Page 9 of Finesse
With the occasional sprinkle of a Negro or two, you’ll definitely see a common theme in Eric’s life – all white everything. His parents, his grandparents, his friends, other extended family members, his wife, and his children.
That is how people with old money view Black folks. You can datethem,but you won’t marrythem.You can be friends withthem,but that’s the extent of it. You can even adoptthemand raisethem,but you have to make sure they’re not raised likethose others.
Cameron’s mother, Heather, is the same way. Blonde, silver-blue eyes, and enough trips to the plastic surgeon to ensure she’ll never be bigger than a size 6. Her IG and Facebook feed is full of her garden bounties, the different types of pie she likes to make (apparently she knows no less than twenty pie recipes), and her massive shoe collection inside her walk-in closet.
Nothing but Gucci, Vince Carmuto, and red bottoms.
They live in a palatial estate and my mind boggles upon thinking how long it would take to actually clean that home from top to bottom. Cameron doesn’t live too far from his parents, but it’s clear he’s a frequent visitor judging by both of his parents’ feeds.
I don’t know if Cameron is trying me on for size, but I hope not. We’ve texted every day, and when we do talk on the phone, our conversations last well into the night. Then we’ll do the same thing all over again the next day.
We’ll talk about serious things. We’ll discuss rather stupid things. We learned how much we have in common and how different we are from each other.
He’s an avid jogger and swimmer. I’m lucky if I remember to do yoga. He’s read well over a hundred books this year alone; I’m lucky I even get through five. He’s very close to his parents as I am with Daddy, and we’ve shared stories about our various childhoods.
I told him Daddy taught me how to play softball.Were you any good?Not really, but I tried to swing. I was better at basketball.Were you good at that?I’m 5’10 so I better be. We laugh.
My father taught me how to play golf.Surprise, surprise. More laughter. Were you the next Tiger Woods?Not really, but I can hang with the big boys. I’ve made a lot friends with retirees on the golf course.Hmm, I bet.
Would you like me to teach you how to golf?How many women have you fed this line to?Just you.Hmm…okay.You might like it.I’m sure I won’t.
We decided on mini-golfing, which was my idea, and he surprisingly went along with it. Now I’m looking cute in my fitted jeans and tee, and deciding if I want to be comfortable in my J’s or go with a more stylish Adidas.
Why should I care? It’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything.
I didn’t know what I was afraid of. He knew I wasn’t going to put out yet I also knew I wasn’t like any woman he’s dated before. Dated? No, this is just a simple date.
“Don’t you look cute?” My other roommate, Meadow, watches me as I admire myself in the mirror. She’s a dark-skinned girl with a figure I can only get by eating crap and undergoing surgery. Full hips and thighs, and plump lips. She always dresses her shape and not by size. It’s no wonder seemingly every man on campus is on her jock. “Getting ready to impress the Senator’s baby boy?”
I shrug. “Do these jeans make my ass look too fat?” I wonder aloud.
“I’m sure he loves your ass just the way it is.” Meadow smiles at me through the mirror. “Nervous?”
“First date.” I reply. “Ever.”
Meadow’s mouth hangs open. “You’re kidding?”
“I’m not a virgin, but I never went on a date.” It’s not something I’m proud of and I can definitely count the number of men I’ve been with on one finger. I don’t know if it makes me a prude or frigid, but it’s not something I want to think about as I’m about to date some Senator’s son.
I continue to admire myself. I think this outfit is a winner. I don’t look frumpy but I also don’t look like I spent two hours getting ready. Classically comfortable, I guess? “I know it’s ass backwards but that’s what I’m used to. Guys just want to kick it and that’s it. Maybe spend some money here and there but not too much. I’m used to it.”
“But now you’re going out with a Senator’s baby boy and…” Meadow shakes her head and whistles. “…he got that long money.”
His father’s net worth is already in the nine figures. Long, old money. “I don’t care about his money. I’m not his girlfriend.” Saying the words creates a disappointment in me and I ignore the feeling. “We’re just hanging out.”
“Yeah, okay.” Meadow chuckles. She doesn’t believe it, neither. “Just remember once the press gets a hold of it – and they will – your entire history is going to be full blast. People who knew you from kindergarten will be selling you off to the highest bidder.”
“I’m used to that already.” Once Daddy’s coffee shop took off and he was shouted out in many a rapper’s songs, people began to dig up who I was. My IG account had very few followers; now I’m at over thirty thousand and I barely even know ten people in real life. “I’m good.”
“Let’s hope.” Meadow gets up from her bed and looks at me from behind. She studies my appearance like she’s trying to find something wrong and she spots it instantly. “A nude pink lippy. He’ll go nuts tonight.”
That’s my girl. “Got it.” I quickly apply the color. I give my lips a pout and smile. I’m looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Bitch, you my boo!’ like what Beyoncé said. “Damn.”
“That’s right.” Meadow grabs a couple of condoms out of her purse and hands them to me. “You don’t know if you need them, but you don’t know if you don’t.”
“I doubt it but better safe than sorry.” I quickly grab them and stuff them in my clutch. “I seriously doubt we’ll even go there.”
“I’ve seen pics of Cameron, Tay. He’sfine. I also heard how he acted towards you when he dropped you off the other day.” Gossip travels faster here than an Olympic Jamaican sprinter. “He digs you.”
