Soulful Strut (16 page)

“I’ve never given an interview before, but I
guess it’s not that hard.” Jayson’s reluctance seemed to fade the
longer he stared back at her.

“Easy as pie. I’ll hold your hand through
it,” Monette said, then blushed when he glanced at her. His gaze
softened, and all signs of nervousness vanished.

“The hand holding part sounds real good,”
Jayson said. His deep voice rumbled across the space between
them.

Monette cleared her throat. She hadn’t
blushed at anything since puberty. Here she was, feeling her cheeks
get warm because of the way a mechanic said the word “good.” This
was pure trouble, and man trouble was the worst kind. Her slide
back to being a teenager signaled it was time for her to go.

“Guess I better get back.” Monette wiped her
hands on a napkin and avoided returning his gaze.

“Wait, I owe you dessert. The bet, remember?”
Jayson smiled.

“Oh, right.” Monette liked the way he made
her feel special. She smiled back at him and forgot why she needed
to rush off.

He went inside and returned minutes later
with two ice cream cones. They sat watching weekend traffic and
listening to music. Monette studied him when she thought he wasn’t
looking. His strong jaw line made his profile a thing of beauty.
Sunlight looked good on his skin. She enjoyed the way he tilted his
head back to laugh when she told a joke.

“Look at the time. I’m keeping you from all
those engines that need greasing,” she said finally.

Jayson laughed good-naturedly. “You mean oil.
I do oil changes, among other things. Yeah, I better get back.
Paperwork is my least favorite part of owning a business, but it’s
gotta be done.”

They dumped paper plates and other remains of
their lunch into a nearby trash can. Since the crowd of customers
inside the caf6 had thinned, Lu-Lu came outside again. She called
out a jolly good-bye to Monette and Jayson as she wiped down the
small tables. Jayson promised they would be back soon. Monette
waved to her with a smile and pretended not to pick up on the hint
when Jayson looked at her. They exchanged chitchat for the
four-block walk back to New Beginnings. When they were still half a
block away from the house, they both stopped. Yarva, Candi and
Tyeisha were on the front porch talking. Though none of them
stared, Monette knew they were paying close attention all the
same.

“Thanks for keeping me company. I enjoyed
it,” Jayson said. He jammed his hands in both his pants
pockets.

“Hey, I got a guest for my show out of the
deal and a free po’boy. The pleasure was all mine,” Monette
quipped, determined to keep the mood light“Yeah, well.” Jayson
looked toward the halfway house. “See ya round.”

“Next Monday, to be exact. Be at the radio
station around eight-thirty, ’cause we go on at nine.” Monette
started off to the house but stopped when Jayson caught her hand.
She looked down at his strong fingers curled around hers and
blushed again.

Jayson let go of her and blushed, too. “You
promised to hold my hand. I expect you to do just that.”

“Right. Bye.” Monette wondered at the spot of
warmth on her skin where he’d touched her. Maybe the spring
sunshine had affected her brain or something. She rubbed her palm,
and the warmth turned to heat when she looked at him. His eyes held
a message of some kind, and it bothered her. One po’boy and an ice
cream cone didn’t mean she should be getting all tingly.

“You know where to find me if you have any
questions. I’m not goin’ anywhere for at least another year,” she
joked, to remind him of who she was, and to remind herself as well.
Stardust and moonlight romance only happened in novels.

“Shouldn’t we rehearse or something?” Jayson
said, the anxiety back in his dark eyes.

“Hey, you know about cars and operating a
business. I’m sure I won’t ask any questions you can’t answer. All
you gotta do is show up and be yourself.” Monette waved to him and
turned to leave. “You’ll be fine.”

“Maybe you could come up with a list of
questions and we could go over them. You know, just in case,”
Jayson called to her.

“Not necessary. I’ll ask real easy
questions.” Monette walked backwards to keep moving away from him.
She needed the distance. Maybe that would help cool some of the
heat he seemed capable of generating.

“Okay. Look forward to seeing you again,”
Jayson replied. His voice died away when he realized she was
walking away quickly.

Monette made sure she didn’t look back at
him. She got to the porch and climbed the steps. Yarva stared past
her at Jayson, then shot a glance at Candi. Monette sat down in one
of two cane rocking chairs without looking at any of the other
three women. Candi popped the gum she was chewing.

“Nice weather today,” Tyeisha said to no one
in particular.

“Real nice for a romantic stroll,” Yarva
replied. “ ’Course we all can’t be so lucky. Ain’t that right,
Candi?”

“Shut up,” Candi flung back at her. She
pushed the swing harder with both feet.

“I’m just sayin’.” Yarva let out a laugh,
then went inside.

“Guess you got plans for tonight,” Candi said
after a while.

“Sure, I’m goin’ to a party with a friend.
Wanna come?” Monette nudged her with an elbow.

“You sure?” Candi’s eyes lit up.

“Let’s go have some grown-folks fun,” Monette
replied.

Chapter 7

The redbrick house on Gracie Street vibrated
as two speakers spit out a wild rap tune. Couples bumped against
each other, swaying to the beat. Men and women stood around bobbing
their heads in time with the music. Cigarette smoke floated over
everyone’s head. Monette followed Candi through the living room.
Most of the furniture had been taken out One sofa was pushed
against a wall. Cheap vinyl dining room chairs of assorted colors
were lined against the other three walls, though few people sat on
them. Candi greeted several people with a nod. She hugged a woman
with flaming red hair piled high on her head.

‘Took you long enough to get here, girl!” the
woman said to Candi.

“Hell, we know the good stuff don’t start til
nine at the earliest,” Candi shouted back over the noise.

“Damn straight. Go on back and get something
to drink.”

Monette tugged on Candi’s arm. “We can’t go
back to the house smelling like we’ve been in a juke joint all
night.”

“You need to lighten up. We just got here and
you already trippin’.” Candi shook her head with a smile.

Before Monette could reply, Candi had walked
through a doorway to the next room. Monette started to follow her
when a tall muscular man with a lot of tattoos grabbed her by the
hand. He pulled Monette onto the makeshift dance floor. The music
shifted into another upbeat tune. A few couples retreated for a
break, and others took their place. Monette’s dance partner
shrugged and flashed his gold teeth as if to say she might as well
join the party.

“I’m Trey,” he said, his mouth close to
Monette’s ear so she could hear him.

“Nice to meet you, but—” Monette started to
turn away, but he stopped her.

“I’m the sensitive type, so don’t hurt my
feelings. Just this one dance.” Trey did a clever dance step, then
gracefully spun around in a full circle before he faced her
again.

Monette had to laugh at his antics. He looked
about thirty years old. After weeks of dealing with heavy issues,
Monette decided that maybe Candi was right “Hi, Trey. I’m Monette.
Don’t expect me to top those moves. I’m way out of practice.”

“It’s all gonna be good.” Trey grinned
back.

Trey shook his body from side to side and
held out one hand. Monette took it. She matched his rhythm until
they were both into the music. She’d forgotten how much fun dancing
at a house party could be. A deejay made sure the compact disc
player kept going. After about ten minutes Monette waved to Trey
that she’d had enough. Her legs ached from the effort to keep up
with him. She fanned her face with one hand and looked around the
room. Candi leaned against a wall, talking to a man wearing a black
cap pushed back on his head. They seemed engrossed in each other.
The redheaded woman tapped Monette on the shoulder.

“Come on. I’ll hook you up.” She nodded
toward another part of the house.

“Nah, I’m good.” Monette shook her head.

“Candi said I’m to take care of you. C’mon,
ain’t nuthin’ illegal goin’ down. We strict legit tonight. I’m
Faye.” The woman pulled Monette along with her.

Monette looked over her shoulder at Candi,
who waved cheerfully while the man nuzzled her neck. “Aw, hell,”
she mumbled.

Faye led her through what looked like the
dining room, though the table was gone and the chairs were pushed
against the walls. They entered the kitchen, which was packed with
people standing around eating from paper plates. Bottles of malt
liquor and beer, some empty, covered a countertop.

“Get offa my breakfast bar, fool.” Faye
slapped the arm of a woman sitting on the counter with a young man
standing between her legs.

“What kinda hostess treats her guest like
that, huh?” the young woman protested. She giggled, wrapped her
legs around the man, and let him carry her off. They disappeared
down a dimly lit hallway.

“You got any cola?” Monette asked Faye.

“Baby, I only bought soft drinks to mix with
the liquor. Why don’t I fix you a rum and cola?” Faye winked at
her.

“No, thanks. I’ll pay for a can of Coke.”
Monette smiled at her but kept her tone firm.

Faye lifted a shoulder. “If that’s how you
get your groove on.”

Monette felt someone at her back. She spun
around to find Trey smiling down at her. “Hi.”

“Hello again. You’re even prettier than I
thought.” Trey cocked his head to one side and stroked his chin.
His full- body examination took sixty seconds. When his lips parted
in a smile, light from the bare bulb overhead bounced off his gold
crowns.

“Thanks.” Monette took a can of soda from
Faye. She did not smile back at him or return his gaze. Trey missed
the subtle cue.

Trey gave Faye a nod. “Hit me with some of
that Cutty Sark. Give the lady anything she wants.”

“Awright. Don’t worry about the budget
tonight, girlfriend. Just point and I’ll pour.” Faye glanced at
Monette with a grin.

“I’m good.” Monette lifted the can to her
lips and took a drink. She watched another couple drift down the
hallway.

“Listen, my Escalade is parked outside. We
could kick it at a real tight place. There’s this club called The
Night Hawk. The members-only section upstairs is class act all the
way.” Trey looked at Monette, clearly expecting her to be
impressed.

“Damn, I wanna go and this is my party. If
she ain’t interested, talk to me,” Faye interrupted with a cackle.
She handed Trey a dollar store glass with Cutty Sark in it.

Monette sighed. She felt too old for this
particular mating game. “Sorry, I’ve got to be somewhere by
midnight.”

“Whazzup, Cinderella? Don’t tell me you gone
turn into a pumpkin when the clock strikes twelve,” Trey joked.

“Not exactly. I appreciate the invitation,
but I can’t.” Monette glanced at her wristwatch. Candi strolled in
with the man she’d been talking to all night.

“Hey, girl.” Candi wore a giddy grin that
tugged up the right comer of her mouth. ‘Told you this would be a
helluva fun place.”

“Let me talk to you a minute. You mind?”
Monette said to Candi’s companion.

“Gotta find the bathroom anyway. Y’all go on
with your girl talk.” The short, stocky man slid away, pulling up
his low-slung jeans as he walked.

“I’m Trey.”

“Hey, Trey.” Candi laughed at her own joke.
Her eyes glittered, and she hummed to herself.

“Excuse us a minute. Trey.” Monette didn’t
wait for him to reply. She pulled Candi to a spot near the back
door. “What the hell you doin’? You can’t walk in the halfway house
messed up.”

“I’m okay, mother dear. Just had a sip of
LeAndre’s drink. Maybe more than one. But I can hold my liquor.”
Candi hiccupped, then put a hand over her mouth to keep from
laughing again.

“You were locked up for seven years, so you
can’t drink like you used to. Damn it, you shouldn’t be drinking at
all.” Monette jerked on Candi’s right arm for emphasis.

“Chill, ’kay? I’m straight. Besides, it’s
just ten o’clock. I got two hours to go. This little ole buzz will
be gone by then.” Candi laughed for no reason.

Monette considered slapping that stupid grin
from her face, then resisted. “Look, we’re gonna catch a cab to
that diner around the corner and pour coffee into you for an
hour.”

“Nah, I owe LeAndre another dance or
somethin’. He’s been nice to me.” Candi spotted him on the other
side of the kitchen. He gave Faye several bills, then jerked a
thumb over his shoulder, pointing down the dark hallway.

“Oh no. You won’t slip into some back room
with a dude you just met tonight. You don’t know what he’s
carrying,” Monette hissed into her ear.

“Relax. I’m gonna make sure the brother is
wearin’ a raincoat.” Candi patted a back pocket of the tight jeans
she wore. “ ’Sides, I’ve been knowin’ him for three weeks.”“So he’s
your old friend. That’s too sweet,” Monette said with a grunt of
derision. “We’re leaving.”

“No.” Candi yanked her arm free of Monette’s
grasp. “I spent years without a man. I’ve got a lotta unspent
passion built up. Now you just relax for a little bit.”

Monette clamped a hand down on Candi’s
shoulder. She dug her fingertips into the fabric of Candi’s black
T-shirt. “I agreed to come out here, and you’re not leaving me with
a bunch of thugs. I don’t know these people.”

“Aw hell, just chill out here and I’ll be
back soon. I know LeAndre. Won’t take but fifteen minutes, gurl.”
Candi winked at her, then giggled.