The Countdown to Thirty (16 page)

“So,” he said finally breaking that silence, “you grew up
here right?”

“Yes,” I replied warily.

“You probably went to Cimarron High School, graduated class
of 06’ with honors and got crowned Homecoming Queen, am I correct?” He said way
too confidently.

I stiffened. Who was this guy? How did he know so much
information about me? Suddenly this game wasn’t so fun anymore.

“Yes,” I said circumspectly ready to ease myself out of the
lawn chair and take my chances with the storm, “How do you know all of that?”

He chuckled then moistened his lips with his tongue as he
began, “We went to the same high school. We had a few classes together.”

Still skeptical and caught off-guard I challenged, “Which
classes?”

“Well,” he stared, “I sat behind you in Mr. Jefferson’s
physics class in tenth grade, Mrs. Toussaint’s English class in 11
^th
grade and I sat beside you in Mr. Ojeda’s film class senior year. If it means
anything, you looked cute out there earlier chasing you cap.” He chuckled again
before continuing, “To be honest I wasn’t even coming here, I was jogging back
to the house when I saw you in the parking lot. You’re still beautiful. I could
see that a mile away.” My heart began to beat a little faster and those
butterflies in my stomach we’re fluttering like they were invited guests
instead of pests. I took a deep gulp not knowing quite how to respond. My eyes
focused in on his baby smooth chocolate skin, sensuous soft lips and sexy
flowing dreads that complimented him oh so well. I wondered how long it took
him to grow them, then how it would feel to pull on them if we were tangled in
bed together.

Stop it Sonya! Get your mind out the damn gutter!

Instead of telling him every dirty, kinky, nasty thought I
was thinking at the moment I replied, “Hmmm, okay let me think.”

I hadn’t been to high school in nearly a decade and
shamefully couldn’t remember many people from those days, but I wondered how a
fine one like this slipped past my radar. I had vague memories of Mr.
Jefferson’s Physics class and that was partly due to fact that I hated Physics.
Mrs. Toussaint’s class was somewhat of a blur but that could be because she was
one of the strictest teachers in the school and opposed any talking or fun so I
don’t recall him there either. Now Mr. Ojeda’s film class I loved. It’s where I
first learned of the classics like Sunset Boulevard, Vertigo and The Graduate.
He said he sat beside me, but I still couldn’t remember Kyle. Could this guy be
lying in order to flirt with me?

Well if he was lying he wouldn’t know what classes you
took obviously.

“I don’t remember I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. I was a real quiet dude back
then being new to the city and all, a little too quiet. I use to spend a lot of
time writing rhymes or drawing cartoons and crazy shit like that. Right after
graduation I went back to Boston with my Dad. Came back and look who I run
into, Ms. Homecoming Queen herself.” He said flattering me in a genteel way.

So that’s a Boston accent I’ve been hearing. I was guessing
more New York. Goes to show you how much I know about the east coast.

“Thank you,” I blushed after every piece of flesh in my body
did exactly what my mind told it not to do which was blush.

“So you didn’t really come to the store for that magazine
and bag of Funyuns?” I asked pointing at the random contents in his bag and
getting down to his true motives, or maybe even mines.

He smiled, “No not at all.”

Being stuck in a store during a storm and forced to converse
with this mysterious Mandingo will definitely be a good addition to my boring
diary. I could see it now, reading that entry back a year down the line and
wondering what ever happened to him, trying to remember why he made me so damn
horny and why my butterflies never stopped fluttering. It was something about
the raspy tone in his voice and his self-assured demeanor that had my interest
perked, that kept my mind drifting to what pure uninhibited sex with him would
be like. My thoughts were so loud I was grateful for the roaring thunder.

“So tell me, are you married, single, in a relationship?”

Geesh, I guess he really has changed. He knows how to ask
the tough questions like nothing.

Yea he sure isn’t worried about drawing cartoons now.

“I’m single, I’ve never been married.”

Fifteen minutes of convo later the rain had mercy on us all
and finally slowed its pace to a light shower. My silent prayers had been
answered and I didn’t need to keep up my charade of pleasantries with Kyle. I
know what he wants from me because it’s the same thing my body craves from him,
sex, and that’s not going to happen.

Most of the group by now had scattered throughout the store
but were now headed to the entrance to make a quick getaway while the coast was
clear.

“Well it was nice seeing you again,” I said to Kyle as I
stood and began to fold my chair.

He quickly stood and took over possession of my chair,
folding it back into place. We stood face-to-face as he looked me in the eyes
with deep intensity, casting a spell over me which caused me to be momentarily
hypnotized by his beauty.

“Let me take you out to dinner.” He said smoothly as he
again moistened his full brown lips with his tongue.
If he only knew what he
was doing to me inside.
As a matter of fact I bet he did, I bet he was used
to having his way with women and making them fall in love then breaking their
hearts when things got
too serious.

I didn’t have time for this but I couldn’t be rude to him,
“I can’t, I’m really busy.” I lied.

“Maybe when you’re not busy then,” He responded while
placing the chairs back where he’d gotten them from then following me out the
store.

“I’m always busy.” I said releasing a laugh.

We parted ways and I began walking towards my car. I turned
to flash him a genuine smile this time, “Thanks for the hat.”

He stood there with a smile of his own watching me as I
walked away, “Your welcome.”

Not until I got into the car did I feel completely
comfortable again. No more nasty thoughts and no more flirtatious conversation.
Releasing a sigh of relief, I put my key into the ignition and turned it but
heard nothing. I stepped harder on the break and tried turning the key again,
but still I heard nothing but silence.

“No, no, no, shit!” I said as I gave the steering wheel a
solid punch.

I tried starting the Mitsubishi again, praying that this
time I’d hear the roar of my engine as soon as I turned my key…but I was wrong.
I let out a loud groan and gently rested my head on the steering wheel while I
contemplated what to do next.

My roadside assistance card! I could call roadside
assistance and they’ll send somebody out to help me. I reached in my purse for
my wallet then pulled out my member’s card and called their 1-800 number. When
the rep on the other end of the line told me my membership expired a month ago
and that she couldn’t help me unless I paid a hundred dollars to reinstate my
roadside coverage I yelled, “I’m broke, how’s that gonna help me!” Then hung up
in her face in frustration.

Thanks to the rent and car payment I just made it wiped me
out. My bank account was barely alive, surviving on a measly fourteen bucks
after my CVS purchase.

With my head resting on the steering wheel I went back and
forth in my mind between calling my mother or Saundra for the money for a tow
to the nearest auto shop, which I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford, then a
ride home where I should have been in the first place. I knew neither one would
mind helping me but I didn’t want to ask. I was tired of asking for favors
because my luck was shit.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I jumped in my seat and almost had a near heart attack at
the loud knocking on my driver side window. I wore a look of fright until my
eyes adjusted and realized Kyle was the one knocking.

“He must know I’m in troubl
e,” I thought as I tried
to roll down my window with no luck. I did my best to put a pleasant look on my
face as I opened the door but that was easier said than done, it was obvious
that I was stressed out.

“You need some help?” He asked.

“No, I think I’ll be okay. I’m going to call AAA here in a
minute.” I lied.

“Let me help you, pop your hood.” He said as he walked to
the front of my car ready to inspect.

My hood? Where the hell was the switch or the lever for
that?

Right there and then I told myself that if I was going to be
on my
Ms. Independent status
I needed to learn how to fix a damn car, or
at least be able to locate the lever for the hood.

Embarrassingly I called out from the driver’s seat with a
nervous laugh, “I’m not really sure where that is.”

He walked over to me and bent down. I swallowed hard with
nervousness as his hand skimmed my thigh while he searched around for the
lever. There was a moment of awkwardness as he felt around until I heard a loud
“Pop!”

“Got it,” he said with a smirk of satisfaction on his face.
He was very aware of what he was doing to me. God I hated that.

I watched him as he gracefully stood then placed his dreads
in a ponytail before heading back to the front of the car.

“
He’s cute girl
,” My subconscious said distracting my
mind from more important matters like figuring out what the hell was wrong with
my car. “Oh shut up.” I said crossing my arms over my chest.

After tinkering around with my car Kyle had me attempt to
start the engine a few times with no luck.

“Sounds like your battery is dead,” He called out. “Not a
big deal, I’ll swing you by an auto store, you can buy a new one and I’ll put
it in for you.”

I released a sigh of relief that that was all it was, but I
was also worried because I didn’t want to tell him I didn’t have the money for
the battery, how humiliating. Instead I stalled and told him it was alright, my
mother was going to come.

“I can just take you, there’s a store close by.” He said
dropping the hood back into place and coming around to my side of the car.

He knelt down in between me and the car door. Taking a deep
gulp as I swallowed my pride I faced Kyle, “Look, I can’t really afford a new
battery right now so I’m just going to call my mother. I’m sure she won’t mind
helping me out, thank you though for your all your help.”

He paused for a moment, I knew it. He was probably thinking
I was just another broke chick who couldn’t pay her way because she didn’t have
her shit together when she knew she was too damned old not to have her shit
together.

“Batteries on me,” he replied before standing to his feet.

“No you don’t have—“I said before he cut me off.

“Batteries on me,” he insisted with more authority in his
voice, “C’mon, my house is around the corner. We’ll take my truck.”

I don’t know if it was what he said or the way he said it
but my body reacted to his words instantaneously. As I grabbed my purse to
follow him the little voice went off again in my head.

Well I guess chivalry isn’t dead
.

Instead of silencing it this time, I allowed it to have its
moment of expression since I agreed, I finally agreed.

Kaia

“So this the gym where you met Mr. Lovely.” Sonya mentioned
sarcastically.

“Yep, this is it but he works at the other location on the
weekends.”

Sonya and I’d just walked into Galaxy Fit Zone ready to take
on this Zumba class together. GFZ in my opinion was more of a “Global Gym”,
like the one in the movie Dodge Ball with Ben Stiller but without all the
craziness. It was nicely situated off the freeway in a huge two story building
that included an upstairs track, indoor pool, four full sized classrooms,
boxing ring, a jumbo movie theatre sized screen outlined with many slightly
smaller screens and its own health and fitness version of Jamba Juice complete
with cashiers and seating.

I hadn’t exactly told Sonya that Malcolm and I were back on
regular speaking terms, I knew she would disapprove. She had her money on
Christian and for all she knew I hadn’t seen Malcolm since the night I made him
tacos. However, I was willing to forgive and hadn’t totally given up on Malcolm
yet. The day I got back from LA we met up at Serendipity’s for lunch where he
apologized for everything. Eventually, we ended up going back to his place
where I gave him some and I wasn’t mad about it.

“Wow, it’s really….”

“Big?” I said completing her sentence.

She laughed, “Yes, very big, very high-tech. Look at those
meatheads over there,” She said nudging her head towards a few men in the
free-weight section. Their bodies were so muscularly built it made their heads
look tiny. “I bet they live at the gym.”

“Eeew, that’s gross.” I replied shaking my head. “Enough is
enough already.” I added while we momentarily watched them try to best each
other in weight lifting.

After locking up our gym bags in the ladies room area we
headed to room one with about fifty other women and began doing floor stretches
before the instructor came in.

“I’m so glad I’m here, I need a good workout.” Sonya stated

“Me too, my stomach is starting to get a little pudgy.” I
said breaking my stretch to give my stomach a little tug and shake.

Sonya laughed, “It still looks flat though, maybe you just
need to do some crunches.”

“I need to do something. I bet I can’t even run a mile in
under seven minutes anymore.”

“You use to be able to do that? I’ve never been able to do
that, I’m so not an athlete.” She responded.

When the instructor walked in all the women in the class
began to clap and cheer. From my little experience this told me he was one of
the favorites. He was a good looking Hispanic man with a long black pony tail,
nicely built calves and a killer white smile. He walked up on stage and hit a
few buttons on the wall dimming the main lights and turning on the red and blue
strobe lights. He took a moment to revel in his praises before he said
anything.

“Is he about to perform a concert?” Sonya asked leaning over
to me.

I continued clapping as I replied, “Girl I don’t know, this
is crazy.”

“He must be a real ladies man.” Sonya commented.

When he opened up his mouth to speak Sonya and I looked at
each other with raised eyebrows.

He spoke in a Latin accent emphasized with a clearly gay
tone, “Hey ladies welcome to Zumba! If this is your first time raise your
hands, come on girls get them up! Get them up!” He said looking into the crowd.

Sonya raised her hand along with a few other excited women.

“Okay ladies my name is Tony and I’m going to get your heart
rate pumping by working your legs, your thighs and your booty so you can look
like me!” He exclaimed turning to the side to show off his plump behind.

The whole class cracked up.

He started the music and spoke into his headpiece, “And
remember! Nobody’s allowed to walk out of my class or I’ll remember you next
time and work you harder okay! Okay let’s get ready to Zumba!”

The loud beat thumping music started and in no time everyone
fell into Tony’s grove and began to move and shake body parts no matter how out
of shape or uncoordinated they were. It didn’t matter, we were all women and it
seemed like for once we weren’t competing with each other but instead
supporting each other in our personal goals to lose weight or stay in shape.

Twenty minutes in I looked over at Sonya and saw she was
beginning to sweat like a pig, but she had moves though. Maybe I would have to
convince to her to come out to a club with me one day.

“Keep it up Sonya! Work it!” I said cheering her on as we
held a squat position while rotating our butts and hips in a very sexy manner.

“Oh I got this girl,” She said while dabbing sweat from her
face and neck.

Approximately thirty minutes later Zumba class came to an
end and I wasn’t sorry to see it go. I still considered myself an athlete but
my endurance just wasn’t what it used to be in high school or college. Still, I
never stopped and according to the class schedule I burned about six hundred
calories and some of this extra thickness from my thighs and butt.

Sonya spoke while she attempted to catch her breath, “Let’s
get our stuff…and get…a drink girl.” She said pointing towards the juicing
station they’d named the Health Bar.

We sat at the black circular tables and people watched while
we took our wheatgrass shots, drank our health shakes
and
caught up on the latest.

“So how are the jewelry pieces working out? When do I get to
see them?” I asked after swallowing my shot whole.

“Well,” she started, “I don’t want to brag on myself but
they are quite exquisite. Shouldn’t it be a crime to be smart, beautiful and
talented?” She said unabashedly.

“Triple threat, I’m not mad at you.”

She smiled then proceeded in spilling more details about the
wedding, “So according to my sister, Corinne is becoming more and more of a
bridezilla every day. I’m just glad I don’t have to be there to witness it all.
She’s changed the bridesmaid’s colors three times in less than two weeks.”

“Ugh, I hope I’m not that picky when I get married.”

“It’s not in your DNA Kaia. We’re talking about an
over-the-top diva here. I can’t even imagine myself being that radical when I
get – well if I even bother with getting married someday.” She corrected.

“But can you believe she wants me to be her little brother’s
date to the wedding?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Ugh, what’s wrong with that is that he just so happens to
be the most condescending asshole in Vegas.” She confessed.

“He can’t be that bad. It might be fun, a younger man.
Besides it’s about time somebody got up there and cleaned your chimney right?”
I said while I repeatedly raised my eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

She choked on her shake so hard tears began to form around
her lower eyelids. While raising her arms above her head in an attempt to cease
her coughing she caused a slight scene. The cashier even came from around the
counter to check on her but I told her she’d be fine.

When she came to she replied, “I don’t think so. I’ve known
Bobby’s ass for too long, it’d be like babysitting for free, not interested.”
She said rejecting the mere thought of it while dabbing the tears from her eyes
with a napkin.

Then as if she just realized what I had asked,
“Clean
my chimney? Where the hell did you get that one from?” She questioned as we
both erupted into laughter, “I think you’ve been hanging around me too long.”

“I’m just saying…you’re missing out.”

We talked about another ten minutes then headed back to the
ladies room, showered and changed into a fresh pair of clothes. On the way out
I took Sonya upstairs so she could see the indoor track at her request.

That’s when I saw Malcolm.

He was off in the distance on the other side of the track.
Apparently he was in the middle of a personal training session with a young
twenty something year old Filipino girl who seemed to be laughing more at his
jokes and extra touchy feely approach then concentrating on her squats to help
shape her square ass.

“Is that Malcolm over there?” Sonya asked incredulously.

I was embarrassed because not only was that Malcolm over
there but anyone with eyes could tell this was no ordinary training session.
And now, after all the hoopla I’ve been hearing from Sonya and Christian I
looked like a fool.

“Yes, that’s him,” I grimaced not even attempting to hold
back my dislike of his blatant frisky behavior.

He didn’t see us spying on him since we’d briefly taken
cover behind an elliptical machine under the auspices of reading the
instructions. Besides there was no way he could have with the flagrant way he
was flirting. Since when did person trainers dab the sweat from your neck and
breasts? Was that included with the membership or was it on the house? A part
of me wanted to break her neck, then his.

“C’mon let’s go say hi,” Sonya instigated while ushering me
forward.

Two days after our lunch I had to admit to myself that he’d
quickly began to revert back to his old ways. Not only had he failed to return
two of my phone calls but he pushed our dinner plans from this weekend to next
weekend because “something came up”. After watching him with Ms. Philippines
and her tacky blond highlights I now wondered
who came up?

“Look at him Kaia, this is ridiculous,” Sonya whispered to
me as we got closer, “She’s not even cute.”

“I know, I know. I’m just going to say hi and see what he
says. It’s nothing though believe me. She’s not even his type,” I rebutted
praying that what I was trying to convince Sonya of was the truth. But it was
apparent she wasn’t buying it. Even though she had shorter legs than me she was
walking fast enough, weaving in and out of the exercise equipment, to be ahead
of me by a foot or two.

As we inched closer with every footstep my head began to
warm. I knew he wouldn’t want me interrupting him or sneaking up on him while
he was doing
business
. I was just about to grab Sonya’s arm and stop
this pursuit when Malcolm took a moment to look up and caught my gaze. His face
went stone cold and his eyes bucked open in shock. I didn’t know what to do so
I just threw my hand up in a friendly waving gesture but he turned his back and
focused his attention on the girl. He went about his business as if he didn’t
see me at all.

“Oh hell no, did he just diss you?” Sonya asked unbelieving.

“Maybe he didn’t see me. C’mon.” I said with my pride now on
the line as I took the lead and approached Malcolm desperate to prove he
wouldn’t do this to me.

I approached him from behind with Sonya by my side for
support. I lightly tapped him on the shoulder but he hesitated for a moment
before turning around.

“Hey, how’s it going?” He asked with a great lack of
enthusiasm in his voice. He wore a look of annoyance and inconvenience in his
face like I was bothering him oh so much by saying hi.

“It’s going good. Sonya and I just got done with the Zumba
class. I was just showing her the track. You remember Sonya right?”

“Yea, somewhat,” he said rudely.

“I didn’t know you were working at this location again on
the weekends.”

“Look I’m kind of in the middle of work right now you –

“Malcolm who’s this?” Ms. Philippines asked as she spoke
with confidence in her tone and abandoned her squats as she stood and took her
position next to his side. It was way too close for comfort in my opinion.

Sonya and I looked at each other with what had to be the
same thought then shifted our attention to Malcolm to see what he had to say.

“Kaia this is Nessa, Nessa Kaia. I train her to.” He said.

Did he just diminish our last two years together and
simplify what we had down to a personal training session!

“Oh,” she said, “Well nice meeting you Kia.”

“It’s Kaia.” I said with grit teeth and rage in my heart.

She laughed me off, “Malcolm can we get back to work. I’m
thinking I want to work on my core now.”

“Yea sure, sure. Nice seeing you again Kaia. If you want to
schedule another session you can make the appointment with the front desk.” He
suggested trying to shoo me along like I was just some random bitch! I couldn’t
believe it.

“C’mon girl,” Sonya said ushering me away now just like she
ushered me in. I felt devastated, shit humiliated as we turned to walk away. I
felt like all eyes were on me and everyone knew just how badly he’d treated me.

“Nessa you may want to finish up with those squats.” Sonya
made sure to mention loud enough for several people to hear, “You’re looking a
little Sponge Bobby back there girl. You know square ass, dimples.”

I didn’t even turn around to see Nessa’s reaction. I just
heard her mumbling something in anger at Malcolm with a word that sounded like
duck and another one that sounded like itch in reference to Sonya’s comment.

As we walked towards the stairs I began to feel light headed
again like I was going to pass out. He did that. He just disrespected and
humiliated me like I was nothing. Sonya spewed obscenities under her breath
calling him and
Nessa
all sorts of names like bald headed bastard to
Sponge Bob Square Ass from the time we walked away to the time we got home and
cracked open yet another much needed bottle of chardonnay.

“Why the hell do I even bother?” I asked myself followed by
the
‘You know he’s fucking her right’ question.

Just the thought of him laid up in bed with her or any other
woman was enough to infuriate me and make my mind race with insecure thoughts
of
is she prettier than me, does she ride him better
and when he wasn’t
with me the infamous
is he with her right now
question.

Later that night while in a chardonnay induced coma my phone
began ringing off-the-hook. I was surprised to hear it. I was absolutely
positive it was a wrong number and because I was in what you would call a
drunken stupor, I silenced it without looking at the caller ID. I lay my head
back down and began to doze off into dreamland when the phone began ringing off
the hook again. This time I grabbed the phone answered it swiftly.