CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cherish watched Darius as he pretended to be involved in the movie they were not watching. His eyes were focused on the screen, but since settling on Cherish’s sofa, he hadn’t said one word.

“Darius, is something wrong?”

Finally, he glanced in her direction. “No, why?” He turned back to stare at the screen.

Cherish couldn’t stand it any longer. She picked up the remote and turned off the TV. “Darius, something is bothering you. Is this about the cost of Darbi’s tuition?” She was just about to remind him that Fort Worth University was a private college when he answered.

“No, don’t be silly,” he answered. “I was thinking about her and Curry.”

“Are they giving you trouble at work about Curry dating your sister?”

Darius leaned back in the sofa. “No, not really. I don’t fear any racial repercussions, if that’s what you mean. I fear the women.”

Okay, that made no sense whatsoever. “Darius, what are you talking about? Why would you be afraid of a bunch of young women?”

“Because this is Curry we’re talking about. He’s dated probably every woman at Sloane under the age of thirty. I’m afraid when they find out that he’s dating someone and it’s serious, and it’s my sister, they will blame me. You don’t know these women when they get jealous. I’ve seen them almost come to blows over him.”

“Oh, my.” Darbi had told Cherish of the strange looks she received from some of the women the one and only time she met Curry at his office for lunch.

“Yeah. I guess I’m really afraid for Darbi. Curry’s my friend and all, but Darbi is still reeling from that excuse of a marriage she was in. I think something like that might send her over the emotional edge. I don’t want that. I know Curry doesn’t.”

“Darius, the truth will come out sooner or later,” Cherish added softly. She didn’t want anything to affect Darbi adversely either.

“I’m hoping for later. She’s been so happy lately. I’ve somewhat come to terms with the fact that they’re dating. All I can do is be there for her when it’s over.”

“Darius, that’s awful. I know he’s pretty serious about her.”

Darius nodded. “Yeah, I know he loves her, but I don’t know if she’s able to return his love. So I guess I’ll have to be there for both of them.”

Cherish nodded. She felt Darius’s burden. She knew she wanted Darbi and Curry to be happy, but the cost of that might be beyond Darius’s reach.

* * *

A few weeks into the spring semester, Darbi felt good about school. Her classes interested her more, and she was becoming more at ease in class. She was taking English, sociology, philosophy and history, a full class load.

People around her also seemed good.

Cherish was spending more time at Darius’s than at her own house. Curry was being his usual self: a major interruption in Darbi’s life because he wanted to do everything for her. Her father didn’t grumble as much about eating vegetables or exercising and had surprised Darbi by relenting on taking the B-12 shots she had suggested months before. Darbi smiled as she got busy at her afternoon job as office helper at Fort Worth University. Her life was good, finally. She sighed in contentment. She was busy sorting late registration forms when her supervisor approached her.

“Darbi, I’m having a happy hour this Friday, in celebration of my divorce. I would really like it if you could come. You could even bring a friend. No men, this is ladies night.”

“Sure, it sounds like fun.” Darbi liked her supervisor and had heard the rumors of her divorce. She could empathize with her on so many levels.

“Great! We’ll meet at Zorro’s Pipe Shop. It’s on the square in downtown Fort Worth. At six.” She walked back to her desk.

Darbi nodded. She knew what kind of place Zorro’s was. Whether or not to tell Cherish was the question. She smiled as she pictured Cherish’s stoic face as they walked into a male strip club. Cherish would kill her!

After Darbi left her study session, she sat in her VW Beetle and called Cherish.

“Sure, Darbi, it sounds like fun. I think I’ve heard of that place. Isn’t it a male strip club?”

“Yes, it is. I’ll pick you up at five-thirty.” Darbi placed her cell phone back in her purse, started her car and relaxed as Brian McKnight sang to her. Her cell phone rang again. Who could this be now? Can’t I have one evening without someone calling to check on me! Exasperated, she answered it and smiled instantly, her earlier frustration forgotten.

“What are you doing out so late?” a deep masculine voice asked.

“Curry, I’m an adult,” Darbi quipped. “I think I can drive at night by myself.”

“I know, Darbi,” he said softly. “but I would prefer to drive you at night. You shouldn’t be on the road by yourself. When is your next study session?”

“Same time next week, Tuesday. Curry, you really don’t have to drive me. That’s a lot of unnecessary driving for you.”

“If it’s for you, it’s not unnecessary. I’ll talk to you later.” He ended the call.

Darbi hung up the phone. Curry was becoming as bad as Darius. Neither wanted her out alone at night. Darius had asked her to sell her condo and move into his house several times. Each time, she’d told him no. She was trying to build her independence, but it was hard with two pig-headed men watching her every move. Three, counting her father.

* * *

The next evening, Cherish watched Darius pace her living room like a caged tiger. He had called his sister twice. Each time he rang her condo, he didn’t get an answer. Even her cell phone was turned off. “Darius, she’s fine,” she said. “Maybe she’s at school. Whatever, I’m sure she’s fine.”

Darius sat beside Cherish and kissed her. “Curry!” Darius snapped his fingers. “I didn’t check with Curry.”

Cherish was confused. “I thought they didn’t see each other on school nights?”

Darius smiled, then quickly called his friend. Relieved, he hung up the phone.

“Well?” Cherish asked as she tried to suppress her laughter.

“He talked to her earlier. She had an extra study session this week, her sociology class. Curry keeps telling her he’ll drive her, but she’s fighting him on that.” Darius picked up Cherish’s sketchbook. “How are your sketches coming along?” He opened the book and began looking at them.

Cherish scooted closer to him, so that now they were touching. “Pretty good. I showed them to Hervé and he liked them. He suggested a few changes. You know, like to use silk instead of linen, pleats versus gathers, short versus long. He suggested I should put some designs in his next show.”

“That’s great, Cherish!” He leaned over and kissed her.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. That’s a lot of pressure. I like doing things on my own time.”

“Cherish, we have all the time in the world.” He pulled her closer and kissed her softly.

She didn’t have time to revel in Darius’s statement. The phone rang, breaking into their quiet moment.

“Cherish, could I speak to Darius?”

“Sure, Darbi.” Cherish whispered into the phone, “Have you told you know who about Friday night?”

Darbi laughed. “Yes, I told him earlier. He wasn’t pleased, but he didn’t yell or anything. I kept expecting him to demand that I not go. I was all ready to read him the riot act for trying to tell me what to do.”

Cherish handed Darius the phone. After a few minutes he ended the call, placing the cordless phone on the table. He stared absently at the sketchbook and said nothing. She waited an eternity.

Finally Darius spoke. “I hear you and Darbi are going to a strip club bar and watch strange men take off their clothes,” he stated. He looked straight ahead. “Were you going to tell me at some point? Was I supposed to hear it from Curry? At least my sister had the decency to tell the man she’s dating…”

“Wait just a minute, Darius Crawford! You haven’t asked me for a date or if I was busy Friday night. I don’t see what the problem is. Darbi and I are going out with her boss. You have no right to sit there with this male superiority thing going on. I will not have this, Darius Crawford!” Cherish stood and walked toward the kitchen.

“You get back here, now!” Darius yelled. He softened his request. “Please. You’re right. I’ve no right to be mad. I’m sorry. I’ve no right to demand all your time.” Cherish sat beside him again and he picked up her hand. “I guess this is what I get for laughing at him for getting upset. I know you and Darbi need some girl time.”

Cherish relaxed. “Thanks, Darius. I was waiting for the right time to tell you. Thanks for understanding.” She snuggled against him. “Maybe once in a while we need to have a girls’/boys’ night out. I don’t want you to get bored with me.”

Darius looked at her, then took a deep breath, as if he were pondering a world crisis. “Cherish, I love you.”

“W-what?” Cherish sat up straight. “Darius, what did you say?” She was flabbergasted.

“You heard me, woman. I said I love you. You’re the reason I’m not fretting over the fact that my emotionally fragile sister is dating my white best friend and they have three marriages between them. You’re the reason I haven’t let Dad’s illness get the best of me. I love that you and Darbi are friends, though sometimes a little too close for my comfort. But I’m still glad she has you to talk to when she thinks she can’t talk to me.” He kissed her forehead and hugged her.

She couldn’t believe he’d said it. It took him forever to display any emotion and yet he’d said it. She couldn’t stop the flow of tears. “I love you too, Darius, but I’m still going to the strip club.”

“I know. I just wanted to get that off my chest.” Darius placed his hand under her chin, bringing her face closer to his. He kissed her gently and then he kissed her tears away. Then his lips met hers in a deep kiss. He found himself lying on the couch with Cherish stretched out on top of him. As the kiss deepened, he unbuttoned her blouse. He smiled as she sat up, straddling him, letting him take off her sweater. He threw the unwanted garment on the floor.

Cherish stood and picked up the sweater, then grabbed his hand, making him stand up as well. “Come on, let’s go upstairs.” She led him to her bedroom. “You know, if I had known you would be this frisky, I’d have gone to Canada months ago.” She giggled as they entered her bedroom.

“I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime, but I think we were worth the wait.” Darius pushed her jeans down her long legs, and then took off his shirt. He pushed his jeans off and they fell onto the bed.

“Darius,” Cherish said, stretched out on top of him. “I want to please you.”

“You already have.” He kissed her and rolled her over so that she was under him. “Nothing can compare to the feelings I’m experiencing at this moment.”

Cherish caressed his face before she kissed him deeply. “No stripper could ever compare to you, Darius Crawford.”

* * *

“Are you ready to see some good looking men, Cherish?” Darbi asked as Cherish settled at their table. Her boss and other co-workers were already there and the champagne was flowing freely.

Cherish was too shocked to drink at the moment. She had heard what happens at male strip clubs, but to see it all firsthand was something else. The waiters walked around in nothing but the briefest things, which left little to the imagination. They were tanned, buff and Cherish couldn’t seem to quit staring at their exposed butts. She decided maybe a drink would calm her nerves. She watched as the women stuffed dollar bills down one of the dancer’s G-string. Cherish sipped her champagne and giggled.

Darbi tried to calm her usually composed friend down several drinks and a lap dance later. “Cherish, you’re going to have to sit down.”

“No way. This is too much fun. When is Zorro coming on stage?” Cherish stood on her chair. “These people are blocking my view!”

Darbi sat in her chair, laughing. “Man, you’re a lot of fun once you get some liquor in you.”

The scantily clad waiter approached the table. “Another round, ladies?”

“Yes. Two margaritas,” Darbi paused, “make it four.” She winked at the waiter.

The waiter laughed and walked away. Cherish finally sat down. “I’m thirsty. Where’s the waiter?” She wiped her forehead. “Is it hot or is it just me?”

“I’m hot, too,” Darbi drawled. “I think it was the last round of drinks. But I feel fine.” The waiter returned depositing the drinks, quickly leaving the table before Cherish pinched him again.

“To feeling good,” Cherish said as she lifted her glass to her friend.

“Yes.” Darbi clinked her glass with her friend. “This is fun. Hey look! Zorro is coming out on stage.” Darbi stood on her chair to see over the crowd. “Wow, Cherish, he’s a hottie. You should see. Come on.” She held her hand out to Cherish.

As Cherish watched the women throw money, napkins, and underwear on stage, the margaritas began to take their toll on her. The room started spinning counter-clockwise. She sat down and rested her throbbing head on the table, suddenly remembering why she didn’t drink much.

Instantly Darbi sat down beside her. “Are you okay?”

Cherish held her head up. “Yes, the room is spinning. How many drinks have we had anyway?”

“I don’t know. Probably seven, eight, eleven.” Darbi wiped her forehead. “You know, my head has started to hurt, too.” They both stared at the margaritas on the table before them and smiled. Darbi spoke as she lifted a glass, “We might as well enjoy tonight, because we’re going to pay for this tomorrow.” Darbi picked up her glass and drank the margarita in one gulp. Cherish did the same. They looked at each other and laughed uncontrollably.

Before they realized it, the club was getting ready to close for the night. “Last call for alcohol, ladies,” a voice announced over the loudspeaker.

“Oh, no. We don’t need anymore,” Darbi said as she watched Cherish. “I’ll have to call a cab as it is.”

“Call Curry, instead. I spent my last twenty on that table dance,” Cherish said, trying to stand up. “I love Darius, but he can be stiff as a board.” Cherish laughed as the image appeared in her mind.

Darbi laughed as well. “Yeah, I think Curry would be an easier sell than Darius. At least he won’t lecture us.” Darbi stood slowly and then sat back down. She tried again, this time successfully. She helped Cherish up and they weaved through the crowd to the restroom. Darbi grabbed Cherish’s hand to look at her watch.

“It’s only twelve. Curry should still be up, huh?” She leaned away from the phone to see the numbers clearer; leaning closer, she listened as the phone rang.

“I wonder if he went out,” Darbi said, just before Curry finally answered the phone. “Hey, Curry,” Darbi yelled into the phone.

“Darbi, why are you yelling?” Curry laughed.

“I’m not yelling. You can’t hear. Hey, is there any way you can come and get us without Darius knowing?”

Cherish watched Darbi’s face as she nodded and hung up the phone. The look on her face told her instantly that Darius knew.

“Bad news, Cherish. Darius is coming, too. So get ready for some kind of lecture. You know, the basic ills of your actions or something like that.” Darbi helped her friend up and they started out of the club. By the time they made it outside, Darius was getting out of his truck.

Darius and Curry watched as the women walked toward them, almost tripping over each other several times before finally making it to the men. Darius shook his head in disappointment. He scooped up Cherish in his arms and deposited her on the back seat of his Yukon. Curry did the same with Darbi.

The women sat in the backseat, leaning against each other for support.

“I sure hope they don’t blow chunks in my car.” Darius glanced around at the cars. He didn’t see the tiny car anywhere in sight. “Darbi, where is your car?”

Darbi pointed behind her. “In one of those parking lots.” She offered no suggestions.

Darius looked down the street. They were at least six or seven lots scattered along the street. “Do you have the ticket stub?” Darius asked his intoxicated sister. He realized it would be like finding a needle in a haystack if she didn’t. He watched her move her mouth, but nothing came out. This was just wonderful, he thought. Finally she made a coherent sound.

“Pocket,” was her only reply. Her eyes were closed and sweat poured down her face.

Darius shook his head and walked around the truck to where she was sitting. He went through her pockets until he finally found the ticket and used his cell phone to call a wrecker. After he arranged to have Darbi’s car taken to his house, he turned his attention to the women.

After they buckled the women in their seats, they headed to Darius’s house. Curry glanced back at the sleeping women as Darius drove. “Boy, they’re going to pay for this tomorrow. I wonder how much they drank?”

Darius kept his eyes on the road. “I don’t know. They smell like a brewery!”

“They were just having fun. I think they went way overboard, but just in fun.”

“I know.” Darius smiled. “Kind of funny, isn’t it?”

* * *

The next afternoon, Cherish woke first. Slowly, she eased her tired body to an upright position. Even the small amount of light filtering in through the wooden blinds just about robbed her of her vision. Gazing around the room, she noticed clothes neatly laid out for her, and realized Darius was responsible.

After a shower, she dressed and headed downstairs. She didn’t see the guys or Otis, so she headed into the kitchen. Mrs. Collins smiled as Cherish took a seat across from Darius.

“Mr. Crawford said you might not be feeling well. I made some potato soup for you and Ms. Crawford.” Mrs. Collins left the kitchen with Otis’s dinner tray.

Cherish rose and walked to the stove. Her stomach threatened to betray her as she inhaled the aroma. She filled a bowl with soup and sat back down. She noticed Darius and Curry had big, thick, juicy steaks and baked potatoes. Her stomach objected to the noxious fumes.

“Darbi is still asleep,” she announced. “Looks like she’ll be asleep for a long time.” She inspected the soup before she took a spoonful to her lips. After she had a little of the delicious soup in her body her stomach settled and forgave her for getting skunked the night before.

“How do you feel?” Darius cut his tender steak. “You guys smelled like a brewery last night,” he commented dryly.

“I know. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how much we drank. But it was fun. I don’t think I’ll be doing it again for a long time though.” She could only imagine how disappointed Darius was in both her and Darbi, for doing something so irresponsible. But it sure felt great while it was happening.

Darius smiled. “I hope so. I also hope you girls learned your lesson.”

Cherish nodded.

A few hours later, Darius took Cherish home. Curry elected to stay, just in case Darbi finally woke up. But as Curry watched the highlights of the PGA tournament with Otis, he wondered if he should check on Darbi. She had been asleep all day.

Otis cleared his throat and smiled at Curry. “Maybe you should go check on baby girl. I’m going to bed.”

Curry smiled at Otis as he stood. Disease or no, he was very sharp and knew what was going on around him. Curry nodded and headed upstairs.

He entered Darbi’s room and smiled. In her sleep she had kicked off all of the covers, and was down to her underwear. She was beautiful. He walked over to the bed and sat down. His hands glided over her body with ease. She opened her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Watching you sleep off your alcoholic binge.” He grinned as she placed her hand on top of his.

“I wasn’t drunk. I maybe had a drink or two.” She held his hand, lacing her fingers with his. She also made no effort to cover up her near nudity. “It seems quiet. Where’s everybody?”

“Well, Darius took Cherish home a while ago. Otis is downstairs. He said he was going to bed.”

“Bed?”

“It’s eleven at night.”

“On, no! I slept the whole day.” She sat up. “Why didn’t someone wake me?” She lay back down. “My head hurts,” she said quietly. “Turn out that light.” She pulled the covers over her head.

Curry shook his head. “I’ll get you some aspirin.” He got up, turned out the lights, and left the room.