Us Girls

By Tawanna Johnson

Five beautiful friends are about to embark on the year of their life.
Tekia has finally accepted that Clever will never be father of the year and that moving on is the best thing for her and her son.
Cynthia is questioning what appears to be the life with her husband. So when she meets a younger man she decides to take the dare.
Vivian and Giselle are everything a man could want. So why do they keep meeting Mr. Wrong?
Connor has met her one. But will her insecurities ruin her wedding?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 13, 2006
• ISBN: 9781462843626

Tawanna Johnson

Tawanna was born in North Carolina and raised primarily in Oklahoma. After graduating from high school she majored in communications at Cameron University. It wasn’t until after the birth of her daughter that she rediscovered her passion for writing and began to write short stories. She currently still lives in Oklahoma where she is working on a new venture.

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US Girls

Tawanna Johnson

Copyright © 2006 by Tawanna Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

IF IT AIN’T ONE THING . . .

FORGET THE DUMB SHIT

IT’S ALL GOOD

AIN’T NOTHING TO IT BUT TO DO IT

GET TO GETTING WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

IN DUE TIME

MAGIC MAN

HOW DOES IT FEEL

THAT’LL BE THE DAY

MAN HUNGRY

MEET MR. RIGHT

RECIPE OF A GOOD MAN

CLOSURE

I REST MY CASE

REJUVINATION

WHO KNEW?

ON A MISSION

GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL

IT’S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

ARE YOU COMING OR GOING

TO BEGIN AGAIN

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

THE HOUSE THAT ERNEST BUILT

MR. RIGHT NOW

YOU KNOW I DO

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

THE INS AND OUTS OF LOVE

HERE’S TO THE FUTURE

CHANGES

SHED LIGHT ON A SECRET . . . THE SECRET POURS OUT

THE SKIN I’M IN

PICKING UP THE PIECES

THE ROAD TO MY ONE AND ONLY

THE FAIRY TALE END

US GIRLS

EPILOGUE

THANK YOU

IF IT AIN’T ONE THING . . .

Where in the hell are you, Clever? Your ass was supposed to have been here.

I can hear people and music in the background, which pisses me off further. I hear him make an attempt to cover the phone as he tells whatever female that he’s with for the moment asks him how long is he going to be. I wish I could reach through the phone and strangle him.

I hear him clear his throat and then he says in a drunken voice, Look, I know that I’m running late, but I got caught up at the barbecue that I told you about.

I could give a shit, Clever. Don’t act brand new with me. You’ve known for little over a week that you were watching Terran tonight.

I know, Tekia. Damn. Can you please stop screaming? I know I fucked up by getting a little drunk, but I can be there in twenty minutes.

You’re right about one thing, you are fucked up and it ain’t the alcohol.

I gladly slammed the phone in his ear. Of course he could care less because all I did was get him off the hook. I made it so he could continue partying with his friends and have a good time. That’s the way that he’ll see it. He’ll say that he offered to still come but I told him not to. He won’t care that he was too drunk to listen out for a four year old. He won’t care that this is the third time this month that he’s promised Terran that he would pick him up and spend the night with him. Sorry bastard.

Luckily I know Clever like the back of my hand. I don’t understand his stupid ass, but I know him. I called Christina—this college student that lives in the house next to mine—and asked her to come over an hour ago. Seeing as how she needs all the money she can get her hands on and the fact that she adores Terran and I pay above scale, she said yes.

Just as I slammed the phone down in Clever’s ear there was a knock at the door and the phone rang. I opened the door for Christina and then answered the phone. I was expecting to hear the drunken ravings of The Asshole, but it was my friend Connor. I know, I know. Christina just showed up and I’m so on my way. I forgot that I had agreed to pick her up. Connor hates driving at night because her vision isn’t all that great. I’m glad that Terran is sleep and that Christina knows the score because I’m able to walk straight out the door.

The ride to Connor’s calmed me down from Clever’s last stint in the race for dead-beat dad of the year. I decided to keep his latest to myself for the moment because I wanted to be able to enjoy girl’s night out properly.

Girl’s night is a monthly ritual that I look forward to. It’s always with my best girlfriends and no matter where we are and what we’re doing; we always have a good time. It’s a time for us to forget the workweek, or significant others, and our kids (if we have any) and have a ball. We take turns planning what crazy event we’re all going to do and this time it was my turn.

Normally all we do is go to dinner and then to whatever club is happening that night. Dinner is cool because we get the chance to talk and do some catching up. The club is always good for a laugh. You never know what people will show up in at the club. It seems like people lose all fashion sense when they’re getting ready for the club. I always wonder if they have mirrors at home and I know that they must have at least one friend that will tell them that they don’t match.

Anyway, I didn’t want to do the usual this time so I looked on the Internet for something in surrounding areas because we aren’t fortunate to live in a big city. Just as I had given up after an hour of searching, I discovered that the Chocolate Chippendales were going to be forty-five minutes away in Wichita Falls. I didn’t hesitate to whip out Visa and get five tickets.

We decided to meet at Cynthia’s because being a mother of two boys she has a vehicle big enough for all of us to ride together. I wasn’t surprised to see that Connor and I were the last to arrive or when I heard Vivian say, ‘Bout time you ho’s showed up. Let’s get this damn thing started. We filed out of Cynthia’s house with no sign of her husband Ernest. Normally Ernest would be following Cynthia to the door asking her a million questions.

What’s wrong with Deputy Dog? He finally give up his day job or what? I ask Cynthia while strapping on my seatbelt.

I don’t know what his problem is. I let it slip the other day that we were going to see half naked men on girl’s night and he barely batted an eyelash. Shocked the shit out of me. You know back in the day that Negro would’ve tried all kind of ways to stop me from going or he would’ve showed up. I don’t know.

You don’t think he’s tipping do you? Not surprised to hear Giselle ask her that. Almost every guy she’s dated has cheated on her.

No, but it has crossed my mind.

Well, fuck him. It’s girl’s night and we’re on our way to see some fine butt-ass naked men. Let’s get this damn party started. Vivian said and pumped up the music as we rode out.

The club was crowded when we arrived and we were pretty bummed that we wouldn’t get good seats until we went up to the window to retrieve our tickets and discovered that I ordered reserved seats that had us next to the floor. We had a table right up front.

The first guy to come out was okay but he was a little short and he wore his hair a little long for my taste. I smiled at him, but I refuse to tip him. The closer he got I could fully see that he wasn’t worth my dollar. I could see that he was a little long in the tooth and that his body wasn’t all that great. The next three men were phenomenal. I whooped and hollered when they came to our table and blushed when one pulled me on the floor to dance with him. At first I was embarrassed. I felt shy and awkward as he was bumping and grinding against me. I felt hot and I tried leaving the floor, but he wouldn’t let me. So, I did what the Long Island Iced Tea told me to do . . . I freaked him back. Just as I was feeling his groove he turned me around and flipped me into the air and I promptly landed on his shoulders. Yep, my crotch was planted right in his face. Now, I’m a brown skinned sista, but I swear that everyone in that room could see me turn red. It didn’t help when he started to move his head back and forth. When he finally put me down I returned to the table flushed and yes, a little wet. I immediately switched places with Cynthia to move away from the edge.

My encounter with the stripper was the main topic after the show as we sat in IHOP waiting to order.

For the last time, I have no comment.

That means she got excited. Vivian said over her menu. Admit it, Tekia. It’s been a minute since a man has put his face let alone anything else between your legs and it excited you. You got a little wet. Big deal.

I know I would’ve. That man was fine. He had body like nobody’s business. Giselle added.

Tekia, it’s natural honey. We would all be worried if you didn’t get a little moist. Vivian continued.

That mouth. Connor said. Do you have to put it like that?

Yes. We’re adults, Connor. Grown ass women that get moist when we’re excited about a man putting his face in our crotches.

Sounds about right to me. Lord knows how long it’s been since Ernest has. Cynthia replied with a disgusted look on her face.

That’s pretty fucked up. What’s the point of having a husband if you can’t get that on the regular? I asked.

Tell me about it. It’s been almost two weeks since we’ve done it and even then it was some two a.m. quickie that only satisfied him. And seeing all that flesh tonight has got me frustrated. That man didn’t put his face in my crotch, but I got moist just thinking about it. He’s lucky that he picked Tekia. Had it been me, I would’ve wrapped my legs around his head. That cracked us up, but I was made aware of two things: Cynthia had to be a bit tipsy because she’s usually not that vulgar. I mean she swears occasionally like most people but she’s hardly graphic. That’s usually left to Vivian and me. Secondly, she’s complained about Ernest a lot lately.

The ride back home was a quick and quiet one. All of us left with our own thoughts about tonight and the lack of sex in our lives. Cynthia has a husband and can’t get it. Connor has a friend but she hasn’t mentioned sex. Make that won’t mention if they’ve had sex. Vivian, Giselle, and I are single and aren’t big on casual sex. Like most women our age we like to be in a relationship before we start giving it up.

When we arrive at Cynthia’s, we all hug and promise to call and agree to put off brunch for next Sunday since we stayed out so late. I dropped Connor off and tried not to speed as I headed for home with thoughts of my bed dancing in my head.

I found Christina snoozing on the couch and Terran still asleep. I decided to not wake her. Instead I left her a thank you note with the money for watching Terran, turned out the lights, and then went to bed.

In my dream I was dancing with the guy from the show and he was telling me all the things a woman likes to hear. Just as he’s about to kiss me I hear the phone ring. I’m not a big fan of being waked out of really good sleep especially when I have a bomb ass dream happening.

Yeah.

So I see you finally made it home.

Who in the hell is this?

It’s Clever. Why’d you hang up on me? I said that I would watch Terran.

Are you high? Do you know how late it is?

Why I got to be high?

Clever, take your dumb ass to sleep.

Why you got to talk to me like that? I’m just trying to talk to you.

At five in the gotdamn morning! I’m hanging up.

Prime example of why we aren’t together right now. First he gets too drunk to keep his promise to his son and now this. If it ain’t one thing it’s another.

FORGET THE DUMB SHIT

I wasn’t expecting candlelight and conversation when I came in because it was pretty late, but a little inquiry would’ve been nice. Had it been me I would’ve wanted to know what went down. I’m pretty secure in my marriage its just that my curiosity would’ve been peaked.

Ernest and I have been together since college. After graduation we decided to take a year off from each other and explore life outside of college and each other. That break lasted one month because that’s when I found out that I was pregnant. When I finally broke down and told Ernest he immediately wanted to get married. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I had just started to enjoy being single. Ernest said that he would give me a week to make up my mind before he went to my parents. The thought of my parents finding out that I was pregnant and considering an abortion terrified me. They were still helping me out financially.

Friday came and I found myself in a car with Ernest on our way to Vegas to elope. I cried most of the way and Ernest did what he could to console me. He thought I was crying because I didn’t want to upset my parents by eloping, but the truth was I still wasn’t a hundred percent sure about everything.

I try to close my eyes and go to sleep because I know that even though it’s Sunday the boys will get up at the crack of dawn for cereal and cartoons. Besides, being restless and frustrated from earlier is killing me. Every time I close my eyes I don’t feel sleep creeping up on me. Instead I see six packs and hard thighs and firm buttocks pumping at me.

I turn over so that my back is against Ernest and try again. The same damn thing. Now I’m horny as hell. I let out an exasperated breath and stare at my nightstand and the clock telling me that it’s already five in the morning. I feel Ernest shift closer to me and I must admit that the warmth of him feels good. I decide to get a little closer and push my rump into him. He responds just like I was hoping by putting his arm across my mid-section. I decide that it’s put up or shut up time and take his hand and move it up and down my body. Again he seems to know what to do because he starts massaging my breasts. Just as I start to enjoy what he’s doing, he moves his hand under my nightgown and starts to give the little lady some of that same attention. I let out a small moan because hubby is doing the damn thing. But wouldn’t I know it, just as I feel him about to insert my favorite finger he stops. I turn to protest and am stopped by the sound of his snoring. I turn back over wetter than the law allows and even the more frustrated.

Ernest played innocent with me when I brought it up to him the next morning. I’m serious, baby. I have no idea what you’re talking about. You know I wouldn’t leave you hanging like that on purpose. So he says. I’m not crazy. That joker knows exactly what he didn’t do. I’m sure of it.

I decided to take my boys over to my mother’s house that afternoon so that I could get some housework done and maybe a quick nap before having to pick them up. I can’t lie. I was praying that Ernest would’ve stuck around so that we could finish what we started at five this morning. No such luck.

I decided to go ahead and start on the laundry. I hate doing laundry more than anything. I look at the mountain of clothes waiting to be separated and get that feeling of dread. It pisses me off to be the one to sort and wash all of these clothes when my clothes make up about three percent of the laundry. After I get a load of whites started I head for the den. I want to scream the moment I get a glimpse of cereal bowls and dried cereal and milk that spilled on my coffee table. I take notice of other food particles mashed into my carpet and I want to strangle all three of my boys. I try not to grit my teeth as I pick up the dishes and return with paper towels, furniture polish, and the vacuum.

My next task is to put the whites in the dryer and then tackle the hall bathroom, which I hate cleaning with a passion. EJ is six almost seven and Corey is five so you know their aim isn’t too great. If I hesitate to check the bathroom at least once a day I can be sure to be greeted by a nice stench of piss. Thankfully the only bad thing is the huge dirt ring in the tub, which let’s me know that Ernest gave them a bath together. I scrub the tub, toilet, and sink and then head for the bedrooms. I hurry and pick up toys and make beds before I head to the kitchen. I mindlessly wash dishes and wipe off counter tops. I feel robotic going through this routine. Just as I’m about to go to the laundry room the phone rings.

Yeah. I’m so damn tired and frustrated that even a simple phone greeting is beneath me.

Hi, uh, I’m trying to reach Ernest Brown. I perk up when I hear this sultry voice ask for my husband.

Who’s this? I ask with a bit of an edge in my voice.

I’m Glenda Rawlins.

And you’re looking for Ernest because? I hear a little laughter in her voice when I hear her say that they work together. This pisses me off. How nice for you. Unfortunately he’s unavailable at the moment, but I won’t hesitate to tell him that you called.

And then I just hang up.

Ernest is far from happy when I call him on his cell phone and tell rather than ask him to pick the boys up from my mother’s because he was in the middle of playing a pick up game of basketball. I really could give a shit, Ernest. I’ve been busy cleaning this nasty ass house and fixing dinner. The least you could do is pick the boys up.

And then I just hang up.

Dinner would’ve been a quiet affair had the boys not been so talkative. They were so busy trying to out talk each other that they failed to notice the death glares that Ernest and I were exchanging. Any time he would try and make serious eye contact with me I would just roll my eyes. Finally dinner ended with my getting up from the table and the phone ringing. I decided to ignore the phone and start dishwater. Once the dishes were soaking, I got the boys to wash up and brush their teeth. At the time I wasn’t sure who Ernest was talking to because I was doing my best to ignore him, but once the boys were situated in front the TV, I got a hint.

Ernest followed me into the kitchen with his face twisted. Why didn’t you tell me that Glenda called?

For starters, be of some service and rinse. Secondly, I’ve been a little busy organizing our home that it just slipped my mind. He stood there for a second giving me a hard stare. I am so not afraid so I stare back and say, For real, Ernest, start rinsing.

He turns the water on and then says, She said that you sounded like you had an attitude. Is there a problem? Is there something going on that I’m not aware of?

I try to leave the sarcasm out of my voice, but then again, what the hell. Of course not, it’s just that there is always something going on that you’re not aware of.

Such as? Instead of answering I just roll my eyes. Come on, Cyn. Let’s get it out in the open.

All right. I stop washing dishes and face him. Let’s start with the lack of interest that you seem to have with your family. You damn near pitched a fit when I needed you to pick up the boys this afternoon. And let’s not forget that you think the house magically cleans itself. That fairies do the laundry and elves do the cooking. And the granddaddy of them all is that you breeze through this house like I don’t exist.

So that’s what this is about. Your still mad about what didn’t happen this morning. He says to me with a grin on his face and trying to hug me.

Damn it, Ernest. It has to do with everything I just mentioned. I feel like we’re heading for a rut where I and everything that I do around here is being taken for granted.

Well, I’m sorry that you feel like that, but that’s not true. You know that my job is stressful and with my being transferred to a new division takes up a lot of my time.

Oh, no. Not this time. You are not about to use your job as an excuse. Not when I work full time plus doing PTA, boy’s scouts, and soccer practices. It’s funny how you only have you and your job and can’t manage, but I have a full plate and some how find time to cook, clean, and do all of those extras.

But, baby, you’re an accountant. You have this easy nine to five.

Fuck you, Ernest. I’m not going to stand here and let you minimize me.

And then I just walk away.

I decide to take refuge in our guest/computer room. He can finish the kitchen and get the boys ready for bed. Story and all. I ignore all knocks on the door by putting on headphones and letting the sounds of Sade sing to my fragile ego. I then log on to the Internet so that I can check my E-mail. I find that I have ten new message but most of it is junk mail. I come across an E-mail from Tekia that has pictures from the strip show. I’m not sure how she got them because I don’t remember her having a camera. It doesn’t matter because the pics bring a smile to my face. I decide to give her a call and let off the rest of my steam.

I immediately feel better when I hear her yelling at Terran to stop jumping on the bed before he falls off and break something like his head. Tekia is the right one to talk about my frustrations. She understands that whole not enough time working mother syndrome. Especially since she’s a single mother. I don’t hesitate to tell her about my failed attempt to seduce Ernest at five in the morning and about my tone with his co-worker. Like any good friend she cracked up, called me crazy, and then empathized with me. She then showed me that my life could be worse by telling me about Clever’s latest failure at being a father.

Girl, do we know how to pick them or do we? She asked laughing.

Oh, yeah. The cream of the crop. So, anything new popping off?

No, not really. Oh, there is this little black tie thing the magazine is having Saturday. Should I set aside two tickets for you and Ernest?

Yeah. That sounds like something we could actually do together. I can probably get my parents to baby-sit the boys. They see them at least twice a week and swear that they don’t see them enough.

Lucky you. There is no way that I would subject my son to my mother and stepfather twice a week. By the time he’s thirteen he’ll be this pompous woman controlling ass with no clue of reality.

I speak to Tekia for a few minutes before I return my attention to the rest of my mail. There really wasn’t anything to grab my attention so I log off before I start looking up porn.

There really isn’t much to do in my sanctuary, but I refuse to come out any time soon. I’m relaxing on the futon flipping through back issues of Essence when I spot a picture of Halle Berry sporting the cutest little black dress. I may have had two boys but I still have my girly figure. My weekly visit to the gym with Vivian insures that. I jump up and rush to the phone and immediately call my friend Jerome because he can sew his ass off. I just pray that he’s not too busy to do this.

I start to get nervous as his phone reaches ring number three. The magic answering machine number. Just as I’m waiting for the machine to click on, I hear a voice say hello.

Jerome?

Depends. Who’s this?

Cynthia. Cynthia Brown.

Hey, girl. It’s been a minute since I’ve heard from you. What do you need?

Why I got to need something? Can’t a friend call another friend to say hi?

Yeah, if a friend called on a regular basis. So what’s up?

I start to laugh. Jerome has never been for beating around the bush. I have this black tie thing to go to on Saturday and I found the cutest black dress only thing is Halle Berry was wearing it in Essence magazine.

Well, call her and see if she’ll lend it to you. I bet she’ll say yes if you promise to have it dry cleaned before you return it.

Oh, come on, Jerome. Please. I’ll buy all the material, thread, and whatever else you’ll need and I’ll even pay regular customer rate since I’m calling so late.

You better believe it. Can you be here tomorrow at noon?

With bells on.

It was well past ten when I decided to emerge from my sanctuary. To my relief and disgust Ernest was in the den watching TV so I had the bedroom to myself. I decided to see the silver lining and started the shower on full blast hot. I then went rummaging through my special drawer in the bathroom. It holds all of my girly knick-knacks. I dig until I find the right razor and foot scrubber. No sense in me being hairy and rough. In the shower I decide to go for it and pull out my favorite peach all over body scrub. The smell is incredible and it never fails to make my skin feel like silk. When I’m finished with my shower, I head into the bedroom to dry off and lotion down and when that’s done, I pull on my favorite nightie and then get under the cover.

I’m in my own little world when I hear Ernest come into the room. I decide to pretend like I’m sleep. I just had my shower and talking to him right now would ruin all of that. I can hear him going through his nightly routine of brushing his teeth and washing his face before getting into bed. At first he turns over so that his back is to me. I’m sure that he’s aware that I’m not really sleep so his not even trying to talk to me pisses me off. I’m about ready to turn and knock hum upside his head when I feel him turn back over.

He gets right up on his elbow and says directly into my ear, Cyn, you sleep?

I try not to shudder from his warm breath hitting my ear and neck. You know I’m not. I’m still trying to play hard and upset.

Listen, I just want to say sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of how much work you do to keep the house running like a well oiled machine.

I start laughing. Who have you been talking to? You don’t talk like that.

He starts laughing too. I was watching TV and this guy said it to his wife and it made everything okay. He then turns serious. "It doesn’t mean that I don’t mean it, it’s just that he said what I