“Oh he’s fine. We’re getting a divorce.”
“Oops. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.”
“Then I’m not, either. I was just being polite.”
“What’s up, Tee,” I said.
“The king of jazz!” Chris said.
“What’s up, y’all.”
“We were just talking about Zack going into business with us.” Chris said. “Sit down. You two want a drink?” I noticed CJ cut her eyes at Chris. “All I got is vodka, that cool?”
Both Tee and I agreed that vodka was cool, if that was all he had. While he went to make the drinks, CJ told Tee why he should give serious thought to going in with us.
“My first thought is to say I’d like to help, but I’m too busy. But I have to admit, CJ, the idea is intriguing me. I’m starting to get bored at work. The job is great for the bank account, but to tell you the truth, I been talking about going into business with Linda and some of the other guys at the firm.”
“Being in business with us would be better,” CJ said. “It would give you an opportunity to expand what you do.”
Chris returned with two glasses, handed them to me and Tee, and sat down. “You not drinking, Chris?”
“No. I been drinking more than I need to lately, so I’m backing up off the oil for a while.”
Now I understand why CJ cut her eyes at him. While he started pitching to Tee and me, I looked at CJ. Something was going on between them, and it was more than just business. It’s the way she was looking at him. The way Angelique looks at me when she thinks I’m not looking.
“So what do you think, Tee? You down with us?” Chris asked.
“You don’t have to ask me that. Y’all my boys.”
CJ cleared her throat. “No disrespect to you, CJ, but y’all know what I’m talking about. Course I’m down with y’all.”
“That’s fantastic,” CJ said and stood up. “I don’t mean to break up our first meeting, but I gotta run out for a while.” She got her purse and headed for the door.
Chris stood and walked her to the door. “How long you gonna be gone?”
“I shouldn’t be gone more than a couple of hours,” CJ said and paused. “Let me talk to you for a second.”
Chris followed her outside and closed the door behind him. Tavarus immediately turned to me. “What’s up with that? Don’t tell me Chris finally fucked her.”
“He says he ain’t. She’s just living here,” I said.
“She’s divorcing Manny and she’s living here, but they ain’t fuckin’?” Tavarus questioned. “Bullshit.”
“That’s what the nigga said. They ain’t fuckin’, and he ain’t told her that he’s in love with her. But I can tell by the way that she looks him, CJ’s just as far gone on Chris as he is on her.”
“You can believe that shit if you want to, they’re fucking. Two people in love can’t be in the same house and not be fucking.”
“I’m just telling you what Chris said. Anyway, how are thing going for the band?”
“Next week we’ll start a new gig at a club downtown.”
“Sounds like things really are moving for y’all.”
Tee paused for a second or two, then he looked at me. “I didn’t tell you that me and Carmen are back together.”
I raised my hand and cut him off. “Hold up—you and Carmen are back together?”