Southern Comfort (9781622863747) Read online

  Teri threw her middle finger up at Devon over the smart comment.

  “So, Willow, what is it that you see in my friend here?” Teri said sitting in a chair next to Willow. Devon joined them, sitting across from Willow.

  “What’s not to see in her?” Willow blushed.

  “How did you guys meet?” Devon asked.

  “Well Katrina wasn’t ready for London weather. It started raining and she ran into the first place she saw. That just so happened to be the coffee shop I was sitting in. We started talking and we haven’t stopped talking since.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet.” Devon smiled at Katrina who was grinning from ear to ear while working on the grill.

  “I talked her into riding the London Eye with me.”

  “Wait, this big scaredy-cat got on the London Eye? Get the fuck outta here.” Teri sipped her beer.

  “Oh she was beyond nervous but she did it. But the funny time was the cliff diving in Italy.”

  “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?” Devon joked.

  Katrina brought the tray of cooked fish over to the group. They each took a piece. “It was horrible. I will never do it again,” Katrina said as she sat in the chair.

  “I just wanted her to experience some of the things that I love about each country.” Willow smiled.

  Devon and Teri both noticed the lovesick look in Willow’s face. They looked at each other, knowing they had a little bit to worry about.

  “It was an amazing experience.” Katrina bit a piece of her fish.

  “And look, you found a girl in the process,” Teri joked.

  Katrina flipped Teri off.

  “So how long are you going to stay here with us, Willow?” Teri asked.

  Willow shrugged her shoulders. “I planned for two weeks but I also didn’t plan to go around Europe for a month with her.”

  “And I didn’t plan to spend two extra weeks in London.” Katrina smiled at Willow.

  “So we are just going to play it by ear I guess.” Willow didn’t care if she ever left. Memphis was growing on her.

  “Well well well, looks like the whole gang is here.”

  The group turned around to see Saura walking in from the house.

  “Saura, what are you doing here?” Katrina stood up.

  “Well I missed my friends so I figured I would stop by and join the party. Hi, guys, did you miss me as much as I missed you?” Saura patted Teri on her shoulder. Willow tried not to look at Saura but she could feel her eyes on her.

  “Okay, Saura, really, is this necessary?” Devon questioned.

  “I think it is. I mean my girl is sitting over here without me. I didn’t think that was right.”

  “I’m not your girl.” Katrina walked over grabbing Saura by her arm.

  Saura quickly pulled away. “No, I want you all to hear this.” Saura stood her ground. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause a big scene. I just need you all to hear what I have to say.”

  “What do you have to say, woman?” Teri snapped.

  “As I sat in the house that we shared for two years together I realized that this shit right here isn’t right. I am not going to just give up my woman without a fight.”

  “I’m not your woman; you need to roll.” Katrina tried to grab Saura’s arm again but she jerked away.

  “I’m not going to fight you,” Willow chimed in. She wasn’t going to let Saura get the upper hand again.

  “I am not talking about a physical fight.” Saura rolled her eyes. “Katrina, you know in your heart you are not completely over me. You may tell that lie to her but you, I, and your friends know the business.”

  Willow looked at Teri and Devon who were both trying to dodge her glare.

  “So I have an idea. Katrina, you want to get to know this girl. Well I feel you should also give me a second chance. So I think you should date both of us.”

  “Saura, what the hell have you been drinking?” Teri questioned.

  “Nothing, but I’ll take some of that wine.” Saura took Devon’s glass off of the table.

  “Saura, I’m not playing this game with you. Now you need to leave!” Katrina demanded.

  “Wait.”

  All eyes were on Willow. She sat up in the chair.

  “I think it’s a brilliant idea.” Willow folded her arms.

  The group of friends all protested.

  “Look, Katrina, you know how I feel about you, but I know I am not going to be completely happy until I know for a fact that you are over her. And the only way for that to happen is if you get all unfinished business out of the way. People date more than one person all the time. You aren’t committed to me, so why not test the waters, figure out where your feelings really lie?”

  Saura threw her hands in the air. “See, I kinda like this girl already. Katrina, I’m not giving you up that easy. I deserve my time to show you that I mean business.”

  “This is bullshit,” Katrina huffed. “I’m not playing some game. It’s not fair to either of you.”

  “Well, Katrina, to be honest they both do have a point,” Teri interjected. “Spend time with both of them; see which one you are more invested in.”

  “No, I’m not doing this. Willow, why are you okay with this?” Katrina turned to Willow.

  “Because I want you to want me and only me, and can you honestly say right now that you don’t still have feelings for her?”

  The only sound was the sound of the waterfall. Katrina knew it was a bad idea but something also intrigued her about the situation. She could work though her feelings with Saura without hurting Willow in the process.

  “I gotta think about this.”

  “Well while you think I feel like you shouldn’t sleep with either one of us. Actually, date us both, no sex involved.” Saura sipped the wine.

  “No sex, oh hell no, that’s a terrible idea after all.” Teri folded her arms while shaking her head.

  “This whole thing is asinine,” Devon huffed. “No one can truly date more than one person. You won’t be giving your all to one.”

  “When you realize the one you want to spend the most time with then you will know who you are supposed to be with. And I have no doubt in my mind that will be me.” Saura rolled her eyes at Willow.

  Katrina felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She looked at Willow and Saura who were both staring each other down. Both women were beautiful and she had feelings for both of them. Could this crazy idea actually work?

  “I have to think about this,” Katrina said. “But as of now you need to go.”

  Saura finished the glass of wine, placing the empty glass back down. She stood up. “May the best woman win.” Saura grimaced toward Willow.

  “I’m sure I will.”

  Chapter 20

  Katrina watched as Willow settled into the guest house. She stood in the doorway watching Willow’s every move, hoping to see a sign that she wasn’t really okay with what happened earlier. “Are you sure you will be all right out here by yourself?”

  Willow smiled. It was a good sign that Katrina was so worried about her. “I think I will be just fine.”

  “Willow, how are you okay with this bullshit?” Katrina sat on the edge of the bed.

  Willow joined her, placing her hand on Katrina’s thigh. “Katrina, can you look me in my eye and tell me you are completely over her?”

  Katrina stared at Willow in her big brown eyes. She sighed; she couldn’t answer the question.

  “See, I understand because you guys had all that time together. You didn’t expect to meet me, and neither of us knew what was going to happen after that day in the coffee shop. You were supposed to take that time to be alone, but instead you were with me. You didn’t have time to get over her.”

  Katrina couldn’t argue with what Willow was saying. She knew a piece of her used Willow to get over Saura. But she still couldn’t help thinking it was the best thing to happen to her.

  “This is crazy. I fee
l like a total asshole. You came all the way here and you have to deal with this mess. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t want to deal with me anymore.”

  Willow placed her hand on Katrina’s cheek. “The only way I’m going anywhere is if you tell me to.”

  Katrina loved the way Willow’s lips felt against hers. She wanted to make love to Willow but she wasn’t having it. She left the guest house, hot and bothered. Teri and Devon were sitting in Devon’s living room watching a rerun of Girlfriends. Katrina closed the patio door behind her.

  “Looks like you got yourself in quite a bit of a pickle there, love.” Teri attempted a terrible British accent.

  “Oh my God, what the fuck is happening?” Katrina plopped down on the sofa, covering her face with her hands while her friends got in a hearty laugh at her expense.

  “Look, for real, what the fuck kind of magic skills do you have in your tongue that you have these women willing to duel for your raggedy heart?” Teri joked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Katrina snarled.

  “You got damn right I want to know. This is some crazy stuff.”

  “It’s really not that crazy,” Devon chimed in. “The whole purpose of dating is to get to know a person to see if you want to take it to the next level. People date multiple people at once all the time.”

  “That is true,” Teri responded. “You aren’t with either one of them. You are technically single. Why not play the field? Hell you should have been playing the field anyway after getting out of a long-term relationship.”

  “Right. You have only been single for what, two, three months?” Devon sipped her wine.

  Katrina listened to her friends; the whole thing was actually making sense to her. It was a unique situation but it would allow her the time to figure things out.

  “The only thing I don’t agree with is the whole no sex thing; what the hell is up with that? How are you supposed to even know which you want without having sex with them?” Teri folded her arms.

  “Is that all you think about?” Devon rolled her eyes. “You act like she hasn’t already slept with both of them.”

  “Hmm.” Teri rubbed her chin. “Okay, so tell me, Tree, based off of sexual skills alone, right now which on is in the lead?”

  “I’m not answering that.” Katrina shook her head.

  “Oh come on, which one has the magic vagina?”

  Katrina threw a pillow at her vulgar friend.

  “Come on, you know you know the answer to it.” Teri was grinning from ear to ear.

  Katrina thought about the question. “That’s actually kind of hard to answer. They are both good in different ways.” Katrina continued to think.

  “What ways?” Devon asked.

  Katrina smirked. “Okay, so Saura is sexy as shit, and kinky, too. She will let me do practically anything to her.”

  “Aww shit I knew she was a freak.” Teri rocked back and forth in her chair.

  “Yeah, but Willow is sexy as hell. Her body is amazing and she tastes so fucking good. And I’m not sure about her freak meter because I haven’t tried as many things with her as I have with Saura.”

  All three girls laughed. Teri stood up. “Ladies and ladies we have the battle royal. In one corner the Asian Attack Saura, and in the other corner the British Bombshell Willow. Who shall come out victorious?” Teri belted out sounding like an announcer as she fell back in the chair.

  Katrina excused herself from her giggling friends. From her room she watched the light in the guest house go out. For her to have two women vying for her attention she sure felt lonely sleeping alone.

  Chapter 21

  Katrina watched as the health inspector walked through the restaurant with a fine-tooth comb. On top of everything else she had to pass this final inspection for the restaurant to open full time. She didn’t think she had anything to worry about, but she felt a bit nervous anyway.

  “All right we checked everything and you are good to go.” The inspector handed her the sheet with a grade of ninety-nine.

  “What is the one point missing for?” Katrina asked.

  “Saw a piece of ice on the ground. Watch that,” the inspector said and smiled as he left the building.

  Katrina high-fived her sous chef as she retreated to her office for a private celebration. Katrina checked the newspapers for articles on the opening. Everyone had amazing things to say, which only made her day go even better.

  “Knock knock.”

  Katrina looked up to see Saura standing in the door. She obviously came dressed to impress. The jeans she had on looked like she painted them on. Her halter shirt only enhanced her already supple breasts.

  “What’s up, Saura?”

  “Well I figured you might get hungry so I brought you food.” Saura held up a bag.

  “You brought me food, to my food establishment?” Katrina shook her head.

  Saura walked in and closed the door. “Well it’s not just any food; open the bag.”

  Katrina obliged opening the bag. She pulled out a sandwich wrapped in a greasy wrapper. She couldn’t help but laugh. She knew the packaging well. “What were you doing at Snootys?”

  Saura sat in the chair in front of Katrina’s desk. “Remember the first time you took me there? I was absolutely mortified.” Saura smiled.

  “Yeah, then you proceeded to eat two of these bad boys.” Katrina laughed as she opened the cheese steak.

  “You couldn’t believe I had such an appetite. I told you the black side of me loved to eat.”

  Both women laughed. Katrina felt her guard falling down.

  “So, Saura, why did you really come back?”

  Saura lowered her head. “Los Angeles just wasn’t what I expected,” she mumbled.

  Katrina opened the sandwich. She cut it in half and slid half of it in front of Saura. Saura picked it up and took a bite.

  “It has to be more than that. It was your dream after all; and don’t say it was because of me.”

  “Honestly, Tree, it was because of you.” Saura glanced at her ex. “Don’t get me wrong, Los Angeles was beautiful, the beaches and all that stuff. I even had some gigs lined up. But as I watched those sluts I lived with bring home man after man I realized that I didn’t want that kind of life.”

  Katrina found herself hanging on to every one of Saura’s words.

  “I was happy here. What we had was special. I always thought I wanted more fame, but honestly the only person I really wanted was you. And now I might have lost the one thing that I want more than anything else.”

  Katrina could see the hurt in Saura’s face. She watched as Saura fought to hold back tears. Her eyes tightened more than they usually were.

  “So this sandwich, it’s quite amazing.” Katrina smiled.

  “Yeah, like always.” Saura smiled back.

  The two enjoyed each other’s company for the first time in a while.

  “Be still,” Teri said as she stuck her head back under Victoria’s skirt.

  They were going at it at least once a day in Victoria’s office. Teri loved the rush of office sex. She wondered if anyone would ever knock on the door or even try to come in. Victoria was just as kinky. The bigger the risk the more she enjoyed it. She made Teri bring her strap to work so she could fuck her on her desk. She would call her secretary and have her write things down while Teri was sexing her just to see if she could hold it together.

  “Oh right there,” Victoria breathed as shockwaves pulsed through her body.

  Victoria’s waves covered Teri’s tongue. Teri held her position, wanting to stay in the moment until the very end. As soon as her moment ended Victoria pushed Teri away. In seconds she was sitting back at her desk as if nothing had happened. Teri washed her face in Victoria’s private bathroom. She made sure she was presentable before walking out of the room.

  “Hey so I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite at my friend’s restaurant tonight?”

  Victoria looked up from her computer. “Um, are y
ou asking me out?”

  “If you want to be technical I guess. I’m just asking if you wanted to grab something to eat.”

  “Aw, Teri, you aren’t getting serious on me are you?” Victoria pressed her lips firmly together.

  Teri didn’t know how to feel about the question. She hadn’t been in a situation where a woman didn’t want anything from her besides sex, literally. She felt a little offended but shook it off. “Dude, it’s dinner. I didn’t ask you to marry me.”

  “Let’s just stick to what we have going on. No need to rock the boat.”

  Victoria began typing away at her computer again. Teri walked out of the office, making a mental note not to come back.

  Devon sat at the small café table with her head buried inside a home décor magazine. The Arnold Palmer was refreshing, giving her the energy she needed to endure the Memphis heat. She folded back the edge of a page of a piece of wall art she thought would be perfect in one of her guest rooms.

  “Well, well, the beautiful Devon here again.”

  Devon pulled her eyes from the magazine to see Shanice standing in front of her. Shanice smiled as she put her shades on her head.

  “Do you really love this place or are you stalking me?” Shanice winked.

  “You know I like this place.” Devon put her magazine down. “Can you hurry up and move back to Harbor Town so I can eat in peace?”

  Shanice put her big purse on the table and sat down in the empty chair. The waitress came out with a menu and asked if she wanted anything to drink.

  “I’ll take a sweet tea,” Shanice proceeded to order while Devon gave her a disapproving look. She handed the menu back to the waitress and settled into the seat.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m about to have lunch.” Shanice pulled her phone out.

  “Okay, there are free tables inside.”

  “I don’t want to sit inside.” Shanice didn’t look up from her phone.

  “I didn’t give you permission to sit here.”

  “I know.” Shanice finally placed her phone on the table. “Do you want me to leave?”

  Devon closed her eyes for a moment only to meet Shanice’s stare when she opened them, her eyes fixed directly on Devon. Devon noticed Shanice’s face was thinner than normal. Her cheekbones were more defined. She knew Shanice wouldn’t hesitate to have unnecessary surgery, but this looked natural.