Turned Out Saga (16 page)

As an afterthought, he added, “You know how rare it is when you give me the ass.”

Champagne laughed.
I wonder if things will ever be the same between us.

Zyair was thinking,
This shit will not happen again.

It had finally happened, and neither knew what to say to the other. A couple of days had gone by, and Champagne wondered if she should pretend like it meant nothing. She didn't know if that was something she could do. The lovemaking was good as hell between her and Sharon, and between her and Zyair afterward. She knew immediately that she was going to be looking for a female lover.

Does that make me gay?
Champagne already asked herself that question a million times. In Jamaica, when they came back from Jamaica, while they were on the hunt, and now. Her answer was a definite no, but after watching an episode of Oprah that featured women who had been married for years and suddenly discovered they were gay, she wasn't too sure.

It's just a phase, that's all. Just a phase.
She hoped she was right, and that's all it was.

She was in her office with the door closed when she heard Candy come in the front door. Truth be told, she was attracted to Candy, but it was an attraction that she had to keep under wraps.

“Candy, come into my office.” Candy walked in.

“Yes?”

“Remember that business trip I told you about that I have to go on?'

“Yes.”

“Well, I want you to go with me. After all, you did the majority of the research, and I believe it'll be good for you to actually meet the client and learn more about the foundation.”

Candy liked that idea. She was ready to get away as well. She knew it was business, but being in Washington D.C. meant she just might get a chance to party.

“Is there anything you need me to do?” Candy asked.

“No. Just continue pricing the halls and hotels for Ms. Trina Houston.”

Not only was Candy assisting Champagne in setting up a non-profit for one of her clients but she was also helping in the planning of Trina Houston's wedding.

Trina was one of Champagne's moneymaking clients. She was getting married and starting a non-profit organization. Balancing the two was becoming a challenge, and she needed Champagne's expertise.

Champagne watched Candy leave the office and shut the door. She couldn't stop herself from wondering how good Candy ate pussy.
Stop it, girl. You know better than that.
She was feeling out of control with this whole sexuality thing. A door had been opened and she just couldn't seem to shut it.

Shay buzzed Champagne's phone. “There's a Sharon on the line.”

Smiling, Champagne picked up. “Hey there.”

“What's up, sexy?”

“Nothing. What's up with you?”

“Just thinking about you.”

Shit, shit, shit!
Champagne wondered what she was supposed to say to that.

“Oh, and what were you thinking?”

“How good you taste.”

Before Champagne could stop herself, she asked, “When do you want to taste me again?”

“Mmmmmm . . . is that an invitation?”

This is my chance to take it back. “I don't know. Maybe.”

“With or without Zyair?”

Champagne knew the answer was without but would that mean she was cheating? Was it cheating when you slept with someone of the same sex?

“All you have to do is say the word,” Sharon told her.

What the hell am I getting myself into?
Before Champagne could answer, Shay poked her head in the door. “Your appointment is here.”

“Listen, is it all right if I call you back? Someone's here to see me.”

Sharon told her that was fine.

Champagne felt a little relieved to be hanging up the phone. She was also glad her client was there to take her mind off whether she was a lesbian or turning into one. This obsession was becoming ridiculous even to her.

* * *

The night after Sharon left, Zyair had barely said a word. If anything, he was more distant. Champagne felt like he was pulling away. Was he, or was it her imagination?

* * *

The following day Zyair was in his office thinking about what had transpired. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. On one hand, he was turned on, but on the other, he was glad it was over and definitely didn't want it to happen again. This incident with Sharon—that's what he was going to call it, an incident—just didn't sit right with him. Sharon seemed like she was into Champagne more than he would have liked. He had to admit, he felt threatened.

What happened in Hedonism was different because they were not on their home turf and it was spontaneous. The more Zyair thought about it, the more it seemed like Champagne had pressed the issue a bit too much. Did that say something about him as a man? Did that say something about his lovemaking?

After about half an hour he was ready for Sharon to get her ass out the house.

He hoped this let-me-see-if-I'll-enjoy-making-love-to-a-woman-sober shit Champagne pulled on him was done with. That question should have been answered.

Zyair glanced at the clock. He was meeting with DaNeen shortly to go over her business plan.

Knock, knock.

Zyair looked up to see DaNeen poking her head in the door.

“Is it all right if I come in?”

Zyair waved her in. “Come on.” He couldn't help but notice how sexy she looked. He was noticing it more than usual. It wasn't just in what she wore but there was something else about her. Maybe it was the confidence she carried because she was trying to do her thing.

Champagne's doing her thing too, he thought to himself, trying not to notice how high the slit was in her skirt. When she sat down, he thought he could almost see her panties.

DaNeen caught him looking and positioned herself so that he could see even more.

She'd been wanting this man for quite some time now. Everything about him turned her on. His gentleness and the way he handled people, his generosity, the way he treated his lady when she was around.

DaNeen wanted all those things to herself, and she was tired of waiting. She'd been watching him for over a year, trying to get close to him but it just wasn't happening. Well, she was determined to make it happen, and not only one time.

Bringing his attention to her face, Zyair said, “Let me see what you've done so far.”

“Can I come around there and show you?” Her plan was to stand as close as possible to him and rub up against him if she could.

“Sure.”

DaNeen walked around the desk and bent over while opening her folder, her breast resting on his arms.

Zyair felt himself responding. This was unusual for him. Normally he could keep his desire under control. He was going to blame it on Champagne. She was the one who opened Pandora's Box.

He looked up at DaNeen. “You might want to back up some.”

Placing her hand on the center of her breast, DaNeen said, “Oops, my bad.”

For the next hour they went over her business plan, with Zyair suggesting some changes she might want to make. Throughout that hour, he noticed DaNeen's subtle touches. He knew she was doing it on purpose and was flattered by it. But being flattered and fucking around was a world apart. There was no way he was going to cheat on Champagne. He was just going to ignore her advances.

When DaNeen left the office, Zyair breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know what was going on with him. He did know that it was dangerous. He needed someone to talk to. As usual, he called his boy Thomas.

“Yo, man, we need to talk,” he said when Thomas answered the phone. “Stop by the office.”

Thomas told him, “Okay.”

The day progressed as usual, Zyair checking on the restaurant, mingling with the clientele, and watching DaNeen out of the corner of his eye. A couple of times when he looked up, he caught her looking his way.

* * *

A couple of hours later, Zyair was walking toward his office when he heard Thomas's voice. “Yo, man, wait up.”

Zyair waited until he was beside him. They gave each other dap.

“So what's up? What do you want to talk about?”

“Wait until we get in my office, man.”

When they stepped into the office, Zyair spilled the beans. “Man, it's DaNeen.”

Thomas's eyes got real wide. “Don't tell me you fucked her.”

“Nah, man, you know me better than that.”

“Are you about to fuck her?”

“No.”

“You want to fuck her?”

The look on Zyair's face gave Thomas his answer.

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it.”

Zyair knew it too. Thomas had warned him about her. He remembered him saying, “She wants you, man. Don't get yourself stuck in the wrong situation. That's what gets people in trouble, situations.”

Sitting on the oversized chair, Thomas asked, “So what are you going to do about it?”

“I don't know.”

“What do you mean, you don't know? Does that mean you're considering stepping out on your lady?”

“Nah.”

“Then what you call me for? To share with me the fact that you think somebody is cute?”

Zyair started laughing. “I know, it's just that . . .” Zyair threw his hands up. “You know what, never mind. I'm tripping, that's all.”

“You see, that's what your ass get for hiring somebody as fine as her. You want me to ask her out?”

Zyair, a dead-ass serious look on his face, sat next to Thomas. He leaned over and placed his elbows on his knees. “If I tell you something real personal, you better not tell any of the boys.”

Thomas smacked his leg and jumped up. “I knew it. You did fuck her.”

Growing frustrated, Zyair told him, “No.”

“Then what the hell is it? You're getting on my damn nerves, acting all secretive and shit. Out with it.”

“I let another woman eat Champagne's pussy.”

Thomas sat down. “Repeat that.”

“I let another woman—”

Thomas didn't let him finish. “You're lying.”

“No, I'm not.”

Thomas just wasn't believing him. “When?”

“Last night.”

“Oh, shit!”

Zyair was expecting more of a reaction. “Oh, shit? That's it?”

“What more do you want me to say? I'm in shock. I didn't think Champagne would be down with something like that.”

“This ain't the first time.”

“What? And you're just now telling me?”

Zyair went on to tell him about Hedonism.

“I told you, you would turn into freaks going there.”

Zyair wanted to tell him how he was feeling all crazy now, like maybe they'd done the wrong thing.

“Give me details.”

“Hell no. So you can sit around and fantasize about my woman? You must be out of your mind.”

Thomas all of a sudden got dreamy-eyed. “I wonder if Alexis is into women?”

Zyair playfully knocked Thomas upside the head.

 

That night, while Zyair and Champagne lay in the bed reading, Zyair decided he wanted to bring it up. He sat his book down.

“Champagne?”

She looked up from her book. “Yes?” From the look on Zyair's face, she could tell he was in serious mode. She didn't feel like talking. She just wanted to read her book.

“Will you put your book down? I need to talk to you about something.”

Champagne turned the book over on her lap. “Go ahead.”

“It's just that we haven't talked about what transpired the other night.”

Shit, I knew this was going to happen.
“What is there to talk about? It's done and over with.”

“Is it?”

How can he possibly know?
“Yes, Zyair, it is.”

For some inexplicable reason, he didn't believe her. What was he to do about it? Nothing. All he could do was take her word and hope to hell she meant what she was saying.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, Zyair I did.”

Zyair didn't like the tone of her voice. She was acting like he was bothering her. “Damn, Champagne, all I want to do is talk about it.”

“We didn't do all this talking after it happened in Jamaica.”

“That's another country. This is in-house.”

“What difference does it make?”

“It makes a hell of a difference.”

“Why?”

Zyair took Champagne's hand. “Listen, I'm going to keep it real with you. I'm feeling a little insecure. I didn't think it would affect me this way, but it has. And I need some reassurance that it was an ‘us' thing and a onetime thing.”

Champagne wanted to tell him it was. She wanted to mean it when she said it.

“I love you, Zyair, and nothing can change that.”

They both wondered if she was being honest or trying to convince them both.

“You know I have to go away for four days, right?”

Alexis said to Champagne as they sat in Alexis' living room. “I'll be away when you return. Khalil and I are going to Cancun.”

Every time Alexis said his name, it irritated the hell out of her, especially with what she now knew. She wanted so bad to tell her, but she needed to get some hard evidence first.

“Really? Whose idea was that?”

“His.”

If Alexis could smile any harder, Champagne thought she would throw up. On one hand she was glad for her friend but damn, why couldn't this joy come from someone else? Ashamed of the way she was feeling and ready to take action, Champagne told Alexis she had to leave.

Alexis wasn't fooled. “When I come back, we need to talk.”

Champagne looked at her. “About what?”

“Us.”

Champagne told her, “We'll do that.”

The second Champagne got into her car, she picked up the phone to call Zyair.

She thought to herself,
Alexis has really lost her mind behind this Khalil fellow.
Then again, who was she to talk about someone losing their mind? She was thinking about sleeping with women.

When Champagne spoke to Zyair, all he had to say was, “You really need to stay out of this.”

She tried to convince herself that she was doing the right thing because her friend was in trouble, and it was her duty to step up to the plate and do what she had to do to help out.

After Thomas told her about Khalil being a porn star and going to swingers clubs, her concerns grew because she knew they were having sex. Alexis let that one slip out.

When Champagne arrived at her office, she picked up the phone and dialed Thomas' number. It went straight to his answering service.

“Thomas, it's Champagne. Call me at my office. I wanted to speak with you about Alexis and the bad man.” She laughed to herself when she said “the bad man.” Champagne wondered why this was becoming a mission to her. The “save Alexis” mission.

Champagne stood up and walked over to the window and watched the people below. She wondered where they were going, what they did every day, if anyone of them were struggling in their personal lives, their sexual lives.

Champagne thought about when she and Alexis were younger and how they “played” with one another. Is that something all young girls did? Damn, she wished she had someone she could ask. She wondered, was it out of curiosity that they explored one another's body, or was her sexuality being formed? She wondered did they both turn out heterosexual because it's what they were supposed to do. She did remember that it felt good and that there were days when she couldn't wait for Alexis to come over so they could “do it.”

It started when they were in the fourth grade and continued until they got to middle school. That's when life changed and boys became a big part of their life.

Champagne realized she'd blocked this memory, or pushed it so far back in her mind. She wondered if Alexis had done the same. She couldn't even remember when they stopped or how they stopped. Was it discussed, or was it just over?

With this revelation, Champagne had to go back to her desk and sit down. She needed to think, was she in love with Alexis.
Nah, that's not it. I'm thinking too hard about this whole thing.

On that note, her cell phone rang. It was Thomas. “Hello?”

“Hey, you,” Thomas said. “I got your message. What's up?”

“I thought I left a message for you to call me at my office?”

“Does it really matter what phone I called you on?”

“You don't have to get smart.”

“You know what, you're right. I apologize. I just have a lot on my mind today.”

Champagne could understand that. “I know what you mean.”

“So what's up?”

“I want to do what we talked about.”

“What?”

Exasperated, Champagne said, “You know . . . follow Khalil.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Find out from your friend when he goes or if she can get any information, and we can get the ball rolling.”

“I will but let me ask you this, do you have a plan? How are we going to do this? Are we going to go in the place, and if we see him what happens then? I'm sure we can't take cameras in there.”

Champagne hadn't thought that deep into it. One thing she did know is that she wasn't too keen about going inside.

“Maybe we can sit outside and take pictures of him coming and going.”

“That'll be an all-night thing. What if he's not even there?”

“Well, shit, Thomas, I don't know. Why don't you come up with something? You're the one who's always talking about Alexis is going to be your wife. Come up with something to save your wife.”

Thomas was quiet. “Thomas, are you there?”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm thinking. Listen, give me an hour and I'll call you back.”

“Okay.”

After they hung up, Champagne asked herself, “Why? Why am I doing this?”

* * *

An hour later Thomas called back. “Okay, here's what we're going to do. I called my girl, and she said they have friends in common, so she's going to make a couple of phone calls and get some information.”

“Does she know why we're doing this? Would she be doing it if she knew you wanted Alexis?”

“Don't worry about all that. I got this.”

Champagne hung up and wondered how they were going to pull it off.
Okay, I'm not going to think about it. I'm going to just focus on work.

Pressing the intercom button, she called Candy into the office.

“Yes?”

“Are you packed and ready?”

Candy started laughing. “The truth? I always wait until the last minute to pack. If I try to pack earlier, I have too many options and end up getting frustrated.”

“You know we only have a couple more days until we leave.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Champagne told her, “Listen, I'm stepping out for a moment. Hold down the fort.”

“As always,” Candy said, wondering where she was going.

Before Champagne could say another word, her cell phone started ringing. She glanced at the ID. It was Thomas. She pressed the ACCEPT button. “Damn, didn't we just get off the phone?”

“Check it, we can do this tonight.”

Moving the phone from her mouth, Champagne told Candy, “That's all.” She waited until Candy left the office to say, “You mean, go to the swingers club?”

“Yeah, I was told he'll be there tonight.”

“You're lying.” Champagne couldn't believe it was happening this fast. There was no way in the world the same day they came up with the plan that they could see it through. Shit just wasn't this easy.

“Listen, do you want to do this or not? You need to let me know so I can plan accordingly.”

“How? What exactly is the plan?”

“Let's figure that out when we get together later.”

They made arrangements to meet at eleven that night at her office. Champagne had to come up with something to tell Zyair. For her to up and leave in the middle of the night would definitely cause some suspicion. Hopefully, this would be one of those nights he stayed at the restaurant real late. If not, she'd tell him one of her clients was having a party in the city and she had to attend.

“Well, this is certainly last minute,” Zyair responded when she told him the lie.

“I know. Initially I wasn't going to attend but she practically begged me.” Champagne told him that one of her former clients was considering switching to her company and wanted to speak with her after a dinner party she was having. There was no way in the world she could tell him what she and Thomas were up to, and she'd told Thomas not to say anything either.

He wasn't too keen on lying to his boy, but Champagne convinced him that if he didn't even mention it, he wouldn't be lying.

It worked out anyway, because Zyair was staying at the restaurant late.

That night while getting ready, Champagne changed clothes numerous times, all the while wondering, how Thomas knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Khalil was going to be there.

All he would tell her is, “I've got connections.”

Well, so be it. As long they got the evidence they needed she could care less.

The plan was as follows. Thomas and Champagne would meet up at her office. From there, she would get in his car, and they would go to the spot.

Champagne's stomach was in her chest. Her instincts told her, “Don't do this,” but she couldn't stop herself. It's like a force was pulling her to do the unthinkable.

When they arrived at the club, they would walk in together as a couple. There was a rule there that no man could go in alone. He had to be accompanied by a woman.

Walking in unfamiliar surroundings with nakedness everywhere, this was the part that scared her. She knew she wouldn't feel comfortable walking in a place with her man's best friend and people all around making love or doing whatever it is they do. She expressed this to Thomas, who told her not to worry about it, they could go their separate ways.

Of course he had his reasons. He wanted to see what he could come back and get into without it being awkward. Two, she was his best friend's girl, and as it stood, they were going behind his back.

“We'll do a walk-through and see if we spot him,” Thomas told her.

“What will we do if we see him? We can't just walk up on him and yell out, ‘Busted.'”

“No, we can't but what I can do is make sure he sees me. Then when you have another dinner party, and he sees me again, I'll handle the rest.”

* * *

The rest of the evening flew by.

As agreed upon, they met at Champagne's office. He called her from around the corner and she met him outside.

Climbing into his car, she asked him, “Are we sure we want to do this?”

“There's no turning back now,” he told her. He glanced at what she wore and thought to himself that Zyair was a lucky man. “You look nice.”

Champagne smiled and thanked him. She closed the door, relaxed in her seat, and placed her head on the headrest.

Thomas pulled off slowly and asked her, “Why are we doing this again?”

“I keep asking myself the same thing. All I'm coming up with is, there's something about him that doesn't sit right. It's just an instinct, and I only want what's best for my girl and I don't think it's him.”

“Isn't this the kind of thing that breaks up friendships, when people butt in?”

Champagne looked at him and crossed her arms. “Well, you're butting in. Why are you butting in?”

“Because I love her.”

If it was any other time, Champagne would have laughed but there was a seriousness to his tone.

When she didn't make a crack, Thomas asked her, “You don't have anything to say?”

Champagne shook her head. “You know, we all do things, feel things, and say things we can't explain sometimes. They are just what they are. Who am I to judge?”

Thomas knew she was speaking about other things but he didn't feel it was his place to pry. But he did have something else he needed to know. “Let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“What is it about me you don't like? I want you to be honest with me too, because I know whatever you say is probably what Alexis is thinking.”

“It's not that I don't like you. I don't want you to think that. I care for you a lot, Thomas. You're like a brother to Zyair. Therefore, you're like a brother to me.”

“Then why do I feel that way? Sometimes when I come over I feel unwanted. I don't know what I'm stepping into when I see you, if you're going to be in one of your happy, welcome-to-my-house or one of your get-out moods.”

Champagne didn't realize she behaved that way. Okay, yes, sometimes he pissed her off with some of his sexist remarks and comments he made about women, but she didn't not like him, and she wanted him to know that, especially with what he was doing for her today.

She positioned herself so that she could face him. “Thomas, please hear this. I do like you. It's just that sometimes when the fellows are around, I get insecure.”

“But why take it out on me?”

“I don't mean to take it out on you. You're one of the connections to Zyair's player past, and sometimes when I hear you two talking you make it sound like he's missing out on something. That's the last thing I want him to think.”

Thomas was real quiet as he contemplated on his response. Did he tell her how much he admired what she and Zyair shared, that he wanted the same thing for himself? Did he tell her that sometimes he didn't feel worthy and that he wondered if he would be able to be the type of man a woman wanted and needed? He chose not to say those things. Instead he said, “Listen, Zyair loves you, and nothing I say out of ignorance or out of anything else will change that. If anything, he's the one that's telling me what I'm missing, that I need to settle down and find the one. I envy what you guys have. I would never jeopardize that. Although, my bringing you here to the house of swingers just might do that.”