Almost Doesn't Count (3 page)

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Authors: Angela Winters

BOOK: Almost Doesn't Count
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Sherise gritted her teeth. “I've already been asked about that. I don't think I'll have time. I'm so busy with other things.”
“Of course you are.” Ameena smiled one last time. “Enjoy your evening.”
If looks could kill, Ameena Nixon would be dead from the daggers in Sherise's eyes as she watched her walk away. “Fuck that bitch.”
Was this what her life in DC was going to be? Constantly running into the movers and shakers that made her feel inadequate and useless. She hated feeling old and unwanted at twenty-eight. This was wrong. It wasn't working. She had to do something.
 
Billie looked down at her watch. Of course both of them were late. She was the only one who was on time, and she was the one with the least amount of time available. She had already turned down two offers to dance, wondering who these fools were that wanted to dance at a club at seven
P.M.
Besides, none of these boys looked a day over twenty-one. As long as she looked like a single girl at the club alone, she was going to be a prime target for every loser in the place.
“Hello.”
Billie sighed as she turned around, ready to turn down another poor boy. That was until she realized who was standing beside her.
“Porter, what are you doing here?”
Porter Hass looked like a handsome model one might find on the cover of a men's magazine. He was always sharply dressed, and his hair was always trimmed tightly to his head. He was six feet tall, but his deep voice gave him a presence that made him seem taller. He had milk chocolate skin and a finely shaven goatee surrounding his full lips. His most compelling feature was his black, mesmerizing eyes that, at the moment, bore into Billie, making her feel like he was looking inside of her. Billie hadn't seen him in a couple of months and she was instantly reminded of how attractive he was. Damn him.
“This is my club,” he answered, helping himself to the seat next to her at the little corner table she had acquired.
“Your club?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“I'm the one who introduced you to this place.”
He looked her up and down, noticing her hair, cut short to her head, was sleek and sexy and her glowing dark chocolate skin was flattered by the peach color of her maxi dress.
“You look great, Billie.”
“Porter, I'm waiting for Sherise and Erica. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave now.”
“I just wanted to say hello.” He softened his voice. “It would be rude not to.”
“Okay,” she said. “You said hello and I'm saying hello back. Now go.”
He shook his head, waving away a waitress that came to take his drink order. “Damn, Billie. You're so cold. You used to be so . . .”
“Nice? Sweet? Kind? Yeah, all those things you used to take advantage of to keep me falling into your bed even though you cheated on me.”
Porter frowned. “You made your own choices, Billie.”
Billie couldn't completely disagree with that. When she had found out that Porter was having an affair with a twenty-three-year-old blond associate at his firm, Claire, she made the choice to end their marriage. He begged her for another chance, but she wasn't hearing it. Even though she had been ignoring it, they had been having problems for some time before that.
When they'd first met in law school, they both had the same goal. Coming from poor backgrounds, they wanted to fight power and be a voice for the voiceless. When Porter let himself get seduced by the power of money and influence, he changed teams, and he and Billie had clashed often about that. But she had always been willing to work on it because she loved him and she loved his teenaged daughter, Tara. But Claire was something she could not get past.
While Billie tried to be civil and fair, Porter used dirty-handed tricks and all the influence he had to get the advantage in the divorce. Despite all of that, even after he slapped her in the face by allowing Claire to move in with him as his official girlfriend, Billie hadn't been able to resist Porter's seductions. Their sex life had been amazing from day one, and although she tried over and over again, when he came to her, they almost always ended up in bed. He had tried to keep her in his life—have his cake and eat it, too. He even used her affection for Tara to keep her in his bed. But finally, she had broken free of his hold.
She could look at him now and find him attractive, but not want him. It was a victorious feeling even though she still regretted that their marriage hadn't worked. But she knew she'd made the right choice. Billie didn't believe a marriage could exist without trust, and she did not believe Porter would never cheat on her again.
“I miss you,” he said. “I know you miss me.”
“I don't,” she answered bluntly.
Porter frowned again. “You know, I'm the one who should be angry here. You damn near destroyed my life last year.”
Billie could only laugh. “You got what you deserved. All your threats and games led to that. It's so like you to play the victim. Just go away, Porter.”
“Look, I'm not mad at you,” he said. “I forgive you.”
Billie rolled her eyes. This man.
“I want us to move on,” he said. “It would be best for Tara if—”
Billie leaned forward so quick she startled him. She pointed her finger in his face. “What did I tell you? I told you to never, ever use her against me again. I could still harm your career, Porter. I have enough dirt on you to get you disbarred.”
“I broke up with Claire.”
This was unexpected enough to catch Billie off guard. This was news. Did she care? No? Yes? What should she feel? When she'd found out that Claire had moved in with him, Billie was livid. When she'd thought that he was going to marry Claire, Billie lost her head and almost got arrested after attacking Claire. But now, it was over? Was that even true?
“It doesn't matter,” she said, leaning back in her chair.
She smiled, realizing this was the truth. She wouldn't lie and say she wasn't happy that Claire wasn't going to get to keep him, but, no, she didn't care.
“How can you say that?” Porter asked, seeming hurt by her reaction.
“I just did,” Billie said. “It is over between us, Porter. It has nothing to do with Claire or anything else.”
“I don't believe that. I can't. You aren't over me and I'm not—”
“Your arrogance is disgusting,” Billie said. “Porter, I think you need to know something.”
“What?” He scooted closer in his chair with an eager smile.
“I've started the process to legally change my name back to Carter.” She waited as his expression changed from bewilderment to anger to hurt. “Sorry, but you need to know that I've been using Carter professionally for a while, and legally it—”
“You made a name for yourself in the legal profession as Billie Hass,” he said, his frustration visibly building. “If you change it . . .”
“I haven't been a lawyer that long,” she said. “I think it's important I take my name back. We weren't married very long and—”
“It's Tara's name,” he interrupted. “You're her . . . You're like her mother.”
This made Billie pause for a second, but she quickly composed herself. “Tara is the only reason I've kept the name this long, but I have to do this. I am doing it. You know now.”
Porter looked like a little boy who had just been scolded. He looked as if he wanted to speak, but had nothing to say. This was a first.
“What in the fuck are you doing here?” Sherise asked the second she showed up. She was looking down at Porter as if she was two seconds from kicking him out of that chair.
Porter sighed and rolled his eyes. “I'm having a private conversation with—”
“No, you're not,” Billie said. “Good-bye, Porter. I warned you she was coming.”
“I'm not afraid of Sherise,” he said, standing up.
“But I see your bitch ass is leaving, isn't it?” she asked, placing a sassy hand on her hip.
“Fuck you, Sherise.” Porter's expression of disgust turned to pain as he looked from Sherise to Billie. “We need to talk later.”
“No, you don't,” Sherise said.
“Shut up,” he snapped at her, but Sherise just laughed in response, making him angrier.
He stormed off and Billie felt herself sigh in relief.
“What was he doing here?” Sherise asked.
“It's a public place,” Billie said. “Just ignore him.”
Sherise sat down next to Billie and studied her face. “Are you okay?”
Billie smiled and nodded. “I told him about my name change.”
“Let me guess,” she said. “He tried to talk you out of it.”
Billie nodded. “He even tried to use Tara, as usual.”
“You shut him down?” Sherise smiled, hitting Billie in the arm. “Look at you, girl. I'm so proud. Our little girl is all grown up and busting balls.”
2
E
rica was just a few seconds from the front door to the club when her phone rang. Looking down at the phone, she saw that it was Terrell and, with a smile, she picked it up.
“Where you at, girl?” he asked.
“I'm on my way to meet my girls.” Erica moved to the edge of the sidewalk away from the crowd. “What about you?”
“I'm doing what I'm always doing,” he answered. “Making that money. I'm waiting for some clients to come down from their place. I'm taking them to the Kennedy Center.”
Terrell Nicolli was Erica's ex-fiancé, a boy she had met when she was just twenty-one years old. She was working hard, trying to be a mom to her brother, Nate, so she had little time for a man in her life. But Terrell was persistent. He was a hustler from the southeast side of town nearby where Erica had grown up. When they'd first met, he was dangerous and sexy, but as Erica matured, she wanted something more stable and legit. Terrell loved her enough to go on the straight and narrow, and she responded to this life change with her devoted love.
He had moved up from cleaning cars for Destin Limousine Services to driving them. Over the four years they were together, he occasionally fell into some old habits, looking for ways to make a quick buck. Erica had forgiven him the times she'd found out, but most times he was able to keep it from her. When they got engaged, Erica thought their worst days were behind them. When she found out that he was intending to blackmail Jonah over his affair with Sherise, Erica just couldn't find it in her heart to forgive. Sherise was her best friend, more like a sister to her, and he was willing to destroy her life for an extra buck, not to mention ruin Erica's career at the Defense Department.
She believed him when he told her he was sorry, and she appreciated what he'd found out about Jonah being her father, but there was no way she could marry him. He begged her to reconsider, but she was too preoccupied with the shock of finding out Jonah was her father to try to work it out with him.
Terrell never gave up, but tried to give Erica her space. He would still text her or e-mail her from time to time. She rarely responded. Thinking of him made her think of all the bad things that were happening in her life. He would ask if he could call. At first she told him no, but after a couple of months, she agreed to let him call. When he would, they would talk, she would pick a fight, but he wouldn't get angry. He knew she was testing him and he learned how to pass every test.
When Erica finally agreed to start seeing him again, there was a part of her that knew this was inevitable. She had put a lot of years into her relationship with Terrell, and she believed he loved her. As her anger over the situation with Jonah began to subside, she found her heart wanting to forgive him. She missed him and the familiar warmth his touch gave her.
“You gonna tell them about us?” he asked.
“Is that what you called me for?” Erica asked back.
Even though they had gone out on a few dates and even kissed, Erica had not told Sherise and Billie about it. It was very rare that they kept secrets from each other, no matter what the consequences, but something told Erica her reawakening relationship with Terrell should be kept between the two of them while it was still so tenuous.
“You know what Sherise's stuck-up ass is gonna say,” Terrell said.
“Considering what you almost did to her,” Erica started, but caught herself. There was no need to rehash the past. “I'm thinking about it.”
“You know”—there was a heavy sigh on the other end of the line—“I've wanted to try and make it up to Sherise, but you kept telling me to stay away from her.”
“I know what I'm doing,” Erica said. “Sherise holds grudges . . . forever. Besides, you need to focus all your energy on my forgiveness, not hers.”
“I'm trying, baby.” He laughed. “If you let me, I can remind you of how convincing my apologies can be.”
“Slow your roll,” she said as she reached the door to the club.
They'd shared their first post-breakup passionate kiss only a couple of weeks ago. Their kisses had grown even more intense since then. Terrell had been eager to take their relationship back into the bedroom, but Erica wasn't having it.
“You have to win my heart the old-fashioned way,” she said.
“Baby, ain't nothing more old fashioned than a man and woman making love.”
“I'm not ready yet, Terrell.”
Erica didn't want good sex—or great sex, as it would be more accurately described with Terrell—clouding her mind. She was as horny as she'd ever been in her life, but she had to keep her head on straight.
“Yet?” he asked, excited. “That means it will happen and that's all I care about. I love you, baby.”
“I have to go,” she said, warming at the sound of his last words, but being honest with herself in knowing that they weren't enough.
 
“Hello, ladies,” Erica said as she approached the table where Sherise and Billie were sitting, already starting on their cosmopolitans.
“What is that smile for?” Sherise asked, curious. Erica's attitude had been pretty stinky for months now so this smile was new.
“Smile?” Erica shrugged her shoulders as she sat down and tossed her purse underneath the table. “I'm just happy to see my girls after a hard day's work.”
“Bullshit,” Sherise said, leaning forward. “You got some?”
“Sherise.” Billie hit Sherise on the arm, laughing.
“No,” Erica said, even though she couldn't help but smile. “I'm not even thinking about sex right now.”
“I call bullshit again.” Sherise leaned back in her chair and took a sip of her drink. “Every hot-blooded woman is thinking about sex at the club. Especially Billie.”
Billie, mid-sip, almost spit out her drink. “When did this come around to me? I'm minding my own business.”
“I'm starting to get worried about you.” Sherise analyzed her friend, looking her up and down. “I'm afraid your business is gonna heal over.”
“Hymens don't reform,” Billie said. “We've been over this. Also, six months is not that long to go without sex. You married people forget that.”
“You haven't had sex in six months?” Erica asked.
Billie shrank in the seat. Erica had practically yelled the question to be heard over the increasingly loud club just as an attractive male waiter came to their table. He was the only person who looked more uncomfortable than her.
“Should I come back?” he asked nervously.
Sherise was laughing while Billie covered her face with her hand.
“No.” Erica leaned over to him. “I'll have an amaretto sour.”
“Okay.” He smiled back before turning to Billie. “Six months isn't that long, even though you are about the finest woman in this club.”
“Excuse me?” Sherise asked.
Billie smiled, not as embarrassed as she had been only a second ago. It wasn't often that she didn't feel overshadowed by Sherise.
“Thank you,” she said politely with a flirtatious smile.
“So, are you interested in helping her out?” Sherise asked, looking the waiter up and down.
He looked at Sherise with an amused smile. “Me?”
“Sherise!” Billie warned. “She's just kidding. Don't—”
“No, I'm not,” Sherise said. “She doesn't have the balls to get back in the saddle on her own, so I'm helping her out. You interested?”
“More like pimping her out,” Erica said. “Leave him alone.”
“I would be,” he answered. “If I was into girls.”
“No,” Sherise said. “I have excellent gaydar and you are not gay.”
“As a bird,” he said. “We're not all fabulous, you know.”
As he walked away, all three girls burst into laughter.
“Why are we laughing?” Sherise asked. “Men like him get women into all kinds of trouble. You could've wasted your whole night flirting with him. Needs a damn stamp on his forehead.”
“I wouldn't have been flirting with him,” Billie said. “He's not my type.”
“He has a dick,” Sherise said. “That needs to be your type right now. Seriously, Billie, this thing you have with needing a relationship to have sex with someone is ridiculous.”
“Don't get us wrong,” Erica said. “We are both beyond happy and proud that you aren't falling into bed with Porter anymore, but that wasn't the only step in getting on with your life. You have to actually get on with it.”
“That means getting on someone else,” Sherise added. “Or under them.”
“You're right,” Billie said.
Sherise looked shocked. “Really? No more fighting me with waste-of-time pious arguments against casual sex?”
The truth was, Billie was horny beyond words. She was lonely and frustrated, and being a thirty-year-old single black woman in DC, she wasn't going to get anywhere just waiting around for someone to show up.
“So what do I do?” she asked. She hadn't dated since meeting Porter in law school.
“I got this,” Sherise said. “I know all the single, straight men in DC and—”
“Are you sure?” Erica asked, nodding toward their waiter, who was standing at the bar talking to the bartender.
“Shut up,” Sherise snapped. “I will find you a man, Billie.”
“Just be open,” Erica said. “Make eye contact with the guys here. If one comes up and asks you to dance, say yes.”
“I'm not gonna meet my next boyfriend in a club,” Billie said. “No way.”
“Just a dance,” Erica said. “You don't want to go home with anyone here.”
“She doesn't?” Sherise asked.
“No,” Erica answered, “but you want to flirt. You want to get that mojo going again. You trust me, don't you?”
She did. Billie trusted Erica and Sherise more than anyone else in this world. They were more than her best friends. They were her sisters. Their life together despite being different ages, growing up on the same block, in the same neighborhood in southeast hadn't been easy, but together they made memories to last forever and formed a pact, a promise to be there for each other and make a success out of their lives even though the world was telling them they weren't meant to.
They faced a lot of challenges as children, watching other girls and boys around them get lost in a system that was setting them up to fail. They knew there was a better life and they knew they would need each other to get through it. That meant focusing on their education, no getting in trouble, no drugs, and no getting pregnant.
It was harder on some of them than others. Neither Erica nor Sherise had a father around. Billie's father had been around until he was sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Sherise's mother didn't care about her, but both Erica and Billie had loving mothers until they lost both women to cancer.
In the end, it was the three of them that picked each other up when setbacks knocked them down, and they kept each other focused on having a better life than the one they started with.
“I trust you.” Billie pointed to Erica but turned to Sherise with a scornful stare. “But not you.”
Sherise rolled her eyes to signal how little that mattered to her. “I always only do what is best for you, and getting some non-Porter booty is what is best for you right now.”
“What about you?” Billie asked, eager to take the focus off her sex life.
Sherise knew what she meant, but smiled with an evil grin. “All my booty is Porter-free. Always has been and always will be.”
“Amen,” Erica added as she felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket.
“You know what I'm talking about,” Billie said.
Sherise hadn't always stuck to their promise to tell each other everything. While she had told them about her flirtation with Ryan Hodgkins, even going so far as to confess she had kissed him passionately, Sherise had never told them she actually slept with Ryan. Both girls encouraged her to stop seeing him immediately and she'd told them that she had. Of course, she hadn't.
When she'd found out she was pregnant, she told herself that, for Cady's sake, she was going to take her night with Ryan to the grave. After all, she could be Justin's, and even telling the girls, despite their vow to keep each other's secrets, even the slightest chance it could get out and ruin her marriage—Cady's chance to have her parents raise her together—was not worth it.
She had told them everything about her affair with Jonah Dolan because she had no choice. The affair was merging into their lives and she needed her girls to help her deal with the mess she had gotten in. Unlike Ryan, Jonah wasn't willing to let her go at first. Now, with her attempts to get pregnant not working out and her sex life with Justin losing its steam, Billie and Erica were the only two people she could talk to about it.

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