Page 77 of Bourbon Kingdom
“Yeah, Pepper is down there a lot,” Tootse said. “Pepper doesn’t really talk about it, but apparently, it’s just meaningless sex.”
“Doesn’t seem meaningless to me,” Lyla pointed out. “And, honestly, I like Pepper a lot; I don’t want to step on any toes. She can have Kace. I’m moving on anyway. I’ve moved up to the primetime spot at Kitten’s Castle.”
“Lyla, you can’t work there anymore,” I responded, while pressing the canvas against Francy. “You’re better than that. Don’t you want to do something else with your life?”
Lyla just shrugged her shoulders, as if it wasn’t a big deal that she didn’t have a backup plan. I could tell she was shutting me out; it was typical. She never got too deep or talked about the future. She was independent, always did her own thing, and never worried about what was to come.
“Not all of us are as lucky as you, girl. We can’t just land in the hands of a billionaire,” the tone she used was light, but the way she avoided eye contact with me made me think she was being snider than she came off.
“I’m trying not to take offense to that comment,” I replied, as I finished up with Francy. “But it seems like it was kind of a dig at me.”
“Not a dig, just saying you’re lucky, that’s all. You know I love you, girl. I’m happy for you.”
I eyed her for a second and only saw sincerity in her face. Maybe she didn’t mean her comment in a menacing way, but there was a bit of jealousy coming off of her, which I could imagine, since she’s had a rough go at life just like me. She deserved her happily ever after just as much as me or any of the other Jett Girls.
“Well, don’t get all excited for me just yet. Things are weird with Jett and me right now. I’m not really sure where we stand or what’s going to happen. After everything we’ve been through, I’ve got to hand it to him, he had balls to ask me out on a date.”
Lyla whipped her shirt and bra off and stood in front of me, ready for paint. “I’m not surprised. The man is infatuated with you. You should have seen him when you were gone. I felt like he was going to start punching holes through any wall that was near him. He would do anything for you.”
I knew he would; it was written all over his face every time he saw me. I just wished that he would give me all of him, not just half of his soul. I didn’t want half. If I was going all in, then I wanted all of him, despite whatever shortcomings he might think he had.
It was funny, some women thought the dominant man was an easy one to be with because they knew what they wanted and took it, but they were actually the most difficult to live with because they were prideful, and that pride got in the way a lot, especially when you were trying to share a life with them. At least, that’s what I wanted. I wanted to share a life with the man.
“Hands up,” I directed Lyla, as I brushed off her comment. I wasn’t really in the mood to talk about Jett, especially since I didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Tootse shouted, as she started digging around in her purse. She pulled out a phone and brought it to me while I pressed the canvas against Lyla. “This is from Jett.”
I eyed the phone and shook my head. The man was impossible.
“I don’t want that.”
“Just take it,” Lyla commanded, while the canvas was pressed flush against her. “Give him a little break and take the damn phone; he is obviously trying.”
“When did you become Team Jett?” I asked, finishing up and then eyed my canvas.
It was interpretative art, for sure. The gallery wanted Mardi Gras, well what was more Mardi Gras than purple, green, and yellow breasts? I was going to do some shading and fillers, but the beginning of my art piece was making me quite happy.
Lyla washed herself off as she talked to me. “I’ve always been Team Jett, from the very beginning when you got that little black card from him. Remember, I was the one pushing you to call him.” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “He’s a good man, Goldie. He may have his faults, but he has the best of intentions when it comes to you. You have to know that.”
I just nodded my head, because even though I was mad at him, I knew the way he looked at me, the things he did to protect me, but was it enough?
“Are we all done here?” Francy asked, as she got up from the ground and brushed off her bottom. “I have a steak calling my name at the club; Chef’s been grilling.”
“Steak, such a lesbian thing,” Lyla shook her head.
“How is that lesbian?” Francy asked.
“It is when you wear a flannel and eat it without a fork and knife,” Lyla countered.
“One fucking night when I was drunk and you’re going to hold that against me?”
“Honey, when you’re drunk, your inner butch comes out. It’s okay with me,” Tootse kissed Francy’s cheek. “It just means you’re a terror in the bedroom. You should see how far she can get—”
“Babe, let’s not finish that sentence. Remember, things between a lady and a lady?”
“Oh, right,” Tootse winked. “Are we done? My girl needs to bite into her lady meat.”
“Why does that make me think of something else?” I asked, cringing.
