Exotic

I was in a peaceful sleep when I heard the ring tone by Luda 'My chick bad.' I had tried moving but was stopped by a hard body pressed against mines. Then there was the fact that that there was a tattooed covered  arm wrapped around my waist. When I peeped over it was Ja. I smiled and removed his arm to get my phone so that I could call Andie back. I got out of bed and got my phone off the nightstand while looking at Ja as he slept peacefully. I unlocked my screen and hit my missed calls. I hit Andie's name and it rung three times before she answered.

"Good morning sunshine!"

"Good morning Andie. You do realize it is 8:30 am right?"

"Yeah I know but I was calling to see if you were going to go to church with us and to see if you would cook Sunday dinner afterwards at my house?"

I hadn't been to church since my mom got killed and at one point I went almost every Sunday. I thought it over for a minute before giving her an answer.

"Yeah. What time does service start?"

It starts at 11:15. We will come and pick you up. Are you gonna cook?"

"Ok. And yes I will cook. Just make sure you have all that I need to make a Sunday Dinner."

"Alright Exotic I will. See you in a lil while."

"Ok." I said hanging up.

I looked over and Ja was still asleep. I stood there a moment longer looking at Ja before I went to get in the shower. I handled my business in the bathroom and then came out with a towel wrapped securely around my body. I walked over to my underwear drawer and I heard rustling in the bed. I looked back and Ja was waking up. His eyes roamed across my body and then he looked at the time on my alarm clock.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?" Ja asked.

"I actually slept good. What about you?"

"I think that is the best sleep I eva' had." He said smiling.

I smiled back and then turned to get my red silk panties and matching bra out so that I could put them on. I walked back in the bathroom so that I could put them on. I put lotion on my body while I was in there and I came out with my black silk robe on. 

Ja had got up so that he could go use the bathroom. I was inside my closet looking for something to wear when Ja came out.

"Aye Exotic do you have an extra toothbrush?"

"Yeah look under the sink."

He walked back in and I heard the water running in the sink. I finally found something to wear. I decided to wear my black pencil skirt with my red ruffle sleeveless blouse. I wasn't aware that Ja had come out the bathroom until I heard him moving around gathering his stuff.

"Where are you going this morning?" He asked.

"I'm going to church. Would you like to come?"

"I would be more than happy to but I actually got a studio session at noon."

"Oh ok. Well maybe next time."

"Well I better get going so that you can finish getting ready." He said walking around the bed towards me.

He stood there just staring at me before breaking into that gorgeous smile. He reached out and hugged me tightly. This time I kissed him on the cheek and I could tell that he was surprised. He pulled back at the same time I did too.

"Oh by the way you smell good. Good enough to eat, but umm anyway say a prayer for me."

I nodded and then I thought about I was cooking at Andie's and Sharee's house.

"Ja I'm cooking Sunday dinner at Andie's and you know Issa as well as Twan gone be there. So you should come too. It will be around 3 or 4.

"Alright I will be there." He then walked out the door. I finished getting ready and I still had about thirty minutes to spare. I made my bed and straighten up a lil and by that time I heard a car horn and I knew it was time to head out.

*********

I really felt weird being in church because it had been so long. While I was thinking about how long it had been I looked over and saw that Sharla and Giselle were there. To me that was really surprising because Sharla was the devil himself. Giselle I wasn't too sure about tho.

The pastor came up to the podium and he was talking about how life can give you painful circumstances, but that doesn't mean that God doesn't love you. He is only testing your faith. As he said that I thought about my situation and tried to come to terms with that but at the moment I couldn't.

He quoted a bible verse that my grandmother used to say all the time. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalms 30:5)

I listened carefully but for the life of me I just still hadn't found that joy that I once felt or had.

"Now the choir will render us a selection." The pastor said.

The music started playing and the soloist belted out these words.

Truth is I'm tired , Options are few,

I'm trying to pray, but where are you

I'm all churched out, hurt and abused

I can't fake what's left to do.

Truth is I'm weak, No strength to fight.....

I recognized the song because it was a popular gospel song by Tamela Mann. 'Take Me to the King.'

I was so lost in the words and thoughts of my mother started playing in my mind and tears started flowing. Andie and Sharee wrapped their arms around me as they cried with me. I felt someone rubbing my back and it was an older lady. I knew coming to church was a bad idea and that is why I had stayed away this long. This was too much for me. I got up practically running out of church. Sharee and Andie followed behind me. I leaned up against Andie's off white Range Rover wiping tears as they fell. Once they got to me Andie unlocked the doors and Sharee put her arm around me ushering me in the car. The ride back to Andie's was quiet and there was so much sadness in the atmosphere. At that moment there was nothing to be said.

When we pulled up in the driveway we all got out but my heart was so heavy. I felt like I had the weights of the world on my shoulder. I went upstairs going into Andie's room kicking off my heels laying on the bed. Andie and Sharee got in which caused me to be in the middle. No words were said. The comfort of having my two best friends was all that I needed at that moment.

I didn't realize I had fell asleep til I looked at the clock and it was 1:30. I jumped up going to the guest bedroom to strip out of the clothes I had on and put on some cutoff jean shorts and a light pink tank. My hair was down but I grabbed a clip and pinned it up leaving a few tendrils hanging. I made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

"Hey boo. You okay?" Sharee asked.

"Yeah. Thanks guys and I am so sorry."

"Sorry for what Exotic. We understand. Andie said.

"Yeah girl I couldn't imagine going through nothing that traumatic. So no need for apologies just know that you got us day or night no matter what time."

"Thanks. I love you guys."

"Aww we love you too. Now get in that kitchen and make momma proud." Andie said teasingly.

I walked in the kitchen washing my hands so that I could do what I love to do next to dancing. I was going to prepare cabbage, cornbread, mac and cheese, barbeque wings with my special made sauce. To top it off I was going to make a home made peach cobbler and some sweet tea.

I was dancing through the kitchen cooking up a storm. I finally got everything done and I took a seat in the living room.

"So Exotic we know that you were with your home boy yesterday. How did that go?" Sharee asked while looking at Andie grinning.

"We talked and I told him everything and I do mean everything."

"Oh so he knows you are a virgin? Andie asked

"Yep and he was shocked. He told me about the girl he dated in high school named Skye Carter." I said looking at Sharee and Andie.

They rolled their eyes because it was obvious that they knew the deal.

"Wow looks like you guys talked about a lot. That's good tho." Andie said.

"Oh and he spent the night last night too." I said getting up to check the food because everything was almost ready.

Andie and Sharee came running in the kitchen like something was after them. I looked at them and shook my head because they were so nosey and so obvious.

"Okay I need to ask are you still a virgin? Sharee asked.

"What!? Yes I am. I told you it wasn't like that."

Before more questions could be asked the door bell rang.

"This conversation is not over Exotic." Andie said walking to answer the door.

When she came back in the living room Twan and Issa were right behind her.

"Dang girl you got it smelling good up in here Exotic." He said wrapping his arms around Andie causing her to blush.

"Exotic I gotta agree with my nigga E on that." He said never taking his eyes off Sharee. They needed to stop playing and make it happen already.

I was putting the food in serving dishes and placing them on the bar so that everybody could fix their plates. Once that was done the door bell rung again and I knew who that was already. I was so busy making sure everything was straight with the food I didn't really pay attention to what was going on until I heard Andie say,

"Really Que! I know you can't be serious bringing her here!"

That's when I came around the corner to see what the hell was going on and when I did I saw red. How the hell this nigga gone bring Giselle here like she apart of the fam. Oh I got something fa' both they asses. I thought I invited Ja not her. This is what you call and uninvited guest......