Friends and Lovers Read Free

contact.”
    “I’m not comfortable with trusting you right now.”
    “Business is business.”
    “And the rest is bullshit.”
    “Right. I handle my business. I’ve never mishandled yours.”
    I took the trays to the trash, emptied them. We headed for the door. Outside in the heat, she put her shades on. I put mine on too. L.A. felt small today.
    I said, “I want you to know, I don’t have a problem with your being responsible and putting your children’s welfare in front of your social life. I just don’t like being the last to know what’s going on. I don’t like decisions being made without me.”
    “What you’re saying is you like to maintain your control.”
    I didn’t answer. The underlying accusation pierced and stung. Looking at my watch gave me a moment to ease my mood.
    She touched my hand and asked, “You want to get a room?”
    “One for the road?”
    “No. I mean, we can go on seeing each other off and on. When it’s convenient for the both of us. When we can get away.”
    “Sounds like you’re trying to maintain your control.”
    “Not control. I’m not controlling. Just me missing you.”
    “Asking for a sperm donation?”
    “That a yes or a no? We’re good together like that.”
    “Jury’s still out on the booty call.”
    She licked her upper lip, glanced at her shoes. Looked like she was about to go into a
PleaseBabyPleaseBabyPleaseBabyBabyPlease
routine. She said, “You seeing somebody already?”
    “Not your business.”
    “Are you?”
    I didn’t answer. I just said, “What about your kids?”
    She shifted, pursed her lips. “Can I have an hour today?”
    “I’ve gotta get back to work.”
    “Meeting?”
    “Yeah. Another corporate tryst.”
    “Think about my offer. I’m free after six.”
    I moved my hand from her life. “Thanks for the offer.”
    “You’re right. I don’t know why I did that.”
    The pissed-off mood I had held back the entire lunch meeting seeped out as soon as I left. Coolness changed to fire. All around me were carloads of women. I drove like a demon, top down, shades on, necktie swinging in the winds. My charge to some kind of resented freedom was slowed by a red light by Pepperdine University and the 90 expressway.
    A Range Rover stopped next to me. I peeped and saw a bucktoothed sister with a crooked weave, smiling like she was in nirvana. I pushed a button and let my convertible top up.
    It was almost one. Leonard should be awake. I flipped open my cellular and called my buddy.
    The first thing Leonard said was, “How did it go?”
    We’ve been ace-coon since elementary. Outside of Twin, Leonard was the only person who knew me so well he could pick up my true mood from the first tone. I gave him the details.
    He said, “You should’ve known that shit when she didn’t call you back. How you feel about it?”
    “I’m cool.”
    “Ty.”
    “Serious.” I chuckled. “I’m cool.”
    “You know I’ll snatch that weave out of her head and break both of her knees for you. She’ll come crawling back.”
    We laughed. His phone beeped. It was the brother who books the Color of Comedy calling him about a show next Friday.
    I said, “What are you doing later?”
    “Speaking for a few minutes at one of those survivorof drug-abuse programs, hitting the Comedy Store to try and get on. The usual. Got time for the gym this eve?”
    “Cool. Handle your business. See you at six.”
    Leonard said, “I’ll check back with you in a couple of hours to make sure you ain’t gone postal and hurt nobody.”
    “Do that.”
    “Learn to vent.”
    “I’m cool.”
    “See ya later, alligator.”
    “After a while, crocodile.”
    I hung up. My smile dropped; brotherly laughter faded in the winds the way smog did after a sweet summer rain.

2 / SHELBY
    I didn’t want to go home because of the man who was sleeping in my bed. But Bryce should be sound asleep. Maybe I could crash without him putting his hands on me. Damn shame when a sister hated to go