Fifteen minutes later, Tanika, Bronwyn, and Mya stepped into the restaurant together. General shock registered on their faces at the sight of Jackie sitting in the lobby.
“Hell must have frozen over if Jackie is early. Or are we late?” mused Mya as she looked at her watch. “No, we are definitely on time.”
“What’s up with that, Jackie?” asked Tanika. “You look out of it.”
Jackie shrugged, then motioned that they should get a table. She was ready for this lunch to start. Bronwyn seemed to be the only one to pick up on that.
“Yes, y’all.” Bronwyn linked an arm with Jackie. “Let’s sit, get some drinks, and relax before we start grilling her.”
Ruby Chow’s was pretty packed. The host seated them at a table in the far back. Jackie hadn’t even cracked open the menu before the questions started. So much for the promise of drinks.
“Wait, I thought you got your voice back?” asked Mya.
Jackie typed in the app and responded. “I did. And then I didn’t. It was so weird.”
“Did you get sick in Mexico? Maybe strep or something? Oh lord, maybe it’s something you ate. I think you need to go back and see the doctor,” Tanika remarked.
Jackie shook her head. “I’m not sick,” her app responded. “One minute I was talking, and then I wasn’t.” She looked over at Bronwyn, who had a questioning expression on her face. She gave her the universal “what?” look that all Black women knew how to convey since puberty.
Bronwyn tapped her chin, the gold rings adorning her fingers shining. “What were the circumstances surrounding the return and loss of your voice?”
Everyone turned to look at her. Jackie felt as if a rock had settled right in her gut.
At that moment, the server returned to take drink orders. Thank God, because Jackie wasn’t sure she could tell this part without a little liquid courage. Tanika ordered a round of lychee martinis and winked at Jackie. That martini was her favorite. Jackie smiled, super grateful that her girl knew her so well.
“Can we talk about something else, for now?” Jackie asked, tapping her phone screen. “Tanika, when are we shopping for your dress?”
“It depends. Is PJ going to do the interview?”
Jackie shrugged, then typed. “Probably. Antonio said he’d ask him.”
Tanika squinted behind her glasses. “Why does Antonio have to ask? Why can’t you?”
Shit. Jackie had said too much. “PJ really values his opinion. Since Ant is an agent who was an athlete.”
“I see.” Tanika nodded but looked suspicious.
The server brought the martinis, and Jackie took a huge sip before anyone else had even picked theirs up.
“Damn, you thirsty as hell,” Mya teased. “Slow down, girl!”
Jackie waved Mya off as she put down her drink and picked up the menu.
“Not so fast,” Bronwyn put a gentle finger on the top of the menu, moving it away from Jackie’s face. “You need to answer my question.”
Jackie sighed and picked up her phone to type. Three sets of eyes stared at her, eagerly anticipating whatever she had to say.
“Fine. I didn’t get my voice back until…Antonio and I got a little freaky.”
“Hah! I knew it!” squealed Bronwyn. “I told you: You and Antonio have a soul bond. The sex with him must have opened up your throat chakra!”
“I’m sure more than that throat was open,” Tanika quipped, and Mya nearly spit out her drink before howling with laughter.
Jackie couldn’t even be mad. That was funny. And very true.
“Go on,” Bronwyn encouraged. “You were vocal during sex, and then not so much afterward. When did you become mute again? During or after the sex?”
“After,” Jackie’s app answered for her.
