Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
There were a couple of minutes of quiet as she drove along. The traffic was rather light, and the mood somber.
“…Why did you say we’d never talk again?”
Azure smiled at her and patted her shoulder. “’Cause we both know you’re going to go right back to him, baby. You’re not ready to let him go. But for right now, you’re going to lie to yourself and say it’s over. You’re going to pretend that you respect yourself and have high self-esteem, that you know and deserve better. And I’m going to let you tell yourself those tall tales, those big juicy lies, and then we’re going to drink chocolate martinis, Washington apple cocktails, smoke silver cigars, and laugh so hard that you don’t have time to cry.”
The lady sobbed louder now. Moments later, Azure pulled into the parking area of the Taj Louisville Bar. They walked in, a blaze of red light and loud music greeting them, along with the sounds of ‘Heart Attack,’ by Raphael Sadiq. They’d just opened for the four o’clock crowd.
The two ladies slipped onto a couple of tall bar stools and were soon greeted by the friendly, handsome bartender, though Azure had a hunch he wasn’t into women and preferred to play ball with the other team. He’d be a nice distraction all the same. Tasty eye candy with his gorgeous self. Pulling two silver Game Changer cigars out of her purse, she handed Delilah one, then lit it for her with a bright red lighter.
“Thank you…” The woman finally smiled. And what a beautiful smile it was.
“Baby, you’re more than welcome. I figured you smoked, too. A lot of ashtrays in your apartment.”
Azure lit her own and ordered them both chocolate martinis to start off with.
“Azure, you’re pretty.” The lady exhaled a column of smoke, her graceful long neck curving gently. “At least he has good taste and didn’t cheat wit’ no dog this time.” She laughed sadly, then shook her head in repulsion.
“Of course you think I’m pretty. I look like you.”
They both cackled at that. Azure tapped her cigar in an ashtray and said a mental prayer for the woman. Lord knew she’d need all the prayers she could get.
“That’s true. We look like we could be family. That’s what confuses me, you know? Why would he cheat with someone he already got? You and me look like we could be sisters.”
“Honey, you’re missing the point. To men like Gio, it’s about newness. Novelty. The experience. We may look alike, but I bet we’re completely different on the inside. Don’t make me better than you, or less than you. Just makes me different. He could buy ten of the same shirt but the newest one, the one he ain’t worn yet with the tag still on it, he’ll prefer over the oldest in the pile. He’ll snub his nose at the one that’s been through the laundry umpteen eleven times, been through the battles with him. The one that lost a button on account of him not treatin’ it right. The grease and grass stains that he didn’t even bother pre-treating. He’ll not care that regardless of all of that, that old one is a little softer than the new ones, due to all of that laundry detergent and softener relaxin’ the threads over time.
“He’ll not care that it didn’t complain about his funk, the drippin’ sweat under the armpits, and how he tossed it on the floor when he got in from work—where the dust and dirt sleep. One day, he’ll throw it out in the trash. Forget he even had it, not give it another thought. But that first shirt, the one that is old and tired,” she raised one finger and pointed towards the ceiling, “the one that he once smiled at and told his friends he got a good deal on, and was proud to wear… it was good to him, through thick and thin, in spite of himself. Maybe that shirt shoulda taken a lesson from lost socks in the dryer and just disappeared into thin air. Stop riding his back like an old shirt, Delilah, and transform into a sock, baby. Then, and only then, will you be able to walk away…” She winked at her, then raised her glass in the air. “Cheers…”
Chapter Two
“SHIT! Legend is here!” someone yelled as they walked into the restaurant.
“Uh huh! Y’all thought I took off today. “Surprise, surprise, mothafuckas! Don’t try to scramble around and act like y’all was on top of yo’ shit. If you stay ready, you ain’t have to get ready. Church. Where’s Devon, at? She ’sposed to be managing my place.”
Caspian followed him right into the kitchen. Legend was on a mission, and he looked like a beast charging wounded and confused prey.
“Devon just left to get some blocks of ice,” someone let him know.