Crossroads Page 4

  “Like what you see?” Sahara took a step back, modeling her outfit for Cooley.

  “You could say that. I don’t know what you have been doing, but keep it up, ’cause you look damn good.”

  Sahara looked passed Cooley. “Umm, seems like I’m not your only fan here.” Sahara nodded her head.

  Cooley turned around to see Misha staring in her direction, while the oblivious Patrick watched for their bags.

  Cooley smiled; the tables were turned in her favor. “Nah, it’s nothing like that. So, are we gonna stand here all day, or are you gonna take me to check out your ride?”

  “After you.” Sahara smiled.

  Cooley turned back toward Misha. “Give me one moment, OK?” Cooley walked off before Sahara could respond. Her hands were no longer sweating; the nervous feeling was replaced with her usual cocky confidence.

  Misha quickly perked up when she noticed Cooley walking in her direction.

  “Hey, um, I’m out of here, but I wanted to come back and say good-bye, and I wish you two all the luck in the world.” Cooley looked at Misha. Patrick quickly turned around. His straight face amused Cooley.

  “Thanks, Carla. Keep in touch, OK.” Misha gave Cooley a friendly hug.

  Cooley manned up, giving Misha a strong hug, a hug filled with love. She wanted Misha to feel her one more time.

  “Sure. I will. And, hey, I’m sorry about everything, man. You have a really wonderful woman, and congratulations on the bundle of joy.” Cooley extended her hand toward Patrick.

  Patrick hesitated but finally shook Cooley’s hand. “Thanks.”

  “Well, I got to run. Take care of yourself, Misha.”

  “You too.”

  Cooley turned around and walked back to Sahara. She wrapped her arm around Sahara as they walked out of the airport. Deep down, Cooley knew it was the last time she would ever see Misha.

  “Oh shit, so you riding like this?” Cooley grinned at the cherry red BMW.

  “You know I had to ride well.”

  “OK, do I want to know what you are doing right now?” Cooley placed her bag in the empty trunk. She could tell the car was brand-new by the unused trunk and drive-out tags.

  “You will find out in due time. Trust me.” Sahara pushed her keyless entry to unlock the doors. They got in the car and drove off.

  Cooley placed her shades on as they drove down the busy Atlanta expressway. “So, um, I wanted to apologize for—”

  “Cooley, save it. There’s no need for it, trust me.” Sahara looked at Cooley.

  “Nah, it wasn’t cool for me just to leave you at the crib like that. It was a big mistake on my part, and I really do apologize for it.” Cooley put her hand on Sahara’s thigh. She had turned Sahara down during Christmas break because of her love for Misha.

  “Well, thank you for the apology. I do appreciate it. I can’t lie. I was a little upset by you leaving me.”

  “Really?”

  “OK, truth is, I was real upset. Cooley, you know there’s been something growing between us for a while now. Hell, by the way you used to look at me I would have never in a million years thought you had anyone waiting back in Memphis.”

  “I know. Trust me, it wasn’t that I wasn’t feeling you. Misha and I just sorta happened and it grew. I never meant to hurt you.” Cooley ran her hand through Sahara’s long wavy hair. She glanced at the radio, which was talking about Jam Zone.

  “So, tonight is the big Jam Zone listening party for the new artist they have signed to the new R&B division,” the male DJ stated.

  “Yeah, I’m real excited to check out the new acts. I heard they got some that are gonna be killin’ the game,” the female co-host added.

  “Big-ups to Jam Zone. They’re doing big things in the city,” the male responded. “Speaking of Jam Zone, one of their artists isn’t doing so well right now. According to MediaTakeOut, rapper Supa Sonic has been dropped from the label.”

  “What!” Cooley yelled.

  Sahara stared at the bumper in front of her.

  “According to the Web site, Big Ron and the other Jam Zone artist and execs have grown tired of Supa Sonic’s antics. Supposedly, she crashed a private party at Big Ron’s house. Some say she pulled a girl out of the party by her hair,” the male DJ added as Cooley listened.

  “We hear that she was seeing the female and was upset that the girl went to the party without her; however, no reports were filed,” the female co-host added.

  Cooley turned the radio down.

  “Do you know anything about this?” Cooley turned to Sahara, whose bleak expression said it all.

  “It’s true. Sonic has lost it for real. It’s the drugs. They tried to get her help, but she didn’t want it. Big Ron didn’t have a choice. She was acting crazy everywhere she went, especially at clubs.”

  “Damn, why didn’t I know about this? Every time I call her, I get her voice mail.”

  “She hasn’t been answering her phone since it happened. Big Ron told her she had to get out of the house.”

  “That wasn’t her house?” Cooley put her hand on her head. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  Sahara shook her head. “No, it belongs to the company. That’s why you are able to still stay there. No one has seen her since the incident happened.”

  “Man, I wish someone would have called me. I would have tried something. I feel so bad. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Sonic.”

  “Cooley, there was nothing anyone could do. She didn’t want help. I think she actually moved from blow to—”

  “Don’t tell me that.” Cooley pulled her iPhone out and texted Sonic’s phone. “I’m sending her a text. I hope she will respond. Damn! I can’t believe this.”

  “Well, hopefully she will text you back, but don’t count on it. One thing I learned about Sonic is that when she doesn’t want to be found she won’t be.”

  Sahara looked over at Cooley. Cooley’s eyes were tight. Sahara stared at the large scar on Cooley’s cheek. “Cool, I don’t know if you want to talk about it, but”—She ran her finger across Cooley’s jaw.

  “Don’t.” Cooley jerked her face away. “I ... I don’t really want to talk about it.”

  “OK, OK, I just—”

  “Just nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” Cooley took a deep breath, realizing she was snapping on Sahara for no reason.”

  Sahara glanced at Cooley. “Cool, you are supposed to be a whole lot happier right now. You are about to start an amazing career. I know we should go out tonight and celebrate, party like rock stars.”

  “I’m so not in a party mood.” Cooley rested her head on the window. Sahara made her remember her scar. She didn’t want to be seen looking the way she did.

  “Oh my God, I’m gonna need you to snap out of this funk. You are about to see a really big artist. You should be excited, not moping over something that isn’t that serious.”

  “How can you say it’s not that serious? Look at me. I look—”

  “You still look just as sexy as you did the first time I saw you.” Sahara smiled. “I kinda like it actually. Gives you a little hardness. Sexy.” Sahara winked.

  Cooley couldn’t help but smirk. She had to give it to Sahara. She knew what to say to make her feel better, even if she was lying.

  “Wait ... how do you know so much about my job anyway? I thought all you were doing were a few videos.”

  Sahara smiled. “Well, I got another job now in the company.”

  Cooley’s eyes widened. “Really, and that is?”

  “You ask too many questions. You will find out real soon, trust me.”

  “OK sneaky ass. I can’t wait to find out.”

  Cooley looked out the window at all the big houses. She looked over at Sahara’s beautiful face. Cooley wondered if this time it would be right. She put her hand on top of Sahara’s hand. “Did I tell you that I’m really glad you picked me up?”

  “No, but I’m glad to hear it.” Sahara licked her lip
s.

  Cooley felt her nature rising.

  “Man, I am not in Memphis anymore.” Cooley looked out the window. She knew her life was changing. She looked over at Sahara. For the first time in a while she felt like her old self.

  7

  Lena walked into the beautiful hotel. A group of businessmen’s attention quickly turned to her, her tall black, Manolo Blahnik stilettos clicking against the floor.

  Lena decided to keep it chic and sexy. She wanted to give Denise a true wow factor.

  The businessmen followed Lena with their eyes. Her short, black jersey halter dress caused the men to stand at attention. She pulled her beautiful long black hair down, letting her natural curls flow.

  Lena noticed the front desk agent salivating at the sight of her. She smiled. It was perfect; she should be able to get whatever she wanted out of the young, white male.

  “Well ... welcome to the Embassy Suites. My name is Phillip. How can I be of assistance to you?”

  Lena placed both of her arms on the counter, causing just enough of a gap in her dress so that Phillip could get a better view of her cleavage. “Hi, Phillip, my friend Denise Chambers asked me to meet her at her room, and I can’t, for the life of me, remember her room number.”

  Phillip pulled himself away from looking at her smooth skin. “Uh, yes, um, let me look that up for you.”

  “Oh, thank you so very much. You are a life-saver, she would kill me if she knew I forgot it.” Lena flashed her pearly whites. Phillip was putty in her hands. In seconds she had Denise’s room number. It was show time.

  ***

  Denise knew liquor was not her friend. Instead of feeling better the vodka made her feel worse. The taste was horrible. The orange juice didn’t help the burning of the cheap vodka going down her throat. Denise didn’t care; she suffered, waiting on the effects to kick in. Soon she found herself sitting on the edge of the plush bed crying like a little baby. All the years of blood and sweat she’d given to her craft were coming out in her tears.

  Mema’s face circled in her mind. She thought about how much she missed her grandmother and how disappointed she would have been about her last years in college. Denise’s unhealthy relationship with Lena was the cause of it all. She knew karma was kicking her in her ass for messing with Lena, and Rhonda. She had broken her own rules, no women until after college. Everything that had happened Denise brought on herself.

  Denise thought about her mother Tammy. She felt more like her mother than ever in life. Her mother had a drug habit that made her incapable of making responsible decisions. Tammy’s drug was crack; Denise’s drug was Lena Jamerson-Redding.

  In the midst of her self-pity party she heard a faint knock at the door. Denise ignored it. There was another knock, this time a little louder. Denise stood up and stumbled, her head spinning.

  Using her hand on the wall as a guide, she walked toward the door. She looked out the peep hole, but all she saw was black. Either she was hearing things, or someone was playing at her door.

  There was another knock on the door. Denise flung the door open and froze. Lena stood face to face with Denise.

  Lena looked into Denise’s eyes. Her voice soft, and with affection, she said, “Hi, Denise.”

  “Lena?” Denise inquired doubtfully, the vodka more powerful than she imagined. Now she was seeing things.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” Lena reached out to Denise and touched her arm.

  Goose bumps covered Denise’s arm.

  “Can I come in?”

  Dazed and confused, Denise opened the door. Lena walked in the room. Denise couldn’t help but notice the sexy black dress and heels that Lena was rocking. She felt her body heating up just as the vodka had done earlier. She bit her tongue. A surge of pain came from her throbbing tongue. It wasn’t a dream or the effects of the liquor. Lena was in her room.

  “Lena, what are you doing here?”

  Lena looked around the room. She turned back toward Denise. She had a whole speech prepared that left her mind at first sight of Denise.

  Lena’s voice trembled. “Well, you left Memphis, and it started with me not being able to say good-bye.” Lena sat on the edge of the bed.

  “So you came to New York to say good-bye to me?” Denise slurred. She walked past Lena and sat down in her plush leather chair.

  Lena was a little confused. She expected to be in Denise’s arms by now, not explaining herself. “Well, no, I ... Denise, I was sitting at home staring at the wall. I kept thinking about you. Everything I did, everything I watched brought me right back to you. I realized something that I ... I honestly knew a long time ago, but I was too afraid to admit it. I’m ready, Denise. I want to give us a real chance.”

  Denise’s face was completely unreadable. Butterflies began to flutter in Lena’s stomach. At this point in her fantasies, Denise grabs her and kisses her. But Denise sat in the chair, almost lifeless, her eyes fixed on Lena.

  Denise stared at Lena. A piece of her wanted to take her in her arms and hold her, but something bigger was holding her back.

  “What did Brandon say?”

  The response caught Lena off guard. That was not the response she was expecting. She looked at Denise. Denise had not moved or blinked.

  “Well, I actually just left. When I got to the airport, you were gone, so I just got on a plane.”

  “So he doesn’t know you are here?”

  “Not exactly, but—”

  “Figures,” Denise muttered. She stood up, the face that was straight a minute before now covered with agitation. “You know what, Lena, you need to go.”

  “Huh?” Lena’s hands began to tremble. This definitely wasn’t in her fantasy. “What do you mean?”

  Denise snapped. “You know what? Everything is making sense to me now. Lena, you don’t give a damn about me or Brandon. All you care about is yourself.” Denise glowered.

  Lena’s tremble turned to a rapid shaking in her hands. She wanted to think Denise was joking, but her facial expression said otherwise. “What are you saying? Dee, what is this?” Tears began to form in Lena’s eyes.

  “For two years you played me and Brandon. My dumb ass was so in love with you, I was willing to take you anyway I could get you. Hell, the only reason I dated Rhonda was to attempt to get over you! And what do you do, you run right back to him. You let me fuck you, then you go back to ya boy.”

  “Denise, it’s not like that, and you know it.”

  “So now you want to be with me? For how long do I have you? A day? A week? Do I get to be your weekend lover then when you realize that I’m not the one again you go running back to ya millionaire ball player.”

  The bass in Denise’s voice frightened Lena. “Denise!” Lena stood up. “Why are you being so mean to me?” She glanced into the bathroom; she noticed the empty bottle of vodka.

  Denise looked away from Lena. She wasn’t as appealing as she was earlier.

  Lena walked into the bathroom and grabbed the bottle. “What the fuck is this? So you’re drinking now? Denise, what the hell is going on?”

  Denise grabbed the bottle from Lena’s hands. “Nothing you need to worry about. Look, I’m sorry you came out here, but you might as well go back to ya man ’cause this here, it isn’t happening, not now or ever again.”

  Denise and Lena stared each other down, but not backing down from their position. Lena’s whole body was quivering, Denise was perfectly still like a stone statue.

  Lena stared deep into Denise’s eyes, looking for a glimmer of hope; all she saw was anger and resentment.

  Lena didn’t know what to do. She stood in her expensive dress, completely lost. She had only one more option, to completely beg.

  “Denise, I know that I haven’t been the best. I know I might have been selfish. But I also know that I’m here right now in your room asking you to just take me and love me like you said you would. Whatever I did, I’m sorry for it. I’m trying to make things right. I’m trying to show you that I’m all in this tim
e. Don’t do this. Please.” Lena’s lips quivered.

  Denise knew she was serious. She could tell Lena meant every word pouring from her mouth, the mouth she loved to kiss more than any in the past. Lena’s beautiful face was covered in fear and pain. Her face was a little fatter than normal. It dawned on Denise.

  “You’re pregnant, Lena. You’re having his child. You will never be completely mine. There’s no getting around that.”

  “I can, Denise.” Lena grabbed Denise’s hand. “I know, but we can make a really great life here.”

  “Life? What life? I don’t have a life here ... or with you!” The word spewed like venom from her mouth.

  Lena’s face cracked into a million pieces. “So you really do want me to leave?” Lena responded, still unable to accept the truth.

  Denise’s shattered dreams were now joined by her shattered heart. Denise walked closer to Lena. Lena’s perfume aroused every part of her body. Denise grazed her hands down Lena’s arms.

  They both got goose bumps, each longing for the other.

  Denise studied Lena’s eyes, now glistening from tears. Denise wiped the falling water from Lena’s face.

  “I can’t do this anymore.”

  Lena’s body tensed up. She felt like she had been hit by a train.

  Denise walked over to the door. She turned and looked at Lena, who hadn’t even turned around. Denise wanted to cry, she wanted to hold Lena and make love to her for days, but she couldn’t. She had put herself last for too long, she had her own problems to deal with, and Lena’s drama would only hurt her already horrible situation.

  Lena turned around. Her lip started to quiver at the sight of Denise standing at the door. Denise opened the door. Lena could feel herself breaking down.

  Denise looked away, staring at the wall. She couldn’t see Lena’s face. If she saw her face, she would change her mind.

  Lena lingered for another moment. She knew it was over. She broke down. The small tears were now waterfalls flowing down her face like Niagara Falls. She ran out the room, crying harder than she had ever cried in her life.