White Lines II: Sunny: A Novel (7 page)

Sunny sipped her drink. Setting the glass down afterward, she toyed with the stem, tracing her finger down its length.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” Jada observed. Sunny and silence seldom went hand in hand.

Sunny smiled. “I’m thinking about what Malcolm said. You know, about the movie.”

Jada sipped her wine and looked away.

Malcolm had sold them on the idea of doing a story based on how they’d risen from ’round-the-way girls to ghetto superstars, fallen victim to cocaine addiction and then pulled it all together before it was too late.

“I can’t wait to start filming! Who will they ever find to play me?” Sunny’s eyes twinkled at the possibilities. “Maybe I should play myself.”

Jada laughed. “I think you
are
playing yourself.” She looked Sunny in the eyes. “And I’m playing myself, too.”

Sunny frowned. This was new. When Malcolm had presented them with the opportunity days ago, both ladies had been excited by the prospect of a film. Now, Jada sounded like she was having a change of heart.

Jada looked away. Until now, they had dodged most questions about their past, playing coy when pressed for details. And while Sunny admitted publicly that she had dabbled in cocaine, Jada hadn’t been as candid. She had chosen, instead, to remain quiet on the subject. She had become the reclusive writer, living a quiet life at home as a mom and as a survivor, while Sunny had embraced her newfound celebrity status.

“When we talked about this last week, you were down with it. What happened?”

Jada shook her head. “I thought about it and realized how crazy it is.”

Sunny’s frown deepened.

“Why are we even entertaining the idea of airing all our dirty laundry out on Front Street like we’re not mothers…”

“Are you serious?” Sunny sat back and looked at Jada like she was crazy.

“What if our kids go to school and somebody tells them they saw some movie about us?”

Sunny shrugged. She never gave a fuck what people said about her. “Who cares?”

“I care. I don’t want Sheldon hearing that I used to get high.”

“Jada,” Sunny said gently, trying desperately not to raise her voice. “You’re saying that you’ve never had a conversation with Sheldon about what you used to do?”

Jada sipped her wine with trembling hands. “You told Mercedes about it?” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “About using cocaine?”

Sunny wondered if her reading glasses masked her shocked expression. “
Yes!
” She couldn’t believe that Jada hadn’t done the same. “The
last
thing I want is for someone to tell Mercedes about my past before I had the chance to tell her myself.”

“They’re not even in high school yet!” Jada’s laugh was one of pure astonishment. “Sheldon is only eleven years old. Mercedes is twelve. They still watch cartoons! And you’re saying we should be laying all that out for them at this young age?”

Sunny stared at Jada for a moment. Despite all that they had been through, Jada still had a wide-eyed innocence about her that Sunny found at once amusing and annoying.

“Jada,” she began.

“What?” Jada asked sarcastically. “You’re gonna say that I should tell Sheldon that I used to smoke crack because some kid in his class might tell him before I do?”

“What if one of the counselors at school tells Sheldon? Or what if one of the kids in his class overhears their parents talking about it?”

Sunny could tell that Jada hadn’t considered that possibility.

“You live on Staten Island. That is the most incestuous borough in the city. Everybody knows everybody. But you think you can keep your son from finding out what you used to do? Not for long! Shit, you’re leaving yourself wide open!”

They were interrupted by the waitress. She brought their salads and then hustled over to the next table.

“So am I hearing you right?” Sunny asked. “You’re saying no to the movie? No to L.A. and to all the fabulous things that come with that? You say
no
?” Sunny’s expression was incredulous.

Jada shrugged. “I’m saying no for
me
. But
you
should still do it if you think it’s a good idea.”

Sunny frowned slightly. “Why me and not you?”

“Because this is your kinda thing, Sunny.” Jada sighed. “The attention, the red carpet and the spotlight. That’s not my thing.”

“Oh, so now I’m an attention seeker.”

“No, don’t put words in my mouth. But you’ve always wanted fame and fortune. I’m happy with just the fortune.”

“But you don’t have a fortune, Jada.” Sunny saw Jada’s facial expression turn defensive so she backtracked. “I’m not saying that you’re broke, but who turns down the chance to make
more
money?”

While Sunny had escaped the clutches of cocaine addiction and drug sales with her ex’s fortune, Jada had settled into a much calmer lifestyle. She didn’t have the kind of money that Sunny did, but she was doing very well for herself. And she was content with what she’d been able to establish for herself after having fallen so far down all those years ago.

“I’m not gonna sell my soul for some money,” Jada said.

Sunny laughed. “You’re being dramatic. It’s just a damn movie, Jada!”

“A
movie
guarantees the spotlight and all that comes along with that.” Jada shook her head. “I’ve had enough scrutiny to last me a lifetime. You should do it if you want. But my answer is no.”

Sunny chewed her food and looked at her friend.

“Our book deal with Monarch Publishing is my focus right now,” Jada continued. “We have a two-book deal and the first one did so well that I want the follow-up to be even better. While I’m busy with the book—cuz we both know it’s been like pulling teeth to get you to sit down and focus on this next story line—you can go full steam ahead with your movie. That way everybody’s happy.”

Sunny sipped her drink and stared at Jada silently for a few moments. “There’s no guarantee they’ll even want to do the movie without you on board.”

Jada shook her head. “They’d be stupid to turn you down. Your story is enough all on its own to make a
few
movies.”

Sunny laughed at that despite herself. Jada laughed as well, grateful that the ice had been broken.

They ate their food without speaking for a while, the sounds of New York City all around them, drowning out the silence.

“It won’t be the same if you’re not on board,” Sunny said, looking through the window at two old ladies crossing the street together. She wondered if those women had been friends for a lifetime the way it seemed that she and Jada had.

Jada wiped her mouth with her napkin and sat back. “Do you remember that Mindy Milford interview back in ’07?”

Sunny rolled her eyes. How could she forget that?

Mindy Milford was the scandal-obsessed radio personality in New York who had ambushed the ladies when they went on her show to promote their debut novel.

“She asked us if we ever snorted coke like the characters in the book.”

“Yup, and I told her that I was able to write the character Charlene so well because I had walked a mile in those shoes. So?”

Jada nodded. “So, while you admitted what went on in your past, I was dead quiet. I was scared to death that she would turn her questions on me. You have no problem laying yourself out for public scrutiny. But I’m different. My story is different. I used to smoke
crack
, Sunny. Not just some expensive pure white.”

“So that makes it better that I got high up my nose and you smoked it out of a pipe, Jada. We both had a cocaine habit. Period.”

“I was a crack whore, Sunny. Let’s not pretend that the shit was glamorous. I sucked dicks on roofs for a few dollars. I did all kinds of shit just to stay high. And I don’t want that to be what everyone remembers about me. I’ve worked real hard to distance myself from that rep.”

Sunny waved her off. “You just have to know how to handle the media. You have to shut that shit down.”

Jada laughed at how easy Sunny made it sound. “Mindy brought up Dorian being killed at your baby shower and you wanted to fight her!”

Sunny chuckled, set her glass down and sat back. “I almost killed that bitch that day.”

Jada chuckled, too. “That’s the part that I’m not feeling. A book is one thing. We can write our ‘fiction’ and hide behind characters named Charlene and Alexis. But with a movie … they’re not asking to base the movie on a character. They want to base this movie on
us
. I’m not feeling that. It’s only gonna be a matter of time before some reporter starts bringing up my old crack-addicted days.” Jada’s face turned serious. “I don’t need that. Sheldon is watching. And Lord knows Born don’t need any reminders about who I used to be. He’s finally trusting me again and I don’t want to resurrect any old doubts.” She shook her head. “For me the answer is no, Sunny.”

Finally, Sunny shrugged.

“Suit yourself,” she said.

Jada knew that her decision disappointed Sunny. Jada felt that Sunny had saved her life, literally, years ago. She had been there for her in ways that no one else had. But Jada had to be true to her gut.

Sunny looked at her sideways. “So will you still come out to L.A. with me even though you’re not down with the project? You can just come as my friend.”

Jada smiled. “Of course I’m coming. Just cuz I’m bowing out of the movie doesn’t mean that I don’t plan to enjoy all the perks! Bitch, if you meet Idris,
I’m
meeting Idris!”

Both ladies laughed and finished their brunch. Jada insisted on paying the check this time, and Sunny reluctantly agreed.

“Time for some retail therapy!” Jada rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

“Saks, here we come! Last one to the car is a rotten egg!” Sunny took off as soon as she said it and Jada was hot on her heels. The two friends ran off in the direction of Jada’s car, giggling like schoolgirls—their differences behind them for now.

*   *   *

Anisa sat on the sofa in the living room of the home she shared with her son on Bement Avenue in Staten Island. Born had bought the home years ago, and while the deed was in his name, she lived there without having to pay any bills. He gave Anisa an “allowance” each month—enough to cover Ethan’s tuition, groceries, and incidentals. Each month, she piled the bills together—electric, gas, water, cable, etc.—and handed them to Born. He happily paid them, figuring that as long as Ethan lived with her that he owed it to Anisa to make sure that she had no worries. She worked part-time as a receptionist at a dentist’s office, more for a way to spend her time than for the money. It gave her a reason to get out of the house each day and it kept her from being bored.

Born walked in with Ethan in tow and she smiled at them. Ethan ran to give her a hug and she giggled at the fact that he was still a mama’s boy, even as he grew almost as tall as she was.

Ethan kissed her on the cheek and then showed her his new video game. “Can I go play it now?” he asked, aware that it was close to dinnertime.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Dinner won’t be ready for a little while, so you have time to play your game.”

Immediately, Ethan took off for the stairs. “Bye, Daddy!” he yelled over his shoulder. “Love you!”

Born laughed, happy that his boy was happy. “Love you, too, son.”

He looked at Anisa as she sat with one foot tucked beneath her on the sofa. Anisa was a pretty woman and Born was grateful that she was also a good mother. She had slithered into his life years ago when he was estranged from Jada. After he came out of prison, Anisa had gotten pregnant with Ethan. After their son was born, it became clear to him that he wasn’t in love with her the way that he had been with Jada. As much as he cared for her, she just didn’t have his heart.

In the years since then, it seemed that she had never moved on. Despite his reconciliation with Jada, Anisa still wasn’t dating anybody seriously. Born was grateful for that, since he didn’t like the thought of another man around his son. But as he prepared to drop the bomb on her that he and Jada were getting married, he kind of wished she had someone in her life to soften the blow.

He sat beside her on the couch and watched her put down the novel she’d been reading when he entered—
The Grain
by Shawn Berry. Anisa wore a pair of leggings and a sweater, her feet bare. Her hair, as usual, was perfect, cut into a Chinese bob with blunt bangs. Her perfect bone structure and glorious smile only added to her beauty as she looked at him.

“What’s up?” she asked. Born seldom lingered anymore after dropping Ethan off. At one time, the two of them had shared a physical relationship, sleeping together whenever they felt the urge. But once he and Jada had become official, those days were over. Their relationship was purely platonic and their conversations were merely cordial. As he sat beside her on this day, she wondered what the reason for his visit was.

“Well,” he began, “I need to tell you something.”

“I’m listening.” She was already frowning. This sounded serious. She prayed that Jada wasn’t pregnant. She enjoyed her position as Born’s only baby’s mama. The last thing she wanted was for that bitch Jada to challenge that position.

Born cleared his throat. “I umm … I asked Jada to marry me.” He watched Anisa’s facial expression change from curious to angry in an instant. “She said yes.” He waited for Anisa to say something. When she didn’t, he rubbed his hands together uneasily. “I thought you should hear it from me.”

Anisa was livid. Her lips were tightly pursed together and she stared at Born in silence for several awkward moments. She knew that their relationship was over, that he had reconciled with Jada long ago. But somewhere deep down inside, she had held out hope that things between he and Jada would run its course. After all, she had smoked crack, sold her body, had a baby by his sworn enemy and spent time in jail. Anisa’s only misdeed had been abandoning Born during his incarceration years ago. She felt that when their track records were compared, eventually Born would see who was obviously the better choice for his future. Anisa felt that she was the clear winner in that contest.