The Meltdown (16 page)

“Coach Johnson, we don’t even know about that yet,” Nigel says, trying to be modest, but everyone knows he’ll get into whatever school he chooses.

Mickey reluctantly lets go of her man’s arm as the coach pulls him away. She’d better get used to that part of being a star athlete’s girl if she plans on sticking around.

As the coach waves some guys over, I recognize one of the familiar faces from the coffeehouse earlier. What the hell is Keenan doing here?

“You know what your problem is, Esop?” the coach says, referring to Nigel by his last name. “You’re too humble about your talent. No one likes a meek quarterback, or one who doubles as a basketball player during the off season,” Coach Johnson says, getting a kick out of his own joke. He smacks Nigel hard on the back, making my boy smile. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Nigel was blushing through his dark brown complexion.

As the three college men approach our table, the heat rises in my cheeks. I catch my girls also checking out the two fine brothas and a white dude. Rah and Chance greet them with Nigel like they’re a part of the team.

“This is Keenan, Bruce, and Will—all first-draft picks from the South Bay region and all attending UCLA. This is Nigel Esop, your soon-to-be new teammate,” the coach says.

“Nice to finally meet the legendary high school wonder
boy,” Will says, running his fingers through his blond tresses, making Nellie melt. He’s damn good-looking, making me miss Jeremy even more.

“Welcome to the team,” Bruce says, shaking Nigel’s hand while checking Mickey out. She’s hard to ignore with her business out for all to see.

Keenan smiles my way, and I can tell he’s pleased by our unplanned reunion.

“We’re always in need of a good arm,” Keenan says, shifting his attention to Nigel. I’m grateful the heat’s off me. But it doesn’t look like he’s going to let the chance meeting slide by.

“Yeah, man. Thanks,” Nigel says. “And these are my friends Rah, Chance, Jayd, and Nellie. This is my girlfriend, Mickey.”

We all exchange friendly hellos, but Keenan’s greeting is more personal than the rest.

“Small world, isn’t it?” Keenan says, extending his hand like he did earlier, again causing my face to turn red.

My friends look at me and smile, knowing I’m busted even if I didn’t do anything.

“It’s a small world, indeed,” I say, returning the handshake. I quickly let go and try to squelch my bright smile.

“Come on. Let’s get something to eat and talk about your future,” Coach Johnson says, leading the boys toward the buffet, except for Chance, who’s busy texting.

“Shit. I’m hungry, too,” Mickey says, tugging at her clothes. “Come on, Nellie. Let’s see what they’ve got up in this fancy place to munch on.”

Nellie dutifully follows Mickey, although I doubt she’ll have more than a carrot stick. She needs to fill her plate with chicken wings and gain some weight.

“So, who’s the pretty nigga?” Chance asks, taking his newfound blackness too far, too soon.

“No one,” I say, uncomfortable with his line of questioning.
I have nothing to feel guilty about, but I’m feeling something I can’t quite name.

“You can’t lie to me, Jayd,” Chance says, looking me in the eye. “I hope you don’t forget you’re in a relationship while your boy’s away.”

“I am well aware of my relationship, thank you very much,” I say, moving to a quiet corner for Chance and I to talk. The last thing I need is more heat from my girls. “I met him earlier today at a coffeehouse, and he struck up a conversation about reading and whatnot. That’s all.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really. There’s nothing else to the story, man,” I say, tapping Chance on the shoulder. “And how dare you think I’d cheat on my man no matter how far away he is or how long he’s going to be gone. I’m truly insulted by your accusation.”

“Just checking,” Chance says. “If you were my girlfriend, I wouldn’t have left you alone for that long, especially not in the summer.” Chance is right. Jeremy should be here, but I’m trying not to think about that right now. “You’re showing off them legs, ain’t you?” Chance says, making me blush and laugh, momentarily easing my loneliness.

“Shut up, Chance,” I say, slapping his hand and causing Nellie to resume her jealous status from across the room where Mickey has struck culinary gold. When will Nellie ever learn? My girls charge across the dimly lit floor, ignoring the dancing couples in their path.

“I’ll be right back,” Chance says, looking down at his buzzing cell while walking toward the front door. I’ll see what that’s all about later.

“I’m ready to go,” Mickey says, trying to extend her ultra-miniskirt and cover her cleavage with one hand. She looks uncomfortable, and I feel for my girl. Around these rich, snooty folks, Mickey’s hood ass sticks out like a sore thumb.
“Jayd, can you take me back to Nigel’s so I can get my car? I’m over this tired-ass scene,” she says, smacking on the chips and salsa on her full plate.

Nellie’s munching on hummus and veggies, ever concerned about her size 2 figure. I still say she needs to put some meat on her plate and thicken up a bit.

“Are you serious, Mickey? We’ve only been here for a half hour,” I say, looking around. I could actually enjoy myself if they’d shut up and let me. The deejay’s cool, the food looks good, and I couldn’t care less about the hating females, because all I see are potential clients. There’s too much black hair around for me to get my hands into to leave now.

“Yes. Very,” Mickey says, downing her food and glaring Nigel’s way. Surrounded by his people, Nigel completely ignores Mickey, who’s an embarrassment. Damn, this is going to get ugly if Mickey gets any hotter. Maybe I should get her out of here before she makes a scene, humiliating us all.

“But what about Nigel?” I ask, looking at our boy enjoying his old crew. “Don’t you think we should stay and support him?”

“He’s not concerned with me and my feelings, so why should I care about his needs?”

Leave it to Mickey to make herself the victim no matter the circumstance.

“This night is about your man and his future, Mickey. Last I checked, that included you and Nickey.”

Mickey looks at me, pissed at my logic, but she has to know I’m right. “I’m ready to go,” Mickey repeats, dead set on leaving and finishing her plate.

“Me too,” Nellie says, rubbing her flat tummy like she’s six months pregnant. “I think I ate too much.”

Mickey and I look at our girl, realizing she’s got more serious food issues than we thought. Nellie gestures for Chance to wrap up his phone conversation and join us.

“Chance, let’s get out of here. This isn’t our type of party anyway,” Nellie says, grabbing her man by the arm, making me miss Jeremy even more than I already do. I’d rather hang with him than deal with my emotional friends any day. Keenan catches my attention from across the room, causing the temperature in my body to again rise to the surface. I can’t stop staring at him staring at me.

“Speak for yourself,” Chance says, grooving to Drake’s latest song blaring through the speakers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I feel that. If I’m not too tired, I might just drop these heckling heffas off and come back. With Keenan’s fine ass present, this is indeed the place to be tonight.

“Fine, then. I’ll leave with Jayd and Mickey,” Nellie says.

I look at my girls, realizing they’re serious about bouncing and I’m the chosen designated driver. Shit. Out of all the nights they choose to trip on their men, this had to be it.

Noticing the commotion, Keenan walks over to us. Butterflies flutter in my empty stomach with every step he takes. Rah follows Keenan, watching him watch me. This isn’t going to be good.

“You guys are welcome to join us,” Keenan says, speaking to the four of us but focused on me. Rah stands beside Keenan, observing the energy between us.

“Yeah, come on over and get something to eat,” Rah says, holding his hand out for me to take. Keenan looks from Rah to me, thinking he’s got it all figured out. As far as I’m concerned, the Rah and Jayd ship sailed a long time ago.

“We’re actually not staying,” Mickey says, taking my hand and unknowingly saving me from another awkward moment.

“Yeah. It’s a girl thing,” Nellie adds, holding herself by the waist. The boys look at us, bewildered, but don’t protest. These broads are going to pay for this one in a real way.

“Let’s go,” I say, pissed as all get-out. “Next time you need
to bring your own car, Mickey. I’m not a chauffeur, here at your beck and call. And, Nellie, get a license.” Nellie looks at me like she wants to spit she’s so mad, and I dare her. She’ll be walking her blond ass back to Nigel’s neck of the woods. “Tell Nigel we said bye, please.” Chance nods in agreement. He, Rah, and Keenan rejoin their friends to officially get the all-boys night started. It’s going to be a long drive back to Nigel’s house.

“So, who the hell was that fine-ass dude trying to holla at you?” Mickey asks, getting right into my business before I can even get the car started. I press on the clutch, shift the gear into neutral, and turn the key. The sooner I get them back to Lafayette Square, the sooner I can get back to the W and enjoy the gratis evening. It’s almost eleven now, and the lateness is beginning to set in. Lucky for me, tomorrow’s Father’s Day and I don’t have any clients lined up as of yet, but that could change and I don’t mind if it does. Money is money no matter the holiday.

“His name is Keenan, and I don’t know who he is,” I say, pulling out of the packed lot. Nellie’s sulking quietly in the backseat, pissed that Chance isn’t her yes-man anymore. It must be weird for her sitting in the back since she’s used to riding shotgun with the three of us. Before I started driving a few months ago, Mickey was the designated driver and I always rode in the back of her classic ride. Now I’m rolling my mom’s Mazda, Mickey’s a mama, and Nellie’s in limbo between her original homegirls and the bitch brigade. The tables have turned on our little crew and will never be the same. I just hope we survive the evolution.

“Well, he sure did seem to know you,” Nellie says, joining the conversation.

It’s been a long time since me and my girls had some “us” time to talk. For the past several months, it’s been all about
the baby and Nellie’s goddamn crown. I’m glad for the girlfriend chat, even if I’m the one under fire at the moment.

“It’s all innocent,” I say, turning on the congested one-way street leading to the 110 freeway. It’s a hot Saturday night, and the people are out enjoying it. “I met him at a coffeehouse this afternoon, and we got into a conversation about books and whatnot,” I say, basically repeating the same spiel I gave Chance earlier.

“Books and whatnot?” Mickey asks, disgusted. “Who the hell talks about school shit with a fine-ass nigga like that hollering?”

“You see, Mickey. That’s your damn problem right there,” I say, laughing at my girl. Nellie nods her head in approval, but I’m not sure who she’s agreeing with. “Everybody’s not like you, girl.”

“Not everybody, but most people are, Jayd,” Mickey says, checking her ringing cell.

Who’s calling her this time of night? I know it’s not Nigel because he has a special ringtone, unlike this caller.

“Mickey, please tell me you’re not up to your old tricks again,” I say, already dreading the answer. Mickey ignores my comment and quickly returns the text.

“Again?” Nellie adds. “Did she ever stop?”

I didn’t even consider the possibility that once the pregnancy was over Mickey would resume her pimping. She’s always got a dude or two on the side.

We cruise down the highway smoothly. The traffic has died down, and we should reach Nigel’s neck of the woods soon. The air smells of night-blooming jasmines, one of my favorite flowers.

“Shut up, Nellie,” Mickey says, a little too defensively for me. “Anyway, we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about Jayd and her new sugar daddy.”

“I don’t have a sugar daddy, and I don’t want one,” I say, turning on my left blinker.

“Sometimes they come to you anyway. You need to learn how to work your magic, girl,” Mickey says, pulling down the passenger’s visor and looking in the small lit mirror. “You’re not bad-looking, and you’ve got that whole smart thing going for you. All you need is someone to teach you how to work it, and Keenan looks like he might want to give you some private lessons.”

Mickey’s so nasty sometimes it’s ridiculous. It’s no wonder her ass was pregnant at sixteen. If she’s not careful, she’s going to find herself pregnant at seventeen, too.

“She’s not going to ruin her relationship with Jeremy for that fool, even if he is gorgeous and in college,” Nellie says. I can see her smiling in the rearview mirror. My girls are really tripping this evening.

“Whatever,” Mickey says, reapplying her red lipstick. “Jeremy ain’t thinking about her ass, over there high-profiling in Arabia or wherever the hell he is with that white girl.”

Mickey’s words sting; she knows she hit a sore spot. “You’re like a little devil on my shoulder poking my ears with a hot pitchfork, Mickey. You know that?” I ask, stopping at the last red light before the turn into Nigel’s hood. I’ll be glad to get them out of my car so I can get on with my night.

“And I’m the angel, right?” Nellie asks excitedly. I know she can’t be serious. “I’m even wearing all white like Lisa-Raye McCoy.”

Nellie’s got all kinds of diva role models and none of them are angels.

“Looks can be deceiving, Nellie,” I say, making both of my girls laugh. They know who they are, and that’s one thing I love about my girls. If nothing else, we keep it one hundred all day, every day.

I park in front of Nigel’s crib and pull up the emergency brake without turning off the engine.

“Seriously, Jayd. Jeremy’s not here and even if he was, you’re your own person,” Mickey says, removing her seat belt and taking her purse from the floor. “If Keenan wants to be your daddy, let him. You ain’t married.” Mickey smiles as she exits my car. Nellie pats me on my right shoulder before opening the back door and following our girl to her ride parked in front of mine.

“I’m not looking for another daddy, Mickey,” I say out of my open window. “I’ve already got one and he’s quite enough, thank you.” I reach into the glove compartment for my iPod and travel speaker. I want to go back to the party, but I think it’s best if I go home and work on my own shit, not go flirt with Keenan. He’s liable to get me into some serious trouble, and I’m not trying to go there. I’ve got enough to deal with without adding more to my plate.