Too Many Men

Chapter One

 

TONI

 

I was sitting at home listening to my Teena Marie’s Greatest Hits album when my Aunt Tee called. She invited me and my best friend, Diamond, to the Meac after party she had gotten tickets to. My aunt always had the hook up to major events in and around the Richmond Metro area.

It was about 11:30 p.m. when we arrived at the club. We found a couple of seats at the bar and within five minutes of sipping our drinks, we heard BOOM and a loud scream. We turned around to see two men fighting, one who was thrown across the bar and the other with his hands around a guy’s throat. The sister standing beside him had her face covered in blood. She had apparently been hit in the head with a champagne bottle. It took five bouncers to pull the men apart. Broken glass and spilled drinks filled the counter tops and the floor beneath it. The crowd parted while the bouncers kept the men separated until the police arrived. Someone was standing so close to me that I could feel their breath on the back of my neck. I turned around to see the finest man I had ever laid eyes on. He stood about 6’2 and around 240 pounds, which appeared to be pure muscle. Light brown skin, brown eyes and sporting a low school boy haircut. He was wearing a half-way unbuttoned white, form-fitting silk shirt, a pair of nicely pressed black slacks that really complimented his physique, and pair of black Stacey Adams. To me this man was pure perfection, and from his physical appearance I could find no flaws.

“This shit don’t make any sense,” he said to me. “This is why they always shutting places down here because Negros don’t know how to act!”

“I totally agree with you on that,” I responded as I carefully undressed him with my eyes.

“What’s your name beautiful?”

“Toni,” I said, flattered that he was interested in talking to me.

“And what’s your name?”

“Anthony,” he replied. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure.” I turned towards my aunt and Diamond and told them I would be back in a few.

My Aunt Tee gave me a look that said ‘you go girl, strut your stuff in here and make these broads mad.’

Diamond on the other hand had a look that said ‘he should be with me.’

Whatever. I thought to myself. I know what she’s thinking.

Anthony and I talked for a while, then he asked, “Toni, would you like to dance?”

As we walked through the club, the younger women seemed to get jealous of my aunt and as we continued to walk, you could hear people whisper, “She needs to take her old butt home.” My aunt was forty-something and had it going on. She wasn’t afraid to put on her little mini or other form-fitting outfits. Basically, she didn’t care about letting it all hang out. She could also move better than the younger women could and when she hit the dance floor the men all paused. Whether they were with dates or not, it didn’t matter, they would continuously flirt with her.

“Step aside young ones and let Aunt Tee show you how it’s done,” she would say. Before you knew it Aunt Tee was on the dance floor with two fine frat brothers. One was very tall and light-skinned with short wavy hair and the other was shorter and thicker with a bald head. For a moment all eyes were on them.

Diamond was standing against the wall scanning the room for a new victim. Her last boyfriend quickly caught onto her games and just as quickly cleared himself of her and ran like hell to warn the others. Now she was looking for a replacement.

I have to admit, I was shocked when Anthony asked me to dance. Out of all the sorority sisters and their friends, he asked me to dance. I felt noticeable.

As we stepped out on the floor, all eyes were on us and I could hear a sister say, “I don’t know why he is asking that little black girl to dance. She needs to take her jigaa boo behind outta here.” They made sure they were loud enough for me to hear.

Other girls looked with envy and guys were looking with lust in their eyes. I must admit I was looking damn good that night. I had on a tight-fitting black mini-dress that showed off all my curves and my 36DDs, and the strobe lights left my chocolate brown skin glistening.

My heartbeat was racing when I put my arms around him and he pulled me closer. Feeling his body next to mine was too much for me to bear. When he grabbed my long black hair in his fingers I thought I was going to faint.

I exhaled.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m alright. It’s just real hot in here and I can hardly breathe.”

“Do you and your girlfriend want to go and get some breakfast?”

“I don’t mind, but let me ask her if she wants to go.”

Diamond was at the bar talking to Anthony’s friend, Tank. It seemed like Anthony and Tank already had things planned out. Hmm, makes you wonder.

“Hey girl, do you want to go to breakfast with them?”

“I don’t care. I’ve been drinking all night and I’m starving, plus I’m broke.”

“Okay, ya’ll can meet me outside. I have to go and find Aunt Tee,” I said.

Walking through the club I was getting mixed emotions from the crowd. Some girls bumped me on purpose, while others just smiled. Guys were pulling on me trying to get a number and I was more than happy to say, “No thanks, I’m with Anthony.”

From their reactions, I could tell that Anthony was very well respected. I made my way to the VIP room when I saw Aunt Tee and some man who looked young enough to be her son in the far corner of the room tonguing down. His hands were all over her butt and thighs. People were gathering around whispering and giggling like they were watching a peep show. I was starting to get embarrassed. My dark brown cheeks turned dark purple. I had seen enough!

“Aunt Tee!” I screamed, “What are you doing! You need to stop this nonsense and go home! I think you had more than enough to drink.”

Aunt Tee screamed back at me, “Girl I’m grown and I can do whatever I want!”

“You shouldn’t let him have his hands all up your skirt like that! I shouted. “It’s not lady like at all and it makes you look trashy.”

The young man turned to me and said, “Look sis, you need to leave your aunt alone. She is a grown woman and she knows what she’s doing.”

Aggravated, I responded back, “You need to shut up and stay out of this. Aunt Tee, let’s go.”

“You always cock-blocking,” Aunt Tee said.

“I’m not cock-blocking, but whatever you do needs to be done in private and not in a night club. You’re old enough to be his mother.”

“Well I’m trying to be if you would leave me alone. Plus I thought I had one mother.”

“Well tonight you have two. Someone has to look after you because you can’t look after yourself. What would your daughter think if she saw you out here acting like that?”

“Who cares what she thinks? That’s why I left her at home.”

“Just go home and I will call you in the morning. “

“Well, where are you going?”

“To breakfast with Diamond and those two guys we met.”

“You mean you’re going to breakfast with Mr. All-Star?”

“Yep.”

“You better try to hold on to that one. You know he is supposed to go pro. Plus he is fine.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“If things don’t work out between you two, you tell him to call Aunt Tee.”

“For the last time good night, Aunt Tee!”

Diamond, Anthony and Tank were waiting for me outside. Anthony walked over to me and put his arms around my neck. “What took you so long?”

“I was looking for my aunt to tell her I was leaving.”

“Oh, I started to get worried. I thought I was going to have to come and look for you. I thought one of my frat brothers may have hemmed you up,” he laughed.

“I didn’t find that very funny.”

“I’m sorry.”

We walked into the parking lot and stepped into a midnight black Benz. I got even harsher stares from the sorority sisters and Diamond was giving me the eye like, ‘yeah girl you got all the attention tonight, play it for what it’s worth.’

As we rode past all you could hear were them mumbling while looking at me in total disgust. I looked back at them with my pearly whites, laid back in my seat and enjoyed the ride. We pulled into the parking lot of the 3rd Street Diner. That was the after club, after party hang out spot for college goers. The waitress came and showed us to our seats. After about ten minutes the waitress came back.

“Are you ready to order?” she asked.

“Yes,” everyone replied.

“Toni, what do you want?”

“I’ll have some bacon, grits, hash browns with cheese and onions and a large glass of orange juice.”

“I’ll have the omelet platter with no onions and glass of water,” replied Anthony.

Tank and Diamond both had the number five which was the steak and egg combo with orange juice.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Me too, girl. Wait for me,” Diamond added.

 

Anthony

 

“What do you think about Diamond?” asked Anthony.

“I think I’m going to get laid tonight,” responded Tank. “Man this girl is hot. She’s been all over me. Straight freak. You can see it in her eyes. I was thinking about going to the Crown Plaza after this, you down?”

“I don’t know if I want to take it there with Toni. I kind of...