The Countdown to Thirty (15 page)

My glance shifted to Riley then to Celeste. I didn’t have a
good feeling about this, “What did you guys talk about?”

“Dancing,” Celeste said proudly, “So she can make her own
money and support herself.”

Riley was ashamed to look me in the eye, she knew that was
the last thing I wanted her to do.

“Wait, what? How did we go from school to stripping? No,” I
said turning to face Riley, “What you can do is find a normal job, something
you can put on your resume. I can help you out with a little car, Celeste can
you pitch in?” I asked putting her on the spot since she called herself
creating solutions.

She exhaled sounding frustrated, “Yes but a little bucket is
not going to work and neither will a job at McDonald’s or waiting two years
until she finishes school before she can make some money. She needs a job now;
her and Mama are struggling right now.” She snapped.

“Mama, are you really letting her consider this?”

Mama wouldn’t look me in the eye, instead she looked down at
the table but still spoke her mind, “She’ll be okay, she don’t have to do it
forever.” Now looking up at Riley she said, “But that Derrick gone have to go,
I’ll be damned if you up there doing that and he just letting you while you pay
the rent.”

“Y’all I don’t know, I think what Kaia said sounds good for
me. I don’t have to work at McDonald’s. I can find a better job.” Riley said,
“Mama I can still help you out.”

“Well look, she ain’t living our life! She got a degree and
some money, we struggling right here right now!” Mama said pressuring Riley.

Celeste agreed, “That’s right.”

That was it, why was I still doing this to myself? I loved
my family, all of them, but I’m tired of feeling like the black sheep. Here
they were the closet family that I have and they make me feel like an outsider
every time, no wonder I’ve clung to Malcolm for so long, I just needed to feel
love. Mama and Celeste were jealous of my accomplishments instead of being
happy for me and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I stood up, grabbed my purse and headed for the door.

“Oh here she go, being all dramatic for nothing.” I heard
Mama say.

Riley ran to me, “Kaia don’t leave yet, please stay.”

I gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek, “I love you Ry. Call
me tomorrow so we can talk okay?” I said looking her in the eye. She was still
sweet and I didn’t want her opinion of me transforming into that of Mama’s and
Celeste’s. Most of all I didn’t want her selling herself out for quick money.
“I might have an idea.”

“Okay, I love you to, don’t be mad.”

I turned around and called out to Mama and Celeste as I
prepared to walk out of the condo, “I love you guys and I’ll talk to you
another time.”

Perhaps I made that last statement to them to keep the peace
or perhaps I made it because I wasn’t sure when I was going to talk to them
again. Whatever the reason, I knew I still loved them but that I couldn’t let
them manipulate Riley or let Mama manipulate me anymore.

“Call me,” I mouthed to Riley with my hand to my face
indicating a phone.

She smiled and eagerly nodded, “Okay.”

I checked out of my hotel and headed for the 10 freeway
determined to make it back home to Vegas where I would stay put for a while.
Once I passed Victorville I increased my speed to ninety-five while my mind
replayed everything. I was angry at Mama and Celeste, scared for Riley,
optimistic about getting my relationship back with Malcolm and uneasy about my
upcoming meet up with Christian.

As I drove the dark stretch of highway into the middle of
nowhere I asked the Lord to bring me happiness in the form of a loving husband
and beautiful children. I knew they would love me and wouldn’t misjudge me for
wanting and accomplishing more in life than my family had.

Sonya

I drove to the nearest CVS just a few blocks away and
thought I was being smart by wearing a baseball cap and bringing my umbrella.
As soon as I climbed out of my Mitsubishi and shut the door, an unruly gust of
wind and rain attacked me blowing my cap off my head and flipping my umbrella
inside out.

“Aagh! Oh my God! Oh my God!” I screamed as I went running
through the parking lot chasing my cap and fighting with my umbrella to get it
to cooperate. I could feel the cold rain seeping through my beige velour sweat
suit and my hair turn from a cute short cut to a wet flat mess.

I abandoned my cap when I watched it blow into a puddle then
retreated to safety inside CVS.

“Shit! Shit!” I said standing at the entrance stomping my
boots on the mat and trying to ring the rain water from my pants, “All this for
a rubber dildo?”

“Excuse me, are you alright?”

The deep voice with a strong east coast accent coming from
behind startled me sending my shoulders in the air and a wave of embarrassment
over my body. I spun around quickly hoping that whoever this person was didn’t
just hear what I said. Immediately my eyes focused in on an extremely
attractive man with sleek dark skin who was wearing a subtle laugh outlined by
his black goatee. He was currently dripping beads of water from the top of his
neatly dreaded head to the bottom of his blue jeans.

Damn he looks good. What’s he laughing about? Oh God I
hope he didn’t hear what I said.

I ran my hands through my muddled hair and honorably
responded, “Yes I’m fine, thank you. I just got a little wet that’s all.”

Anyone looking at me could tell I was more than just
a
little wet
and if anybody could read minds they’d know I was completely
embarrassed.

With a half laugh, half smile on his face he extended his
hand offering me something, “I saw you in the parking lot, chasing your hat, I
got it for you.”

“Oh, thank you,” I said grabbing it quickly and putting it
on my head, “You didn’t have to do that.

“No it’s my pleasure.” He said as he began removing the
excess water and dirt from his boots onto the CVS welcome mat, “Looks like you
were having a hard time back there.” He chuckled.

And there he went again with that damn laugh. I bet he got
an even better one when he watched me running through the parking lot like a
fool. My face was wet from rain and hot from embarrassment and I couldn’t wait
to grab the batteries then run like hell out of CVS.

“Yep,” I said as my eyebrows shot up and my lips curled into
a closed mouthed grin. “Thanks again.” I said shortly as I turned to walk away
and get as far away from this man as possible.

“You’re welcome.” He called out but I couldn’t be bothered
enough to turn around.

I walked briskly through CVS as my boots squeaked and my
soaked pants clung uncomfortably to my ass. The store was decorated for
Halloween and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ played on the overhead speaker
reminding me that the holiday season was officially on its way. It wasn’t even
October 1
^st
yet.

I found my AA batteries but winced when I saw the price,
“Five ninety-nine for a four pack of batteries? Girl you know you need a job.”
I said to myself as I scooped them from out of the rack.

Or a man
.

My snooty subconscious ever so kindly reminded me that I was
a serial self-pleasurer and tended to make me feel a little…guilty about it.
Regardless I shook the thought right out of my head then headed for the cash
register.

When I got there the line was long and there was only one
cashier working the counter. I took my place behind a heavy set white woman and
her preteen son who turned around and gave me the ‘
what the hell happened to
you
look.’

With my hand pointing towards the door I replied with a
little more sarcasm than necessary, “It got a little wet outside.”

His mother turned around giving me a customary smile then
directed her son’s concentration back to the line.

While Thriller still played in the background, a deafening
roar of thunder struck commanding the attention of everyone causing us to give
each other uneasy gazes. The sky turned to a spooky darkness as thunder and
lightning continued to strike and the rain fell hard at a slanted angle against
the outside pavement.

“How the hell are we supposed to get out of here?” I asked
myself while looking around the store to gage the reactions of the other
patrons. Coincidently my eyes met the lingering gaze of the guy who recovered
my baseball cap as he stood in the magazine section. He didn’t smile with his
mouth this time; instead his eyes offered a warm
hello again
like he was
speaking to me from across the store without saying a word. He didn’t seem to
be too concerned about the storm. Instead all of his attention was on me.

“I know he’s not trying to flirt.
Is he?
I look a hot
mess.” I thought as I flashed him a very quick and routine smile before turning
back around in line.

The other patrons who had already purchased their items
began to gather at the front entrance, refusing to go out into the storm. There
was no way anyone could drive in this weather, there was too much rain and wind
to see clearly. You’d be lucky to make it out of the parking lot without
getting into an accident.

Suddenly I felt dumber than dumb for going out in the rain
to relive a wet dream with the former love-of-my-life turned psychopath. Not to
mention guilty. I hated to admit it to myself but I was almost just as pathetic
as Terry and her prison pen pals; almost but not quite. Yet still, I couldn’t
manage to step out of the line and place the batteries back in their respective
rack, I had needs after all. I made my mind up right then, right there that I
would never ever fascinate or relive another sexual experience with Lamont. He
didn’t deserve it plus I could only imagine his reaction if he knew just how
much I missed his touch. His ego would be through the roof.

I paid cash for the batteries after throwing in a Snickers
and a pack of Five Gum then headed towards the store entrance to revel at the
power of the storm. There were about ten or so other people who were also
gathered at the door. Looking outside I watched a few cars pull over to the
side of the road and flash their emergency lights to let other cars know they
were there. The stop lights at the four-way intersection had gone out and were
blinking steady yellow lights just like the cars. Others were either incredibly
brave, incredibly stupid or both and continued on driving while their
windshield wipers swished back and forth doubtfully making their vision of the
road any clearer.

“I think I’m going to make a run for it.” A thirty-or-so
year old white man said to the group.

Was he crazy? A run for it where, to his car and then do
what?

Then the same deep voice I heard earlier spoke up from
behind frightening me, “Sir, I don’t think you should do that.”

I turned around and there was my hat saving friend, speaking
with enough power and authority to command the attention of the group.

He towered over us with his tall physique; I was guessing
6’4 or so, while looking the khaki shorts wearing man right in the eyes; taking
ownership of his statement. He must have annoyed the man because he crossed his
arms over his chest while he rolled his eyes and redirected his attention back
to the storm.

I shook my head back and forth, “Some people.” I said under
my breath.

A few moments later I was surprisingly aroused when I heard
my friends whisper in my ear, “Watch, he’s gonna make a run for it.” He
advised. The masculinity in his voice and the spicy cinnamon scent from his
breath against my skin caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand with
excitement.

I turned to my left to face my friend who had keenly moved
forward and taken a stance right next to me. He looked at me with steady eyes
once again making his interest in me known.

“How do you know?” I asked attempting to withhold the
arousing feeling he’d just given me but still coming across with slightly more
interest then I wanted to convey.

“Look at him,” he said inching a little closer to me, “He’s
mad. He wants to prove a point, he’s arrogant.

I chuckled a little bit, “And what are you?” I asked as
another powerful round of thunder and lightning struck lighting up the opaque
sky.

He stood with his hands deep in his pockets as he gave a
sexy laugh, “I’m not arrogant, but I’m good at reading people. Just watch.”

With curiosity, I turned back towards the crowd standing
closer than ever now with this man who’d just made my heart skip a beat. I
turned my head to get another quick look at him, God his profile was sexy. I
wanted to stare longer but when he turned and his eyes met mine I felt a surge
of embarrassment and quickly diverted my attention back to the white man in
khakis. Not a moment later just as predicted there he went dashing out the
doors holding his CVS bag in his left hand and his car keys in his right. We
all watched closely as he jumped off the sidewalk in his beige flip flops while
his white t-shirt quickly became soaked and tight around his body.

“He’s not gonna make it,” said my friend.

Without realizing I’d inched even closer to his side,
shoulder to shoulder with him now as I tried to get a better view. He didn’t
seem to mind. And Like clockwork, the foolish man skid in his flip flops, lost
all possible balance and landed on his butt right in the middle of the parking
lot. Simultaneously everyone in the group, including myself, let out a loud
gasp as we painfully watched him fall to his humiliation.

“See,” he stated with a grin on his face.

I tried to hold in my laughter but as I watched the man
agonizingly stand up, his khaki shorts now exposed a large, wet, black spot
right in the ass area. I erupted into uncontrollable laughter that I tried to
silence but was left unsuccessful. With my stomach clenched tight as I bent
over with giggles, tears began to fall from the corner of my eyes. My dreaded
up friend joined me in the moment while some of the other patrons snickered
along and others gawked at us like we were the lowest human beings on earth.

Trying to regain control over myself I faced my friend and
said, “You know we shouldn’t be laughing like this,” while laughing all the
while.

Still in the middle of his deep and steady chortle he
responded, “Yeah but it’s funny. He’s not hurt, just his pride is.”

The man limped back into the store with a sour look on his
face as the group made way for him. He was dripping wet, dirty and visibly
pissed-the-fuck off. I quickly turned around and tried to muffle another burst
of laughter but it was too hard. The man had already spotted me and looked like
he wanted to break me in two.

“Here,” My friend said as he unfolded a plastic lawn chair
that was on sale in the store. “We might be here for a little while, so if you
don’t want to end up like humpty dumpty over there, put your feet up and
relax.”

He placed the blue and white striped plastic chair down near
a haunted house display that was filled with candy for sale and covered in
artificial spider webs. This guy made me laugh, he was smooth and his offer was
tempting, so I sat. But only because there was no telling how long I was going
to be trapped in this store. I watched him unfold his chair with confidence as
if he wasn’t worried about a store clerk stopping him. His medium lengthened
dreads swayed back and forth as he hovered over his chair positioning it just
right.

Still unfazed by the monsoon we were experiencing, he
extended his large veiny hand and said, “I’m Kyle.”

 With mild hesitation I accepted his greeting and shook his
hand, “Sonya, nice to meet you.”

I wasn’t use to meeting men anymore, let alone being stuck
in the store with one unable to leave when I wanted. My stomach was filled with
butterflies as I sat there next to Mr. Kyle.

I wondered how good of a lover he was.

“Nice to meet you to,” he responded, “I guess the weatherman
was right huh?”

“Yea, I guess he was. It was so nice out earlier, I can’t
believe it turned into all of this.”

He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees as he
spoke to me, “So Sonya, what was so important that it brought you out from the
comfort of your home into the middle of a storm?” His inquisitive eyes looked
like he was enjoying this, having me cornered with no choice but to speak to
him.

I couldn’t answer that question truthfully so instead I
lied…sort of, “Batteries…for my remote. I knew it was going to be a long night
with the storm and all and I didn’t want to be up and down with the TV all
night.” I said playing it off like it was no big deal. “It was raining when I
left but I thought I’d be home before it got this bad.”

He laughed, “Yea me to….actually, I took a walk to the store
instead of driving. Guess I picked the wrong day to stretch my legs.”

Looking at him with surprise I said dramatically, “Oh, so
you don’t know-it-all.”

Revealing his pearly white teeth he gave a modest smile, “No
I don’t.”

Then he paused before he spoke again, “But I do know if you
had a good man at home you wouldn’t be stuck in a storm buying batteries for
your uh…remote.”

He knew! I knew he knew!
For your uh, remote,
he
thought he was funny. My face got warm again and any minute now my little
chocolate cheeks were going to be painted red. But I had to admit he had a
point, if I wanted a man and had a good one, there’s no way in hell I’d be
sitting in a plastic lawn chair inside CVS; instead I’d be at home creating the
real thunder and lightning in the bedroom.

I didn’t quite have a comeback I could say out loud for that
one so I didn’t respond. For a moment there was an awkward silence between us,
but I could tell he wanted to say more.