“I’ll see you in a bit, Yardley,” I said and hung up the phone quickly. “Do you think the two of you could be any nosier?”
Momma started cha
nting, “Crack that back! Crack that back!” Boom joined in and before you knew it, the entire salon was chanting and teasing me.
I concentrated back on the television. The blonde was on a dance floor at some club with miniature furniture and decorations, shaking her flat booty to Nelly’s “It’s Getting Hot in Herre” and bending down so she could swing her hair in the midget’s face.
I grinned, not because the show was funny. I couldn’t wait to get my back cracked!
There’s nothing in this world so sweet as love,
And next to love the sweetest thing is hate.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Twenty-seven
Yardley
The Warner Theater was packed—orchestra section, balconies, box seats, and all—for the premiere of Curveballs. Dwayne had an entire row on lockdown. His lady friend, Opal, was on the conservative side but was pretty and rather quiet. I think she may have felt uncomfortable being put on display in front of so many of his family members at one time. He wasn’t lying when he said he was representing for Mike. It had been ages since I’d seen Dwayne’s parents and grandparents but they were all present. Mike’s mother, a widow, was beaming with delight in her front row seat. Rayne and I were in the seats directly behind her. My parents were going to come the following week before the show left to tour in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, and numerous other venues. I’d attempted to get Arjay a ticket to come with us—against all of my common sense—but fortunately they were sold out. I’d made an attempt and that saved me from being an asshole in her eyes. She asked Rayne to bring her a program back so she could read about it.
The evening also marked the first time the fellas met Rayne. Dwayne and I managed to steal a few moments in the lobby before the play started.
“That Rayne is gorgeous, man. I can see why you were sweating her all that time,” Dwayne said.
I’d filled him in on a little history on the phone a few days earlier. He was amazed that I’d had the patience to restrain myself from asking her out while I was pining for her. It was silly, reflecting back on the entire thing. If I’d asked Rayne out in the beginning and she’d shot me down, it would’ve been the way the cookie crumbled. Thank goodness I’d finally found the nerve to approach her.
“Yes, Rayne is gorgeous, but she’s much more than that. Opal’s lovely as well.” I tapped him on the arm. “You seem extremely happy, man.”
“I am, Yardley. I think she might be the one.”
“This must be the year of finding the ones because Rayne’s definitely the one for me.”
Dwayne laughed. “This must mean that we’re finally growing up, huh?”
There was a commotion at the entrance. Felix entered with two half-naked women; one on each arm. They both could’ve just finished shooting the latest female-degrading music video, or stepped off the stage at the Skylark Lounge over on New York Avenue.
All the men were staring and the women were gawking at the scantily clad females with disdain.
“Some of us have grown up,” I told Dwayne, “and some of us never will.”
Dwayne crossed his arms and shook his head. “Now why would that fool step up in here with those hoochies?”
“That’s easy, man. Felix wants all the attention. This night is supposed to be about Mike, but he can’t handle it. I’m glad he canceled his traveling plans to come, but he should’ve brought Mona and called it a day.”
“Oh, is he still seeing that chick?”
“Felix will always be seeing Mona as long as Mona lets him troll for pussy at will. I don’t get it. Then again, maybe I do. Some women don’t feel desired unless they’re mistreated. Backwards ass logic, but it makes sense to them,” I said, thinking about the purple-eyed skank cousin of Mona’s who’d asked me to keep her.
Felix made his way over to us and I was ready to dodge back inside. “Hey, my brothers. How long before the show starts?”
“Hey, Felix.” Dwayne peeped at his watch. “There’s only about five minutes left before curtain call.”
“Then I’m right on time,” Felix said. One of the women cleared her throat, reminding him that they were clinging to him. “Oh, Dwayne and Yardley, I’d like you to meet Vivacious and Miracle.”
Humph, stage names if I’d ever heard any.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, forcing a smile. Dwayne didn’t open his mouth. He was searching the lobby; probably to make sure Opal wasn’t watching him anywhere near the two women with stilettos on that made them virtually the same height as all of us.