“What in the world made you sleep with Jay?” Monique whispered as she hot curled another section of Robin’s hair. She couldn’t believe her cousin had gotten herself involved with the man who had not only played her for a fool but also laid his hand across her face. Monique had never understood the inner workings of Robin’s mind, as she had watched her fall for loser after loser defending worthless relationship after worthless relationship. This thing with Jay was no better. Robin still seemed steadfast in her stance that her marriage to Jay was over and for the first time ever, she wasn’t trying to make excuses or fairy tales about what had happened between her and Jay.
“Girl, I don’t know.” Robin said as she cringed the heat from the hot irons stung her scalp. “It had just been awhile, I guess. It didn’t mean anything.” As the words left her tongue, she knew them to be true. Her afternoon with Jay had been like the last sentence in the book that was their relationship. She hadn’t seen him or returned any of his calls because she didn’t want him to think that their escape had resulted in anything other than a great physical release for both of them.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” Nikki chimed as she searched through the bounty of hair products that Monique had in her private service room. Nikki had become one of the girls ever since Monique had started dating her brother, something that had been alien to her ever since her friendship with Tia had fallen apart. She had even been invited by Robin and Monique to join them on two girl’s only weekends, where they made cocktails while watching old movies as they talked over all of their likes and dislikes. As she found the hair moisturizer she was looking for, she continued, “Who cares about all of that. How good was it? Did he at least straighten out the knots in your back.”
“Nikki!” Monique gasped, “Lower your voice. Suppose the other clients hear you talking like that.”
“Monique, please.” Nikki sighed as she rolled her eyes before continuing, “I don’t know how you ever had sex, let alone a baby. You are so uptight sometimes.”
“I know, right,” Robin agreed with Nikki before saying, “I wonder the same thing sometimes. I bet she’s not like that when it’s time to get down and dirty with Velle. Anyway, it was alright! We had fun and I hit more than a few high notes but it had been more than a year and some change, since I last got some. I needed every drop of that lovin.” The three women laughed at Robin’s last statement. This was the first time that Robin could honestly say that she was completely over Jay. At this point in time, she wasn’t concerned with him or his whereabouts or even who he may be having sex with.
“Momo, did you ever find out who stole your I.D.?” Nikki asked breaking the laughter with a more concerned tone. Monique’s financial well-being had been a concern for everyone over the past few months but much had been said as to what had actually happened.
“Oh my God, girl, let me tell you.” Monique replied, as if the details of what had happened had come back to her in an after thought. She continued, “Okay, well I do online banking and awhile back I got an email that I thought was from the bank asking saying that my account had been compromised and that I needed to update my account name and password. Of course, it asked me to enter my original account name and password first, which like a fool I did thinking that it was from the bank. I mean, it looked like a legitimate email from the bank. Anyway, some hacker way out in California stole my identity and sold my credit card numbers to people in India, London, Paris…Ethiopia for God’s sake. The credit card companies reluctantly ate the charges but mostly because I had purchased fraud protection and let me tell you, that they really didn’t want to. Velle loaned me the money to keep my house out of foreclosure and Greg is working with me and the Fraud Department at the bank to see what we can do about the second mortgage that was taken out on my house, as well as, getting back my savings and Bri’s college fund. It’s going to take me years to get all of this worked out but at least, I know what happened. Apparently, a lot of people received the same email and the same thing happened to them. The bank said that you should never give your password to anyone through email and that bank would never ask you to do so. That one mistake cost me every dime I had.”
Before either Robin or Monique could add their thoughts to what Monique had said the sound of loud banging and yelling could be heard coming from the stylist area. The three ladies immediately stopped what they were doing and ran down the hall to see just what all of the commotion was. Before Nikki could even see his face, she knew the voice to be that of her ex-husband Ricardo and could imagine just what had gotten his panties in such a bunch. The scene once they entered the open area was one of verbal mayheim, as Ricardo stood screaming his anger at a cowering Tia.
“YOU LYING BITCH!!!” he yelled pointing his finger within inches of her face. Tia stood literally in mid-curl of her client’s hair. She laid the curling irons down on a damp cloth on her station’s counter. She had been caught completely off guard and the eyes from her fellow co-worker and the other patrons stung like the attack of an angry beehive. But the prying eyes of strangers were the farthest things from Ricardo’s mind as he continued, “You knew this entire time that Rico was mine!” He paused for a second as he heard himself call the child by what obviously wasn’t his name, which angered him, even further. He commented on that first before continuing his rant, “Rico. Rico isn’t even his damn name! You had me introduce this child to my friends, my parents. Had me telling my daughter that was her brother and the whole damn time you knew that was Sterling’s baby. You lying whore, you knew! And how did you know it? Huh? How? I’ll tell you how you knew, because you and his real father did a DNA test months ago! How the fuck are you going to use your baby like that? What kind of dirty ass woman does shit like that? Ricardo Tyrone Jr., Bitch! That ain’t even the name on the birth certificate! Did you think this would make me want you? Huh? If I didn’t want you before you had the baby why in the hell would I want you after? Huh? Huh? Say something! Don’t just stand there looking stupid with nothing to say now!”
“Ricardo, that’s enough!” Nikki interrupted, after finally having heard enough of his verbal rampage. Tia stood there frozen like a deer in headlights, tears streaming down her face, her bottom lip trembling from either embarrassment or frustration. It was a sight that Nikki had dreamt of time and time again, but now that she was witnessing it first hand something about it whole scene made her uncomfortable and down right angry. She continued anger ringing loud throughout her words, “This is not the time or place for this! This is a place of business not the Jerry Springer Show! Now, I’m going to have to ask you to leave…and where the hell is my baby? You all in here causing a scene when you’re supposed to be out spending the day with your daughter.”
“But, Nikki this bit-“ Ricardo started but was quickly silenced by Nikki, who was beyond her point of reasoning. His words were stopped by Nikki placing her hand over his mouth.
“Uh-uh. That’s it! I’ve heard enough! We’ve all heard enough. You two can take this up when she’s not on the clock and off the premises. I don’t need you airing your dirty laundry in this salon.” She said as stopped him before he could administer any more verbal assault on Tia. Besides, his carrying on was not a good look for business and she couldn’t have the salon in complete disarray because Ricardo had finally found out what everyone else already knew. She placed one hand on the small of her back and the other on his forearm, as she started to lead him out of the salon. Ricardo gave Tia one last disgusted look before he turned to leave escorted ex-wife. Nikki’s look for Tia was one of pity, which hurt more than the look from her ex-lover.
Tia has beyond humiliated as she tried to steady her trembling hands. Her customer, who was just as confused and dazed as everyone else by what had just taken placed inquired if she was okay to finish her appointment. Monique made an apologetic announcement and assured everyone that everything would be fine and encouraged the clients to try to relax and enjoy the rest of their appointment. She then came over to an undeniable upset Tia to relieve her of her customer and embarrassment by sending her to the office to get herself together before her next appointment.
Tia’s walk passed the other stylists’ stations was long one filed with ridicule and speculation and she could feel that everyone was just waited for her to make her exit before they started their opinions of what had just happened. She could hear the snickering, as she took the last step leading out of the styling area and onto the corridor that lead to the office. She had been the center of gossip for years, so that part didn’t bother her in the least. She had gotten used to the disapproving stares and the smart remarks as she passed by women who suspected her of sleeping with their man, which was often times true. She was the first to admit that she was a whore who didn’t see anything wrong with sleeping with a man involved with another woman, because by her reasoning if the woman was any good or meant anything to the man then he wouldn’t be cheating on her in the first place. Her body was fierce and her face was flawless, she was no Nicolette Williams, but she was damn close. She could get any man she wanted, even one that belonged to Nikki, at least that is what she thought.
She was glad that everything was out in the open, she thought as she opened the door to the office to let herself inside. Now that Ricardo knew that he was not the father she didn’t have to carry on with this silly charade she had been living the past few months. She could also work on having a solid relationship with Sterling, who she had also been stringing along with promises of fidelity and love ever since he had come to her rescue when it was for her to give birth. It had been by the grace of God that she had been able to keep her lie between the two men life going for so long.
She had been engaged to Sterling when Ricardo had made his first advances towards her. At first she thought that he was joking. Why would a man married to Nikki being making moves on her? But that wasn’t the first time one of Nikki’s men had come secretly knocking at her door so she like a fool took him up on his offer for drinks alone. Her romance with Ricardo happened so quickly and she had gotten her feeling involved too deeply that Sterling had found out about their relationship before she could properly break off her relationship with him. It was only after Nikki found out and threatened to take her business that she learned that she was, in fact pregnant and desperate to keep her relationship with Ricardo she had lied to do so. She had done the math and knew from the beginning that there was no way that her secret lover could be the father of her child but when she found him making love to his wife in her bed something in her snapped, knowing that Nikki had won yet again. She was not about to let another man go crawling back to his wife instead of making good on his promises to her. She had set out to keep Ricardo away from his wife anyway she could and even though he wasn’t with her; he wasn’t with Nikki either.
She sat in the office looking around at the trophies Monique had placed neatly in a display case and smiled at the thought that her prodigy had somehow surpassed her in her own career field. Somewhere along the way she had lost all desire to be the best hair stylist. She wanted something else, something more but she had no idea what that was. She had a Business Degree in Finance that was literally just filling a space on the wall in her library at home and now more than ever she wished that she had listened to her sister and finished her Masters degree, instead of opening up a hair salon just because she liked to do hair. She was a little jealous but still happy that Monique had done so well with making her new home salon, a thriving business. She was also grateful that Monique hadn’t held a grudge and given her a job when she was in need.
She was staring out the window, when she heard the door squeak open. She was sure it was Monique, come to check on her, but was stunned and somewhat dismayed to turn to find Nikki closing the door behind her.
“Well, well” Nikki said standing with the closed door to her back, “I have to save your ass from yet another embarrassing airing out by another man who initially belonged to someone else.”
“Nikki, don’t start with me.” Tia said shaking her head as she turned back towards the window. She was in no mood to listen to Nikki gloat.
“Don’t start with you. Whore, I’m finished with you. Now that I know and now Ricardo is certain that your child and mine don’t share the same father, I can honestly breathe freely and say that I’m completely done with you. I would say you were fired, but I’m not that petty. Besides, I’d rather have you working here than collecting my tax dollars for free.” She quipped, her venom as poisonous as ever.
“You just mad cause I took another man from you.” Tia snapped as she turned to face the nemesis that had once been her partner in crime.
“Girl please, we both know that you’ve never taken any man from me. Is that what this whole thing Ricardo has been about this whole time? You wanting to take some man from me?” Nikki giggle somewhat amused that Tia would even fix her mouth to make such a comment.
“Pete was yours and he got with me. Ricardo was yours; he got with me. Doughboy was yours; I got him too. Right down to Sterling and you begged me not to take him from yo’ ass, begged me bitch!” Tia replied, her neck rolling and finger scrolling up and down the imaginary list of men she’d betrayed their friendship for.
“That’s right, I begged you because I loved Sterling but he wasn’t in love with me. He was in love with your trick ass.” Nikki said moving away from the door and over towards the window where Tia was standing. She continued determined to finally say all of the things she had pent up inside over the years, “Before he ever lay your nasty ass down, he came to me. Sterling came to me like a real man and said “look baby, I don’t want to hurt you but I think this thing with Tia is out of my control”. He said, “I don’t think I can resist her and I don’t think I want to.” That man broke up with me rather than cheat on me! But I loved him! I loved Sterling, more than I thought I could love anyone so I begged you just let us be and what did you do. You fucked him the first chance you got! If it had been any other bitch then I could have let it go but you were supposed to be my girl, my sister my damn ace boon koon…and you do me like that.”
“You still trippin’ over Sterling. Is that what this is about?” Tia smirked determined not to let the truth in Nikki’s words ring true. It was easier to blow her off than face the facts of her betrayal.
“IT’S ABOUT ME AND YOU, YOU STUPID BITCH!” Nikki yelled. She could feel the anger and heartache boiling over inside of her. Time had only allowed the wound Tia had created to fester, but now it was time to porn alcohol into it so that the healing process could truly begin. She turned away refusing to let Tia see the angst on her face before she continued, “I didn’t give a shit about Pete or Doughboy or even Ricardo’s sorry ass because they all just wanted some free pussy and a guaranteed blowjob. Truth be told Sterling wasn’t that big a deal after it was all said and done, but we were friends or at least I thought we were friends. We had been thick as thieves since second grade. You were like my sister and-“
Tia had heard all that she intended to hear. She could hear Nikki turning herself into the martyr and she was not about to let that happen. She interrupted her saying, “I was like your ugly step sister! You just wanted me around so that you could make me feel like shit while placing yourself up on a pedestal. You wanna talk about me taking Sterling, but what about Jojo. You knew I really liked him but you still went after him when you knew the rule was if either of us like a guy then he was off limits to the other even if he tried to get with her first. You broke the rule first Nikki, not me!”
“Jojo?” Nikki turned to face Tia, puzzled by her statement. She asked, “Who the heck is Jojo? I never got with any guy you were involved with.”
“Jojo…real name Jonothor Jacobs…my high school crush. Remember? We were in the ninth grade and he was a Senior and I was so in love with him. I told you about him and you said that he was lame, then next thing I know he’s taking you to prom.” Tia said and even though it sounded ridiculous as she listened to herself say it out loud it still made her angry.
“Are you serious? That was ninth grade and we only went to prom. Nothing happened; I just wanted to go to prom and I thought you were just kidding when you said you liked him. You didn’t say anything when I told you we were going to prom. You started sleeping with all of my boyfriend for some shit like that. That dude didn’t even mean anything.” Nikki shook her head surprised that some dorky high school crush was as the root of Tia’s resentment of her.
“He meant something to me!” Tia snapped. How dare Nikki brush off her feelings? She continued, “Besides, it was more than that. You made me feel like, I wasn’t as good as you. Like it was a privilege for me to be your friend. You would buy me shit, then tell everybody that you had bought it the first opportunity you got. What kind of friend does that? You were always throwing the fact that your parents were still married and how close you and your mom were even though you knew I didn’t really have any parents other than Vanessa. I just got tired of playing second fidal to you, so when my curves came in and guys started looking pass you at me; I’ll admit that I loved it. I loved that they had you on their arm but they still wanted to get with me.”
“They wanted to get with you because they heard that you’d get it down on a dime for a dime.” Nikki smugly replied, “I always included you in every aspect of my life. I invited you along with my mom and I because I knew your mom wasn’t around and I thought you would enjoy being around my mother even if she weren’t yours. If I had something then it was yours. If you needed something then I’d get it for you; no questions asked. When my family went on vacation; I made sure you went whether you had money or not. I sent you the flyest dress for your senior prom, when I working the runways in Milan and sent you money for books when your financial aide was late. I not only gave you your first car but I put gas in the motherfucker when you were struggling. I even gave you the money to open your salon when every bank in town turned you down.”
“YOU…CAN’T…BUY ME!!!” Tia screamed, “You can’t by me, Nikki! I’m not a piece of fashion couture, or a $500 pair of shoes! I’m a person, Nikki! A person you thought that you could pay off with gifts and money. When I needed you…when I really needed you; you were never there. Yes, if I needed something financially you were there but if I need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to just listen you always had more important things to do. Yes, you invited me on vacations with your family where you spent the entire trip making sure I knew that your parent were paying for everything. Yes, you sent me a dress from Milan but you made sure everyone in school knew that you did. You gave me a car but wanted to dictate who I could have in it. You gave me the startup money for my salon and it was the first thing you took from when you got mad. I always felt like your fucking charity case. I was your friend but the price of your friendship was one I couldn’t afford to pay.”
