Careful of the Company You Keep. Angie Daniels

but my boss waited until four-thirty to tell me he wanted me to get a letter out tonight.” Kayla slid on the bench next to my partner-in-crime Danielle Brooks, then reached for a handful of chips. “What I miss? I know y’all were gossiping about somebody.”

      I met her gray eyes from across the table. “Yeah, John’s faggot ass. He’s been blowing up my phone all day.”

      Kayla gave me a weak smile. “Maybe it’s important.”

      Danielle laughed. “Yeah, and maybe he’s no longer screwing that fag and wants to get back together.”

      “Won’t know unless you talk to him,” Nadine Baker singsonged.

      I glanced at all three of them, then stuck up my middle finger. “Fuck y’all. We don’t have anything to talk about. Unless of course he’s ready to give me a divorce so he and Shemar can get married.”

      Nadine gave a cross between a laugh and a snort. “You’re sick.”

      “No, John’s the one who’s sick. Booty bandit.”

      Danielle started laughing and we all joined in. It felt good being able to finally laugh about this shit, because five months ago it wasn’t that funny.

      I sipped my drink and glanced at my girl Nadine, who was sitting to my right. Sick? How the hell could she talk about anybody? Her big-titty ass just came out of the closet less than three years ago and was now trying to have a baby with her woman. “Nadine. What happened at the clinic last week?” Her face dropped and I almost felt sorry for bringing it up. Remember I said almost.

      “Jordan lost the baby.”

      Okay, now I really did feel sorry for her. The couple had spent thousands of dollars trying artificial means of inseminating Jordan, who was in her early thirties and wanted desperately to have a baby. Nadine already had a grown son and was knocking on forty. I knew they could afford it, but damn, enough was enough. I already told Nadine what to do. She just doesn’t want to listen.

      Kayla gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry. What are you and Jordan going to do now?”

      Nadine shrugged. “We’re looking at some other options.”

      Danielle looked over at me with a raised brow. I reached for another chip, then repeated what I’ve suggested so many times I was starting to think that maybe Nadine was hard of hearing. “I already told you what to do. Find a sperm donor who’s willing to do it the way it’s meant to be done. Some plain old-fashioned fucking.”

      “Renee!” Kayla’s high yellow ass turned three different shades of red.

      I gave them all an innocent look. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like Jordan hasn’t ever had dick before. Why keep wasting all that money? Shit, give that money to me and I’ll find you the perfect man. Then all Jordan has to do is let that mothafucka fuck her long enough to bust a nut, then send his ass on home.”

      Kayla shook her head like I was one of her kids. “Girl, do you know how many diseases are out there?”

      I gave her a dismissive wave. “So have him go get tested first. It’s a helluva lot cheaper. Buy that negro a six-pack and a box of chicken and he’ll be happy as hell.”

      Danielle choked on her drink and laughed along with me. Unfortunately, we were the only two who thought the shit was funny.

      I could see the shock on Kayla’s face. “You’re stupid.” Leave it to Kayla’s holy ass to find something wrong with what I said.

      “I think it’s a wonderful suggestion.” I turned to Nadine. “You and Jordan really need to give it some thought, seriously. Go rent that Spike Lee joint She Hate Me and you’ll see what I’m talking about.”

      Nadine stared down into her drink as if she was embarrassed to reply. “To be honest, Jordan is so desperate, she’s actually thinking about doing what you suggested.”

      See, I’m really not crazy. “Good.”

      The waiter arrived and Kayla ordered a virgin drink. As soon as he left, she clapped her hands merrily together. “Well, I’ve got something for all of you to gossip about.”

      Leave it to her to try to change the subject. “What?” I asked.

      “Jermaine proposed.”

      “What?” We all squealed like teenagers.

      Nadine’s smile returned. “Oh my goodness! When did this happen?”

      “Last night. I’ve been dying to tell someone but I wanted to tell all three of you at the same time.” Kayla reached inside her purse and removed a platinum three carat diamond ring and slipped it onto her finger. She must have taken it off before walking into the restaurant. That’s definitely what I called bling-bling.

      I was impressed. “Hell nah! That shit is blinding!”

      Kayla was beaming with pride. “This ring is so heavy I’m afraid my finger is going to fall off.” She giggled.

      Nadine gave her a scolding look. “Shame on you. I am so happy.”

      “So am I. I never thought this day would come.”

      “Let me see.” Danielle reached for her hand and took a closer look. “It’s beautiful! I knew there was a man out there for you. You just needed to find him.”

      Tears started running down Kayla’s cheeks. “I know. Jermaine is the best thing to ever happen to me.”

      My eyes started to burn and I frowned. “Quit before you make me cry.”

      “Shit, she’s going to make us all cry,” Danielle replied as she dabbed at her eyes.

      Kayla was one of my closest friends. She had come from a dysfunctional household with a mother with low self-esteem and a habit of letting men use her. Kayla and her sisters inherited her traits. Kayla went through life letting men take advantage of her and ended up with two lowlife baby daddies. After a dead-end relationship with a shady Baptist minister who ended up murdered, Kayla finally came to her senses and realized love had been standing right in front of her. She was just too stuck on stupid to notice until five months ago.

      The waiter returned and took our orders. We’d been coming to this authentic Mexican restaurant for so long I knew the menu by heart. By far, El Maguey has the best margaritas and tamales in town.

      “So when is the big day?” Danielle asked after our waiter moved to put our order in.

      Kayla rested her elbow on the table, wearing a dreamy smile. “I don’t know. We talked about getting married in September, but I really don’t know if I can wait that long.” She paused and dropped her eyes to the table. “I’m afraid if I don’t marry him tomorrow something is going to happen and I’m going to lose him.”

      I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes. “Kayla, that man loves you. Shit, the size of your ring proves that. Quit thinking so negative.”

      “I know. I know. I just can’t believe that something this good is happening to me.”

      “Well, believe it, girl,” Danielle said with encouragement.

      Kayla gave us an uncomfortable look, then reached for another chip.

      That’s Kayla for you. Always thinking that she doesn’t deserve any goodness in her life. That’s from years of fucking around with a no-good penis-dick minister who told her that her fat ass wasn’t worth a damn.

      Kayla is a big girl. Always has been. But she is a beautiful woman, especially on the inside, even though she doesn’t think so. Hell, look at Mo’Nique—that sistah is fat, but so beautiful and confident and can dress her ass off that you forget about her size and all you notice is what’s on the inside. Kayla has so much going for her. She’s got a vanilla complexion, gray eyes to die for, and long cinnamon hair. She’s just a healthy girl, but like I tell her all the time, men like a woman with a little meat on