gasping for air. I took the opportunity of his slowing down to go for his eyes with my thumbs. I jabbed him good in the left and this time he screamed out in agony. I easily rolled from under him and climbed to my feet. He struggled to stand, still holding his eye, and he wasn’t paying attention as I swung my foot toward his balls with as much power as I could muster. When I made contact he groaned like a wounded animal.

Honey was now at my side as we watched him hit the ground. She moved toward him and began to empty the bottle of spray. Then she yelled out, “Khalil, come on, quick.”

Thinking he was subdued I moved slowly but luckily she’d been more alert as he pulled a pistol from his waistband. My heart nearly burst open as he fired a single shot toward the security door a second after we’d cleared it.

From the second-floor window we watched as he headed for a vehicle that was parked up the street. Two minutes later sirens whirled out front as we sat nervously inside her apartment. It
looked like she was in the middle of moving. There were boxes labeled and stacked neatly in the living room and more piled up in the kitchen.

“Now tell me again why you don’t want to tell the police,” I asked her as I sat nestled on her couch, holding against my cheek the frozen peas she’d given me. She was using the ice pack on hers.

“It’s such a long story, Khalil. I don’t even know where to begin. I will just say that I am really glad you happened to show up. I’ve been going through some changes with a guy I used to see. Obviously he isn’t getting the message.” She didn’t seem as rattled as I would expect, almost like she dealt with things like this routinely. About a minute later she remembered to ask me, “So what are you doing here at two thirty in the morning anyway?”

Leaning my head gently back on her sofa I thought about the deeper meaning and what it may have looked like to her. I decided to open up to her as best I could. “I’m not really sure. I just needed to see you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the day we met.”

She smiled but looked reluctant in doing so. “Really?”

“You have no idea.”

Her arms were folded. She’d dropped the ice pack on the coffee table after offering it to me. “Well it definitely felt a little awkward when I bumped into you earlier.”

I couldn’t resist the urge, so I asked her, “So do you normally frequent strip clubs?”

“No, it was actually the first time I’d been to one in years. I was just hanging out with an old friend and he wanted to go after we’d had dinner, so I went. Nothing serious.”

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

“It was cool. It wasn’t like I got my jollies off or anything. I’m definitely not gay, if that’s what you’re implying.”

I laughed, relieved. “No, I didn’t think anything of the sort.”

“So,” she breathed out. “How are things with your fiancée and you?”

I twitched nervously. “I’m not sure. Like I said, I can’t seem to get this other woman off of my mind,” I said in a playful tone. “I must be crazy. One day I spent with you and now I’m questioning everything.” She sat there silent and I looked into her face. She still had a light coat of makeup on. Even sporting a slightly bruised cheek, she was beautiful. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“Not at all, Khalil.” She moved over next to me and kissed me on the cheek. “It’s sweet really. I mean it. Also it’s very flattering. I’m sure a handsome man like yourself can have his pick of women. For you to tell me that I’ve been on your mind, I won’t even deny the fact that it means a lot.” She stood up and said, “Listen I want to grab a few things. As you can see I’m in the process of moving but this incident is going to speed up that process. I’m gonna get out of here tonight.”

I was still curious as to why she seemed unsurprised that she’d been attacked. “So where are you going to stay? You have family?”

“No, but I’ll be fine. I’ll get a room…”

Before she could finish I said, “I’m going to follow you and make sure you get there.”

“You don’t…”

I cut her off again. “I’m following you. You don’t want the police involved. I’m following you.”

I
t was nearly four in the morning when she checked into the room at the Embassy Suites. Once she checked in I carried her bags up to her room for her. I knew it was late and I needed to get home but I wanted to stay. “I would ask you to stay but I don’t think I should, Khalil.” She was seated on the bed and had grabbed the remote. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

“I wanted to. You don’t have to thank me.” I walked toward her and once I was a foot away I leaned in to kiss her. She turned and gave me her cheek, sending my heart to the floor. “I thought you wanted me to stay.”

“Not for that, though. Not for that.” I didn’t respond. Seeing my confusion she went on. “Khalil, I have a lot going on right now and so do you. I’ll admit that I find you enticing.” She stopped and laughed. “I really think you are mad sexy, but maybe we could just be friends for now.”

“Friends, huh?”

She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “It’s not like you can do much more than that. I mean what…we gonna get together, steal a few seconds here and there? You gonna sleep with me and then run home to her with my scent on your lips?”

She was now inside of my personal space, a few inches from my mouth. “I don’t know, Honey. I just want to get to know…”

She hushed me by putting her finger to my lips. “Good night, Khalil. I have to get some rest. I’m going to have my things moved tomorrow. I’ll be up early.”

“So there’s still no way that I can call you?”

She opened the door. “Good night.”

“Good night,” I said halfheartedly as I backed slowly out of her room, reeling from another round of her rejection. She winked, moved away from the door, and let it slam shut.

I reached my truck and started down Wisconsin Avenue toward the heart of the city, a million and one thoughts running through my mind as I drove. I flipped from WKYS to WPGC, trying to find some fast-paced beats to get my mind out of the weird state that I was in.

When my cell rang I was ready to throw it out the window. I was convinced that Rorrie had lost her grip. I picked it up ready to light into her. She didn’t know that I was hurting over another woman but it didn’t matter. She was there and I was going to take it out on her.

“Hello,” I barked into the phone, making my disgust clear.

“If you want to get to know me, come back.”

“What?” I looked down at the number. It wasn’t Rorrie, as I could tell when I heard the voice. “Honey?”

“If you want to get to know me, come back to the hotel.” I thought I was dreaming but then she said, “But don’t expect me to have sex with you.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. Just like that she hung up.