In My Sister's House (24 page)

“It’s aight, nigga. It’s a
funny
night. And you a
funny
dude,” Torch said sarcastically as he glanced at Cleet, who nodded his head.

“Cool … Y’all need anything? I’ll send one of the girls over,” he said, relieved that things seemed okay with Torch.

“Send over your girl, Alexia. She’s good at what she does,” Torch said. Cleet couldn’t stop himself from laughing. Flynn didn’t know what he meant, but headed over to Alexia. Storm stopped him.

“Hey, Flynn, look, I gotta run out for a minute. I’ll be back in less than thirty minutes,” Storm said as she rushed by him. As she reached the door, Skylar entered. They almost ran into each other.

“Storm, hey, I need to talk to you for a minute,” Skylar said, her hand on Storm’s arm.

“I’m done talking, sis. It is what it is,” Storm told her as she removed Skylar’s hand.

“I think we really need to talk,” Skylar said.

“About?”

“Whatever you want to talk about, Storm. I’m open to listen.” She looked at her sister.

Storm couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Wow, Skylar. I don’t think you’ve ever been open to anything from me before. The mere thought that you want to hear what I have to say is stunning to me.” Storm crossed her arms and glared at her sister. Skylar was fully aware that Storm was mocking her with this stance, but refused to go tit for tat at this point. Taking a moment to relax herself, she closed her eyes momentarily and sighed softly.

“I deserve that. So, if you wouldn’t mind sticking around a little while after we close we can sit and talk.” Skylar said and waited for an answer.

Storm agreed. “But I need to run out for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

Skylar nodded and watched her sister disappear out the door. She had no idea what was up with Storm but assumed it had to do with DuBoy.
It always has to do with DuBoy
.

Quince lowered the music, and Flynn got back on the microphone
to continue the show. Alexia had suddenly disappeared so he sent another waitress over to Torch’s table. He assumed she was in the rest-room or something. He prepared to introduce the dancers for the evening.

“Okay, okay, people, let’s give it up to the best DJ in the city, DJ Quince!” he screamed, while pointing up to the booth. A light shined on Quince and he waved to the crowd. The audience applauded.

“All right, enough of that. Don’t pump up a brotha’s head too much!” he said, laughing. Changing the subject, he announced the night’s featured act.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m about to bring to the stage three of the hottest sistas you’ve ever seen! I’m talking Danity Kane hot. I’m talking Pussycat Dolls hot. Fellas, you’re going to love this. Put your hands together for three of our very own sexy, beautiful girls. Doing their thing to the classic Vanity 6 ‘Nasty Girl.’ Give it up for the Black Baby Dolls.”

The lights dimmed, and “Nasty Girl” started playing. Clouds of smoke billowed into the air as an extravagant light show complete with strobes and sirens illuminated the silhouettes of the three sensually clad dancers. As spotlights shined on each girl, the men in the audience erupted—first for Rainey, next for Princess. But when the third light came up, you could hear a collective gasp rise from the crowd. The third was Alexia! Skylar’s mouth flew open, and Flynn appeared to be in shock. During the routine, each girl took a turn stepping forward and lip-synching the words to the song while the other two danced in the background. The routine was steaming hot! Everyone enjoyed it immensely. Torch, however, had a look of shock on his face, and didn’t take his eyes off Alexia. Cleet just stared with glassy-eyed lust at each girl, periodically licking and biting his bottom lip.

The club regulars were stunned beyond belief with delight. Miss Shoes stood and started stomping her five-inch black patent-leather pumps on the floor like she was attempting to kill a roach or perform a mariachi dance. The dancers stepped down off the stage onto the floor among the crowd and did sensual but tasteful romps at tables
where men were seated. From the way she moved, it was clear that this was definitely not Alexia’s first time dancing. All three worked themselves back onstage and ended in the same pose that had started the routine. The song ended as the three joined hands and bowed to a wild standing ovation. They disappeared backstage and the house music resumed as the crowd attempted to settle down.

Flynn waited impatiently for Alexia to emerge from backstage. He couldn’t believe she’d never told him that she was dancing tonight—or that she’d ever even danced at all. His attention was drawn to the entrance, where he saw Head talking with a girl. Because of Head’s massive build and height he couldn’t make out who the girl was. Once he moved, though, Flynn saw that it was a very provocatively dressed Gidget.
Look at this bitch. She’s out here with everything showing but her birth date
.

Blinged-out, she went directly to Torch’s table. Flynn shook his head. Skylar, preoccupied with a couple at one of the side tables, didn’t notice her.

•  •  •

DuBoy couldn’t understand why Storm hadn’t turned her phone back on. He tried a dozen times to reach her, even going by the club. All this shit was making him way too nervous. Something was wrong. To calm himself down, he lit up a blunt. His doorbell rang. Grabbing his piece from under the bed, he went to the door.
Please don’t let it be Torch or Cleet
. Looking through the peephole he saw that it was Pia. He jerked the door open, his attitude showing he was not happy to see her.

“Well, damn, is that any way to greet somebody?” she asked as she walked in.

“What you want, Pia?” He didn’t move from the door.

“It’s about what you want,” she said as she unbuttoned her blouse.

“I ain’t in the mood, girl. Where the fuck is Storm?” He started pacing the floor.

“Relax, she’s cool. When we finished dinner she said she had to make a stop and then she was headed to the club,” Pia said as she got close enough to DuBoy to smell the weed on his breath.

DuBoy didn’t hear her and continued ranting. “Why the bitch ain’t answering the phone? I been trying to holla at her for over two hours. And I went by the club—she wasn’t there.”

“I know she was running late ’cause we hooked up longer than I thought we would,” Pia said, trying to calm him down.

“Wait, wait, wait. Yo, you talked to her?” DuBoy asked.

“Yeah. That’s what I was trying to say. Baby, now will you relax? Storm is going to do whatever you want her to do. That bitch is so sprung for you, you tell her to jump off Ben Franklin Bridge, she’ll do it,” Pia said with a smirk.

“Aight, I’m just saying I don’t need no shit.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the butt of the gun.

“What you got that shit for?” Pia said at the sight of it, as she stepped back.

“Bitch, I ain’t know who was at the fuckin’ door!” he screamed as he locked it and headed toward the bedroom. She followed him.

“Let me hit that,” Pia said, pointing to the blunt. DuBoy passed it to her and sat on the edge of the bed. Checking the chamber for bullets, he spun it several times. Pia took another puff and passed the blunt back to him. It wasn’t too long before DuBoy started to relax. Maybe he was overreacting. Storm knew what was up. She was doing the right thing. Besides, Pia was right, Storm didn’t want to disappoint him. She was hooked on his one-eyed snake. The more Pia massaged his neck, the more relaxed he became. It wasn’t long before the two were stripped of their clothes and immersed in a hot sex session. With pillows and sheets tossed aside, they engaged in familiar positions, again soiling the bed that DuBoy and Storm had occupied earlier that morning.

Pia could smell the Vera Wang perfume that lingered on the sheets. She recognized it from the hug that she and Storm had shared earlier that day. Closing her eyes, she told herself that this would be the last time she would have to worry about this smell or
Storm. As she got ready to climax, Pia’s body feverishly jerked about and her legs kicked wildly around, knocking her purse off the edge of the bed. A slight thump was heard hitting the hardwood floor. It was a phone. Storm’s phone.

•  •  •

Gidget excused herself from the table, telling Torch that she needed to go to the restroom. On her way, Flynn stopped her.

“So that’s who you running with now? Torch? Wow, a real step up,” he said.

“Nigga, I know you ain’t talkin’,” Gidget said with an attitude. Flynn couldn’t believe that this white girl had just called him a nigga, but before he could say anything, Gidget continued, “Look at you, still hanging around Legends every weekend doin’ yo tired-ass stand-up act. Thinkin’ you gonna be Chris Rock or somebody.” She laughed. “Ain’t nothing funny about you but the way you look. And for your information, Gidget don’t run with nobody, niggas run with Gidget.” She turned to leave.

Flynn, flabbergasted, shouted behind her, “You know, you used to be so sweet. What in the world happened to you?”

Gidget shifted her weight to one leg, leaning back with a hand on her hip to give him one more dressing-down. “Naw, punk. I used to be so
broke
, like yo ass. Know what? I take back what I said. You are funny … yeah, a real joke.” Tossing back her blond hair, she went into the restroom.

In his entire life, Flynn had never entertained the notion of hitting a woman … before now. But as that thought started to take over, Alexia appeared, dressed back in her club uniform, all smiles, and she immediately calmed him down.

“Girl—what the—! I had no idea. I mean, you danced your ass off!” Flynn was excited. He took her hands in his and marveled at what he saw.

“You liked it? I didn’t want to say anything because I wasn’t sure I was going to do it,” Alexia said, beaming.

“Well, you did your thing, that’s for sure,” Flynn said.

“Thank you again, Flynn. Now, you know I have to get back to work. You and I can talk later.” It was obvious from the batting of her eyes and her wide smile that Alexia was flirting with him.

“Sounds good. Are we still hooking up after the club closes?”

“Most definitely.”

As she headed over to the bar, customers continued to congratulate her. She thanked her relief waitress and did the rounds checking on her customers. She noticed Torch sitting with Cleet. She would prefer not to go to his table—she’d done a great job avoiding it during her set—
Note to self: Thank Rainey for that lookout
—but this was her job. “Can I get you guys anything?” she asked.

“We good, Miss Alexia,” Cleet sarcastically said, looking straight at her. “By the way, good routine. I had no idea you could shake your ass like that. You surprised me.”

“Alexia is full of surprises, ain’t that right, baby?” Torch said.

Torch’s smile and the look on his face made Alexia a little uneasy, but she wasn’t sure why. Her intuition told her that there was something else behind that statement. A cold chill crept up her spine and she had the sudden urge to leave the club. She didn’t ask if they would like to place an order.

Feverishly trying to locate Skylar, Alexia found it difficult not to panic. Finally, seeing Skylar at the bar in conversation with Princess, she dashed toward them.

“Skylar, can I speak to you for a minute?”

“Sure, what’s up? By the way, you were great out there. I had no idea—”

“I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind if I left a little early tonight?” she said, wringing her hands.

“Sure, you okay?” Skylar excused herself from Princess. She and Alexia walked off to one side, and Alexia told her that she was feeling a little faint and might need to lie down. Skylar offered to call a doctor for her. Cutting her off, Alexia assured her that it was probably just exhaustion— “You know, after all the lights and smoke and moves. I’ll be fine by Monday.”

“Well, let me get one of the guys to drive you home,” Skylar said, concerned.

“Thanks, Skylar. Really I’ll be fine. Besides, my car is here.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. I’ll get someone to cover your shift tomorrow. Take care of yourself.” Skylar sensed that there was something else wrong with Alexia but she didn’t want to push the issue. Flynn rushed over to see what was wrong.

“Hey, hey, what’s the matter?” he said, grabbing Alexia’s arm as she tried to rush by.

“I’m sorry, Flynn. I’m not feeling well. I don’t think I’m staying around tonight.”

Flynn could see the fear in Alexia’s eyes. “Well, I’ll take you home then.”

“Not now, Flynn. Please!” she pleaded. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Flynn nodded. She grabbed her purse from under the bar, quickly said good-bye, and started toward the exit.

“You can’t run forever,” a loud voice boomed from across the room. “Shit was bound to catch up with you sooner or later,” Torch yelled.

The room suddenly became silent. Cleet stood and started to clap wildly.

“Bravo! Bravo, bitch! You gave the performance of your life.” Cleet started toward Alexia, who stood paralyzed in fear.

Skylar immediately stepped forward and said, “Cleet, that’s enough. I’m not sure what this is all about but it doesn’t seem good. Maybe you and Torch should leave. We don’t want your kind in here. Just leave and there won’t be any trouble.”

“Our kind? You hear that, Cleet? They don’t want
our kind
in here.” Torch stood as well but didn’t move away from his table. Instead, he lifted his glass to his lips and slowly sipped before continuing: “And what kind are we, Skylar? Huh? I mean we patronize your spot. Bring in our peeps. Spend dough up in here. So, what
kind
are you talking about? Surely you’re not discriminating, are you? Naw, not golden girl Skylar who loves everybody.”

Torch knew he had the attention of the entire club at this point.
“You don’t want me and Cleet in here, but you’ll open your door to every other freak that walks in.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Skylar challenged him.

“Freaks, my sista. You know, like ah … ol’ girl over there,” he said and pointed at Alexia.

Everyone looked in the direction that Torch was pointing. There stood Alexia. She slowly turned around and stared at Torch, who by this time had walked to the center of the dance floor.