Chapter 13
Sasha
I slid a few options along the bar, trying to figure out what to wear to dinner. I pulled the satin fuchsia jumpsuit from
the rack, holding it to my body as I checked it against my reflection in the full-length mirror. I loved the color of the
material and the feel of it against my skin. The deep V in the front showed off the girls beautifully. And the high banded
waist accentuated the curve of my hips. The pleated texture added to the overall flowy nature of the design. I liked it. And
I loved how I looked in it.
However, the downside to wearing a jumpsuit was the issue of bathroom usage. I definitely tried to limit my liquid intake
when I wore it because trying to go pee was always a pain in the ass. So, as much as I knew I would look good as hell in this
outfit, it was not the right one for tonight.
“You still not dressed?” Courtney asked as she entered the room and leaned against the doorway of the walk-in closet. The
oversized space had been a major selling feature for me when we toured this place. It was nearly the size of one of the secondary
bedrooms. The built-in dresser in the center, along with the small nook where I was able to put my mirror and a bench, had
sealed the deal.
“I can’t figure out what to wear.”
“It’s dinner with the group, nothing you haven’t done plenty of times before.”
“I’m aware, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna throw on any ol’ thang. Can’t be caught out lookin’ crazy. I don’t know why you
don’t get that.”
She rolled her neck and let out an audible exhale. “I do. I do. Just, could you do it a little quicker? I don’t wanna be too late.”
I rolled my eyes and went back to sliding items around, looking for what, I wasn’t sure. “I should have gotten somethin’ new.
Why didn’t I go shoppin’?”
I was talking mostly to myself, but the laugh that Courtney let out made me look back over my shoulder at her.
She pushed off the frame and entered the large space. “Something new for what?” She pulled out some of the items with the
tags still attached. “You still have stuff that you haven’t even worn. Why don’t you put on one of these?”
My phone rang at the perfect time to stop the smart-ass retort that was seconds away from being spoken. I’d been doing my
best to bite my tongue over the past week. Normally, I’d be the moody one as she prepared to leave for overseas play, but
that wasn’t the case this time. I was trying to be understanding, but truth be told, I was looking forward to having her home.
Blowing her an air kiss, I grabbed my cell off the built-in dresser and saw Tanisha’s name and number displayed on the screen.
Courtney stepped into my line of sight, tapping at her watch and making the “hurry up” sign. I frowned at her, shooing her
away. She was really trying to work my nerves.
I rolled my eyes at my wife again before answering the phone.
“Hey, Nish. What’s up?”
“Not much, just . . .”
There was a long pause with a heavy sigh, which made me take notice. I strolled over to the tufted bench and took a seat.
“You alright, girl? What’s up? You don’t sound good.”
“You busy?”
“Nah, just tryin’ to figure out what to wear to the send-off dinner for Tina.”
“Where’s she moving to?”
“Nowhere. She and Courtney are usually preparing to leave to play overseas, so they always get together and have dinner before
they go.”
“Wait, I thought Courtney was hurt. She’s still heading over there?”
“No, the rules are different. Bein’ hurt before the season means she stays here. But we’re still doin’ a dinner for Tina.”
“Oh, well, I won’t hold you.”
“Girl, what the hell. I know you ain’t call me for no reason. What is it? You sound like you got somethin’ on your mind.”
She groaned, then huffed out a long breath. “I can’t believe I was so goddamn stupid.”
Those were the last words I expected to hear from her. Tanisha’s ability to sniff out bullshit was unparalleled, and not much
got past her. “What the fuck you talkin’ about?”
“Rod.”
“What about him?”
“He sent me a text.”
“Okay.” I stretched out the word, still confused, but having a gut feeling that whatever she was going to say next probably
wouldn’t be good.
“That wasn’t meant for me.”
“Oh. Oh!”
She had been dating the guy for the last six months and seemed really into him. From the little she did say about how things were, it seemed like he was just as into her. And unlike a lot of guys, he didn’t seem to carry the insecurity of dating a stripper.
“How do you know it wasn’t for you?”
Another pause and a hard exhale. “Because he was talking about how sweet that pussy was last night, and considering he’s on
the road . . .”
It took me a minute to let her words and the gravity of the situation sink in, considering she didn’t share often. The news
was especially fucked up since Rod had pursued her for months and she’d resisted because she hadn’t dated a man in damn near
five years. At least not on any serious we’re exclusive level.
“Nish, what? You got to be fuckin’ with me? Ain’t no goddamn way!”
She released a heavy sigh. “I wish I was lying, but no, that nigga really did that shit.”
“What happened when you confronted him?”
“I didn’t. I saw it, read it. Read it again. Cussed out my phone and nearly threw it across the room. But I wasn’t gonna break
my shit over some ain’t-shit cheater. I just blocked his ass because I don’t have time for it. I’m not about to do the back-and-forth.
And I didn’t want to hear none of his lame-ass, bullshit excuses.”
I nodded, agreeing completely with the sentiment. “I feel that, I feel that. But damn, are you okay? What the fuck, of course
you not okay, that was some fucked-up shit. Okay, okay, okay. Whatcha wanna do? Key his car? Slash his tires? Sugar in the
tank? Whatcha want? I got you.”
She laughed, which was a good sign, but I knew she was hurting and that pissed me off. Tanisha was good people, and that nigga
didn’t deserve her in the first place. Then for him to do her dirty like this, I was ready to ride out for my friend.
“I ’preciate the sentiment, but nah, he gets no more of my energy. Not even vindictive rage.”
I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me. Sometimes Tanisha was too levelheaded for her own good. “Fine. You got
plans?”
“Not a damn thing. I thought about goin’ in, but you know how slow it be during the week and I would only end up more aggravated.”
“I feel that. Instead, what you gon’ do is get your ass dressed and meet us at K-Q.”
“Girl, what? And what is K-Q?”
“Just what I said. You’re getting dressed and comin’ out with us. It’s some upscale Korean barbecue spot.”
“I can’t just crash your dinner.”
I smacked my lips. “It ain’t nothin’ special or sacred. We’re just gettin’ together to hang out. It’s usually me with all
of Courtney’s friends. I might as well have one of my own.”
“You say that like you don’t like her friends.”
“I do, they cool people. But get yo ass dressed and meet us there.” I glanced at the doorway when Courtney appeared again,
tapping her watch. “I’m comin’. I’m comin’. Sorry, Courtney in here rushin’ me. Let me go, but I’ll shoot you the address.”
“Okay. And can you not say anything to Denise? I’m not in the mood to hear whatever it is she’d probably have to say.”
I tried not to be offended by her request. It was one thing to put my own business in the streets . . . “I won’t say a word.”
“Thanks, and thanks for listening.”
“Girl, I got you. Anytime.”
After I ended the call, I looked up to see my wife, who was still frowning at me from the doorway.
“Who was that?”
“Tanisha. She got some bad news, and she needed a friend, so I told her to come have dinner with us.”
She scrunched her face like she’d eaten something sour. “You just invited her along without asking?”
I stood and went back to trying to figure out my outfit for the night. “Is it a problem?”
“Not that it would matter since you already told her, but it’s fine. Now, will you please get dressed so we can go?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Gimme fifteen.”
“Tuh, you mean thirty.”
I turned, putting my hands on my hips and frowning at her. Court had her arms crossed and eyes wide as if she was daring me
to challenge her statement.
“I said fifteen, so I meant fifteen.”
She mimicked my stance, her frown overly exaggerated. “Woman, you don’t even have your makeup done yet. Thirty.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, which made a slow grin spread across her face.
“Am I wrong?”
She wasn’t, but she didn’t need me to tell her that. I took in her outfit. Dark-wash jeans that hugged her ass and thighs
paired with a simple light green polo. She completed her look with the limited-edition pink-and-green Nikes I got her for
her birthday last year. She made comments about my clothes-buying habit, but her sneaker game wasn’t far behind.
I tilted my head to the side and tapped my chin. “You’ve inspired me, babe.”
I turned back to the rack and pulled free my light pink off-shoulder mini dress.
It was cute, but casual. And I loved the big puffy sleeves.
We weren’t exactly the type of couple that would wear matching outfits, but on occasion I would try to pick something that complemented what she had on since she typically would be dressed first. Though I wasn’t sure if she ever picked up on it.
I continued to do it anyway because I liked having another way of feeling spoken for, of being seen and recognized as Courtney’s woman.
I held the dress to my body before facing her. “Whatcha think?”
“I like it.” The disappointment of her not having more to say had zero time to settle in as she strolled over to the shoe
cubby and pulled down my pair of floral wedges with the strap that wrapped around my leg to mid-calf. She set them on the
dresser, then kissed my cheek and squeezed my ass. “I’ll be downstairs.”
A smile formed on my lips as I played with the satin fabric of the strap. Her selection was perfect for the dress I’d picked
and her confidence in grabbing a pair wasn’t about rushing me along, but more about the little ways she did pay attention.