Full Figured 10 Page 3

  “I’ll be here.” I smiled.

  * * *

  I stared at my phone as I sat in my car, in the church parking lot. It had been over twenty-four hours, and I hadn’t heard from Onyx. I knew it was my fault. I came off as too inexperienced, and probably no man wanted to deal with someone like that. I wanted to cry. The first guy I had ever truly liked was gone before anything could even start.

  I grabbed my overnight bag and headed toward the church. I saw two of our older girls, Precious and Caitlyn, walking ahead of me.

  “Hi, girls,” I called out.

  They turned around and looked at me as if I had the plague.

  “Ms. Coral, what are you doing here?” Heather asked with a bit of an attitude.

  “Tangie asked me to come. You guys don’t mind me crashing your party, right?” I replied, trying to sound as hip as possible. They both looked completely uninterested as they shrugged their shoulders and gave each other a look of complete disapproval as we walked into the church.

  The other young women were already settled in the large room in the basement. A phone sat connected to a little blue speaker that looked like a pill, and it was playing music I had never heard before. I knew it wasn’t gospel. I suddenly realized that all eyes were on me. The looks ranged from confused to mortified at the sight of an outsider.

  “Hey, girl.” I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I turned to see Tangie, who was wearing a pair of cotton yoga pants and a tight tank top.

  “Coral, so cool that you came. This is going to be nice,” Heather said, walking in right behind Tangie. Heather and Tangie had been best friends since birth. They tolerated me, but I had never been one of the girls, and I definitely was not as close to one of them as they were to each other. Heather had had her first child when she was a senior in high school. Now she had two boys and was married to her church sweetheart.

  “Okay, ladies. So Ms. Coral has been gracious enough to come and party with us. She’s just like us. You can talk to her about anything, and the same rules apply,” Tangie said, addressing the group.

  Immediately, Precious raised her hand. “I’m sorry, and I don’t want to sound rude, but how do we know we can trust her like that?” Precious asked with her arms folded.

  From the heads nodding, I knew the other girls felt the same way.

  “Because Coral knows the rules. The moment this bell rings, this is an open space for anyone to talk about anything. Nothing leaves this room. Those are the rules,” Tangie assured them.

  I could tell my presence was going to take some getting used to, but most of the girls seemed to lighten up with Tangie’s words. I knew I needed to say something to reassure them.

  “I know that you guys don’t talk to me, but I promise you that I do not want to do anything to harm the bond you guys have formed here. I just hope that I can be a part of it and will offer any advice that I can,” I said, finishing with a smile.

  To my surprise, the rest of the girls quickly lightened up. Some even gave me a smile in return.

  We unpacked our sleeping bags and created a circle. I sat on the little bed I had made out of a comforter I had brought from home. I watched the girls laugh and show Tangie and Heather how to do new dances they had learned. Soon Tangie called for the circle of trust. All the girls sat down on their individual sleeping bags.

  “All right, ladies. So I am about to ring the bell. As you know, once the bell rings, we are in an open environment. We are able to talk about anything you would like. Please understand that with some things, we might not be able to give the advice that you want. But we will do all that we can to be as open as you are.”

  Within moments I felt like I was sixteen again. I wanted to run and hide in a corner. The girls talked about all types of things I had no grasp on. I sat on my bed, trying to keep a straight face and to not look as mortified as I felt. Plenty of times I had overhead adults talking badly about the youth of today, but never had I thought they were really as sexually charged as they were. When I was young, the idea of giving a blow job was taboo. Now girls were talking about giving blow jobs as if it were a natural day-to-day thing.

  I had to commend Heather and Tangie, who were both able to talk openly but did not cross the line with the girls. They gave good advice but never agreed that the girls should be having sex so early.

  “Ladies, we can sit up here and talk about sex all day and all night, but this is not what this group is about. You are young women, and I know that the subject is important. But the thing we want you to understand is that there is so much more out there than just sex. That’s really why I wanted Coral to be here.”

  I turned my head to see Tangie looking at me.

  “Coral, do you mind if I share a little with the group?”

  I nodded my head, scared about what Tangie was about to say.

  “When we were your age, Heather and I were just like you guys. Boys and dating were the only things on our minds. Heather was with her boyfriend, and well, I had a few boyfriends myself. Coral, on the other hand, was more focused on school and put her energy into that. Now Coral owns multiple successful businesses and can literally do whatever she wants in life. Heather and I have families we have to support. We don’t have the freedom that we could have had if we had just buckled down.”

  The young women were all ears. I listened as Tangie and Heather continued to sing my praises. I wished I felt the same way about myself.

  Finally, I spoke up. “Thanks, Tangie, but I would like to add that you need to have a healthy medium. I was far left. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t go to school dances, football games, and I missed my prom. I never had a boyfriend and never got to experience young love. Even now, most of you didn’t even realize I was the same age as Tangie and Heather.”

  “So are you saying you think we should be dating and stuff?” Precious asked.

  I couldn’t believe they were actually listening to me. “I just wish that I would have been more of a teenager when I was young. There are some things you just can’t undo. But I’m not saying you should be having sex,” I explained. “I think that sex is something that you really need to be mentally and financially ready to handle. What if you did get pregnant? If you boyfriend refused to help, would you be able to take care of things on your own?”

  I was relieved when the open session was finally over. The girls went back to dancing and joking among themselves. I headed to the kitchen with Tangie and Heather to grab more supplies.

  “I’m really glad you came, Coral. The girls really listened,” Heather said with a smile.

  “I’m glad I came too. It was a little intense, but informative.”

  “Girl, sometimes we find it hard to listen to what they are saying. Some of those girls are more experienced than we are,” Tangie said, and we all laughed.

  For the first time I felt like one of the girls. I didn’t know why, but I suddenly felt completely comfortable with them.

  “I haven’t done anything that those girls were talking about. I feel like I’m missing out,” I said as I grabbed a bag of chips. I looked up to see Heather and Tangie looking at me.

  “Wait a minute. Coral, girl, are you saying you still haven’t lost your virginity?” Tangie’s mouth dropped open as I shook my head. “How on earth is that even possible?” “Right. Shit, I would die. Are you, like, seriously waiting for marriage?” Heather asked.

  “No. I mean, I just never did it. But now it’s like I want to experience things, and I don’t know where to start,” I revealed.

  “You should try online dating,” Tangie said.

  I thought about Onyx. “I met this guy, and he blew my mind. But I think that my experience level might have scared him off.”

  “When was the last time you talked?” Heather asked.

  I told them about the other night with Onyx. They listened to me, hanging on to each word. I could almost feel him again as I relived the moment. I wanted to touch him, or at least hug him and feel his lips one more time.
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br />   “Okay. So why haven’t you texted him?” Tangie asked.

  “Because I’m not trying to look desperate.” I frowned.

  “Girl, it’s not about looking desperate. It’s about showing interest. Maybe he’s waiting on you to make the first move. Where is your phone?” Heather held her hand out.

  I pulled my cell out of my pocket and handed it to her. I watched as she started texting something on my phone. My body started to tense up.

  “Wait. What are you doing?” I said.

  “I’m sending him a message. Something flirty and fun, but also serious.” She pressed SEND and handed me back my phone. I immediately read the message.

  Drinking wine and thinking about the other night. that meal was really tasty. What did you think?

  I didn’t know what was flirty about the message, but before I could ask, my phone buzzed.

  The food wasn’t the tastiest part. WYD?

  “He responded back,” I yelled excitedly, handing the phone back to Heather. She and Tangie read the message.

  “Okay, good. Let me.” Tangie took the phone from Heather and started to type. I waited, biting my nail. Finally, Tangie pressed SEND and gave me back the phone. I read her message.

  Nothing. Trying to decide what to get into tonight. And you?

  It took only a second for him to respond.

  No need to decide. Meet me in the Harbor Town Riverfront parking lot in an hour.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I screeched.

  “Get your stuff and go,” Tangie and Heather replied in unison.

  “But wait.” Tangie took my phone, wrote a text, and sent it. “There. It says ‘See you in two hours.’ That way you have time to go home and get cute.”

  “I can’t do this.”

  “Yes you can. Now, get yo’ ass out of here and go get that man!” Tangie ordered.

  I looked at the two women, who were now both yelling at me not to pass up this opportunity. I knew they were right. I had my chance, and I was going to take it.

  Chapter 6

  I held my hands at ten and two o’clock on my steering wheel. I had to focus, or I knew I was going to drive right off the small bridge and into the Mississippi River. Mud Island, where the upscale neighborhood of Harbor Town was situated, was home to some of the most expensive houses and apartments in Memphis. Although it was considered pretty remote, many people used the small riverfront area for romantic rendezvous or late-night make-out sessions.

  I glanced at my reflection in my rearview mirror. I had done the best I could. I didn’t own “date” clothes. I had taken my friends’ advice and had kept it simple with a colorful maxi dress that I’d purchased a few months ago from Ashley Stewart but that I had never worn. When I’d tried it on, all the saleswomen in the store had gushed about how good I looked in it, so much so that I’d actually bought it. Up till now, I had left it in the store bag.

  I finally had a reason to wear it.

  I pulled into the parking lot and saw his truck facing the river. I popped a mint in my mouth as I drove forward. I watched him get out of his truck when I pulled into the space next to his. It was late, and only three other cars were in the lot. I noticed one couple sitting out on the rocks under the streetlights. Onyx walked over to my car door, wearing his cute, but devilish grin.

  “Hey, you,” Onyx said as he opened my car door. “You look beautiful.” He held my hand as I stepped out of the car. Onyx wrapped his arms around me. I accepted the embrace, wrapping my arms around his muscular torso.

  “You look nice too. I totally forgot to bring mosquito repellent.” I frowned as I swatted a bug off my arm. I knew this was supposed to be romantic, but the idea of sitting by the river in the Memphis heat while getting attacked by mosquitoes had never sounded romantic to me.

  “Oh, we aren’t staying here. I just wanted to meet you at a well-known place so you wouldn’t get lost,” Onyx said as he motioned for me to get back in my car.

  “Oh, okay. So where are we going?” I replied as I got back in my car.

  “My place.” Onyx closed my door before I could object. I watched him, my mouth agape, as he got in his car and backed out of the parking lot.

  We took a curvy street and drove deeper onto the island until we made it to a set of apartment buildings I didn’t even know were there. My hands were becoming clammy as I yet again pulled into a parking space next to his. I tried to steady my breathing as I watched him get out of his car and come over to mine. He opened my car door and helped me out—a true gentleman. He led me toward his apartment.

  “Now remember, I’m a bachelor, so my place isn’t all fancy and shit,” Onyx said, laughing, as he opened the door to his place.

  He didn’t have to worry, though, because I was more than impressed. He had a large studio apartment, and he’d done a lot with the open space. His king-size bed was the main focal point, with its massive headboard that covered the whole back wall. The headboard was also a bookshelf, and its various shelves were filled with hundreds of books. In the opposite corner, his drum set sat next to a small table and a futon. An abstract painting of music instruments hung on the wall next to his fifty-inch flat-screen TV. Underneath the TV was a small entertainment center that was big enough only for his PlayStation 4 and some video games.

  “Would you like something to drink? I don’t have much, but I got some apple juice, Merlot, and some water. I really should have prepared better for company,” Onyx said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “Water is fine,” I said as casually as possible, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was standing in a man’s apartment. I stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what I was supposed to do while he was in the kitchen. I didn’t know if sitting on the bed would send the wrong signal or if sitting on the futon would send no signal at all.

  A minute later Onyx appeared at my side, holding a wineglass filled with water. He handed it to me and laughed.

  “Girl, if you don’t relax . . . Get comfortable. Kick those sandals off and have a seat somewhere.”

  “I didn’t know where you wanted me to sit.” I blushed. He sat down on the futon and patted it for me to sit next to him.

  “Coral, you have nothing to be nervous about. We are two adults sitting here, about to enjoy each other’s company. You want to watch something on TV? You like Game of Thrones or Spartacus?”

  My eyes widened, and I gasped. He liked my two favorite television shows.

  “Do you really like Spartacus?” I asked.

  “Hell, yeah, girl,” Onyx said as he stood up and walked over to his entertainment center. He pulled out a box set of Spartacus. “What season you want?”

  “I like Gods of the Arena.” My inner geek had appeared, and I felt myself relaxing a bit.

  Hours passed, and the geek in me took over completely as we discussed our favorite episodes of the season. Onyx talked passionately about everything. I found myself hanging on to every word. I knew he would make an excellent salesperson, because I was ready to buy anything he talked about.

  As we moved on to the fourth episode, I glanced at the clock on his cable box and saw that four hours had passed. It was almost two in the morning, and I was still sitting in this man’s house, right next to him. I didn’t know the protocol, but I did know about booty-call hours, and we were way into those hours. I let the reality set in that nothing was going to happen that night, which actually lifted the little bit of weight I had left off on my shoulders.

  “What are you thinking about?” Onyx said suddenly.

  I turned my head to see him staring at me. My nerves instantly took over, causing my right leg to tremble. I shrugged my shoulders. “Nothing really. I didn’t realize it was so late,” I replied as I focused on the television.

  “Oh, my bad. Do you have something to do or someplace to be in the morning?” Onyx said, sitting up straight on the futon.

  I shook my head. “No. I am fine.” My voice trembled a bit.

  “Are you sure? I r
eally want you to be comfortable around me, Coral,” Onyx said with sincerity in his voice, which helped to ease my nerves again.

  “Well, I just . . . Well, this is just a bit new for me.”

  “What? Kicking it and watching Spartacus?” Onyx joked.

  I hit him playfully. “No. Just this.” I waved my hands in the air. “The only place I have ever been at two in the morning is in my bed or in a hotel room’s bed.”

  “Ah.” Onyx nodded his head. “So I have you out past your bedtime. But tell me, is it the being out that’s the issue, or is it being here with me, on my futon, that’s the problem?”

  I thought about the question for a moment, even though I knew the answer. Inexperienced or not, I didn’t want to come off as a complete square.

  “I will be thirty soon, and I own my own businesses. Therefore, I do not have a bedtime, sir.” I rolled my neck, causing Onyx to laugh.

  “Okay, Ms. Independent. Well, since it’s not the late thing, I guess it’s safe for me to bet on the latter. So you aren’t used to being out this late with a man. That’s just so hard to believe.”

  “What is hard to believe?” I questioned. “You don’t believe what I told you the other day?”

  Onyx shook his head. “No, I one hundred percent believe that you aren’t that experienced. I just find it had to believe that no man has ever tried to claim that prize for himself.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “To be completely honest, I can’t put it all on them. I haven’t been very approachable. I keep to myself. I go to church, work, and home. I’ve had a guy or two stop me at, like, a gas station or something, but of course, I didn’t pay them any attention. So maybe if I made myself more available . . .”

  “Nah,” Onyx interjected. “First off, if a man wants something, just because a woman isn’t that approachable isn’t going to stop him. A man is going to go for what he wants. The problem is a lot of men don’t pay attention. Take the other night. I’m a drummer, so I’m sure you know girls make themselves readily available for me. But I saw you, I noticed you, and even with you being somewhat standoffish, there was something about you. I needed to know more, so I did what I needed to do. I thought for half a second about not asking you out to eat, just because it was late and that’s not the way I normally want to make an impression. But then I realized I might not see you again, so I acted on the opportunity in front of me.” Onyx patted his chest with his right hand.