Hearing Pyro’s bedroom door open, Chanel smiled. She was happy to cook for him and his female guest. But when she saw who came out of his bedroom, her entire expression changed. Mecca reluctantly walked out behind him wearing one of his button-up shirts, her long, shapely legs showing underneath. The look on Mecca’s face clearly indicated that Pyro had given her a really good night.
Mecca gave a hesitant smile. She knew she had some explaining to do.
A million emotions were going through Chanel. She didn’t understand why, but she suddenly felt betrayed by them both. However, she kept her expression blank. She didn’t want to make an issue of it. She went back to making breakfast when Mecca walked over with an apologetic look on her face. She attempted to help, but Chanel snapped, “I got this. I can do it without your help. And since when did you start cooking?”
Immediately, Mecca looked around to see if Pyro had heard the remark. Of course, Mecca didn’t cook, but she would pretend to be whatever type of woman she needed to be to catch and keep Pyro’s attention.
“Chill out, girl,” Mecca whispered to her. “Just let me help you with breakfast.”
Chanel eyed her friend with doubt.
Pyro saw them cooking and went over to say, “Hey, we’re not staying for breakfast.”
“We’re not?” Mecca shot him a puzzled look.
“Nah, I got shit to do. We’ll just grab some takeout on the way out.”
“Oh.” Mecca scurried back into his bedroom to throw her clothes and shoes on.
Chanel kept quiet. She tried not to be care whether they stayed to eat or not.
Mecca quickly hugged Chanel. “I’ll call you.”
Chanel shrugged. “Sure, cool.”
“I’ll see you later, Chanel,” said Pyro, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
He left with Mecca. Chanel stood in the kitchen feeling ambivalent about their situation. Why should I care? she asked herself. They were both her friends—friends who happened to find each other. But seeing them together did bother her.
Chanel knew everything about Mecca, including her schedule, and she decided that she needed to have a word with her friend. In fact, she wasn’t even hungry anymore. After she put the breakfast food away, she went back into her bedroom and shut her door. She went back to bed to get some more rest and to do some thinking.
***
Chanel decided to catch up with Mecca outside her job at a clothing store on Third Avenue in Downtown Manhattan late the next evening. She was somewhat nervous about talking to Mecca, but she was determined to do so.
Mecca walked out and looked at Chanel with an uneasy smile.
“Hey,” Mecca started. She sighed and continued with, “Look, I apologize for yesterday morning. I didn’t want you to find out like that.”
Chanel nodded. “So, you and Pyro—how long has that been happening?”
“We exchanged numbers that afternoon when he came to pick you up at the restaurant, and we started talking and texting each other. I thought you would be cool with it. I really want your approval of us, Chanel. It would mean a lot to me.”
“Why would you keep this from me? I’m supposed to be your best friend.”
“And you are, Chanel. Why are you making this a thing? I honestly thought you knew,” she lied. The truth was, Mecca didn’t want her relationship with Pyro exposed until she was sure she wasn’t a fling.
Even though she had once wished for it, for some reason, Chanel no longer wanted them toge
ther. Her eyes stayed fixed on her best friend and she asked that question—the question she already knew the answer to.
“Did you sleep with him?”
Mecca nodded. “I did.”
Chanel shook her head. “Listen, I’m going to keep it real with you. Pyro is a player. He’s a womanizer, and I see him bringing a different woman to his bed almost every night. So, believe me, Mecca, when I say this to you—you’re no different than the others. The only thing he sees in you is a booty call,” Chanel proclaimed.
Mecca listened, but she didn’t understand why her friend was telling her this. Her eyes started to well up. “You’re supposed to be rooting for me, Chanel, not going against me.”