“Maybe you are just late,” she says, sliding down onto the edge of the tub.
“I’m never late. Literally never.”
Someone knocks on the door and we both screamtaken, but they knock again.
“Your dad is going to be here,” Charlie says.
“Fuck.” I stand up, and Farrah follows suit.
With one look at each other, we both understand that this conversation is just the beginning. Then we open the door, acting like nothing is happening.
My dad is surprised and delighted by everyone being here. To my joy, he even hits it off with one of the women I invited. The night goes smoothly, and it’s clear people are having fun, but around 1 a.m. we shut it down to stop my dad from getting any more wasted.
Everyone but Charlie, Farrah, and Errol leaves, and soon we are seated in the kitchen with the last of the food.
“Did I ever tell you about the time that Monty fought a teacher?” My dad asks on unsteady feet.
“I need to hear this,” Errol says, sitting forward.
“No, you don’t,” I say while grabbing my dad’s arm. “It’s time for him to go to bed.”
“No, baby girl, they need to hear about how you beat up a male teacher who thought it was okay to hit on you.”
“Of course she did.” Charlie shakes his head.
“I was in the ninth grade! It wasn’t even a fair fight, so I don’t think I should have been suspended for winning.”
“Please tell me it came to light that he was a pervert,” Errol asks, then sips from his drink, his nose scrunched.
“It did, and Monty made the newspaper as a hero. I’ve never been more proud of her.” This time, my dad can barely keep himself up. I take the glass from his hands and gently lead him to his room, only returning when I hear him snoring.
“Now I understand why you and Farrah are friends. You both can’t walk away from a confrontation.” Errol promptly gets hit on the chest for his comment.
Farrah, not at all concerned that she just knocked him back, happily shifts on his lap.
“Actually, we are friends because our dance teacher told both of us we were too fat to be ballerinas,” I say.
“To which Monty proved her wrong by being the best in the class.”
I bow to their applause and find myself a little shaky when I stand back up. Deciding to put my glass down, I sit on the kitchen chair.
“Honestly, it was her confidence that drew me to her in college,” Charlie says, sitting next to me.
“No, it wasn’t. It was my friend Tiara Stone. Her fat ass was why you decided to talk to us.”
Farrah and I both laugh as we recount how badly that turned out for Charlie.
“The only reason she got mad at me was because I realized I would much rather be your friend than her boyfriend, and I cut it off.”
“Were you anyone’s boyfriend in college, Charlie?” Farrah asks, already knowing the answer.
“Doesn’t matter.” He waves his hand, causing us to laugh again.
“You and Errol are whores,” she says, trying to get up from Errol’s lap. He instantly pulls her back down and kisses her neck. She responds by playing with one of his locs.
“All that looking made it clear what we really wanted,” Charlie says.
“That’s right,” Errol says, fist bumping him.
