“Hey Baby, where you at?” Nick said as he walked in the front door.
“I’m in the kitchen, Babe,” Yawny shouted.
“Hey Baby,” he continued as he made his way from the front door to the kitchen.
“Hey, Nick. What’s gotten into you?”
“I have got some great news!” he said walking into the kitchen as Yawny was cleaning dishes.
“Well spit it out,” Yawny said anxiously awaiting his news and drying off her hands.
Before he said anything he saw movement in the corner of his eye. When he turned in the direction of the movement, he noticed Yawny’s friend, Renee. “Uh, hey Renee.”
“Hey Nick,” Renee said hardly moving her lips.
“What’s the big news, Babe,” Yawny continued.
“Uh, I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to tell you in front of that,” he said referring to Renee.
“See Nick, why did you even have to start? I wasn’t even going to say anything to your goofy, Krusty the Klown, pop tart, turtle head, but you just had to go there.”
“Whoa, did I say anything to you, Licorice Twist? When you going to grow your own hair and stop using the horse’s mane. You know they get cold in the winter too.”
“You went there.”
“Okay, Baby, obviously your kitchen is crowded with termites. Let me know when you get rid of the infestation,” he said as he headed out the backdoor to the backyard.
“I can’t stand you two. You guys argue more than we do,” Yawny said.
“Well, I don’t like him, Yawny.”
“I know.”
“You been with him for four years,”
“I know.”
“And he still has yet to put a ring on your finger.”
“Why are you pressing the issue? It’s my life. It's me and Nick’s relationship. Not yours. Why you so worried?”
“Because of all those hood rats that seem to tag along every time he has a job at the club.”
“Hey Renee, we have went over this. Me and Nick’s relationship is what it is. We have 5 rules.”
“Yeah and they’re dumb. Why live together, sleep together, be together, even utter the words I love you if you’re in an open relationship.”
“Because for Nick and I, it works. It’s better than being lied to, having him sneak behind my back, and then he won’t come home because he’s laid up with someone else.”
“But I couldn’t accept that from my man.”
“And that’s why you’re single.”
“Because I won’t settle for less. I couldn’t live your life Yawny. I really couldn’t. Sometimes, not to sound mean, but I feel sorry for you.”
“Sorry for me? Why?”
“Because you’ve settled and somehow this man has convinced you that this is as good as it gets. Some men still want to be in a monogamous relationship. Some men still want to settle down and raise a family, and some men still believe in that thing called marriage.”
“Renee, I’m not settling. This works for us. This is better than me worrying, crying myself to sleep, and wondering if I’m good enough. We don’t sleep anywhere besides our own bed, we always use protection, we don’t lie about it, we don’t bring anyone to our home, and we always, always come back to each other because this is where the heart is.”
“No girl, you’re playing yaself. I’m convinced. The man gets his cake, ice cream, presents, toys, slumber party, alcohol, and whatever else he wants and you let him.”
“Uh, I get down too.”
“When? Because the last time I checked you were keeping it all for Nick.”
Just then the back door opened and Nick walked back into the kitchen.
“Aw man, you’re still here? Don’t you have some dog to infest with your fleas?”
“Nick, shut up. If anybody has got fleas it’s your ugly butt and from what I hear they’re spreading all over the city.”
Nick didn’t have a comeback this time. Yawny caught it too. “What you mean? You burning?” she asked.
“No, I’m not burning. Just your stupid friend telling her lies again.”
“Lies! Uh huh. Did you forget that I know Mica who works down at the free clinic and she told me that Ni—”
“Renee,” Yawny said stopping her. “Let him tell me.”
“She turned to Nick and waited.”
“Tell you what? If there was something to tell, I would tell you.”
“You know, as open as we are in this relationship, I would hope that you would. You know I find out everything, Nick. Try to hide ya dirt,” she warned and walked out of the kitchen.
“Well, I’m going to leave now. Have a good night, Nicholas,” Renee said as she arrogantly walked away happy with herself.
As Nick stood in the kitchen alone, he thought some unkind words about Renee, before searching around the house for Yawny. He found her in her office working on her computer as usual. He knocked on the door frame to get her attention.
“Can I come in?” he said once she looked in his direction.
“Yeah,” she said still typing on her computer.
“So, are you still curious about my big news?” Nick said avoiding the real situation.
Yawny knew what he was doing. He always did this hoping that she would avoid the real issue, and Yawny being her passive self, would allow him to.
“Yes, Nick. What is your big news?”
“I got a job in Chicago.”
“What?” Yawny shrieked.
“Just a gig. I work every last Saturday of the month at some upscale club.”
“So what does that mean?”
“It means more money, Baby, that’s what it means, and, and, and, we get to go to the Chi every last Saturday.”
Yawny starred at him with all his little boy excitement. She wasn’t happy about this. Why would she be happy about this? All this meant was more women that he could sleep with, in a bigger city and he would get to be away from her, for real. Yawny shook her head.
“What’s wrong?” he said still waiting for her excitement to match his.
“Nothing Nick,” she lied. “I’m happy for you,” she said as she forced a smile.
“Are you really?”
“Yes really,” she said still trying to smile even though she really wanted to walk away from him.
“Good, because I wasn’t going to take the job if you weren’t going to be happy about it.”
He kissed her on the forehead and was headed out of her office to the neighbor’s house.
“Nick,” she said just before he reached the doorway.
“Yes, Babe.”
She wanted to be honest and tell him that she wasn’t happy about it. That she thought him going to Chicago would be the end of them, but instead she said, “How soon will you be starting?”
“Well I’m driving out tomorrow so I can meet with the promoter for the club and set up my station, maybe even talk him into more jobs around the city.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Bye Baby, I’m heading over to Chris’s place.”
She waved him off and placed her hand on her cheek. She ran her hand through her wavy hair before sighing deeply and slouching in her seat.
