Chapter 14

Denise heard the doorbell and figured it was Cooley coming back from her night with the two women from the club.

“Man, you leave me and have the nerve to come back this early in the morning?” Denise said, opening the door, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

“Merry Christmas,” Lena said as she walked into the house.

“Lena. Oh, I thought you were Cool.” Denise quickly turned around. She didn’t want her breath to meet Lena before she did.

Lena walked into the house. Denise could tell something was wrong with her.

“Merry Christmas.” Denise followed her into the living room. She grabbed a peppermint off of the table and popped it into her mouth, “Lena, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am fine. I just thought I would join you all, since my own boyfriend doesn’t care about me enough to want to spend Christmas with me.” She sat on the couch.

“What are you talking about?” Denise sat next to her.

“Brandon decided to stay in Miami for the rest of the break.”

“I’m sure he had a good reason.”

“Yeah, I bet the reason probably has big tits and fat asses.” She started to cry.

Denise put her arm around her, so Lena could lie on her chest. “Lena, come on, don’t cry. I am sure he has a real good reason. And you’re here with us now, so we can have a good time. I know he has to be a little uneasy about you being here with me and Cooley.”

“Well, I don’t know, because I haven’t told him,” Lena said raising her head. She knew he was going to be upset. Brandon was very insecure about Denise.

“Oh, well, I think you need to let him know. I don’t want no shit.” Denise laughed. She wondered about Brandon sometimes. He seemed to always want Lena at his place. She barely came back to the dorm, except to change clothes and get more. This had been going on ever since Mema passed.

Denise secretly wanted to tell Lena to forget about Brandon, but she knew that would be wrong. “But, seriously, Lena, I believe that if he is there, it’s probably for a really good reason.”

“I am going to tell him tonight. I am a little fucked up about all the booty that is probably being thrown his way, and this was the best idea I could think of to have fun without him. Hell, but he should be happy I’m with you all instead of some of my straight friends here, who would easily find me a few men to kick it with. Instead, he’s wasting his time being worried about people that I would never be into.”

Lena’s comment cut Denise like a knife.

“Girl, you know Brandon has eyes for you and you only. I have heard about that tournament, and agents are all over it. I am sure that if he stayed, it was about business only.”

“You really believe that?” Lena asked, as she looked Denise in her eyes.

Denise didn’t want to stare into her eyes, simply because she feared she would want to kiss her.

“Yeah, I am positive of it,” Denise responded.

Lena stood up. “Well, I decided since Brandon could have fun, I could as well, so I decided to join you all. Carmen called me and told me that she was taking a flight today, so I wanted to join. I hope it’s okay.”

“Sure, it is. It’s your house, after all.” Denise followed Lena to her room. “Oh, wait, I have something for you.” Denise ran to the guest room to get her gift for Lena. She handed the little blue box to Lena.

“Tiffany’s. Denise, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I really wanted to show you how much you mean to me.” Denise quickly realized what she had just said. “I mean, you are a great friend to me and have done so much. I wanted to get you something to show my appreciation.”

Lena smiled as she opened the package. Enclosed was a silver charm bracelet. “Oh, it’s beautiful.” She noticed the three charms on it.

“I’m glad you like it. “Denise unhooked the clasp to put it on her arm. “The charms mean something. The shoe is because you’re crazy about shoes, the ball is for Brandon and me, since we play ball, and the key is for you opening yourself up to new experiences.”

“Oh, it’s wonderful, but what experiences am I open to?” Lena asked Denise.

“Well, you are open to being my friend, as well as Cool and Carmen. We are not what you are used to, and we truly appreciate you looking at us as people and not as lesbians. You could have kicked me out the room the first day, but you were open to having me as your roommate. And I’m sure Brandon wasn’t too thrilled about it.”

“No, he wasn’t, but that’s just the male thing going on. I really love the bracelet. Thanks a bunch.”

Their eyes met again. Denise really wanted to kiss her, and for the first time she felt as though Lena wanted her to kiss her as well.

Denise decided to take a chance. She closed her eyes and leaned in.