I shrugged my shoulders.
“And that was how I found out.” I said, sinking my teeth into the greasy, fully-loaded cheeseburger that tasted so good.
“Does Joshua know you’ve been with his brother?” Diamond asked after swallowing down almost a fistful of shoestring French fries.
I shook my head no.
“Are you sure?” She pressed.
I licked the corners of my lips.
“I don’t think he knows. I mean, he doesn’t talk to Marty very often and well, I would think that one of them would have said something by now, right? I mean, one of them would have said hey, I hear your dating my brother, too. Greedy much? Right?”
Diamond nodded her head.
“Do they look alike?”
“Well, I suppose now that I think about it they have similar features. But I wasn’t looking for a family resemblance, you know.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Well, I’ve thought about it a good bit and I’ve decided to do nothing.”
“Wha…” Diamond began to cough. She pounded her chest and gulped some water, regained her composure and looked at me like a wild woman. “What?”
“Yeah. I like them both. And from what I can tell they both like me. Why shouldn’t I let a few more dates go by and see if one of them pulls away from the pack?”
“Hey, no shame in that game. But, Nat, are you sure that’s you? I mean, when I describe you to people I don’t think I’ve ever used the word ‘playa’.” Diamond said.
“I should hope you never say ‘playa’ just because you sound retarded saying ‘playa’.”
“You know what I mean. You’ve never been the gold-digging kind.”
“I’m not digging for gold.” I snapped. “These guys approached me. It isn’t like I get dressed in c.f.m. heels and head out to the pro basketball games to snag me a NBA player.”
“No. That came out wrong. I’m sorry. I just meant that you are a fair fighter. You don’t manipulate. That’s all I meant.”
I believed her. The truth was even if both Joshua and Marty were regular working stiffs like me, I’d still continue dating both of them. I liked both of them. Joshua was wild like a storm at sea. Marty, he was like autumn. That was the best way I could describe him, subtle, comfortable and quietly beautiful. Both of them brought out different feelings and idea and qualities in me.
Plus, I’m not going to lie. I was experiencing things I never had before. With Joshua it was big bashes with flashing cameras and elegant gowns and people who looked at me with pea-green jealousy.
But with Marty it was quiet nights in front of the fire, long talks at the office about our hopes and fears and fantasies.
“It’s the best of both worlds right now, Diamond. I don’t see why I should choose just yet. Not yet.”
“Hey,” She said, wiping her mouth with a paper napkin. “Far be it from me to criticize.”
I looked at Diamond for a second.
“There is something else going on in that pretty brunette head of yours. Spill it.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do. Di, if you don’t come clean I’ll cry.” I said. I was only joking but I could tell by Diamond’s expression that something heavy was weighing her down.
Whatever it was that she was holding back wanted to come out. But she was more stubborn than a mule from South Carolina.
“The truth is, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Guys with that kind of money sometimes think they are above the rules. Just make sure you hold them to it. Make sure they still open the door for you and don’t swap stories and all that stuff that gentlemen are supposed to do.”