Choices Page 8

  Tammy walked over to Denise, Cooley and Carmen.

  “Baby,” she said as she grabbed Denise’s hand. “I was wondering when we were going to spend a little time together. You know we are both going through a tough time right now, and I would love to be there for you.”

  “Thanks,” Denise said to her mother. “But I am fine.” She turned back around to face Cooley and Carmen.

  “Okay, well, the truth is, I need you to look out for me.” Tammy started to cry. She had never been there for Denise while she was growing up; crack had her from day one.

  Denise turned to her mother. “Look, Tammy, I see you’re doing better, but I am twenty-two years old. I have my own life and things to deal with. If you are going to make it, you will have to do it on your own. You have to be strong for yourself and stop relying on other people.”

  “Look, I’m trying, okay? Please know that I am going to try. I don’t want that crack no more, but I do want to be in my daughter’s life,” Tammy snapped.

  “Tammy, Mema told me that she thinks you’re making a change for real this time, and I’m proud of you for that. But for me to believe, you’re gonna have to go to rehab.”

  “Rehab,” her mother said annoyed. “Rehab is just like jail. I don’t need rehab. I need my daughter to support me!”

  “I have nothing else to say.” Denise walked back over to Carmen and Cooley and sat down. She remembered writing her mother a letter when Tammy was in jail. It was when she was a senior in high school. She told her mother at that time that she had a year to get her life together, because once she graduated, she was cutting her out of her life. Tammy never responded and continued her drug life.

  Mema’s lawyer walked in. Charles and Shemeka looked as though they hit the lottery.

  “I’m sorry to hold you all, but let’s get this ball rolling. Okay.”

  Everyone agreed.

  “I would like for everyone to remain quiet until after the reading. If you have any questions or comments, please save them for after the reading.”

  Everyone agreed again.

  “Okay, let’s go.” The lawyer opened the will and began to read.

  “I, Eloise Lillian Turner, being of sound mind and body do hereby state the following. First I want to say that I consider everyone in this room my family. I believe that family is more than just blood, but also the people who truly love and care about each other. I must say that I lived to have a wonderful family.”

  “Oh, can he get on wit’ it?” Shemeka whispered to Charles, but everyone heard her.

  “Well, let me hurry along since you obviously have more important things to do,” the lawyer responded to Shemeka. Carmen and Cooley laughed.

  “First, to my only son, Charles. Over the years I have waited for you to make something of yourself. I hate that you never lived up to your potential.”

  Charles’ smile started to fade.

  “I considered myself a good mother to you, but as time went on, you never returned the favor. Remember when I gave you one thousand dollars to help get you on your feet, and you blew it all at the casino. I asked you to do one thing for me, cut my grass. Denise was playing basketball out of state, so I asked you. But you never showed up. The grass grew so tall that finally when Cooley was coming by to check on me, she pulled out the lawnmower and cut it for me, no questions asked.”

  Cooley smiled, she remembered that day. It was hot and she blew off a date to help Mema.

  Charles was no longer smiling.

  “So, to make a long story short, I decided to change my will and leave you the reminder of the one thing that I have asked you to do for me, all of the lawn tools.”

  “That’s what I was left? That’s all?” Charles was very embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but please leave all questions till the end of the reading.”

  Cooley, Denise and Carmen were laughing. It was the first thing that Denise found truly funny since Mema died.

  Charles shot an evil look her way.

  The lawyer continued to read, “As for Cooley, I truly appreciate you for that day. You have been a great friend to Denise and a great help to me on many occasions. You may be a woman, but you were more of a man than my own son. I leave you two thousand dollars, the amount I was going to leave my ungrateful son.”

  “Oh my, damn!” Cooley could not believe what she heard.

  Carmen and Denise both patted a shocked Cooley on her back.

  “You have got to be kidding me!” Charles protested. “She left my money to that bull-dyke!” He stood up and headed for the door. “Fuck this shit. Man, I’m out!” He stormed out the room.

  The lawyer asked that everyone settle down as he finished the reading.

  “To Shemeka, my grand-daughter. You also had so much potential that you wasted. I only can hope that you teach those babies not to follow in your footsteps. I leave each of them two hundred and fifty dollars each.”

  “Hallelujah!” Shemeka yelled. She knew that was almost eighteen hundred dollars for her.

  The lawyer continued. “To be put in trust funds that are closed until each child has graduated from high school. If the child does not graduate, the money goes to the children’s shelter.”

  “What?” Shemeka asked, not happy about the outcome.

  “Well, if you would stop interrupting, I can finish,” the lawyer snapped at Shemeka. “I also leave a three hundred—”

  “Yes!” She yelled. Three hundred was better than nothing

  “A three-hundred-dollar grocery card that can only be used on food purchases. Feed those kids a good meal for once.”

  “That’s fucked up, Mema!” Shemeka grabbed the grocery card from the lawyer.

  Everyone was laughing.

  “To my daughter, Tammy, I do applaud you for showing up to help toward the end. Although I am not completely sure of your motives, I am just glad that you did. I am leaving you my most prized possessions, my house and my Denise.”

  Both Tammy’s and Denise’s eyes got wide.

  “You get the house if you complete a drug rehab program. I know that if you successfully complete this program, Denise will be more open to letting you back in her life as well, and that is something that you need to do. She is a wonderful girl, and you should get to know how special your daughter is.”

  Tammy started to cry.

  “If you do not complete the rehab, not only do you lose the house, but you lose the last chance you have at having a relationship with your only daughter.”

  “Thank you, Mama,” Tammy whispered and looked at Denise.

  Denise didn’t know how to take it, but she was willing to do whatever Mema asked of her.

  “Now, for my pastor and Carmen, both of you are very important to me. Carmen, I have watched you grow into a responsible young woman. You are a wonderful friend to Denise, and I am happy that she has you and Cooley in her life. I leave you one thousand dollars to help you in anyway possible. I also leave one thousand dollars to my church senior program.”

  Carmen started to cry and Denise hugged her.

  “And last, my sweet baby Denise. You have brought sunshine to my life in every way. I am so proud of you and all that you are accomplishing. You are going to be great in whatever you do and you are going to make someone very happy. I leave you the rest of my estate. And that concludes the will reading.”

  The lawyer handed out envelopes to all of the people who were left something and walked out the door.

  Shemeka, still upset about the outcome, stormed over to Denise.

  “This is some bullshit. Mema may have thought you were the best person in the world, but I know the truth. You and your little friends are perverted and going straight to hell!” She rolled her neck and pointed at all three.

  Cooley grabbed Carmen, who was about to snap.

  “Well, at least we got a little change to help make our transition to hell comfortable,” Cooley said as she blew a kiss at Shemeka.

  They all laughed at her as she st
ormed out of the room shouting profanity.

  The three headed to Cooley’s truck. Denise opened her envelope to find a check for twenty-five thousand dollars.

  “Shit,” Denise screamed excitedly. “She left me twenty-five thousand dollars.” She was stunned.

  “Gotdamn! Those insurance policies must be the bomb. Go on, Mema,” Cooley exclaimed. “Now you can get a damn car.” Cooley patted Denise on her back.

  “You’re right, I can get a car now, huh.”

  They all laughed.

  Chapter 10

  “Cooley, baby, don’t do this to me. I love you.” Jackie was sprung out on Cooley, just like many of the others before her.

  “Look, Jackie, I don’t deal with that bullshit. You had your chance to leave him alone and you didn’t, so I’m done.” Cooley loved turning girls out, just as she had done to Jackie.

  Cooley had met Jackie a month ago in the student union. She was staring at her, letting Cooley know that she could be gotten. Cooley walked up and sat down at the table. An hour later she had Jackie so mesmerized by her conversation, she knew she was going to have her in bed within the week.

  That same night Jackie called Cooley and let her know that her roommate was gone for the weekend. Cooley headed to her room and began to sex her for the whole weekend.

  “Baby, but he can’t do me like you. I need you.” Tears were rolling from her eyes. “What am I supposed to do now?”

  “You should have thought about that before you kept sleeping with him. You can’t have me and him, so stay wit’ ya boy. It’s over between us.” Cooley put on her act. She made it seem like she was really hurt by finding out that Jackie was still sleeping with her boyfriend.

  Honestly, Cooley didn’t care. It was perfect. She could use that as the reason to break up with Jackie, so that she could get with Samantha, a girl who stayed in the suite that was connected to Jackie’s.

  “Please, Cooley, I will leave him soon. I promise. I just don’t know what to do. We have been together for five years and we’re supposed to get married. How can I tell my family that I am leaving him for a woman? They are going to disown me!” Jackie pleaded with Cooley to stay with her.

  “Look, shorty, things were good while they lasted, but they’re over now. You are not gay, you just got a hold of a real one who showed you a good time. Now, go back to your boyfriend.” Cooley rubbed her hand under Jackie’s skirt. She rubbed across Jackie’s vagina. She could feel her get instantly wet. She decided to give her a going away present.

  Cooley picked Jackie up and laid her on the bed. “I just want to give you one more to remember me by.” Cooley rubbed her hand down Jackie’s thigh, causing Jackie to shiver. “You want it?” Cooley said, winking her eye.

  “Please, Papi.” Jackie moaned as Cooley’s index finger circled her clit. “Pleeeeaaasssseee.”

  “Yeah, beg for it,” Cooley said kissing her on her stomach.

  Jackie quickly obliged.

  Cooley licked down her stomach with the tip of her tongue; she stopped at the bottom of Jackie’s stomach. She was going to make Jackie beg for it.

  “Cooley, please, baby, please.”

  “Please what?”

  “Please give it to me. Make me feel good, daddy.”

  Cooley wanted to laugh; she decided to put Jackie out of her misery. She spread Jackie’s legs and began to fuck her with her fingers. Jackie’s body froze as Cooley entered her walls with her tongue.

  Cooley used her tongue to create small circles around Jackie’s clit. She locked her lips around her clit, sucking it soft but with a little force behind it. Jackie screamed for more.

  It was time to release the magic. Cooley used her tongue as a vibrator while keeping a steady sucking sensation.

  Jackie instantly was in heaven. She couldn’t fight the feeling that Cooley gave her; it made her go wild. She didn’t want it to end.

  “Please, Cooley, don’t leeeeave meeee!” She screamed as her whole body started to shake. She came hard.

  Cooley didn’t stop, and she wanted to give her another.

  After the third orgasm Jackie’s body went limp. Cooley smirked as she stood up.

  “I hope you enjoyed it, shorty,” Cooley said.

  “I did. I did, baby.” Jackie smiled.

  Cooley smiled as she kissed Jackie on her forehead. “Good.” She threw Jackie her thong. “I gave you something to remember me by.”

  “Cooley, no!” Jackie screamed as Cooley closed the door behind her.

  Cooley stood at the elevator as women looked out of their dorm rooms trying to figure out who was crying so hard. She put her shades on as she dialed her phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Samantha, is that you? This is Cooley.”

  “Yeah, boo, I’ve been waiting on you to call.” Samantha’s voice got excited at the sound of Cooley’s voice.

  “Really? Well, what are you doing? I’m hungry.”

  “Are you really? I got something to feed you, all right,” Samantha said seductively.

  “Oh yeah? Well how about you bring me some KFC original recipe and I’ll give you my KFC for dessert?”

  “Oh, some of that Cooley Killa Fye Cap. Shit, boo, give me twenty minutes and I will be there.” Cooley knew that Samantha’s panties were already wet.

  Cooley smiled as she opened her dorm door. She grabbed her things to take a shower before her food showed up. Carmen walked in just as Cooley was about to head to the shower.

  “Carmen, where the hell have you been? I haven’t seen your ass in days.”

  “Working, Cooley. Damn! What are you, my mother?” Carmen laid her bags down on the floor.

  “No, I’m your brother and I don’t like not hearing from you.” Cooley looked at Carmen. She knew Carmen was up to something.

  “Well, okay, bro, I am okay. I’ve just been trying to work a lot to keep my grades up.”

  “Okay, whatever you say. Yo, Samantha is on her way over here.”

  Carmen rolled her eyes at Cooley. “Damn, I thought you weren’t bringing ya bitches to our room!”

  “How the hell you know what I bring when yo’ ass don’t be here? Where the fuck you been, Carmen? You up to something, and I know it. I figured you were off getting your groove on, so I should get mine on.”

  Carmen turned her face so Cooley could not look at her. She knew Cooley could read her face like a book and would easily know the truth. “Whatever, Cooley. Unlike, you I have to study. I can’t just read a book and pass a test, and I don’t have tramps to do my work for me. Now I am headed out to meet Lauren and Lena so we can study up on Chi Theta’s history tonight.”

  Cooley still did not believe her, but decided to let it go. They said their good-byes, and Carmen walked out the door.

  Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Cooley opened it to find Samantha standing there with a bucket of chicken and a long coat on. Samantha entered the room as Cooley was picking out the chicken she wanted to eat first.

  “Thanks, boo. You know a nigga was hungry.”

  “Well, leave room for this.” Samantha opened her coat. She was completely naked underneath.

  “Damn,” Cooley said as she sat back on her bed and turned on Beyoncé’s CD. “Speechless” started to play. “Well, while I eat, give me a little show. But we gotta make this short and sweet ’cause I gotta meet my bruh later, okay.”

  “Whatever you say, baby.” Samantha was happy to oblige, swaying her hips to the sound of music.

  Cooley sat back and enjoyed her chicken. She loved her life.

  Lena could not believe that Brandon was not going to the Hamptons with her.

  “No, Brandon, have fun. I just expected you to be with me on Christmas.” Lena was not happy about Brandon making the All Star College basketball tournament. It was a competition in Miami that only the best basketball players in college could attend. The winners were known to always get into the NBA. She knew it was a good opportunity for Brandon, but she couldn’t help but be a
little selfish. She had plans for them to spend the two weeks they had off together with her family in the Hamptons.

  “Bae, I know, but you know I would be a fool to miss this. Agents and scouts are gonna be all over the tourney,” Brandon said lying on her bed.

  “Yeah, and it’s going to be a lot more than agents and scouts; lots of fast-ass bitches waiting to land them a free meal ticket.” The thought of all the women in Miami scared her. She knew she looked good, but Miami was a whole new ball game.

  “I am not thinking about them bitches, baby. It’s all about you and me.” Brandon stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Is it now?” she said flirtatiously.

  “Yes, it is. Now kiss ya man so he can go pack.”

  She laid a passionate kiss on him.

  Brandon rubbed on Lena’s breasts over her shirt. Her nipples got hard. Brandon raised her shirt up and began to suck them one by one.

  Lena planned on giving Brandon the best sex she could. She wanted him to remember that kiss the whole time he was in Miami.

  “Damn, my bad,” Denise said as she and Cooley walked into the room.

  Lena quickly put her shirt down, glad that she was facing the door when they walked in.

  “Are we interrupting?”

  “Naw, man,” Brandon said, making sure Lena was covering him so that they could not see his erect penis. He stood up as his erection began to come down. “I’ve got to go pack. I’m playing in the Miami Challenge.”

  “Wow, that’s hot,” Cooley said. “Damn. Now that’s how to spend Christmas, in Miami with all those fine-ass Miami bitches.”

  Lena shot an evil look at Brandon.

  “Well, I don’t know about all that. I only have eyes for one,” he said, kissing Lena. “Oh, Denise, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I wanted to come with my baby, but coach is on our asses.”

  “It’s cool,” Denise added. She looked at Lena, who was looking real good in a pair of Baby Phat jeans.

  “Well, I’m out of here. Happy holidays to y’all, okay.” Brandon exchanged handshakes with Denise and Cooley. He kissed Lena one last time and headed out of the room.