32/ Renee
“I’m in love.”
We were at El Maguey’s for happy hour minus Kayla, who was having dinner with her future in-laws. As soon as Danielle strolled in with that wide grin on her face, I should have known something was up.
Nadine and I gave Danny a funny look at her confession.
“You’re in love? Did you ever look Chance up on the internet?”
She gave me an evil look. “Yes,” she finally said and reached for the salsa.
“And?” I sipped on my margarita and waited. “I’m listening.”
Reluctantly, Danielle launched into a big spiel about Chance standing in as a father for someone else’s baby. I kept my comment to myself, but when she told me about a woman chasing him down the driveway while he sped away and left her lying on the gravel, I couldn’t hold back.
I fell out laughing.
“Come on, Danny. You don’t really believe that shit, do you?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Nadine and I looked at each other and were both thinking the same thing.
Stuck on stupid.
“Because it even sounds like a lie. This woman grabbed on to his vehicle as he peeled off and fell flat on her ass, so now he’s being charged with a hit-and-run and battery. Come on. I don’t believe that for a second.”
Nadine gave her a skeptical look. “Danny, I have to agree. It does sound a little fishy.”
“Well, I do know women like that who throw themselves in front of a man’s car. Hell, my cousin Jackie did that, and I don’t put anything past her,” Danielle said in a rush.
Nadine took a bite of her sandwich. “Maybe so, but it sounds to me like you better watch your back with him.”
“Shit… her back?” I snorted. “You need to start sleeping with one eye open.”
Nadine started laughing and I had to join in. Danielle gave us a look that said she didn’t see anything funny and threw a hand in the air.
“Regardless of what y’all think, I love him and plan to stand by my man.”
I simply shook my head. “Danny, I don’t think you know what love is.”
“You got a lot of nerve! You’re messing with a soon-to-be-married man.”
“Yeah, but at least he’s been up front with me.”
“How do you know that? Kenny talks about how he wished he never proposed. How do you know he isn’t just telling you what he thinks you want to hear?”
“He might be, but he’s never said he was going to leave her.”
“But you wish he would.”
“Of course. I really like his skinny ass, but I also know it is what it is. I have no expectations except that he takes care of my needs and puts spending money in my pockets.”
Nadine laughed. “I know that’s right.”
“What I’m saying is that I enjoy it for what it is. If it blossoms into more, then fine. If it doesn’t, then I’m prepared.”
The waiter came and took our orders. We all decided on the shrimp and beef fajitas. When he moved on to the next table, Nadine clapped her hands together.
“Well, I’ve got good news. Jordan’s pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful!”
We both screamed, then raised our glasses and clinked them against hers.
“How far along is she?” I asked.
“Not sure yet. She just took a pregnancy test this morning.”
“That is great,” Danielle said.
Nadine smiled. “Yes, she’s very excited and so am I.”
I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. “Are you still involved with you-know-who?”
She looked uncomfortable and dropped her eyes to her salad. “Yep.”
Danielle looked from me to her. “Who are we talking about?”
“The sperm donor.”
Danielle looked completely confused.
“Jordan’s baby’s father and the man Nadine’s been screwing around.”
Nadine kicked me under the table.
“Ow! What the hell was that for?”
Danielle's mouth fell open.
That did it.
All three of us started laughing like a bunch of teenagers.
While we ate, Nadine told Danielle about the secret relationship she was having and how torn she was about her feelings.
“Girl, he sounds fine as hell. I think I’d be torn too.”
I nodded. “You can’t have it both ways. Me and John tried that, and you see where it got us. You need to decide who you want to be with.”
Nadine thought about her answer while she finished chewing a chip. “I’m planning to end the relationship. Dick just isn’t worth losing love for.”
My brow rose.
“Hmmm. I don’t know if I can agree with that. Good dick is hard to find.”
Nadine nearly choked.
Danielle laughed.
I held up both hands. “What? Y’all know I’m right.”
We high-fived and cracked up all over again.
My phone vibrated. I glanced down, saw it was a blocked call, and ignored it. It was either John’s worrisome ass or my mystery caller.
Danielle noticed.
“Screening your calls?”
I nodded. “Yep. Someone’s been calling to say, ‘Bitch, stay away from my man!’”
“You’re lying!”
I took a sip of my margarita. “Nope. And I have no idea who it could be.”
“Girl, Reese probably found out about you,” Nadine replied.
“I asked Kenny, but he said if she knew, she would’ve said something to him by now.”
Danielle gave me a hard stare. “Who else’s man are you messing with?”
“No one.”
“You were messing with Landon,” she reminded.
Nadine started laughing. “Pissy little Landon.”
“I took his ass a bag of Depends to work.”
Danielle nearly fell out of her chair. “You’re lying!”
“No, I’m not,” I answered between sips. “I also went down to small claims court and filed a claim.”
Nadine blinked. “You’re taking him to court for a pee-stained mattress?”
“Yep.”
Danielle was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe this shit!”
I gave a rude snort. “You better believe it.”
“That’s why Leslie is calling your phone,” she said, pointing a finger at me.
I paused.
I hadn’t thought about it, but maybe it was Leslie. After all, I did catch her ass coming out of his apartment building.
Nadine nodded in agreement. “I bet you it’s Leslie’s ass.”
“You might be right. It sounds like something her crazy ass would do.”
We pigged out on food, then I headed toward Landon’s house. By now I was almost convinced Leslie was the one calling me. That girl always lost her damn mind whenever a man entered the picture.
I turned down his street and rode past his duplex.
Sure enough.
Leslie’s Toyota Corolla with the license plate LH was sitting in the driveway behind his Tahoe.
They were back together.
I snorted.
I guess she doesn’t mind him peeing on her.
The thought made me laugh all the way to the corner.
I turned left and headed home.
When I pulled into my driveway, both Quinton and Tamara’s cars were already there. I grabbed my purse and headed inside.
A scary movie was blasting from the television. Alicia was curled up beside Quinton on the couch while Tamara lay stretched out on the floor with her eyes glued to the screen.
“Hey, Mama,” she called over her shoulder.
“Hello,” I mumbled.
Then I looked at Quinton and his little girlfriend.
They were holding hands.
“Hey, Mom!”
“Hello, Ms. Moore.”
I waved and headed into the kitchen, trying to keep my opinions to myself.
Quinton was eighteen years old. I knew it was time to accept he wasn't a little boy anymore.
He was a man.
And a man with needs.
Which meant women were always going to be in his face.
Especially as handsome as he was.
I just wished it wasn't that little hoochie.
But whatever.
I’m sure he doesn’t like the fact that I’m no longer with John either, so we’ll call it even.
I found my mail on the counter and thumbed through the stack.
Bills.
Bills.
More bills.
Then I spotted a white envelope with no return address.
My brow rose.
Inside was a personal check for one thousand dollars from pissy-ass Landon.
I smiled.
Maybe now the phone calls will stop.