The Cage Sessions(4)

I get up off my barstool and move across the living room, away from Jasmine. The room sways a little.

"Covering his tracks?" I say, the journalist in me drunk but fully activated. "Covering what tracks? Who is this?"

"Look, don't trust me. Find it yourself. It'll get you hired at the Miami Herald, maybe even TMZ. Do you have a pen?"

I fumble in my hipster satchel, pulling out a pen and pad.

"Go ahead," I say.

"Google this," he says. "Arely Gutierrez-Machado. Brimford, Massachusetts. Got it?"

"Yes, I got it, but–"

The line is dead. He hung up.

"What was that?" says Jasmine.

"Oh, nothing," I lie. "Stupidness leftover from my job that's no longer there. Info I'll just forward to Steve, my old boss."

Not sure if Jasmine buys that, but she continues eating. I sounded convincing, thanks to the Grey Goose.

I sit back down, a little confused. I sip more of my drink, which helps me push it aside for now.

A doorbell rings.

Jasmine looks up from her food and screeches.

"That's our girl!" she says.

She runs out and down the stairs.

I consider taking out my Mac laptop to look up that name, but now is not the time. Probably some troll pulling a prank anyway.

Jasmine rushes in through the door, very dramatic. The Beast flops left then right.

"May I present... the fair Isabella," she says.

In walks Isabella, who looks right at me.

"Annika!" she says, surprised. "Annika naked. Jasmine naked. Oh, I get it."

She moves to leave, but Jasmine grabs her, pulls her into the room, and slams the door shut.

Isabella wears denim shorts with silver stars woven in, white sandals, and a white print T-shirt with multi-colored images that looks like it's been torn apart then stitched back together again. Artfully, of course. Her toenails are white with little newsprint headlines.

I'm guessing she paid $200 for the shirt at an Ocean Drive boutique.

Isabella avoids eye contact with me. Jasmine shuts the door.

"Sit," she says to Isabella as she points to the stool next to mine.

"No," says Isabella. "I can see what you two have been up to. And I'm not going to–"

"Sit!" says Jasmine in her man voice.

Isabella sits.

Uncomfortably.

"Isabella," says Jasmine. "Annika and I have been sucking and fucking each other here, yes. I told you I thought Annika was hot and wanted to fuck her. We'll iron that out soon enough. But the two of you have unfinished business. Now Annika, say what you said you were going to say to Isabella."

I shift a little on my barstool, then clasp my hands together and face Isabella.

"Iz", I say, "I'm sorry. I said some bad things."

Isabella just folds her arms, looking down at the floor.

"Con-tinue," says Jasmine. You ain't done yet, sister." The Beast twitches a little. I see Isabella's eyes widen.

"And Iz," I say, "I love you and I'm committed to changing. You were right about everything you said." I take a deep breath. "And I don't regret anything we did. I was wrong to bring that into it. What we did was beautiful and... magical... and one of the best experiences of my life. I love you. Will you please forgive me?"

Isabella looks at Jasmine's feet, then up to her eyes. Jasmine glares at Isabella, nodding.

If Jasmine were being attacked by a bear, I swear that glare would send the animal running back into the woods.

Isabella turns to me a little. She has tears in her eyes. She just leans in and hugs me. I squeeze her tight, my own eyes tearing up.

"I promise I won't talk to you like that again," I say.

"Un-uh," says Jasmine. "No bullshit promises. We all human beings. We yell at each other and say nasty shit. If the two of you love each other, then you going to say nasty shit to each other again. It goes with loving someone."

Iz and I separate enough to cup each other's faces. We look into each other's eyes and smile.

"Who invited her?" I say.

"I don't know," says Isabella. "And you are...?" she says as she turns to Jasmine.

"I am the gorgeous black woman whose cock needs to get sucked!" says Jasmine. "Now who is going to do the honors? I'm not picky."

Isabella looks at me, laughing silently. I'm laughing too. Actually, half-laughing, half-crying.

"Okay, you two," says Jasmine, pointing both hands down at the now fully extended Beast. "Enough with the tears and the girly bullshit. This cock ain't going to suck itself."

Isabella and I get down on our knees.





Chapter 30





What the fuck is that bright light?

Shit, it's the sun, isn't it?

Oh God, it fucking hurts. Somebody pleeeeeeeeeeease turn it off!