Love Like This, Page 2

  Nicole blushed looking over at Cleo. The woman had worked here for the past year. This was her second job next to working at KFC across the street in the afternoons. She had six kids and paid the bills however she could. Cleo was in her late twenties, but she looked older from smoking and driving heavily all her life. Her smoky black eyes with a red-yellow hue around them seemed old and dull, while her nappy short hair she kept in a low bleached blonde afro seemed weary. There was a girth about her from all the bastards she had produced, but that didn't stop the men from coming in real late at night and putting a twenty in the money slot when she worked the window.

  All Cleo would say is, "I'm going on break, Nicole," as she stuffed the twenty in her blue jean pocket and went out onto the floor. The man would follow her into the women's bathroom and for twenty minutes, Cleo would get their rocks off.

  When Nicole asked her what exactly do she do to those men, Cleo went in detail about her oral escapades. "If I want more money, I hold their balls when their good and tight and I ask them if they want to fuck me for twenty more. Most say yes and I give them a good ride while they sit on the toilet, then I don't let them come in me, but I put it back in my mouth and spit it out in the toilet after they come. They think it's good."

  Nicole had thought the idea of it was kinky, but she would never do it. Sometimes, the ones who had only heard of Cleo came to the window when she was there. When they would shove the twenty in the money tray, she wouldn't even look up at them, but point to the sign. They would get the message and leave or wait around until Cleo came to the window.

  She answered Cleo's question. "No, he hasn't lately. He's been in my mamma's drawers."

  "Oh yeah, it is Tuesday. Is that what's bothering you, child?"

  "No." She moved away from the window to help Cleo finish folding the clothes. They also did dry cleaning and private washing for a lot of the sick and elderly in the area for a monthly fee. She told Cleo of the stranger she saw sneaking around the neighborhood that morning.

  "You kissed him?!" Cleo cackled.

  "Hush or everybody in the neighborhood will hear your mouth."

  "I can't believe you actually let some boy kiss you."

  "He wasn't a boy." She smiled wickedly remembering what had been pressed against her stomach and the taste of him. "He tasted like a man to me."

  "How did he look?"

  "White, but cute."

  "Oh dear Lord, tell me the girl didn't kiss no white boy."

  "I said he wasn't a boy."

  "Don't be falling for those blue eyed devils, child."

  "Don't get the Malcolm X religion up in here, Cleo," she snorted. "I'm not falling for no one, I was just wondering what he was doing in the neighborhood."

  "You know white people been moving back to this neighborhood all the time, but you don't need to go around dating no white boy. Didn't you say your momma married one?"

  "Yes, but so what. They live a long way from here and I heard her say he doesn't like the city. He does his business and leaves as fast as possible."

  "They all do that. I had a few do their business when I use to work the corners on the east side. Trust me love, it ain't all that and they just want a black woman to fuck, just like that white man wants your momma. Why you think he ain't caring who she fucks."

  Nicole had confided in Cleo about her mother and Marvin's relationship. She had heard phone conversations of her mother talking to other men and what she was going to do to them when she got over to them. It was no secret around the neighborhood that Lynne Gray was a whore. She'd fucked everyone in the neighborhood and around the city.

  It didn't matter to Nicole although some of her mother's former beau's sometimes got her mixed up. Nicole was a shade darker than her mother, and she had Nanna's hair coloring of burnt brown hair instead of her mother's black hair. Along with that, there were some features that distinguished Nicole from her mother if one looked closely. She had a pudgier nose than Lynne and her fingers were longer with healthier nails, which Lynne kept covered with manicured faux tips. Nicole was two inches taller also at five foot six and a half.

  Still people still had the tendency to mix her up and even call her Lynne, which she hated to be called.

  "So tell me about how he looked in detail and if you dare say he was tall dark and handsome I'll rip your tongue out."

  Nicole giggled. "He wasn't as tall as Marvin. Maybe an inch shorter, but he was definitely bigger than my uncle. He was cut and I could feel ripples when he pressed against my chest."

  "Ripples? Damn, did you make him undress?"

  "Let's just say, I was aware of a lot of things."

  Cleo smiled wickedly. "What else?"

  "He's strong. That's the reason I stopped because he was squeezing me so hard against him, but I didn't half mind. He was clean-shaven with dark blonde hair and the prettiest green eyes I have ever seen. Like jade." Her look went far away again. "He smelled like… expensive cologne and cigarettes."

  "So he smokes?"

  "That would be the reason why I smelled it, but he tasted like a man. A real man. Not some sweaty nasty bad breathed ass."

  "I thought you said all men would taste like that," Cleo teased.

  "I know I did and before I kissed him, they all did. I don't think it had anything to do with his color, either. I think he was naturally like that."

  "I think you lost your mind."

  Cleo closed the bag and stapled the order ticket on it.

  Someone knocked on the window for change, but when the twenty came through the slot, Cleo smiled knowingly and took the bill. "I'll be out in a minute, sugar lips," she promised the old man in the long trench coat.

  "I'll finish this up," Nicole said giggling as Cleo freshened up quickly.

  "Thanks darling. I'll be back in a moment."

  Nicole finished up the work and then sat back by the window to try to finish up her lesson. She was two months ahead of the workload, but that didn't matter to her, the sooner she finished the faster she could get out that house and when Nanna passed away, she wouldn't just be put out, but have a nice job waiting for her although she enjoyed the Laundromat business.

  If she ran the joint though there wouldn't be any hanky panky like Cleo was doing, but she didn't run the joint and Marvin didn't mind the cashiers making some extra dough on the side just as long as he got a cut of it. They'd slip him the money by making their drawers come up over an extra forty bucks.

  Nicole had told Nanna about the dirty dealings and Nanna was upset, but she assured Nicole she had taken care of things and soon no one would worry about the business, but Nicole. She had no idea what her grandmother meant by that, but Nanna was still strong mentally although her body was giving up physically.

  She prayed for Nanna's good health everyday, but she and Nanna knew their time together was coming to the end.

  A ten came through the money slot and without looking at the face, she picked up the bill, made sure it was real then put five ones and a five dollar bill in the slot. When the stranger continued to stand there, she mumbled, "Can I help you?"

  "If you don't mind," he said.

  His voice instantly caught her ears and she looked up into the sea of green she had just been telling Cleo all about. "What are you doing here?" she asked clearly upset.

  "I'm washing my clothes, or do you do other things in this Laundromat."

  She looked towards the bathroom. "Nothing you'd want." She picked up her book to ignore him again, but he didn't move away from the mirror. Did he naturally look cuter by the minute or was it just too late at night for her. "Can I help you?" she snipped not at all liking the way her emotions were acting with him. It wasn't in her nature to be so perturbed all the time.

  "I need your assistance. I've never worked these machines before and I can't turn it on. I think it's broke."

  "Did you read the instructions?" she asked.

  "Please, come help me?" he asked again.

  "I need assistance," he snipped.
>
  "What did you break?"

  "The dryer completely stopped and I have already put my clothes and money in. Are you going to get me a refund?"

  She gave him a long hard look then looked around in the lobby. At midnight on a Tuesday there was no one around washing their clothes. So why was this idiot out here tonight? "You wouldn't happen to be following me are you?" she asked suspiciously.

  He snorted in disgust. "I've got better things to do than chase around little girls."

  Cleo had gone out on her usual midnight run of Coney Island and cigarettes. She wouldn't be back for another ten minutes. This would be the only time Cleo would be able to leave the store because Nicole's shift ended when she came back. Coming out the booth had never been dangerous, but she didn't really trust or like the man to begin with.

  Grabbing her tool belt she let herself out the booth making sure the door was locked and allowed him to lead her over to where he was drying at. She was able to see the back of him and noted for a white man, he had a generous helping of behind to go along with thick muscular legs. Whatever he did, he worked hard at it. On the back of his leather jacket was "BLACK'S CEMENT - Made in America."

  When she bent down to look at the dryer settings underneath the dryer, he asked, "You work well down there?"

  Nicole didn't know if he was trying to be funny or make general conversation. She decided either way she would ignore his question. Quickly she found the fuse slightly popped from the dryer box and pushed it back in. Just as she stood up, she felt something brush against her backside and she gasped sharply turning to him.

  Before he could explain himself, she hauled off and slapped him in the jaw. "You pervert!" she seethed then ran to the booth doors and locked herself back in.

  He came up to the window. "What the fuck was that for?"

  "You tried to fondle me, you dirty old man."

  "I'm not old and if truth be known just yesterday you weren't trying to get away from me touching you then."

  "I only did it to hide from my mother seeing me. I told you that! Get your things and get the hell out of here."

  "You're one crazy bitch, you know that. You backed up against me when you stood up."

  She gasped as if he'd accused her of lying. "I did not. Don't you dare try to make this look like I'm the one at fault? If you want to throw out some truths, then you weren't dying to stop kissing me either and then reason I had to push you away was because you would have raped me right there in the alley."

  He looked honestly angry at her accusation. "I would not. You started it!"

  "And I had to finish it too."

  Cleo came through the front door and they were just glaring at each other. "Is everything alright, kid?" she asked observing both their expressions from the other side of the window where he stood.

  "I'm fine. Some people just don't understand what any means."

  "Sir, if you're giving her trouble, then you can take your stuff and leave."

  He didn't even look at Cleo, but turned away and went to the dryer. Nicole hurriedly let Cleo in.

  "What did he say?"

  "Nothing." She packed her books and notes up in her backpack. "I'm going home now. I'm really tired."

  Cleo said worriedly. "Maybe you should wait until he leaves."

  "He's a bunch of hot air Cleo. I'm really tired and Nanna has visitors tomorrow. I need to get some sleep, but I have so much to do at home."

  "You want to take my car and just pick me up in the morning?"

  Nicole tiredly shook her head. "I'll be okay."

  "I'll give you money for a cab ride."

  "Please Cleo, stop it. I'll be fine." She put on her coat and hat, and then walked out the Laundromat in a hurry not giving the stranger one more look, but she could feel those cold gray eyes on her piercing into her back as if he wanted to cut off her air supply with just a look.

  Once out in the midnight early December air of Detroit, she started home not caring about anything except walking fast and being safe. She pushed thoughts of the stranger out her mind. Maybe he was just new to the neighborhood.

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 3

  Two weeks later, Cleo came in at ten as usual but she looked pretty excited as if she had won a million dollars.

  "What's your problem?" Nicole questioned, peeking up from her books.

  "I found out that someone bought the two houses next to me."

  "Who?"

  "I don't know, but I like new neighbors."

  Cleo just lived two blocks away from the Laundromat. It was great walking distance but she insisted on driving her car. Nicole's house was about nine blocks away. A nice hike except when it was cold out and visibility was shit. Cleo had been complaining of the horrible conditions of the houses next to her for the longest and her kids couldn't play outside because homeless people, drug dealers and users always occupied the open homes illegally.

  "This morning just as I was crawling into bed after dropping the kids off to school, I heard this awful pounding and I went outside to cuss whoever was making the racket off. This man was there and he was from some construction company. They were closing up the houses so they can stop the draft so they can start working on them. He asked me when do I sleep and I told him. He was the nicest white man I've ever met. He told me that he's making sure they didn't do any heavy construction during those times."

  "That's great. Now the kids can get out your hair."

  "I hope so. He said he's going to put a security fence around the property so no one will be breaking in and not to worry because at night someone would be looking in on the houses and if I wanted, they could watch over my place too."

  "Who is this man?"

  "I don't know."

  "What construction company?"

  "I don't know."

  Nicole decided to not question her anymore becoming frustrated with Cleo's evasive answers.

  The night went like usual and after Cleo came from her food and cigarette run, Nicole left. While she was walking home, she had this strange feeling someone was watching her. Hurrying up her step, she got home safely and didn't think anymore about it.

  She changed Nanna's sheet and fed her grandmother until the exhausted woman fell asleep. Nanna's breathing was very shallow and Nicole prayed at her grandmother's beside that hope for a new heart would come soon. Losing the only person in the world to care for her, would be devastating.

  After coming Nanna's stringy hair, she went out to the garage where she knew the student she tutored had left any assignments or letters about her reports.

  There was a letter from the school she was getting her degree out of.

  Dear Ms. Gray,

  You are well on your way to earning your GED and certificate in Bookkeeping. We are proud to note you have a 4.0 GPA and only one course left for both your majors.

  The letter went on to note what she received on her last paper and test assignments. Quickly she scanned the letter until she got to the end.

  Due to your rapid success in the program, we must request that you send in the final payment before we send you the last of your lessons. The amount of $1000 is needed to complete this process. This cost also contains your graduating certificates and references needed, plus the rest of the supplies and books.

  Where was she going to get that kind of money from? She only had eight hundred saved because she didn't expect to finish the course so quickly. Marvin would know if she tried to get any money and she didn't want to get thrown in a closet again for taking any money like she did before even though the check was in her name. Marvin wasn't stupid when it came to money matters and he kept track of every dime that went in and out of the house and business.

  ####

  Getting in on her shift the next day, she looked over the books while the other cashier ran the window. As usual, Marvin had been making withdrawals out the bank account and this made her short on supplies. His withdrawals were becoming larger and larger, so she dec
ided to pay off the bills two months in advance writing a note that something had bounced due to his withdrawals and payments were requested like this until after the New Year. Nanna had said she was drawing up new power attorney papers and would make her sole heir.

  As much as Nicole cared about the business, she cared about Nanna more. She didn't want her grandmother to go away.

  At nine, Cleo's oldest daughter of fourteen called to let her know, that her mother had to rush the youngest child of one to the hospital because of an ear infection and it would be doubtful if Cleo could come in. Nicole knew if Marvin was told he'd tell her to fire Cleo because this was her fourth time calling out in this month. Instead, she decided to work the shift. It would be slow on a Wednesday night so she didn't have anything to really worry about. She asked the other cashier to stay for an extra hour while she got herself something to eat, then she let the girl go.

  Delving deep into her studies after doing all the orders, at twelve, she wasn't aware of someone walking up to the counter until someone slipped a twenty in the money slot.

  As before this one, she pointed to the sign without saying a word and hoping the "john" would go away.

  Another twenty was laid on top of the first. "Can you read-" she was cut short as she found his eyes of green as usual breathtaking. Did he know how beautiful they were? Biting her lip from any smart comment she said, "Whatever you want, I'm not that type of girl."

  "What type of girl are you?"

  "What type do I look like?" she snapped. He was purposely edging her into a verbal conflict.

  "A sixty dollar whore?" With that he placed another twenty on top of the other two.

  She looked down at the money, then back up at him. Deciding to play his game she said, "Can't you find someone else to bother?"

  "I'd much rather bother you."

  "I don't like you. I don't like anything about you."

  He leaned on the counter and lit a cigarette. "Feelings mutual, but a man's got needs and right now I want to finish what you started behind that garage."

  "There's nothing to finish."