Lickin' License (17 page)

It was dark outside when she walked through the door of the penthouse. Candy
dropped her plate of food on the floor and darted toward her. They hugged each other firmly for
what seemed to be forever. Tears soaked both their faces.

“I was so scared that something had happened to you,” Candy said, taking Vanessa's face
into her hands. “I'm sorry. Please don't ever leave me again. I can't take it.” Candy shook her
head and hugged her tighter than she ever had.

“I'm sorry too,” Vanessa said. “I love you.”

Rich watched Candy and Vanessa from a distance. He was relieved but furious. He had
endured sleepless nights and mornings that felt awkward waking without Vanessa's body against
his. Rich and Candy had many heated arguments, because Rich blamed Candy for Vanessa's
disappearance. Both Rich and Candy had a clear picture of how painful life would be without Vanessa. It was an image they never wanted to see again.

Vanessa spotted Rich, as she and Candy walked slowly in his direction. She wiped the
tears from her eyes and stretched out her arms, attempting to hug Rich. But he raised his hand, stopping her.

“Do yourself a favor and play that couch.” He pointed to the leather love seat and paced in front of the coffee table.

“Rich, Vanessa—”

“Not now, baby,” Rich cut Candy short. “You and me been doing plenty of talking all week. Even had arguments because she wanted to play Terry McMillan.”

“Terry McMillan?” Vanessa blurted.

“Yeah,” Rich said. “Ol’ girl that wrote
Disappearing Acts.
Why don't you take us on the journey of your disappearing act, Terry?”

“I just needed some space.”

“Space? It's a whole lot of motherfuckin’ space downstairs in Central Park.”

“This is not called for,” Candy said.

“Speaking of calls, did you tell her that you called the police, Candy? That you cried all the way to the station and damn near fell apart when you filled out that missing persons report? Did you tell her that you couldn't eat the first two days? Or that you almost had a nervous breakdown, because she wanted to play hide-and-go-seek?” Rich shook his head. “Yeah, I hope you told her all of that.”

“Reminds me of that night that somebody ran outta here with a gun and left me and
Candy crying on the bed,” Vanessa said, staring at Rich. “Why? Because he wanted to play
Scarface.
Then he came back in here shot, like it was nothing. And had the nerve to get mad at me for caring about him.”

Rich was silenced, his mouth wide open. He didn't want to think about his old war story
through Vanessa's eyes. He knew he had done her wrong, caused her pain and ignored her concern for him. But he still felt that Vanessa had caused a lot more pain than he did.

“You fucked up, Rich. Just like Candy did with that video. Just like I did. But you know
what I realized when I was gone?” Vanessa asked. “I'm still in love with you and Candy. I just needed some time alone to look inside of me. The deeper I looked, the more I saw you two. No Mimi, nobody from the shop, no online viewers of the sex tape. As far as I'm concerned,

both of you are the only two people that exist besides me in this world.”

Vanessa's words moved Rich. He knew they were true. He knew they were coming from
the only woman who had an understanding and love for him based partly on truths that no one
else in the world knew. They shared a bond that was unparalleled. He could not deny it. “You know I love you, right?” he said.

“Of course,” Vanessa answered.

Rich stepped around the coffee table to her. “And I agree with everything that just rolled
off your tongue. But you gotta understand that I was laying it on you kind of thick just now for a reason.” Rich paused. “Baby, I done been shot, seen friends killed and a whole bunch of
other things I don't even want to remember. But I could handle all that because I knew what I
was dealing with. It was all a part of the game. But not knowing where you were, if you was safe, or if I was ever gonna see you again was killing me. It was unexpected.”

Vanessa burst into tears. She got up and hugged Rich. Afterwards, Rich sat down between
her and Candy. Vanessa began explaining what happened from the moment Mimi
walked away from her to the minute Vanessa walked through the door of the penthouse.

Rich looked back and forth at Candy and Vanessa. It felt good to see them smiling and talking again. They had overcome one of the biggest obstacles they could face. Rich's only hope was
that all the drama was behind him. But in the back of his mind, he knew his life would always be
filled with drama. It was a reality he could not deny.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Candy, Rich and Vanessa had become popular within publishing circles and among fans of Vanessa’s book and the sex tape. A tweet from a famous rapper about the video sparked over a half-million views and an interview of Vanessa by Wendy Williams. Vanessa mentioned the main male character was similar to Rich and that they were in a three-way relationship with Candy. Vanessa also admitted that her relations had also influenced other elements in her book. With public interest in their relationship growing, Ted Stevens suggested that the trio write a tell-all book. The video they once feared would destroy them had become the ultimate promotional tool for Vanessa’s book.

Rich was seated by Vanessa's side at a table inside a Barnes & Noble in Atlanta.
Promotional posters were displayed on easels and stacks of books were on the table. Candy, Vanessa and Rich were coming to the end of a question and answer
session with the nearly 100 people seated and standing in front of them. The diverse group transcended race, gender and age brackets.

“My question is for Rich,” said a twenty-something black man. “Does it get tiring holding
down two women? On the mental side?”

“Not at all,” Rich responded. “When you truly love someone, being with them and
tending to their needs becomes second nature. Things become a strain for me when I don't want
to do them. And it's nothing I wanna do more than keep these women happy.” He kissed
Vanessa on the cheek, then did the same to Candy.

“I don't understand how one man can have two women,” said an older black woman.

Vanessa said, “That's because we live in a society where a so-called normal relationship
consists of a man and woman. But there are countless societies throughout the world that are
filled with relationships like ours. The only way we can begin to understand things that are
different is to expose ourselves to things that are outside the norm.”

That statement ended the Q&A session and people began to line up and buy books.
Candy watched the stacks of books dwindle. Soon,
more than 120 books were sold.

“You putting up numbers, girl,” Candy said.

Vanessa smiled. “I owe everything to you and Rich.”

An older white woman walked up and asked Vanessa, “How does it feel knowing that
people are watching a video of you getting ate out?”

Candy was thrown off by the bold question, even though it was not intended for her. Vanessa was cool and collected.
“It feels good,” she replied nonchalantly. “It's a turn on.”

Candy stepped out of the Barnes & Noble with Rich and Vanessa. They got inside of a
Land Rover and Rich pulled off. They discussed Candy's new business, which was soon
set to open. Nature's Beauty had been incorporated and the first Candice Cream was in
production. Rich had invested a 30% stake in Candy's company. He had also introduced her to a
distributor that agreed to make her first product available in forty states across the country.

Before Candy knew it, Rich was parking in front of the shop, which was
packed inside. There had been more people hanging around the shop than usual since Rich and
Candy had been appearing with Vanessa at book signings and receiving media coverage. Fans
had often found their way to the shop. The very thing that Vanessa feared would be bad for
Candy’s Shop had become her strongest asset to attract new customers to the shop.

“I'm a be waiting at the crib,” Rich said.

Candy and Vanessa kissed Rich, then climbed out of the Land Rover and walked into the shop. They were warmly greeted, as they flopped down in their chairs that their clients usually
sat in. Candy noticed Leah and Chanel talking. Leah had been the negotiator who arranged a sit-down with Candy and Chanel. Leah stressed that they had been friends for too long to part ways. Chanel agreed and came back to work after Candy apologized. Candy was really concerned with having Chanel’s help, because with Candice Cream and the book tour, the shop was short-staffed. Candy had allowed Leah to manage the shop when she was not there.

“So what's good? Y'all move them books on that tour or what?” Meisha asked.

“Did really good,” said Vanessa.

“I'm drained,” Candy interjected. “City after city, listening to people hit you with some
of the wildest questions.”

“Like what?” Leah asked.

“Have I ever had a train ran on me?”

“Whole lot of heifers in the 'hood was getting gang banged,” Chanel declared.

“I ain't a whole lot of heifers.”

“People don't know that,” Chanel said. “They see you on a sex tape and you in a three-way relationship. What they supposed to think?”

Vanessa cut her eyes at Chanel.

“I really don't care,” Candy said, emphatically. She stared at Chanel, as she braided a
man's hair. Candy was trying to figure out the nature of Chanel's comment. Was it a genuine analysis or one of her infamous snide remarks? Chanel had
managed to censor her tongue since the incident with Candy. But Candy was
always wondering. She knew Chanel was still attracted to Rich and she was probably just as jealous of Candy now as she was of Vanessa.

“So how things been going here?” Candy asked Leah.

“A new order of India hair came in yesterday. The invoice is in your desk. We got some chemical orders in because stock is low. The booth rent was paid on time by everyone. It’s all deposited in the bank. So you can verify that on your iPhone. As long as I’m here everything is under control,” Leah said.

Candy was impressed with
how Leah had been managing the shop. Leah always conducted herself in a professional manner.
Candy had not told
anyone, but she was planning to offer Leah the opportunity to run the shop full time. Candy
would soon need the help, because she would have to dedicate most of her time to running her
new business.

Vanessa
watched a smooth, young
man a few years older than her step inside of the shop. He was sporting a freshly trimmed 'fro
and a ton of jewelry.

“That's a fine brother, there,” Meisha said to Chanel.

“Shit, what's fine is all that platinum and diamonds. Look like he got his weight up enough to get down with the Chanel Legacy.”

The young man smiled when he spotted Vanessa and Candy seated feet apart. He walked past Leah and stopped in front of them. “Vanessa Denay and Candice Johnson.” He flashed a sly
grin. “They call me Cash and I'm from Philly. I'm double-parked outside,” he said, waving his
hand toward a blue Mercedes S-Class. “I'm just out here to handle some business, but I wanted
to shout y'all out quick fast and let y'all know I was feeling the book almost as much as the sex
tape.” He reached inside the pocket of his Red Monkey jeans and handed Candy and Vanessa
two business cards. “I own a few clubs in Philly. If y'all ever wanna play the stage, just holler.”

When Candy and Vanessa looked up from reading the cards, Cash was already gone.

“Did he say 'club' and 'play the stage' as in strip club?” an older woman asked.

“Yeah. According to this card, he owns four strip clubs,” Vanessa said.

“Child, I know you ain't gonna be up on no stage swinging around no damn pole,” the woman said.

“Definitely not,” Vanessa stated. Stripping was far from her style. But Cash's offer was
one of many she and Candy had received since their video went viral. They had received e-mails
from swingers clubs, pornography producers and strip club owners. No one seemed to
understand that the video was simply a private affair that leaked into the limelight. And only a
handful of people realized that Vanessa and Candy were in a loving relationship that
encompassed more than steamy sex.

Leah said, “Cash. He got some damn nerve coming all the way from Philly to New York with a proposition.”

“That man own four clubs and his name is Cash. He tryin' to get gwap like everybody
else. Money to blow,” Chanel said. “Money to blow.”

“Yeah, yeah, Chanel,” Leah said.

“You should understand, being that you going to school for business,” Chanel added.

“I didn't notice you telling him you was interested,” Candy said with a sly grin.

“I ain't the one with the fan base from a book and a sex tape.” Chanel waved her hand
from her head to toe. “And strippin' is not a part of the Chanel Legacy.”

“Mine either,” Vanessa said, visibly upset.

“It ain't much difference in somebody looking from their chair in front
of a computer
or somebody looking from a chair in a club. Still an audience,” Chanel said.

“You don't get tired of making indirect statements?” Vanessa's voice rose.

“What you need to do is calm down,” Chanel said.

“Or what, huh? I'm tired of your shit, Chanel!”

Chanel laughed. “Seem like you grew a heart since you found out Candy gon' protect you.”

“Watch your mouth, Chanel,” said Candy, pointing at her.

“I ain't say nothing that ain't true. You know you ain't gon' let that heifer fight her own battles.”

“You know what? You really think you get busy,” Candy said, standing up.

Vanessa grabbed her arm and looked at her. “I'm not scared of her. I can fight for
myself,” Vanessa said, knowing that Candy doubted that she could hold her own. Vanessa just
needed to release the tension that Chanel had ignited within her.

“You better fuck her up,” Candy whispered to Vanessa. She grabbed a few rubber bands from her station.

Chanel was busy taking off her earrings. “We can go right outside and get it poppin' as soon
as the shop closes.”

“Okay,” Vanessa said. She sat impatiently for the next ten minutes until closing. The only voice in the shop came from the music playing.

“Come on,” Chanel said, as she finished the hair of the last client in the shop.

“Come on,” Candy told Vanessa.

Vanessa's heart was racing. Her palms grew sweaty. She balled her fist, preparing for
the fight and stopping herself from trembling.

“Listen,” Candy said, pulling Vanessa to the side, as they stepped outside. She
pulled Vanessa's huge 'fro into an afro puff and strapped on a few rubber bands. Next, she covered Vanessa's face in Vaseline. “You grab them long-ass curls she got and pull her to the ground, then stomp her ass out.”

Candy's strategy blew by Vanessa like an Olympic sprinter racing a handicapped senior
citizen. Vanessa was too focused on Chanel, who was stepping out of the shop. She took off her
Gucci heels and handed them to Meisha. Chanel had Vanessa by at least thirty pounds, but Vanessa
was a couple of inches taller.

“You ready?” Candy asked, tucking Vanessa's shirt in her spandex.

Vanessa nodded. She was so focused on Chanel that she didn't feel the chilly air outside.

“I'ma bust ya ass,” Chanel said, as the crowd of a dozen people was forming in front of the shop.

“Remember what I said,” Candy mumbled.

Chanel put up her hands like a prized fighter, stepping toward Vanessa. “Come on, heifer. Come on.”

Vanessa rushed Chanel and swung a haymaker. Chanel sidestepped the blow and punched Vanessa in the jaw. Vanessa stumbled and grabbed her face. “Damn,” she blurted as the pain shot through her body.

“Yeah, you wanted to fuck with the Chanel Legacy!” Chanel barked, before charging in and delivering two more blows to Vanessa’s face, dropping her instantly. “Get up, heifer!” Chanel screamed. “So I can knock your ass back down.”

Vanessa was expecting the typical cat fight of wild swings and hair pulling. But Chanel
had clearly picked up some formal boxing skills over the years. Vanessa followed suit, raising her fists like Chanel did.

“Yeah, heifer.” Chanel charged her, swinging wildly, connecting a few punches and a hard slap on Vanessa's face and head.

Vanessa screamed, punching Chanel in the stomach. When Chanel bent over and held her
stomach, Vanessa grabbed a handful of her hair with her left hand and pounded Chanel's face with her right.

Chanel charged forward, forcing her weight on Vanessa's petite frame, until she slammed
against a parked Chevy Envoy. She wrestled Vanessa to the ground. They rolled around until
Chanel was on top, choking Vanessa. Vanessa was fighting to breathe. She tugged at Chanel's hands. She punched Chanel on
the side of her face and ripped her blouse open as her hand came down. She reached up again,
snatching Chanel's bra.

“What the fuck!” Chanel stopped choking Vanessa and grabbed her arm. Vanessa's
hand fell. She was holding Chanel's bra and her huge D-cup breasts swung widely.

While Chanel reached to cover herself, Vanessa punched her and she tumbled over.
Vanessa stood and kicked her in the stomach twice, and Chanel balled up in the fetal position. Vanessa continued
to stand over Chanel, breathing hard, relieved of all the frustration Chanel had caused her.

“Come on.” Candy put her arm around Vanessa and walked inside the shop as the crowd watched Meisha help Chanel to her feet. Candy took Vanessa into her office and got a
first-aid kit. “She scratched your neck all up,” Candy said. “But you put the blows on her. I'm
proud of you.” Candy smiled.

Vanessa laid back on the couch. She stared into Candy's eyes as Candy dabbed a
peroxide-soaked cotton ball on her wounds. Vanessa thought of how protective Candy had
always been over her. How she had always been so gentle and affectionate to her needs. Neither
Rich, nor any other man had ever been so attentive to her. As she stared into Candy's eyes,
Vanessa realized that she would never desire another woman besides Candy.