To Each Her Own (The Swirl Book 1) (3 page)

“Would you have mixed kids?”

Shasta did not hesitate. “If I did, that would mean I married outside of my race. Out of respect to my father, I just think it would be easier to not do that.”

Maya paused, giving Shasta the side-eye. “Shasta, are you racist?”

Shasta’s voice grew. “No! How could you even ask me that? Would I be sitting up here with you if I was?”

Maya titled her head. “Excuse you, but please don’t give me that mess about since you have black friends, that means you’re not racist. Having black friends, and sleeping with or marrying or spending a lifetime with black people are two very different things.”

“Well, as you noticed, my list of what I want did not include that he needs to be white.”

“It didn’t include that he can be black either.” Maya shook her head. “I don’t know about you.”

“Yes you do. You know I’m not like that.” Shasta crossed her pale, thick legs away from her thin, brown friend.

Maya gave a wink and a small grin, and took another sip from her glass as the doorbell rang. “You’re good in my book.”

“I know I am.” Shasta stood, wearing black shorts, grabbed some cash from the table, and headed to the front door, switching her curvy hips.

Maya said, “You’ll find the right man. Black, brown, or green. And by the way, with you being Scorpio, another Scorpio is a good sign for you. Your element is water. Compatible personalities, in and out of bed.”

“Okay, Ms. Cleo.”

“Don’t make me laugh. I know signs. Don’t hate.”

“I see that.”

“Call me now!” she yelled, giggling.

Shasta giggled too as she opened the door. “Just waiting for my last love, fortune teller.”

A young, tall, muscular black man stood before her, holding the large pizza box and two-liter Pepsi, saying, “Well hell, can I be your last love then?”

Shasta replied, barely smiling, “Excuse me?” She put her hand along her waist. “I’d like to know, what happened to the day when pizza delivery guys would simply say, ‘Pizza Delivery!’”

“I would’ve, but you answered the door looking drawn all perfect, and threw me off. I do apologize.” His eyes were somewhere near Shasta’s hips.

She noticed him looking, slowly saying, “It’s okay.”

He looked serious as a heart attack. “So, the answer’s no?”

She looked back at Maya who simply watched the two, grinning, sipping her wine like she was watching a reality show.

Shasta looked back at him. “What’s your name?”

“Kyle.”

“Kyle, huh?” She shifted her weight to her other leg. “Well, honestly Kyle, instead of answering your question, all I need tonight is that big old meat lover’s pizza with green peppers and extra cheese that you’re holding in your hands that smells so good. Oh, and the soda.” She stared at his full chestnut lips, and then looked at the box.

“Well that’s what’s in here.” His eyes stayed on her.

“Good. Can I have it please?” She opened her right hand and showed him the cash she’d been holding, and then extended her left hand. “Here’s twenty-five dollars. You keep the change. I’ll take the pizza.”

“Not my first choice, but, you say so.”

“I say so.”

He took the money and handed her the pizza.

She balanced the box as she also took the soda. “By the way, does your boss know you’re offering yourself up to customers upon the ring of a doorbell?”

He looked sure. “Honestly. I don’t even care.”

“Really?”

“If I had a chance to call you, this job would be the least of my worries.”

She again looked at his lips. All she could say was, “Well, Kyle, you have a good night.”

He held his hand out and showed her the cash she had given him. “It’s on me. The pleasure was all mine. Trust me.”

She hugged the soda bottle like a baby to free her hand and, grabbing hold of the doorknob. “As I said, have a good night.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.”

Shasta closed the door without taking the money, turning to see Maya give her a curious eye.

“Look at you, hot stuff. Getting hit on by the brothers. Again. Told you.”

Shasta walked to the coffee table. “Please. It does not happen that much.”

“Oh, but it does. And each time, you do what you just did. Not a damn thing.”

Shasta set the pizza box and Pepsi on the table and then sashayed into the kitchen. Her voice grew louder the further she got. “What do you mean nothing? I just don’t think that man should be hitting on any woman while on the job. And while on a pizza delivery job at that, offering to pay. He couldn’t make enough money for all that smooth Mack Daddy mess.”

Maya spoke up, too. “Oh, so I guess he didn’t fit your list? You surely think pizza delivery is not a profession. But for all you know he owns the place.”

“I doubt it. And Maya, please do me a favor. Leave the list subject alone. Dang!” Shasta grabbed two paper plates, a few paper towels from the roll, and two plastic red cups from the pantry.

“I’m just telling you the truth.”

Shasta headed back to the sofa and looked over at the wall clock. “I say we watch this TV show you missed.” She put everything on the table and sat on the other end of the sectional.

Maya grabbed a plate and a slice of pizza.

Shasta exhaled. “Maya, maybe white men are intimated by you, and perhaps black men are more secure, bolder maybe. I don’t know.” Shasta leaned forward and took a slice as well. “You ever thought about that?”

“I don’t know. But I know one thing. Black men like you. Maybe because of all that backside you’re draggin’ around. I mean you are in the ATL. But don’t be scared.”

Shasta looked back at her friend. “Right now, all I’m trying to do is watch our girl Olivia. Okay?”

“Okay. But let me tell you one more thing about the list if I may. You might want to take the tall requirement off of it. Because girl, I am telling you . . .  short men, they slay in the bedroom.” Maya bit into her pizza.

Shasta opened her mouth to prepare to take a bite, and then stopped. “Oh, and you know this from experience?”

Maya chewed and spoke. “I just know.”

Shasta put her pizza on the paper plate and reached for the remote, pressed
Recorded TV
and then
Play
, and turned up the volume, putting the remote down. She leaned back with the plate, put her feet up and tossed a black throw over her legs.

Maya said, “This damn show is swirl central. Olivia ain’t scared.”

“Shut up, girl! The two of us . . . that’s all the swirl I can take.”

“Ha-ha.” They both stared at the opening scene. “Damn that white boy Jake is fine!” Maya licked her lips and then bit into her pizza again.

Shasta said, “That’s what I’m talking about. That’s me all day long.” In her mind though, she was thinking about meeting Ramón the next night. And what she felt was anything but scared.

Chapter 3

Sandy Springs, GA

The next night, the place was Taco Mac in the Prado Shopping Center at the busy intersection of Roswell Road and 285. As usual, the place was crowded. Ramón had already secured a table, and had sent Shasta a text letting her know to walk straight in and to the left. He sat near the bar with a great view of the many HD TV’s in every direction. There were over eighty of them.

He stood as she walked up. She stepped to him like a runway model, in her black Calvin Klein slingbacks. He moved in for a hug. “Hey you. There you are.”

“Hello, Ramón.” Shasta inhaled him, hugging him back.

He looked back toward the path she had walked. “Dang, all eyes are on you. Do you always cause a riot wherever you go?”

She looked oblivious. “What?” she replied, looking back briefly. She saw two gentlemen at a small table staring her down.

She turned back. “Oh, no one even notices me.”

“Yeah, right.” Ramón was all smiles as he waited for her to sit first.

She scooted over and placed her large black and white bag next to her hip while she crossed her legs. Her tight white dress showed every curve, and the neckline was just low enough to expose the meeting of her cleavage. She watched him look at her.

He sat, wearing baggy jeans and a blue tee.

She asked, “What are you wearing? Smells good.”

“It’s called, Very Sexy for Him. It’s by Victoria’s Secret.”

“Oh really? It smells really nice on you. Very sexy indeed.” She folded her arms along the table.

He nodded and flashed a dimple. “Well thank you. I’ll have to buy some more.”

“Yes, you will.” She noticed his hairline. “Do you cut your own hair? Each time I see you, it’s like you just got it cut.”

“I do actually. I can work my way with a clipper pretty well.”

“I see. Nice.”

He grinned. “Oh, talk that talk, now. You get an extra appetizer and a glass of boxed wine with those words.”

She grinned and shook her head, then picked up the menu. “Speaking of drinks, did you order anything yet?”

“No. I was waiting for you. They have every beer on draft you could ever want. Are you a beer girl?”

“I am. I like dark beer.”

“Me too. I’m a Guinness man.”

“Oh really?” She spoke a bit louder as the sound of talking and laughter filled the room. “I drank that for a while. Do they have Belhaven?” She continued looking at the menu.

He looked at his menu, saying, “Hmm. Yes. Here it is. Is it good?”

“It is. It’s kind of sweet, like a graham cracker and toffee flavor.”

“Oh wow. Never heard of it. You want to start with that?”

“I do.”

The young waitress walked up, looking at Shasta as she said, “Hi, I’m Katrina. Are you having drinks tonight?”

Ramón spoke up. “Hi. A Belhaven on tap for the lady. And I’ll have Guinness in the bottle.”

“May I see your I.D. please?” she asked Shasta.

He asked, “And mine?”

She replied, “Yes, sir.”

Shasta said, “I was about to say, because he’s the one you need to be asking. He’s the youngster.” She put her menu on the table and reached inside of her purse, grabbing her wallet.

Ramón adjusted himself so he could reach into his pants pocket. “Youngin’? Me. You’re the one who smells like Similac and baby powder.” He showed the waitress his license.

Shasta held hers out, saying “Okay, very sexy. Whatever.”

Ramón did his funny laugh.

The young dark waitress with short bangs and a pageboy haircut said, “I’ll be right back, and then if you’re ready, I’ll take your food order.”

“Deal,” he said, putting his license back.

She walked away.

Shasta replaced her wallet into her purse.

“She looked like Tootie from “The Facts of Life.”

“She did not.”

“It was her hair, like she had a bowl cut.”

“You’re so crazy.”

“That I am. I have several ticks.”

“Yes, you do.” She asked, grinning, “You know what you want to eat?” again picking up the menu.

“Something to eat?”

She looked at his expression, knowing his mind went straight to the gutter. She looked back down at the menu.

He said, “Of course. Hot wings. You?”

She continued to look. “I think I want the guacamole dip, and chicken nachos.”

“You’ve got it.”

She closed the menu and put it down.

He leaned his forearms arms along the table. “If only you knew how glad I am that you came out. I mean I’ve really been looking forward to it, praying you didn’t change your mind.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t think of it. I’m a woman of my word. And besides, I’m excited to watch the Spurs beat up on your boys.” She looked up at one of the TV’s. “It’s about to start.”

He looked at her. “Now see, as much as I really want to see you happy, I’m not so sure about that.”

She looked back at him.

He said, “I might have to sit here and root for the Spurmaids, just to make sure you’re good. I’ll do it. I’ll do it,” he joked, looking at her like he was not kidding, but kind of was.

“No need to do that. I won’t be broken hearted at all, because there’ll be no reason to be. My ‘Spurmaids’ as you call them, lost a couple of nights ago, but not tonight. And just to be sure, how about a little wager, tough guy?”

“Oh, you’re a gambling woman, huh?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“I like that. Shoot. But not an air-ball like your boy Kawhi Leonard. Whatcha got?”

“Oh really? My boy will be M.V.P. Anyway, how about, the loser has to take a picture of himself, or herself, wearing the other team’s jersey?”

“I’ll wanna win just to see you with that flaming ball logo along your chest.”

“You think so, huh?”

“I do.”

“Okay, but wait. To make it interesting; let’s say that the loser of the series has to do a challenge, like an ice bucket challenge or a cinnamon challenge.”

He shook his head. “Oh, no way. I’m sorry. I will not be able to handle seeing you do that to yourself, coughing up clouds of reddish-brown dust. That’s not cool. I heard that can be deadly.”

“Okay. Fine then. We’ll leave it at you pouring a bucket of ice water over your head.”

“Deal. You throwing a bucket of ice-water over your head.”

“What did I say?”

“What did I say?” Ramón laughed as the waitress brought over their beers. He took the honor of placing their food orders. As she walked away, he picked up his cold bottle of beer.
“So, first off, cheers to us getting away from the office together, and hanging out.”

She picked up her chilled glass and raised it. “Yes. Cheers.”

“And to our favorite teams; may each beat the crap out of the other. But deep down, I’ll be cheering for your tall girls in the gray hot pants.”

“Very funny. Cheers.”

They clanged glasses just as the game began, and as time went on, they devoured their guacamole dip, chicken nachos, and wings.

By the start of the fourth quarter, Ramón was on his fourth Guinness, and Shasta was on her third Belhaven, and she’d also had a shot of peach Ciroc vodka that Ramón made sure to order once her team was finally ahead for the first time the entire game.

Shasta said, “I drank a shot, so you need to have one too.”

“Oh, I would. But someone has to be designated. And that’s me. I’ve got you.”