Read Reality Check Online

Authors: Eric Pete

Reality Check (25 page)

I ripped my train off after tripping over it on the way down the hill. Once in town, a tourist couple took a picture of me shooting the bird as I stormed by. Near the boat landing, I found an empty gazebo, where I parked my ass. Out of public view, I let out a good cry. As strong as I pretended to be, I just wanted to be held. So many things I took for granted were utterly wrong. I punished myself, trying to think about how or when things began with Mona and Lionel.
Oh, my girl.
No.
She was my sister. As much as we’d been through, knowing there’d be no new memories or fun times beyond today hurt like hell.
“You tryin’ to hide from me?” Charmaine asked, coming upon my brief sanctuary. She’d changed into a pair of shorts and a T- shirt. She dropped a red duffel bag by my feet.
“You know, I used to tease Lionel about what a perfect couple he and Mona would make.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, G-love.”
“Charmaine, you have any confessions you’d like to make? I don’t think I can take any more surprises.”
“Nope. Never fucked Lionel, and damn sure never fucked Mona. No surprises from me, except maybe that algebra test I cheated on in high school,” she joked. “I told your aunt and uncle about what went down. Uncle Robert went looking for Lionel, but Tasha stopped him.
“You plan on staying in that gown? There are some clothes in the bag.”
“Thanks ... sister.”
“You’re welcome ... Glover.”
I began unzipping the bag.
Charmaine put her hand on mine. “Oh, I ran into a couple of people that were looking for you. I told them that I didn’t know if you felt like talking.”
“What did they say?” I asked, trying to imagine who from the wedding party wanted to incur my wrath right about now.
“They wouldn’t go away. I’ll tell them to come over. Be right back.”
She didn’t even give me a chance to say no, which pissed me off to no end. Charmaine cheerfully strolled up the street and disappeared around the corner. I took the towel from the bag and began wiping off my makeup. I looked at the beige streaks left on the towel as I lowered it from my face. The things women do to look good for men. Yuck.
“You missed a spot,” he said as my eyes came up from the towel, the sunlight obscuring my view. I could make out the smile first, and my heart skipped a beat. “Scared ya, huh?”
“What are you doing here? How did you get here?”
“Long story. I could write a book about it. Real talk,” he joked. “You’re a hard one to find.”
“I wasn’t supposed to be found. I thought you knew that.”
“I’m hard-headed. You look good.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Real talk.” I stood up in my ruined wedding gown and walked out of the gazebo into Max’s outstretched arms.
As we kissed, I saw Max’s little friend, Smitty, standing amidst the crowd with Charmaine. Both of them were applauding.
58
 
Wallace “Smitty” Lewis
 
“Know what you orderin’, man?” I asked my boy. He kept grabbing green bean fries from the appetizer plate, so I could tell he was starvin’ like Marvin. We’d met up at the TGI Friday’s in West Covina by his crib.
“Probably the New York strip,” Max answered while crunching on another fry.
“Know what Glover’s orderin’?”
“Of course, man. She is my wife.” Dude was so proud. Did you know that we wound up gettin’ tore up at a bar back in Catalina that day? Some good memories from a pretty fucked-up time as far as my boy was concerned. Still got a group photo of us that I keep in a frame atop the TV.
Not too long after that, my boy got hired by that company in Concord. Took him four months to transfer back down here, but those two got married within a year. Loved the wedding. I was my boy’s best man ’n shit. Glover’s people came down from Virginia, and Max’s crazy folk came from Louisiana. Never seen people drink and eat so much in my life. Max’s mom and his Aunt Lucy did all the cookin’. Still got shit in my fridge to this day.
“What about you? Are you ordering for your girl, or are you going to wait until she gets here?”
“You know she’s in traffic. And I don’t know what the fuck she wants besides this dick later tonight.”
“You never change, Smit.”
“You know, dawg,” I said, grinning.
Glover entered the restaurant, and Max waved her over. She’d finished her mission in the parking lot.
“Hey, Smit,” she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. Think she had a crush on me from back in the day, but I let her settle for Max. She handed Elijah over to his daddy. She’d been in the parking lot changing my godson’s diaper.
Elijah Guillory.
His middle name’s Lionel, by the way.
Just fuckin’ with ya. It’s what I do.
“Where’s your girl, Smitty?” Glover asked as she sat next to my boy.
“She comin’. How’s the new house?”
“Love it. We just painted Elijah’s room,” Glover answered. Max was playing with his son and making those “daddy faces.” Loud-ass kid, but it’s all good. Got his dad’s smile and his mom’s eyes.
“Actually, that would be me,” Max interrupted. “You slept while I painted.”
“After nine months, I think I deserve a nap every now and then.”
“You’re right, baby.” They leaned over Elijah and kissed one another.
“All right. Stop that. Max ate all the appetizer, and I’m ready to order my ribs and skrimps. I’ma wave the waiter over.”
I could afford a decent dinner these days. Even splurged on tonight’s meal, my treat. I was still at West-tel, but I was promoted into sales. Something about my being a good bullshitter. Go figure.
“You’re serious?” Glover asked. “You’re not going to wait for your girlfriend to get here? That is so rude.”
“Uh, she just got here,” I said, shutting her down. My baby had arrived.
“Sorry I’m late,” she offered to the table.
“That’s okay, baby. We were waiting for you so we could order. Glover wanted to order right away, but I made her wait for you. She can be so rude.” Glover rolled her eyes while Max laughed. I stood up, gave my baby one of my patented mackalicious kisses, then pulled the seat out for her.
“Hey, Max! Hey, Elijah!” she offered the men. “Hey, G-love!” she offered to her best friend.
“What’s up, Charmaine?” Glover asked. She hadn’t seen her in a few weeks. Charmaine left her job, just like Glover, but went to work at the law firm with Samir’s wife, Yvette. After taking time off to tend to Elijah, Glover’s started her own business making gift baskets. I sometimes use them to close my deals.
“Besides missing my little Smit? Not a lot,” Charmaine answered. Oh. Knew I forgot something. Charmaine and me wound up hooking up that night back in Catalina. I’m supposed to be the crazy one, but she puts me to shame sometimes. Guess that’s why I’m feelin’ her—and probably why we moved in together.
But don’t get it twisted. If she finds a rich motherfucker and wants to run off with him, I’ma tell her to do it and split the money with me.
My name is Smitty.
And I’m still the shit.
About the Author
 
Eric Pete is an Essence bestselling novelist whose previous books include:
Real for Me,
Someone’s in the Kitchen,
Gets No Love,
Don’t Get It Twisted,
Lady Sings the Cruels,
Blow Your Mind,
Sticks and Stones.
 
He has also contributed short stories for the following anthologies:
After Hours,
Twilight Moods,
On the Line.
 
He currently lives in Texas, where he is working on his next novel. His Web site:
 
Urban Books, LLC
78 East Industry Court
Deer Park, NY 11729
 
Reality Check Copyright © 2009 Eric Pete
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-5998-3251-7
 
 
 
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living, or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
 
Distributed by Kensington Publishing Corp.
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