Easier Said Than Done (27 page)

“What did Brandon say?” Essence asked, her voice trembling..

“Just tell me why, Essence,” Keela fumed, throwing her hands up in the air and making her way to the couch. “Don't try to confuse things or take time to get your story straight. Trust me, I'm not the one today. You slept with the father of my baby. What was the problem? You weren't happy with all the other men you'd been playing? You had to have mine, too?” Her mouth twisted with contempt.

“He was no good for you,” she replied with a straight face.

“What do you mean? Who died and made you God?” Keela's stone wall started to crumble and her voice rose. Suddenly her eyes opened even wider with understanding. “Oh, I get it. Brandon is the new guy you've been seeing. He's the one you've been sneaking out of town to spend time with. Right?” Keela prodded before wailing, “Why, Essence? Make me understand why,” she demanded, slamming a fist into her palm, her eyes welling up with fresh tears.

“Keela, it was a mistake and I'm sorry it happened, but I can't change it now. I would understand if you hate me, but I hope you don't.”

“Trust me, this would be a lot easier if I could hate you.” Keela leaned back and crossed her arms beneath her “A” cup breasts. “The only thing I feel right now is pity. You have a problem and you need to talk to somebody about it. A therapist or somebody—anybody, but you need to get help. God, I want to strangle you!”

Essence burst into giant sobs that didn't move Keela. “It's too late for tears, you've done too much dirt. Remember when you spent the night at my house after Bitty's birthday party at the Estate Club? Well, when you went home you left a card on my kitchen table. A love card from what I know now is a mutual friend.” At the look of open-eyed shock that flashed across Essence's face, Keela smiled the kind of smile that could get you committed. “You know what
I'm talking about. I bet you went crazy trying to figure out where you left it. Unfortunately, I didn't put two and two together until tonight, but now the initials on the card make sense, so I think you need to explain some things to Kingston.”

Essence walked to the coffee table where she placed her cup, then hightailed it right back to where she was standing. She sniffed and patted at her wet cheeks with the backs of her hands.

Keela's words had snapped me to attention. “To me?” I asked, pointing at my chest. “How the hell did I get into this?”

“Ever heard the saying, ‘when it rains, it pours'? Well, the storm has only just begun, right, Essence?” Keela was on her feet now, pacing back and forth, throwing cutting glances at Essence. “Either you tell her or I will,” she threatened.

Trying to figure out what to do, Essence stared at Keela, her eyebrows lifted, her eyes darkened and she twisted her hands together.

“Somebody better tell me something.” My back stiffened, I crossed my arms in front of me, and I tapped my toe, ticking off time as my head swiveled from Keela to Essence then back to Keela.

“Brandon's not the only boyfriend that Essence has helped herself to,” Keela supplied as she placed her hand on my shoulder, bracing me for more. “Apparently she and Randy have
spent quite a bit of time together. The initials on the card were R.B.” She turned her eyes to me. “ I'm sorry that I didn't realize sooner that the card was from your Randy.”

I was on my feet lightening fast; and when she didn't answer, I took a menacing step, forcing her to take a quick step back. “Essence?”

Her trembling hands flew to cover her face and she moved her head from side to side. “ It's true,” she said, her head hung low.

“What do you mean, it's true?” I felt as if I'd gotten in the way of a moving train. Flattened. “Do you realize what you've done?” I raged.

Instead of something resembling apologetic, Essence bristled. “Look, it's this simple—Brandon and Randy were losers. I'd told you that over and again. I was beginning to sound like a broken record. I'd told you all the different ways I could and you still weren't hearing me. I was getting sick of sitting around watching the two of you get hurt, so I took action. Seeing is believing right?” she asked, a wild look in her eyes.

My stomach lurched in disgust and I threw my hands up. “You sound crazy.”

“I was looking out for the two of you—my best friends. I couldn't stand watching you in pain, hearing you cry over the phone; especially not over some no-good man.”

Yes, Essence sounded crazy—and looked crazy too, her eyes not only wild, but blurred over, hands in constant motion while trying to make her point.

“You're the one causing the pain and the betrayal. It hurts twice as much coming from you, because we had faith in you. And you threw it away like it was yesterday's trash. I never thought some man would come between us.” Keela's eyes welled up again.

“So you're going to let some men, who didn't really want you anyway, break up our friendship?” Essence asked, exhaling loudly. “I did it for you guys. Doesn't that count for anything?”

“You didn't do it for us. You did it for you. You're a selfish, conceited woman who has no conscience. You're the one who damaged this friendship. You don't care who you hurt.” I waved my finger at her. “Something has really fucked you up along the way. I don't know if it's your parents' relationship or if you have some kind of weird addictive behavior that prevents you from controlling your sexual impulses, but whatever it is, you need help.” When Essence didn't respond, I shook my head. “You don't get it, do you? You don't think you did anything wrong?”

“You're not even trying to understand what I'm saying,” Essence whined.

Keela's eyes narrowed. “There's nothing to understand. You're wrong, own up to it. You've betrayed our trust. But I guess we should've known that if you'd do it to other women, you'd eventually do it to us.” She paused. “I just wanted to talk to you face to face, give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“And I appreciate that,” Essence said. “But what about Brandon and Randy? I didn't do this alone.”

“Brandon and Randy have already been dismissed,” Keela said, her voice steady. “You were the last piece of business to be dealt with. We gave you a chance to say your piece, and now I'm done with it.” Keela started picking up long-forgotten coffee cups and crumb-filled napkins. “Kingston's tired and needs to unpack.” She carried the items into the kitchen.

“Are you telling me to leave?”

“That's exactly what I'm telling you,” Keela retorted.

“I want to get this resolved,” Essence responded, her hands on her hips, before turning to me, “Kingston?”

“It's not about you right now,” I said. When she suggested that we meet for breakfast, I rolled my eyes. “I don't think so, Essence. We'll call you when we're ready to talk. Respect that.”
I stood my ground and Essence assented, but I saw something else brewing in her eyes. I wasn't sure if it was denial or anger, but to me it spelled trouble. She paused before turning sharply on one heel and walking down the stairs. Neither Keela nor I spoke until we heard the front door slam behind her.

“I am really sorry, Kingston,” she said as she turned on the water in the sink and began washing the dishes.

“There's no reason for you to be sorry.” I waved off her apology, falling back onto the couch with a thud, my legs about as firm as Jello now. “I had my suspicions about Essence, but I couldn't let myself go there, especially with no proof. I'm not tripping off Randy, but I hate feeling like a fool.” I dragged my hand through my hair. “My whole world has changed in the space of a few days. Yours, too, huh?” I hated the hollow feeling that was eating away at my insides. “So, what do we do now?”

“We just go on, I guess. What is it they say? Time heals all wounds? It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, but we'll be fine.” Keela dried her hands on the towel hanging over the faucet before joining me in the living room. She squinted her eyes, then asked, “There's nothing that you need to tell me, is there?” softening her question with a wink.

I laughed and hit her on the leg. “Hell, no. What about you?” Her laughter joined mine and soon we were howling so hard, tears streamed down, making our faces a soggy mixture of sour betrayal and sweet friendship.

Chapter 22

Clad in one of my old t-shirts, Keela spent the night, passing out in the guest room before the lights were off. For me, sleep did not come as easily. I let Cocoa out to use the bathroom, unpacked my suitcases, watched some TV, worked on my proposal for Scooby's album, but still couldn't wear myself out. After another hot shower, I crawled into bed. Stretched out, I lay on my back, then my side, then my stomach, turning my sheets into a tangled mess. When I did ease into sleep, it was restless, disturbed. Then, the phone rang, at three o'clock in the morning!

I said, “hello,” hesitantly, pulling the sheets over my head until they made a tent, feeling like I was fifteen again, sneaking in a phone call.

“Were you sleeping?” Golden brown honey, disguised in the form of a voice, glided over me.

I pushed my hair out of my face. “Damon?”

“Yes, baby. I didn't wake you, did I?”

“Uh, no, not really,” I stuttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “I was having some trouble falling asleep.”

“Still having nightmares?”

“Not since the other night. I think I've put Joanne to rest.”

“I'm glad. That's just one less burden for you. You try to be so strong, Kingston.”

“Why are you calling, Damon?”

“Straight to the point, huh?” He chuckled. “I couldn't sleep either and I needed to hear your voice. I miss you, Kingston.”

“Really?” I asked, not wanting to be pleased, but I was.

“I guess it would be too much to expect you to tell me that you feel the same way.”

My lips curved lightly. “Yes, that would be too much.”

“In time.” He was confident—overly so—but that confidence turned me on. “When are you coming back to Jamaica?”

“I just left,” I replied. Damon's eagerness was also a big turn on. Not in a demeaning way. But his it signaled that the tables had turned and now I had the upper hand.

“It seems like you've been gone forever. But forget about me, you have Mama Grace's business to attend to. Trust me, everybody's anxious to see what you're going to do.”

“I know.” Groaning, I burrowed even further under the covers. “Dammit, my life is here. My career is starting to take off. How could Mama Grace expect me to pick up and leave? I have
a house, friends . . .” I hesitated, my thoughts flickering to Essence. Disbelief and shock, the heavyweight contenders in the boxing ring that had become my life. I wanted to tell Damon everything, but was scared I'd be opening myself up to even more heartache.

“Maybe she knew where your heart really lies. Your spirit is Jamaican through and through. You should be here basking in the golden sunshine, swimming in the blue waters, shopping in the market place, continuing the legacy Mama Grace worked so hard to establish, and . . .” Damon's statement hung in the air unfinished.

“Be there with you?” I asked.

“That, too,” he said, then added teasingly. “But that would be considered a perk.”

“You're so damn arrogant.” I flipped over.

“Not arrogant, just sure. Sure about you. Us.”

I tried to force down the desire that was rising in me. But it just sat there swelling, expanding and threatening to consume. Just when I thought no words would escape, I asked, “ And what makes you so sure?” Even to me, my voice sounded seductive, and I wanted it that way, wanted him to be turned on as much as I was.

“Hmmmm, you sound delicious, sleepy and sexy at the same time. I want you here so I can make love to you until the sun rises, then sets again.” His words continued fanning the fire that had been ignited.

“What about your patients?”

“They can wait. I need a healing that only comes in the form of you.”

My heart jumped in my throat. I sat up and wrapped my arms around my naked legs. “ This is a bad idea.”

Damon sighed. “Whether you want to accept it or not, I still love you. No matter how hard I try, I can't get you out of my mind. When I saw you again, all the feelings I had for you ten years ago came flooding back ten times stronger. The way you smell, the way you taste, the way you looked while I was making love to you in the hot tub.”

I closed my eyes and shared the same vision: Damon and I, water glistening in the moonlight, our bodies joined as one. My breath started coming in short pants, forbidden juices dampened my inner thighs.

“I can see the perfection of your nipples, feel the fullness of your breasts in my hands, remember how your legs wrapped themselves around me while I was buried deep inside of you. Jesus, Kingston, I'm getting hard just thinking about it, thinking about you.”

I licked my lips and imagined it was Damon's tongue tracing their outline. I closed my eyes, gripping the phone as if it were my lifeline and squeezed my legs together, trying to contain an explosion that just might be inevitable.

“What are you doing?” Damon's voice sounded muffled as if he were fumbling with the phone.

“Listening,” I answered weakly.

“Can you imagine me there next to you? Kissing you? Touching you?” he asked.

And when I answered, “Mmmm hmmm,” I knew I had crossed the threshold of no return. My pulse quickened with every word that floated from his mouth.

“Will you touch yourself for me? Run your hand over your breasts and your nipples, slowly. Do that for me.”

I groaned as I followed his instructions, an overwhelming need to please and comfort him took over, just as he was pleasing me.

“Good,” Damon murmured. “Can you feel my lips on your breast, my tongue teasing your nipple?”