Southern Comfort (9781622863747) Read online

“Actually we are doing something different. Celebrating right here.”

  “Oh, that should be nice. Well I have things do to. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Katrina couldn’t help but watch Saura as her butt switched out of the kitchen. Katrina noticed all the men in her kitchen staff staring as well. She was excited things were finally coming together. Saura was okay and she had Willow. Things were working out better than she could ever imagine.

  Chapter 28

  The restaurant was live. Devon was able to book Teri’s favorite band to play. They prepared a special VIP area for Teri and their associates and coworkers. Katrina prepared a menu of all of various renditions of Teri’s favorite foods, everything from Buffalo chicken skewers to fried macaroni and cheese.

  A custom two-tier cake sat as a centerpiece surrounded by fancy pastries and various fruits along with a chocolate fountain. A specialty drink was created in honor of Teri including a mix of vodka and rum.

  Teri arrived with two women walking her to her private area as the band played one of her favorite songs. She was already liquored up as she high-fived people who came out to celebrate her birthday.

  Willow stood to the side with Ming and Carlos. Carlos looked amazing in a simple suit that fit him perfectly while Ming sported a black suit, white shirt, with a red and white bowtie and ruby red sparking shoes.

  “This is amazing,” Willow said to Ming who was on his third Teri cocktail.

  “Oh, honey, this is normal for these bitches. For Devon’s thirtieth birthday she threw herself a party in the zoo and arrived on the back of a camel. It was fabulous.”

  “Just wait until your birthday. I bet Katrina pulls out all the stops,” Carlos added causing Willow to blush.

  The three watched as the friends hugged each other. Willow loved the friendship they had. It made her miss her crazy friend Piper.

  “Happy birthday, buddy,” Katrina said rubbing Teri on the top of her head.

  “Thanks thanks, and fuck this party is amazing. I fucking love you guys.” Teri’s words were already slurring.

  “Teri, you might want to take it easy; you have the whole night ahead of you.” Devon tried to hand Teri a bottle of water, which she frowned at.

  “Just you don’t go getting drunk and throwing up again.” Teri threw her arm around Devon.

  “Or kissing other people’s women.” Katrina shot an evil glare at Devon who looked off, still slightly embarrassed for kissing Willow.

  “Hey the night is early. I might go slip Willow the tongue too.” Teri rubbed her hands together.

  “Ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none!” Devon and Teri high-fived.

  Katrina was not amused.

  The band took a break and the DJ started spinning. The dance floor filled quickly as Nicki Minaj’s latest hit blasted through the restaurant. Willow danced with Katrina, who couldn’t keep her hands from under Willow’s short melon skater dress. Willow showed off a few London moves when a song she loved came on. Devon tried to pick up the moves but was not a great dancer.

  A line dance played. Katrina showed Willow how to do it as the whole crowd moved in unison to the song. The next line dance was so new only a few people knew it, Ming and Carlos being two of the main ones doing every move perfectly.

  The DJ started playing old school hip hop. Katrina couldn’t believe how hype Willow got when “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa played. After the old school set the DJ slowed it up a bit, playing a sexy song by Miguel. Willow moved her hips against Katrina. She turned around pressing her butt against Katrina. Willow slow wound her body down and back up Katrina. Katrina bent her over as her butt gyrated to the beat.

  Saura stood by the bar, her eyes fixated on the steamy dance in progress on the dance floor. She felt her blood starting to boil. She was supposed to be out on the floor, not some British bitch. She could hear Beyonce’s “Ring the Alarm” playing in her head. She had listened to the song a million times in the last few days. She had enough; she wasn’t going out like that. She slammed her martini glass on the bar breaking the stem.

  Devon sat back in a booth talking to a cute stud she’d seen around a few times before. The girl was not only attractive, but a history professor at the University of Memphis. Her hair was short, as she had just started locking her hair. The woman asked Devon a question, but as she was about to answer she saw Saura slam her glass on the bar.

  “Oh shit.” Devon jumped up. She looked at the stud who was confused by her actions. “I’m sorry just give me one moment. Don’t move, please, don’t leave.”

  Devon proceeded to try to make her way through the crowd.

  Teri held a shot in her hand. She stood with Ming and Carlos about to toast to her birthday. Ming’s face dropped.

  “Teri, um, isn’t that sexy blackanese chick Katrina’s ex?” Ming pointed causing Carlos and Teri to look at Saura who was rushing toward the unsuspecting couple.

  “Oh shit.” Teri rushed fighting her way through the crowd.

  “Well come on, honey, we might get something for World Star,” Ming said following Teri toward the dance floor.

  Katrina felt a hard tap on her back. She turned around to see Saura standing there fuming.

  “Saura, what are you doing here?”

  “So you just gon’ embarrass me like this. How dare you bring this bitch around everyone we know!” Saura pushed Willow’s shoulder.

  Katrina quickly jumped in between them. “You need to go!” Katrina yelled.

  “Fuck does she have that I don’t have? She’s not half the woman I am!”

  “Excuse me?” Willow finally had enough of Saura.

  Katrina snapped her head around toward Willow.

  “Let me handle this,” Katrina barked at Willow. “Saura, you got to go.” Katrina tried to grab Saura’s hand but she jerked away.

  “Fuck you, Katrina. You are a fool. Do you know that? What do you fucking know about this girl? Nothing, Absolutely nothing. And you want to leave me for her?” Saura yelled.

  The crowd was now watching the spectacle as Saura turned her attention to Willow.

  “What do you know about my woman? Do you know any of her family? No, because they all love me! I bet you feel all happy because she’s with you. Well she was just between my legs a few days ago and I bet you she will be back!”

  Willow was speechless. She turned her head to Katrina who looked at her with guilt written all over her face. Saura continued to bark questions at her.

  “You will never be me! You are just something fun for now. A little foreign science project. Katrina is mine. She will be back.”

  The room was spinning. Willow wanted it all end. Katrina continued trying to contain Saura but she wasn’t moving.

  “Saura, girl, what are you doing? This is not the time or place for this,” Devon said as she tried to grab Saura’s arm.

  “Let go of me. I thought you two were cool with me and on my side. You got this whore living in your house. Fuck both of you!” Saura pushed Devon.

  “Okay where is security before I lose my cool?” Devon motioned for the staff to get security.

  “So what you trying to get me, put out? That’s great. Have me put out the place I helped you achieve. I found this building. I rooted you on. I supported your dream, and you leave me for this bitch! You know what fuck you and all of this. I don’t need this shit!”

  Katrina watched as Saura pushed people out of her way. Katrina turned around to Willow who was physically startled.

  “Are you okay?” Katrina rubbed Willow’s arms.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Fuck you, bitch!”

  All of a sudden Saura appeared behind Willow. Instead of leaving she turned and came around the side. She pulled Willow’s hair pulling her to the ground. Willow grabbed Saura’s dress, pulling her down on the ground with her.

  Katrina and Teri tried to break the girls up who were stuck in a hair-tugging battle. Carlos ran over, picking Saura up off the ground. Katrina forced her hands
open letting go of Willow’s hair. Saura fought to get out of Carlos’s strong grip. Security grabbed her, putting her over his shoulder as he carried her out of the restaurant kicking and screaming.

  “Baby.” Katrina rushed to the aid of Willow. She helped her up.

  “Fuck, this is some fucking bullshit!” Willow pushed Katrina away from her.

  Willow was pissed. Never did she expect to be in a fight in the middle of a restaurant. She had gone her whole life without ever fighting, and the moment she fell for a woman she got in a brawl.

  “I want to go, now!” Willow snapped as she stormed off the dance floor.

  “Take her home. I’ll take care of things here,” Devon said to Katrina who was standing in the middle of the floor with her hands on her forehead in complete disbelief over what just happened.

  The couple drove in complete silence all the way back to Devon’s house. Willow slammed the car door as she stormed to the back of the house. Katrina sat in the car, not sure how to deal with the situation at hand. Things had gotten out of control. She knew Willow had a reason to be upset.

  Katrina gave Willow a few minutes by herself to calm down. She finally opened the door to the guest house to find Willow sitting on the side of the bed still fuming from the events. Katrina sat in the armchair. She didn’t know what to say.

  “I can’t believe this happened,” Willow finally spoke.

  “I don’t know what to say. I am so sorry, Willow.”

  “Why was she even there?”

  “I don’t know. No one invited her.”

  Suddenly it hit Katrina. She had mentioned the party to Saura when she came to her office. She wanted to slap herself for the slip up. She had no idea Saura would show up.

  “Was it true?”

  “Huh?” Katrina questioned.

  Willow looked directly at Katrina. She wanted to see her face when she answered the question. “Was it true? Did you sleep with her?”

  Katrina felt the walls closing in on her. She knew she couldn’t lie. She lowered her head. That was all Willow needed. She jumped up and grabbed her suitcase. Katrina watched as Willow started throwing her clothes in the bag. Katrina rushed over and grabbed Willow’s arm.

  “Wait let me explain.” Katrina tried to hold Willow who pushed her off.

  “There’s nothing to say. You weren’t supposed to be doing anything with either of us and you slept with her.”

  “I didn’t mean to. I was drunk. That’s not an excuse but please wait!” Katrina begged. Katrina grabbed Willow’s arm, pulling her close to her. Willow fought to get away but couldn’t break free of Katrina’s strong hold.

  “Let me go!”

  “No, Willow, you have to believe me.”

  “No!” Willow mustered up all her strength to break free. “I trusted you and you lied to me. You let her make a fool of me tonight!”

  “I am so sorry. It was a mistake,” Katrina begged. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “Get out!”

  “Willow.” Katrina felt like someone hit her with a car.

  Katrina stood helpless as she watched the tears rolling down Willow’s angry face. She didn’t want to leave, but knew staying could only make things worse.

  “Willow, I want you. I don’t want her. I made a mistake and I regret it so much. But that doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Please just leave me alone.”

  The trembling in Willow’s voice broke Katrina’s heart. Defeated she left the guest house. She stood outside the door as she watched Willow disappear into the bathroom. Katrina didn’t know what to do. She wanted to travel back in time and erase everything but she knew she couldn’t.

  Willow sat on the edge of the bed. She didn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry. When things were finally shaping up in one fell swoop everything changed. She wanted to get out of the city. She had gone her whole life without a physical altercation and now she had two within a few days.

  Willow all of a sudden felt completely alone. She picked up her tablet, happy to see the green light next to Piper’s name was on. She pressed talk and in moments her friend’s face appeared on the screen.

  “Willz, it’s been like forever, chick. What’s upper?”

  Willow noticed that Piper was wearing one of her outfits. She was too exhausted to question her about it. Willow explained all that happened that night. Piper for once didn’t interrupt; she let her friend pour her heart out about the entire situation. They sat for a moment in silence after Willow finished explaining.

  “Willz, I really don’t know what to say besides it’s kind of what you signed up for.”

  “I didn’t sign up to be fighting bitches and shit.” Willow rolled her eyes.

  “But you said you were willing to go to war for her. Well, you did. At least you don’t have any physical battle scars.”

  Willow fell back on the plush pillows on the large bed. She held the tablet up over her head. “Why does it have to be like that? Why should I have to fight for something I want?”

  “Because if it’s not worth having if it’s not worth fighting for,” Piper replied. “I loved Corrie and no matter all our issues I was willing to put up with them because I felt she was worth it.”

  “Was it really worth it though? Considering all the things and the way it ended?”

  Piper thought about the question for a moment. A smile formed on her face. “Yeah, it was.” Piper nodded. “We had some fucked-up shit, but we had some amazing shit, too. I like remembering the good stuff. I mean, Will, whatever you decide in the end, you can’t say that it hasn’t been one amazing ride.”

  Willow and Piper said their good-byes. Willow turned over, pulling the comforter over her head. She had to admit it was a roller coaster; she just didn’t know if she wanted to continue to ride.

  Chapter 29

  Teri didn’t remember how she got home and had no idea who was cooking food in her kitchen. She stumbled out of bed and headed down her hallway. She bit her bottom lip when she saw a chick with an incredible, thick, round ass standing by her table wearing a pair of high-cut panties that didn’t hold any of her ass. The woman turned around and smiled.

  “Porsha?” Teri rubbed her eyes as she walked into the dining room.

  “Hey, I figured you would need some breakfast after last night.”

  Teri sat down at her bar. Porsha sat a plate with two Belgium waffles in front of her. She poured Teri a glass of orange juice.

  “Let me apologize for whatever I might have done last night.”

  Porsha laughed. “We didn’t do anything. I knew you were drunk so I drove you here.”

  Teri looked up at Porsha. “I don’t remember driving to the restaurant.”

  Porsha shook her head. “You didn’t. I drove you here in my new car. I bought me a little used Mazda 6.”

  “Oh that’s cool. Congrats,” Teri said chomping down on a bit of one of the waffles.

  “Thanks. It’s used but it gets me to where I need to be.”

  “That’s all that matters.” Teri smiled. There was something different about Porsha, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

  Porsha stood up and headed to the kitchen. Teri watched through her bar window as Porsha cleaned up the area she used to make the breakfast.

  “Oh and whoever you been fuckin’ needs to start grocery shopping. You lucky that box of pancake mix fell out of my grocery bag and I found it in the back of my car.”

  “What makes you think I’ve been fucking someone?”

  Porsha shrugged her shoulders as she wiped the counter. “Well let’s call it wishful thinking. I would hate to believe you just broke it off with me for absolutely no reason at all. The best thing I could think of was something better came along.”

  Teri felt an ache in the pit of her stomach. She knew she didn’t handle things right. “Look about that—”

  “You don’t have to say anything.” Porsha shook her head.
/>   “No, I really want to explain.” Teri put her hand on top of Porsha’s.

  “Okay, well explain. Why did you do it the way you did? I really liked you. I thought you liked me too.”

  Teri realized how terrible the truth was going to sound. She left Porsha because of her background, when now she found herself being treated the same way by Victoria.

  “Honestly, I can’t explain. I think I’m not a person who is looking for serious and I saw it coming and needed to end it before things got too heavy. In the back of my mind I thought it would be the better thing.”

  Porsha pressed her plump lips together as she nodded her head up and down. She stood up. “It’s cool. Hey not that I thought it was going to be anything real anyway. I mean I’m not dumb, but I know I wasn’t really on your level.”

  “My level?” Teri gave an inquisitive gaze.

  “Come on, you are super educated and stuff. I am just a regular girl. I knew I would never fit in with your group of friends or colleagues.”

  “Porsha.” Teri felt the horrible feeling in her stomach again. She was at a loss for words; she knew everything Porsha was saying was true, even if it was messed up.

  A big smile came over Porsha’s face. “But you know what? You actually helped me more than you know. When you stopped messing with me I realized just how much of an effect you had on me.” Porsha sat back in the chair holding Teri’s hand. “I was sitting at home furious listening to my roommates talking shit about you in our small little apartment. I never want to come to your house so bad, not because I wanted you, but just because I missed the space and silence.”

  Teri and Porsha both laughed.

  “Seriously I knew I hated my job and that I could be doing so much more. So I applied at ServiceMaster and got on with Terminix in sales. I’m making an insane amount of money and they have tuition reimbursement so I am now enrolled at Southwest.”

  “No, shit. You go then, girl.” Teri high-fived Porsha.

  Porsha was gleaming with pride. Teri realized that she never truly paid attention to more than Porsha’s body. Sitting at the table, with no makeup on, she was able to see just how beautiful Porsha really was.