Read In The Company of My Sistahs Online
Authors: Angie Daniels
In The Company of My Sistahs (11 page)
Delores had a knack for attracting losers. Convicts, drug dealers, men without jobs, all of them wanted the same thing, her money and a chance to lay between her fat thighs. One would have thought that as a registered nurse she had some common sense. Instead, she allowed one man after the other to move in. She'd even come home to find her television missing, and still didn't have a clue. It was no wonder her daughters had no idea how to be treated by a man. The countless men they had seen in and out of their mother's life were no better than her alcoholic father. He showed up at their house whenever he needed money, banged their mother, then robbed her wallet.
The only time he spoke to Kayla, he'd say, “How're you doing, Ms. Piggy?”
When she was a child the name didn't bother her. It wasn't until she was called out by a boy in her second-grade class that Kayla first realized the name was meant to be hurtful. As her classmates laughed at her she gazed down at the shirt that kept rolling up over her stomach and realized what they said was true. From that day on she was certain everyone was watching, staring and laughing as she ate lunch, or when they were at gym class and she was always the last to complete a task. She tried to pretend that she didn't feel slighted or talked about.
She tried to pretend that she could not care less what others thought about her, that she was just like everyone else. Only no matter how hard she tried to pretend she could not. Her insecurities about herself followed her through high school, where she felt she never measured up to anyone else. By her junior year, she was wearing a size twenty-two. While all of her friends were dating and having sex and attending parties, she spent her weekends alone. And then she met Anthony.
She had been working at Burger King at the drive-through window. She had seen him several times, and when he finally asked for her number she thought he was trying to get to one of her skinny sisters through her. It wasn't until he called and actually asked to speak to her, then asked her out on her first date, that she finally believed he was serious; however, even then she thought he had ulterior motives.
They had dated for almost two months before she realized he never took her anywhere in public. They always met at his house or hers and when they went to see a movie it was never on Friday night when almost half of Hickman High could be found in the building. It was always on a school night or on Sunday at a matinee.
One evening while his parents were out to dinner, he invited her over. She knew before she arrived, he had planned to have sex. As soon as she was in his house, he ushered her up to his room and tried taking off her clothes. She stopped him because she wanted to talk about their relationship, but also because she was feeling self-conscious about her less-than-desirable body. When she told him no, then demanded to know why he never took her out around their friends, he had the nerve to say, “Be glad I'm even with your fat ass.” He then broke it off with her and made her walk home alone. She cried all night and even tried swallowing a bottle of pain relievers, but all that happened was she spent most of the night throwing up. Shit, she was too fat to even OD on a bottle of pills.
She spent a week eating pastries and drinking orange soda. It took another week before Anthony came through the drive-through and over the intercom begged for her forgiveness. She forgave him of course and that night he picked her up from work and she gave him her virginity in the back seat of his mother's Buick LeSabre. It was over before she had thought it had started and was nothing like she had expected. It was painful but she was glad it was over.
She had hoped their relationship would have grown stronger, but nothing changed. They were still never seen in public together. However, she didn't dare say anything out of fear that he would dump her again. He continued to sleep with her at his convenience until she found out she was pregnant. When she told him, he had the nerve to ask, “is it mine?” even though he knew good and well he was the only man she had ever been with. When she decided to keep it, Anthony asked her why in the world did she want to bring another fat kid into the world, and stopped coming around. Kenya was born and even though she looked just like his crusty behind, Anthony still refused to acknowledge her.
Kayla swore off men for the duration of her life and everything was going just fine. For once in her life Delores stepped up to the plate and helped with Kayla's daughter while Kayla finished high school and went on to a technical school where she trained to be a certified administrative assistant. As soon as she landed a job with the University of Missouri, School of Law, she saved up her money and got her own place.
Even though her weight had escalated to a size twenty-four, life was good until Eric walked into her life. Actually, he walked into the office one afternoon. He was a fourth-year law student with an appointment with one of the professors.
She knew she wanted him the second he'd walked through the door. He was everything she wished for. He was handsome, intelligent, and had a warm sense of humor. However, she wasn't the only one in the office interested in him and other women weren't shy about showing their feelings. With all of the beautiful women after him, Kayla knew she didn't have a chance.
Then, one afternoon, he was in the office, and while he waited he struck up a conversation and she found herself relaxing and feeling at ease around him. By the time he left, he had invited her to dinner.
She went home that evening and couldn't believe her luck. She dropped her daughter off with her mother and her latest live-in, a wannabe artist, and met Eric at the steakhouse at six. This was her first date out in public.
The evening started out wonderfully. He complimented her on her pretty face and told her he had a thing for big women. At the end of the night when the waiter arrived with their bill, which included appetizers and dessert, Eric realized he had left his wallet at home. How convenient. She was too up in clouds to know he was playing her and gladly paid for the meal, which he promised to reimburse her for later. He followed her home, where the sex lasted all of three minutes. He told her being with her made him overexcited and next time would be better. A week later she again got stuck paying the bill, and that time he lasted five minutes. Within a month he had moved in after he told her his roommate up and moved out on him and there was no way he could afford the rent himself. She happily made room for him in her closet.
Kayla supported him for almost a year while he finished school, because in the back of her mind she knew her time would come after he passed the bar and found a job. Eric passed on the first try and they celebrated in Las Vegas, which she paid for, of course.
A month later she discovered she was pregnant. She came home excited to find him packing. Apparently he had gotten a job with a prestigious law firm in San Francisco.
“What about us?”
He glanced over and appeared stunned by her question. “What about us?” At her silence he continued with a small chuckle. “You couldn't possibly expect me to marry you.” He then moved over toward the bed, dropped a hand to her shoulder, gazed down at her scoldingly. “As a lawyer I have an image to uphold. How could I ever expect to make partner with someone who looks like you on my arm? You do understand, don't you?”
All she could do was nod.
Months later, she found out she wasn't the first of Eric's victims. His ex-roommate had been another overweight woman. He obviously preyed on fat women with low self-esteem.
She gave birth to Asia. The only contact she had with Eric was the less-than-sufficient check he sent every month. She had thought often about taking him to court but had chickened out.
After that, it had been the same thing: men using her for one reason or another. Finally she met Leroy and everything was different. He loved her. She was certain of that.
She briefly shut her eyes and gently rubbed her temple, trying to calm a headache that was on the verge of exploding.
Lisa wrapped her arms around her. “Girl, fuck him.” She pulled back, lowered her tone, and winked. “Believe me, you might not think it now, but everything is going to work out.”
Kayla took a deep breath. “Lisa, you are wrong about him. I know you don't understand, but I'm going to have to stand by my man. As soon as his wife has the baby, we're gonna be together. I just know it.”
Chapter 14
RENEE
I
knew as soon as I told Lisa about Kayla's affair with Columbia's favorite Baptist minister, she was going to race up to the room to talk some sense into Kayla. It was fine with me, because even though Kayla and I are closer, it's better for her to talk to Lisa than me. Lisa has compassion. Me, I would have simply told her to fuck that no-neck mothafucka.
knew as soon as I told Lisa about Kayla's affair with Columbia's favorite Baptist minister, she was going to race up to the room to talk some sense into Kayla. It was fine with me, because even though Kayla and I are closer, it's better for her to talk to Lisa than me. Lisa has compassion. Me, I would have simply told her to fuck that no-neck mothafucka.
After we finished eating, Nadine and I went to the bar for something to drink. While ordering tequila and pineapple, I spotted Everton watching me again. I waited until the bartender returned with my drink, then left Nadine at the bar, flirting, and strolled over to the front desk.
“I knew you would come.” His voice seemed to get sexier every time I heard it.
I sipped my drink and gazed over at him. Everton had a lot of confidence. I have to say I like that in him.
I made a face. “That's 'cause I told you I was going to come.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
“Really?” I pursed my lips playfully and leaned forward. “That remains to be seen.”
He chuckled at the way I had twisted his words.
“How'd you like the food here?”
“Very good. Is it always like this?”
“Oh, it gets better. In about another hour they'll be preparing dinner.”
“Good Lord! I'm going to get fat on this trip.”
He perused the length of my body. “You, lovely lady, have nothing to worry about.”
I smiled. His accent made even the corniest statement sound good.
“I have to be here early tomorrow morning, so I am spending the night at the hotel.”
My interest was immediately peaked. “They let you stay here?”
He nodded his head toward the left. “We have rooms next door that they let us use in cases like this. One of my clerks called out sick, so I'm going to cover for him in the morning, which means I'll be here all night.”
“That's nice,” I said, pretending I had no idea what he was getting at.
“Are you going to come see me?”
I took another sip from my cup. “Do you want me to see you?”
“I wouldn't have said it if I didn't.” He looked like he was trying to suppress a smile.
“Then I guess what you need to do is ask me.”
He chuckled. “You American women have such independent spirits. That's what I love most about you.” Resting his palms on the counter, he leaned forward. “I want you to come see me tonight.”
I knew if I went to see him I was going to end up doing something my hot ass didn't need to be doing. But so what? I'm supposed to be on vacation, right? Like I said before, what happens in Jamaica, stays in Jamaica.
I pretended to pause like I was giving his request some serious thought before finally saying, “All right.”
“Good. I'll call you in your room around ten-thirty and let you know where to find me.”
Without another word, I nodded, spun on my heels, and rejoined Nadine. She seemed to be having a good time.
It was barely four o'clock and already the area was filled with guests drinking and enjoying themselvesâI guess so when it doesn't cost you a damn thing.
I slid onto a bar stool and smiled over at the sexy cocoa-brown, dreadlock-wearing bartender. He wiped the area in front of me with his rag as he smiled down at me. He wasn't bad-looking.
“Pretty lady, you ready for another drink?”
I nodded. “Yeah, hook me up, and don't be so stingy with the tequila.”
“No problem, mon.” As soon as he turned to reach for a glass I looked down at his nice round ass. Lord, have mercy! Jamaica is turning out to be a black woman's paradise.
Nadine slapped me across the head.
I punched her in the shoulder. “Damn, you play too much!”
“You'll be all right,” she replied, then gave an annoying laugh. Nadine doesn't know it, but I was about two seconds away from choking her big-titty ass.
“So, what's up with you and Everton?” Nadine asked, her curiosity obviously piqued with interest.
I shrugged, then turned away so she couldn't see the excitement that I knew was burning from my eyes. “We're going to meet tonight when he gets off, and talk.”
Nadine glanced over her shoulder at him then back to me again. “He is fine. You definitely can't go wrong with him.”
“No, I guess I can't.”
The bartender returned and slid my drink in front of me. I took a sip and that shit was so strong, I knew I was going to be on my ass before nine if I kept this pace up. “Now, that's what's up.”
He leaned over the bar and smiled, and then I smiled back. He had the prettiest teeth. I bet he's never been to a dentist in his life, while I'm in a dentist chair every six months and my shit is nowhere near as white.
“What's your name?” I asked since he wasn't wearing a name tag.
“Sylvester.”
“Well, I'm Renee, and this here is my girl Nadine.”
Nadine sipped her drink. “We already met.”
He nodded. “Nadine here is one classy lady.”
Classy? Man, he wouldn't be saying that shit if he saw her house. I simply nodded. He winked, then moved down to the other end of the bar to help a customer.
“I think he likes you,” I told Nadine.
She glanced over her shoulder to find Sylvester watching her. “He is a cutie.” She had a dreamy look on her face. Sylvester wasn't all that, but for Nadine, he was probably right up her alley. I decided to fuck with her a little bit.
“So, while you're in Montego Bay are you going to try and find out if the rumors are true?”
She gave me a puzzled look. “What rumors?”
“That Jamaican men have big dicks.”
She gave me a dismissive wave. “Girl, you know that shit ain't no more true than the one about white men having small dicks. I know for a fact that rumor's not true.”
I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn't know since I've never been with a white man.”
“Well, I have, and Jason had more dick than my ex-husband.”
I never could understand how she could mess with Jason. Not only was he white but he was red. No matter how much time he spent in the sun he didn't tan; instead he burned. I met Jason once. He was short and goofy just like her. She looked happy so I was happy for her, then the next thing I know, Nadine receives a call from his wifeâa sistahâtelling her to stay the hell away from her man. Now being played by a brotha is one thing. A white man ... I would have run his ass over with my Camry. Not once, not twice, but three damn times.
“Well, I hope you're not looking for another white man, not with all these fine local brothas running around.”
She shrugged. “I haven't decided yet. We just got here.” She laughed and gave me a look that said she thought my ass was crazy.
“What the hell ever. While you're sitting around trying to decide what to do, I've got an exciting night ahead of me.” I sat there sipping a drink while watching Everton. A million things ran through my mind as I thought about what was going to happen to me in his hotel room tonight. The excitement is not knowing what was ahead. However, one thing I was sure of. Tonight was going to involve some powerful sex. Once again, just the thought of him lying between my legs made my coochie wet. I raised my cup to my lips and finished it in two swallows, then gestured for the bartender. I needed another drink, then I was going back to the room to catch a quick nap.
Tonight, I'm going to need all my strength.
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