Authors: Stephanie Perry Moore
Prime Choice (3 page)
When I turned toward her, my eyes couldn't stop staring at her chest; it was practically completely visible, 'cause she had on a low-cut halter. My gaze eventually moved on to her Daisy Duke shorts. Oh, yeah this party was slammin'!
“So, you gon' dance with me, or what?” Amandi asked as she moved closer and closer to me, shaking her hips from left to right.
It was easy for me to get in the groove with a girl like that standing in front of me. I wrapped my hands around her waist and let her take me to the middle of the floor. Once I started dancing, everyone joined in. It was crazy. I was now noticing my popularity on a different level. I just hoped God would help me stay humble. I knew I was being tempted.
“You ever seen me before?” she asked, puckering her lips after she said every word, reeling me in with her seductiveness. The girl had it going on, and she had a back like bam! And I was all into it.
“I don't think I know you.”
“We're in the same grade at the same school, and you have never noticed me, huh? Well, I'm Amandi Roberts.”
“Yeah, didn't you used to wear glasses and braces andâ”
“Yeah, and now all that is gone. You like what you see?” she asked as she turned and shook her backside at me. “I wanna be honest, Perry. I wanna ...” But before she could finish, Damarius and Cole stepped between us and pulled me off the floor.
“What's going on?” I asked the two of them as if they were the chaperone police. “I'm not doing nothing wrong. I'm just having a little fun.”
“Yeah, but you about to get us in trouble,” Cole said as he hit me in the chest. “Tori is here with Ciara and Briana.”
“You broke up with her and you didn't even tell us?” Damarius asked.
They spun me around so that I could look directly at the woman who still had a part of my heart. I hadn't realized it because I tried not to think about it, but the moment I saw her, all the flesh that Amandi was flaunting couldn't hold a candle to the substance I knew Tori possessed. But then I came to my senses. I wasn't trying to go backward, I wanted what Amandi was trying to give away. Tori wasn't about all that and we were through.
I said, “I didn't know I had to answer to the two of you guys. Yeah, I broke up with her.”
“Why, dude? Everybody knows that the three of us go with the three of them,” Damarius said.
“It's our senior year. If y'all don't wanna be single, which you two need to be because of how bad you cheat on them, anyway, then I'ma show you. You ain't gotta be tied down to be cool.”
Damarius replied, “But everybody knows women like a brotha that's already with somebody. If you got game you can play more games.”
“Whatever, D. We just think differently.”
“All right, do your thing, then, bro.”
The two of them backed away and I went back out on the floor to continue dancing with Amandi. When a slow jam came on, I was about to leave. But Amandi didn't let me get too far. She grabbed me back, pulled my body into hers and we rocked with the groove.
“So, what was that about, your boys pulling you away and all?”
“Me and my girl broke up and they just want to make sure I know what I'm doing.”
“You looking for another girl?”
“No.”
“But you are looking for a good time, right?”
“I don't know.” I laughed.
“Well, when that answer is yes, then come to me.” She pulled my head close to hers and planted a kiss on me I wasn't expecting.
The crowd did notice and a lot of oohs and ahhs were all around. Quickly, I tried to find Tori in the crowd. I spotted her as she dashed away.
“Uh-uh I gotta go,” I said, tugging from Amandi.
It took me a few minutes to find Tori, but when I did she was down the street walking by herself with her hands over her face, crying. The girl cared about me and I knew that. Dang! But she had to get used to us not being together.
I eased up behind her and said, “Hey, hey, hey. Wait a minute.”
“Leave me alone, Perry. Just go back in there and get your groove on. Don't let my being upset stop you.”
“Wait a minute, babe. Come here.” I wiped her tears from her face. “She kissed
me
. I'm not trying to hurt you.”
me
. I'm not trying to hurt you.”
“If you loved me, you would be patient.”
I didn't know if what I felt for her was love. We'd been together for a long time, so that should be proof enough to her that I had deep feelings.
“Look, Tori, I do care.”
“But you didn't even call me all week.”
“I needed some space and plus I had a recruiting visit. I was busy.”
“Have you been broken up about us? Have you been missing me? Huh?” Tori pushed.
“Have you changed your mind? Are you willing to do what I want, Tori?” She turned her head and looked away. “Yeah, I'm sorry. It's a tough question for you. But I don't want a no to that question anymore. For us to stay together, on that issue I'm needing a yes.”
2
Handling My Business
“
D
ang, boy, you had all day to be ready,” my father said as he abruptly came into my room to get me for the Braves baseball game.
D
ang, boy, you had all day to be ready,” my father said as he abruptly came into my room to get me for the Braves baseball game.
I didn't understand why he always had to talk to me any kind of way. I mean, couldn't he have said, “
Son, you ready to go?
” Or something like, “
I'm just coming in here to let you know I'm ready. I'll be downstairs waiting on you
.” Not with my pops. The understanding way he talked to my sister was absent in our conversations, and now he had ticked me off. I had followed him all my life, but suddenly something in me was different now. I wasn't having him come at me incorrectly.
Son, you ready to go?
” Or something like, “
I'm just coming in here to let you know I'm ready. I'll be downstairs waiting on you
.” Not with my pops. The understanding way he talked to my sister was absent in our conversations, and now he had ticked me off. I had followed him all my life, but suddenly something in me was different now. I wasn't having him come at me incorrectly.
“You in a rush, Pops? Go ahead and go,” I said as I sat on my bed. I started taking off my hoodie. “I'm sure somebody at the dealership wouldn't mind going in my place.”
“Boy, put that daggone shoe on and get your tail up so we can go! I'm rushing you because I gotta pick up Mr. Graham and Dakari, and I'm trying not to hold them up and be late 'cause of you. Now let's go!”
My dad could still make me do some things, but I didn't have to like it. I didn't know company was riding with us. Actually, that was going to make the journey to Atlanta much better for me. I hadn't seen Dakari in a good while. He was my sister's old high school boyfriend. Their on-and-off relationship was a trip! He wanted to play the field. Thankfully, my sister caught on.
I'll never forget the day Dakari and I almost got to fighting. I'd admired him for so long, but when he embarrassed my sister in public by breaking up with her in front of a big crowd at school, I stood up to him. I had to be a man. I had to let him know that when it came to my sister, I wasn't having it. We didn't actually come to blows, though. But ever since that day, Dakari has been givin' me my props. He told me that he knew I had fire that would take me far.
I didn't know how this little father-son trip of my dad's would go. The Grahams had just gone through a serious tragedy. Their oldest son, Drake, who was the starting linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, got gunned down at a club in Athens. Dakari actually saw the whole thing. And from what my sister said, the brotha was still sorta messed up from it all.
I didn't talk to God as much as I needed to, but as we pulled into their driveway and my dad honked the horn, I silently talked to the Lord.
“Oh, Lord. What am I supposed to say to these people? They gotta be hurt still. Not only was Drake a superstar around here, but he was family to them. How do you get over such pain? How, as a friend, can I say anything that will lift them up? Be with us in this car and even with me and my dad, because You know he's trying my patience.”
“Oh, Lord. What am I supposed to say to these people? They gotta be hurt still. Not only was Drake a superstar around here, but he was family to them. How do you get over such pain? How, as a friend, can I say anything that will lift them up? Be with us in this car and even with me and my dad, because You know he's trying my patience.”
Actually, the ride down was real cool. Mr. Graham was laughing with my dad about this and that. Dakari was joking about crazy college life. It wasn't until the conversation turned toward me that things got uncomfortable. Dakari had to ask the question that made my dad rattle off at the mouth. I hated that my father thought he knew what was best for me and that his decisions were the only ones that needed to be followed.
Dakari said, “So, man, where you gon' play college ball? I know those schools coming at you from every direction!”
“Yeah, Junior, who you gon' sign with?” Mr. Graham asked me from the front seat.
“Aww, man, you know that boy don't know,” my father cut in as if I was some baby not knowing my way home from nursery school.
Shoot, I was practically a grown man! I'm 'bout to be out the crib, and he tryin' to act. If I wanted to, I could get on MapQuest and find directions to any college I wanted to make a recruiting visit to. I could stroll into Duke, UGA or Miami solo. My pops wasn't as needed as he thought he was, but I just let him ramble on.
I looked at Dakari and said, “I narrowed it down to six schools.”
“Georgia's one of them, right?” Dakari chimed in as if he'd be happy to have me on his team again.
We slapped hands, sorta feeling each other. Boy, he was cool. I was glad he still thought I was.
“I wouldn't mind him going up there so his sister could keep an eye on him and you too, Dakari,” my dad said, still thinking of me as incapable of standing on my own. “But his mom is thinking of a more academic school.”
“Football and academics?” Dakari asked with a laugh. “You still gettin' all them A's without trying?”
“Lay off him now, Dakari. There is nothing wrong with a smart guy that can ball,” Mr. Graham said as he turned and looked at me. “That's good, man. Keep it up. Many of these young brothers got talent on the football field, but ain't got nothing upstairs. If they're fortunate enough to get in college, for most they can't even keep up their grades to stay in there. There is enough pressure to worry about as a college athlete without grades coming into play. You'll pick the right school.”
“Oh, yeah. I'm going to help him and make sure he does that,” my dad once again responded. I looked out the window, hating that I was resenting him.
Â
At the game, Dakari and I walked to get some snacks. “Ooh, Atlanta is nice!” I said as the lights I saw from downtown impressed me.
“Oh, no! Don't tell me you're thinking about Georgia Tech?” Dakari joked, as he punched me in the arm. “We'll go from high school teammates to college rivals in a hurry, buddy! But yo smart tail, I should've known that's where you was thinking 'bout going!”
“Naw, naw, I ain't made no decisions. I mean, I'ma go down to visit, but I never saw myself as an engineer.”
Dakari touched my shoulder. “For real, though, I sensed you and your dad are not on the same page. You wanna talk about it?”
“Naw, I'm straight,” I said, knowing that I wasn't, but didn't wanna burden Dakari with anything since the brotha was still grieving. “I don't need to stress you out with my stuff, man.”
We ordered eight hot dogs, four nachos, four large drinks and two candy bars. “Naw, man, you ain't gon' burden me. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't wanna offer help. I understand crazy daddies, trust me. Mine's fronting, or maybe he's just turning the corner. He hasn't really spoken to me since my brother's been gone. I don't know if he blames me that I couldn't do more to save Drake, or if he secretly wishes that I would've been the one dead instead.”
“Man, don't say that.” I hated hearing Dakari talk that way.
He was just expressing his feelings, and I didn't even ask if I could help. I knew I had to say something so he wouldn't think so negatively. Maybe the Lord would answer my prayers and help me say the right things to Dakari!
Feeling words pour out of my heart, I said, “Grief is a hard thing to get over, man. Remember, my grandfather died around the same time as your brother did. Even though he was older than all of us, we still didn't want him to go. Just imagine, your dad probably never thought about burying his son. And I'm sure that his losing Drake has nothing to do with loving you less. He's probably making sure he can love you right.”
Drake chuckled. “All right, I hear you, man. Don't get all emotional on me, now. What's up with you and your dad?”
I went on to explain to Dakari that my father always thought he had all the answers. I also told him that my dad still treated me like a little boy. I admitted that my dad got on my nerves when he acted like that.
As we walked back to our seats, Dakari said, “Let me tell you like this, even though you think you know everything, which you probably know more than what your dad is giving you credit for, just try not to shut him out. You gotta take him on recruiting visits. I seen the brothers who go with no dads and they get treated differently. The ones that go with concerned parents really get special treatment from the coaches and stuff. It seems crazy, but at least they know you have other options and a family that will help you make it without football. For the folks that come in there with nobody, the coaches do a half-spill! I'm not saying that your dad has to choose the college for you, but he should be a part of this. Some of those college coachesâtrust me, all right? Find a way to tolerate your dad because you'll need him around. He can help you keep everything straight.”
I was going to have to remember what Dakari said. Maybe my dad could still hang with me some. However, it was what it was and if the relationship was going to get better, God was the only one that could do it. I wasn't going to be no punk and kiss his behind. I did love him, though, and that had to count for something.
The next day, I was ready to go shoot some hoops with my boys when my sister and Tad practically begged me to go with them on a double date.
“Please say you'll go!” Payton said. “When I was in high school, I used to do so many favors for you. When you couldn't drive, I'd take you anywhere you wanted to go.”
“A double date? I ain't trying to get serious with nobody, Pay.”
Tad Taylor, my sister's boyfriend of two years, cut in and said, “Oh, trust me, partner, it's my cousin and I don't want her serious with nobody right now. Actually, that's why I wanna introduce her to you. You know, show her some other options. This one dude she likes, I'm not feeling him.”
“What you mean?” I probed.
My sister looked at me with a smirk on her face, pointed to her skin and shook her head. “Not brown.”
“Your cousin is dating a white boy?” I got very interested and asked, “She ugly, huh? The brothers don't want her?”
“No, she ain't ugly, Perry. She is cute, for real. She doesn't want the brothers.”
“Where we going?” I asked, down to find out what kind of black girl wasn't into the brothas.
“We'll go eat, maybe play Putt-Putt, or head to the park or something. So, you can keep on what you have on,” my sister said.
“Cool. I'll meet up with my boys tomorrow, then. How are you gon' get her to meet up with me if she don't like black guys?” I inquired.
Tad replied, “She thinks she is just gonna meet my girlfriend and hang out with us. So, you down with surprising her, or what?”
“I ain't trying to be conceited or nothing, but as long as y'all know I'm not trying to be serious. Girls get hooked on me quick!”
“Oh, I see you done grown up,” Tad teased. “Trust me. If anything, you'll be into her.”
I joked, “What? ... All right. I got to meet her, then.”
Â
Later, as we left Augusta and went to Aiken, South Carolina, out in the country, I started having second thoughts.
What was I doing going a blind date, anyways?
I still had feelings for Tori. Yeah, I was trying to be all hard and suppress them, act like I didn't care and all, but I did. I shook it off by telling myself,
It's not gonna matter, I'm just going out. Besides, me and Tori are over. I need to move on.
What was I doing going a blind date, anyways?
I still had feelings for Tori. Yeah, I was trying to be all hard and suppress them, act like I didn't care and all, but I did. I shook it off by telling myself,
It's not gonna matter, I'm just going out. Besides, me and Tori are over. I need to move on.
What if this chick is ugly and I can't even look at her for five minutes? That'll be wack. I can do this. Plus, I know my sister wouldn't set me up with no ugly girl. Payton loves the world of style; she's got that eye for fashion and stuff. If she says a girl is cute, then I can trust that.
I couldn't believe the chick lived off a dirt road. I ain't ever been to Tad's house, but Payton told me he lived in a trailer. I mean, there ain't nothing wrong with that, but let me say that I'm just happy we wasn't in my ride. Just then we turned down a long street that led to a gorgeous house set off by itself on a whole bunch of acres of land.
“Dang!” I commented from the back.
Tad said, “Yeah, my uncle got bread! He was some high vp at the Savannah River Plant. I hope my crazy cousin ain't home,” Tad said before getting out of the passenger side.
“Why you say that? I thought we were here to pick up your cousin? Don't be leaving me out here in these boonies to wait for her!” I replied.
“No, no, he meant his boy-cousin. She has a twin brother that is full of himself,” my sister said. She went on to tell me that she was surprised I hadn't met the guy, being that he was highly recruited just like me.
Before I could think through the A-list of South Carolina players, a familiar-looking girl began walking back to the car with Tad. Out of my mouth came the name. “Savoy!”
“You know her?” my sister turned and asked me.
“Sorta. I know her crazy brother, too. I'm glad he ain't here. If he knew I was taking out his sister, he probably would've come out here with the shotgun even though I'm with his cousin!”
Tad opened the door and said, “Savoy, this is Payton's brother, Perry. Perry, meet my cousin, Savoy.”
“Oh, my gosh, it's you!” she said with a smile as she happily got in the car.
The girl was fine with a capital
F
! I didn't know how to guess sizes, but she sure had the best of everything. Curves in the right places, jet-black hair flowing halfway down her back. She had a cute style going on, tooâSavoy was rockin' with stilettos, jeans and a pink Baby Phat shirt. She was classy with it. Yeah, definitely a classy girl. Savoy had the prettiest sun-kissed brown skin, lookin' like honey-coated chocolate!
F
! I didn't know how to guess sizes, but she sure had the best of everything. Curves in the right places, jet-black hair flowing halfway down her back. She had a cute style going on, tooâSavoy was rockin' with stilettos, jeans and a pink Baby Phat shirt. She was classy with it. Yeah, definitely a classy girl. Savoy had the prettiest sun-kissed brown skin, lookin' like honey-coated chocolate!
Other books
Aced (Blocked #2) by Jennifer Lane
Laying Low in Hollywood by Jean Marie Stanberry
Life Below Stairs by Alison Maloney
Yesterday's Roses by Heather Cullman
Drawing Dead by DeCeglie, JJ
I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark
Blood Ties by S. J. Rozan
Goblins Vs Dwarves by Philip Reeve
Cornered by Rhoda Belleza
A Peach of a Pair by Kim Boykin
