“And how was the sex?” asked Mya. “Because like I said, that big, ol’ man looks like he can put in work!”
Jackie fiddled with the diamond pendant that hung from her necklace. She’d never shied away from telling her girls about her casual exploits. But this time, she was unsure if she wanted to share the details. Maybe because, despite her attitude, it had meant something to her.
Bronwyn, noticing Jackie’s hesitation, decided to chime in. “I did a little recon on Antonio. Not that you asked, but I was curious.” She pulled out her phone. “I took some notes. He’s a Sagittarius, with his moon in Pisces. And you’re an Aries, a double ram born in the month and moon of the sign. You’re compatible on so many levels, especially sexually. Your natal charts can’t be wrong about that.”
Jackie bit her lip.Fuck. Bronwyn was right. The whole table erupted, as everyone started to talk over each other.
“Hmmm…itwasamazing, wasn’t it? I knew it!” Bronwyn declared. “Stars don’t lie!”
“Spill,” Tanika said, nearly bouncing out of her seat.
“We need details, girl,” Mya encouraged. “Start from the beginning!”
“I can’t explain it,” Jackie typed. “The whole trip had been kind of rocky. But after we went out dancing, things took a turn.”
“Hold up,” Tanika said. “You all went on a date?”
“And you danced?” Bronwyn asked, surprised. “Like, as a couple?”
“Yes. Kind of.” Jackie shrugged as the app read her words, “I wouldn’t call it a date, though.”
“If there were drinks, dancing, and food, it was a date, girl!” Tanika laughed. “I know you’ve been out the game a minute, but we would definitely classify that as a date.”
Jackie swore that Tanika was repeating verbatim what Jackie had said back when Tanika was in denial about dating Gideon. She didn’t like when her own words were used against her.
“Well, I don’t care nothing about no drinks and dancing. You got put through the damned mattress, didn’t you?” Mya asked, her hand on her chin as she eagerly awaited an answer.
Jackie raised a brow as she typed. “More like a table…then a shower…then the floor…. I mean, the bed was the last resort. Especially after we broke the frame.”
“Damn,” Mya exclaimed. “You lucky bitch! A sister has been dry over here.”
“I sure do appreciate a generous lover,” mused Bronwyn. She looked at Tanika with a smirk. “Pay up, girlfriend!”
“Well, damn! That was more than two times it seems.” Tanika reached into her purse, then paused. She slid two crisp fifty-dollar bills across the table to Bronwyn, who folded them neatly and stuck them in her clutch.
“Thank you,” Bronwyn smiled. “I’m going to donate this to the women’s shelter rehousing fund on your behalf.”
“Good to know Jackie’s sex life is going to a good cause,” Tanika remarked.
Jackie shook her head and typed. “That’ll be the last cash you win off of a bet about my sex life. At least with Antonio. He wasn’t happy when I told him I don’t do relationships.”
Mya sighed deeply. Tanika folded her arms and grunted her displeasure.
“Oh Jackie,” Bronwyn sighed. “Why are you hiding behind that lie?”
“It’s not a lie! For duck’s sake!” Jackie rolled her eyes at Honeysuckle’s app settings. “You know what I mean.”
“So, how did Antonio respond?” asked Tanika.
Mya held up her hand. “Hold on, if we going to get into the thick of this, we need food.” She signaled for the server so she could order for the table. Mya was never one to discuss anything serious on an empty stomach.
Jackie typed while Mya put in the order, determined to get this part of the story over with. “He was pissed at first. And now he’s sort of cold.”
Or maybe I’m the one being cold?
“Ah, he’s putting up a…what’s the sports term, Tanika? A debilitating strut?” asked Bronwyn.
“A defensive stance,” Tanika corrected, amused at Bronwyn’s attempt at sports jargon. “That’s exactly what he’s doing. But Jackie makes it so easy for people to do that, especially after they get vulnerable.”
