I Take It Black

Cocktails and Wild Tales

I dressed to impress as usual and headed out to make my Sunday morning stop to the house of the Lord. I'd been going regularly since I met church boy. I'd even tried going back to his church a few times, but the judgement I felt there was too strong. I decided to go with my momma. I wasn't really ready for that kind of accountability. I'd heard her holiness or hell message too many times to count, but she'd been praying for years that I'd give my life to Christ. I might as well let brag about the Lord answering her prayers. I just had to stand my ground and not let anyone pressure me into something I didn't want to do.

Lunch was at this little Cajun creole spot down in the valley. They weren't really known for their lunch specials, but Friday nights their live music and dimmed lights was the perfect date spot. I wondered what Derek would look like surrounded by black people and listening to reggae music. He'd probably stick out like a weed in a flower bed. I shook thoughts of him out of my head and found my girls. They weren't hard to find. They were the loudest table in the restaurant. Four beautiful black women in the center of the room, laughing having a good time, and already knocking back cocktails at one o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. Nikki was a bit too passive for this crowd and preferred to stay away. That was absolutely fine, 80% of the time they were too much for me. I took my seat, ordered a glass of wine, and immediately joined in the conversation.

"So last night," That was Alise—a.k.a. Magenta—my girl, but bragged about being a stripper like it was brain surgery.

She kept telling me with my curves I'd make a killing. Sometimes she'd make in one weekend what I brought home after two weeks of work. The money sounded good, but it wasn't for me.

"I finished my act and you know I like to take a quick shower before I work the floor. I stepped off the stage and Mack stopped me. There was a guy who wanted me right away. I started to walk away, but Mack pointed him out. I had to force my mouth to stay shut, finest white guy I've seen in my life."

She paused to giggle and downed the rest of her drink. Her stories are usually crazy so I was already laughing.

"He offered me five hundred to dance for him for the rest of the night. My first thought, 'why is this fine man in here dropping that kind of money for a lap dance?' I have a sixth sense about crazies, but I wasn't getting that vibe from him. I figured he was a business man from out of town, looking for a little fun with no strings attached. I took him to one of the new rooms Mack just added. The surround sound was popping. It helped me and the guy really get in to it. So, I'm dancing, backing it up real nice. He's moaning real hard which means he's probably touching himself, which is fine as long as he doesn't touch me."

By this time, she's laughing so hard everyone at the table is laughing.

"I turn around and he is fisting himself. Girrrrrl when I tell you, I could barely see the tip. I've had hot dogs bigger than that."

We roared with laughter. The tables around us were laughing too.

I let the laughter die down and since I had white boy on the brain, I asked the question that popped in my mind as soon as she mentioned her patron was white. "Have you all ever been with a white guy?" the responding yeses made my jaw drop.

"Don't tell me you haven't?" Alise looked at me like I was crazy. "Girl I love my black men, but I've tried a little bit of everything."

"About a year ago I was with a white guy for the first time. It wasn't a love thang, but I certainly did enjoy myself." Bernice bounced and twirled her hips against the seat. I rolled my eyes. She always enjoyed herself.

"What about you guys?" I looked at Shelby and Elaine. They were more subdued than the other two, but far from saints.

"I have no complaints. Don't get me wrong I've had bad white sex, but I've also had bad black sex. Most importantly I've had amazingly hot sex with both. What's with all the questions?" She leaned back in her chair with a knowing smile. "You thinking about sampling the white meat?"

"I was just curious if you guys had." Four sets of eyes were on me and every last one knew I was lying, but unlike Nikki they didn't call me on it.

I sat back sipping my wine—barely paying attention to the conversation going on—and wondering if my preferences were really that archaic. My mood had soured considerably and I used my ringing cell phone as an excuse to leave early. I dropped a twenty on the able to cover my drink and appetizer and then answered my phone before anyone could complain.

"This is Janet," I navigated around tables careful not to bump anyone.

"I received your message."

Derek's smooth baritone vibrated through the phone and stopped me in my tracks.

"Apology not needed, but definitely accepted."

"Thank you," I recovered and kept moving through the restaurant.

"I should be the one apologizing. It was selfish of me to push you into something just because I wanted it."

"No worries. It's over and done with."

I made it to my car with my heart pounding hard. I didn't know if it was from walking fast in my pumps or the sound of his voice. I chose to believe the former. I put him on hold, sucked in a deep breath, and waited for my pulse to calm. I clicked back on the line and the concern I heard in his voice touched me more than it should have.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"If you need me to come get you, I don't have a problem with it."

"Derek, I'm fine. These curves just need to find their way to a gym. Thighs are rubbing together, getting ready to start a fire. I should've known better than to park this far away in this summer heat. And I'm wearing heels, surprised I didn't go into cardiac arrest." It took a minute to convince him I was okay and didn't need him to come get me. By the time I did convince him he was cracking up.

"Janet," He cleared the laughter out of his voice and I felt the energy of the conversation change. "I need to see you again." I heard noise through the line like he'd shuffled around to sit up. "The chemistry between us is kinetic. I felt it the moment I laid eyes on you. If you'd get past my skin, you'd feel it too." At my hesitation he continued. "Let me come over and bring you dinner tonight."

"Derek, I can't. Not because your white, but because I don't know you like that. You could be a serial killer, have me chopped up and stuffed into the freezer before the night is over. But I'll tell you what, I'll think about it."

"I guess that's a start. Is it alright if I call you sometime?"

"Yes."

I ended the call and sat in my car wondering what in the hell I was getting into.

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There is nothing like ladies night to help put things in perspective. Janet is starting to realize that the interracial  thing is more common than she thought. But is she convinced enough to give Derek a shot?