Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Everyone in the room waited in tense silence on pins and needles.
“It’s 4th and goal at New England’s five-yard line... Cutler has 20 seconds left in the game. It’s do or die for Chicago... He drops back to throw…. Intercepted! Intercepted! Nowicki is running it back for The New England Patriots! He’s at the 30 the 20…TOUCHDOWN!!! Tom Brady and The New England Patriots win the game!!”
Four people in the room groaned in disbelief. The fifth one did the running man and hooted and hollered with glee.
“I told you guys not to trust that dude! He gets one pick a game and he was due, thank you Jay Cutler!” Marcus cackled, “Now pay me my money!!”
They all grumbled as they passed their 20 dollar bets into Marcus’ smug hands. He continued to do an awful imitation of the “Nay Nay” until Mecah slapped him on the back of the head.
“Hey!” he protested. “Why did you do that?”
“Because you are a jerk!” his cousin informed him. “Winners should win gracefully.”
“Losers shouldn’t bet on The Bears!” he retorted.
Ignoring him, Mecah started collecting the trash that accumulated from the game. Every week they picked someone’s apartment to go watch the game on Sunday and this week was her turn. Rebekah grabbed the chip and dip bowls and followed her into the kitchen.
Mecah and Rebekah had been friends since the first day of class at Northwestern University their freshman year. They shared a dorm room together, hit it off, and had been friends ever since.
“Babe, do you want to stop by the store on the way home?” Brian said.
Brian and Rebekah had been dating for a year and recently moved in together. Living together was not the hearts and flowers that they thought it was going to be, but they still managed to make it work because they loved each other.
“Sure, babe,” Rebekah said kissing him soundly on the lips.
“Would you two get a room already?”
That comment came from the fifth person in their group, Tyler. He watched them from his lounging spot on the comfortable sofa with his feet propped up on the table.
Mecah kicked him as she passed through to take more items to the kitchen.
“Ouch!” He whined, rubbing his leg.
“Keep your dirty feet off my table!” She smirked, “I wouldn’t hit you if you would abide by the rules.”
They all hung out together once or twice a week depending on the season. The girls had been friends the longest. After graduating, they decided to stay in Chicago. At 26, their friendship was solid. A little while later, Marcus came to visit Mecah from their hometown of Carlton Georgia, population 5303 (Misty and Bob Baker had twins). He took one look at the girls at Oak Street Beach and declared himself at home. He crashed on their shared apartments’ living room sofa and didn’t leave for two years! Tyler joined the group when Rebekah from work asked him to join them for karaoke night at the bar around the corner from their job. Being new in town and not having many friends, he accepted the invitation. Originally, he tried to hook up with Rebekah who ended up laughing in his face. Her long brown hair and piercing blue eyes had drawn many men to her so she was used to being hit on all the time. She did not do pretty boy playboys and Tyler was so much a dog, he barked when he spoke. At least that’s what she told him when he asked her out. Tyler laughed good naturedly.
Brian was the last addition to their group. Rebekah had found him a year and a half ago strolling in the Art Institute looking for inspiration. He was a full-time art teacher for the Chicago Public School System’s and a part time artist. It was love or lust at first sight, depending on who was telling the story.
“Meeks, I have got the best guy for you. He just started working in my department. He is smart, funny, and gorgeous. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. I think you guys will hit it off,” She proclaimed. “I told him all about you. He wants to know if he can have your number.”
Mecah sighed.
“What did you tell him about me?”
“I told him that you were awesome, funny, sweet, and kind.” She frowned. “Why?”
“Did you ask him if he likes plus size black girls?”
“No. What difference does that make?”
Mecah groaned inwardly. She truly loved Rebekah but sometimes she could be so dense.
“Some people would see it as a problem, Bekah,” She explained.
Being a plus size dark brown-skinned woman, Mecah was used to not being the ideal type for a lot of men. Growing up, she had hated her dark smooth Hershey color and curvy body. She struggled to accept who she was and it wasn’t until recently that she had learned to love every part of herself. Working for a nonprofit that specializes in empowering young girls did a tremendous job of helping her heal old wounds.
“Scott is not like that,” She declared confidently.
“Who are you talking about?” Tyler asked placing the empty beer bottles in the recycling bin.
“Scott Mason, the new guy in my department. Have you met him yet?” She replied.
“That guy?” Tyler scowled, “He looks like a player to me.”
“Then he should be your hero,” Mecah smirked.
Tyler frowned.
“I’m telling you there is something shady about that guy.”
“You are being ridiculous, “Rebekah dismissed. “He is a great guy. I’ve worked with him for the past month and he has been nothing but a gentleman.”
They headed back toward the living room.
“Does he even date black women?” Mecah inquired.
She shrugged, “I don’t know. I’m sure it doesn’t matter to him.”
“Does what matter to who?” Marcus called from the other sofa.
“Bekah is trying to hook me up, AGAIN with some white guy from her job and she didn’t tell him that I was plus sized and black,” She revealed.
“Marcus, if the woman that you were introduced to turned out to be plus sized, would you date her?” Rebekah asked.
“Which part, the plus size thing or the black thing?”
“Both!” she stated with exasperation
“Hey, I would date a fat chick,” He declared. “If you mean by “date”, have sex, sure. Although, I definitely wouldn’t be taking her out anywhere.”
“Marcus!” Bekah gasped.
“What?” He answered defensively, “You wanted me to tell the truth, right?”
“I’m not surprised,” Mecah exclaimed. “Marcus will have sex with any woman who will let him.”
“Yeah,” He grinned.
“Eck!” both Mecah and Rebekah cried.
Marcus laughed.
“What can I say? Tall, short, fat, skinny, pretty, ugly, black, white, red, green or purple, I will take them all,” He licked his lips.
“You are such a dirt bag.”
He bowed mockingly.
Mecah turned to Brian.
“What about you, would you date a plus size black woman? “She asked.
“Yes, I would,” He answered without hesitation.
“Have you?” She challenged.
“Yes, her name was Yolanda and she had beautiful dark skin and she was bald headed,” He offered.
“Huh?”
All four turned with puzzled frowns in his direction.
“She shaved her head in support of a friend who had cancer,” He blushed explaining. “She was beautiful and I didn’t hide her or anything. We dated for two months. Oh yeah, her friend is in remission.”
“But was she plus sized or fat as Marcus put it?” She argued.
“No.” He admitted reluctantly.
“Ah ha!” She pointed.
“Leave him alone,” Tyler demanded. “The poor guy said he has no problem, then he has no problem.”
“What about you then, mister all up in other people’s business. Would you date a plus size black woman?” She sarcastically asked.
“I date whoever I want to date.”
“Yeah, right,” She disdainfully commented.
“What do you mean by that?” He glared. “Women are women and I date all kinds of women.”
Marcus laughed hysterically.
“What is so funny?” He said with irritation.
Marcus caught his breath.
“Man, are you serious?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.” The only women I ever see you date are blonde hair, blue eyed, Barbie dolls. The only women I ever see you hit on are blonde hair, blue eyed ,Barbie dolls.”
“You don’t know everything about me Marcus,” He growled. “If I want to date a black plus size woman, I will date a black plus sized woman.”
“Keep telling yourself that man,” Marcus mocked.
Mecah snickered.
Tyler turned to glare at her.
“What about you Miss we are the world?” He bitingly asked, “Would you date a white guy or a plus size white guy?”
“I believe that everyone should be allowed to date whomever they wish,” She declared primly.
“That was not the question!”
“Of course, she would!” Rebekah intervened.
“Unlike you backwards thinking Neanderthals, Meeks is an enlightened woman of the 21st century.”
She gave Mecah a high five.
“I don’t believe that would be a problem but I promise that when I go to work tomorrow, I will ask him if has a problem with dating beautiful black plus size women,” She assured.
She smiled at Mecah giving her a hug.
“All of this still doesn’t negate the fact that the guy is a douche,” He grumbled.
Rebekah rolled her eyes.
“As fascinating as all of this is,” Marcus informed them grabbing his jacket out of the closet. “I have to be at work in an hour.”
Marcus was ‘sous chef’ at one of the hottest new restaurants on Michigan Ave.
“Speaking of dating,” He began, “I met this hot chick and her friend at club L yesterday. I told Missy that I got a friend and that we could meet up at the club on Friday, you interested?”
“Let me call you later in the week.”
Marcus nodded.
“And Tyler, they are both blondes! Later, Bekah, Brian. See ya cuz,” He laughed as he left.
Bekah shook her head in disgust.
“Are you sure you’re cousins?”
Mecah laughed, “Unfortunately, yes.”
Brian went to the closet and got his and Bekah’s coats.
“We got to go babe if we want to get to the store before it gets too late.”
He helped her into her coat.
“I should be going too. I have to be at work early,” Tyler said. “I’ll walk out with you.”
After everyone left, Mecah headed to the bedroom to take a shower.
The water felt good, cascading all over her body.
She was drying off with a towel when she heard a knock at the door. She shrugged into her robe as she heard the knocking increase.
“I’m coming!” she yelled.
She looked through the peephole and sighed.
Opening the door, she asked Tyler, “Did you forget something?”
“Yes, this,” He answered.
He kicked the door shut and slammed her up against the wall. They started kissing feverishly.
“I thought they would never leave!” He groaned.
“Me too!” She agreed, peppering his face with kisses, sucking on his bottom lip.
He caressed her body through the thin robe.
She moaned in appreciation of his touch.
“Are you wearing anything up under there?” He leered gleefully.
“No,” She laughed, “I just got out of the shower.”
“Good.” He kissed her deeply, grabbing her hand and urging her toward the bedroom.
She laughed as he backed her up against the bed, causing her to fall.
“Tyler!” She squealed.
“Mecah!” He mimicked her.
He kissed her tenderly and worshipped her body with awe and reverence.
He put his hand under her chin and looked deep into her eyes.
“You know that I think you’re beautiful, right?” he whispered.
She nodded with unshed tears in her eyes.
They turned to each other twice more before the night was over.
