Free Cheesecake and Teardrops by Faye Thompson Page A

sofa just as the phone rang again. Tangie checked her caller ID.
    â€œHello?”
    It was Blade.
    â€œHi, baby. How’s it going?” She paused, listening to his response. “No problem, take your time. Charisma and I are just hanging out. See you later. Okay, bye.”
    â€œYou should’ve let your machine pick up. Make him wonder where you are sometimes. I think you’re too available to him,” Charisma said.
    â€œNo, I don’t want to start playing games, and he’s been on his best behavior lately.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œI know. Hard to believe, right?” Tangie asked.
    â€œExactly,” Charisma said, making a dent in her first martini. Confident that Tangie was home and staying out of trouble, Blade was ready to get in to some. His finger had been itching to hit Blondie on her cell phone ever since he first met her. He worked out an extra hour at the gym just to release some of that nervous energy. Luckily it was Tangie’s day off, and he could concentrate on other things.
    He checked his watch. It was a little after seven. He gave her a call. Her phone just rang and rang. Funny, he didn’t even know her name, and it never occurred to him that she could have given him a fake number. It wasn’t even a thought; as good as he looked that night at the concert, please.
    Finally, she picked up. “Hello?”
    â€œWhat’s up, baby?”
    â€œWho is this?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s Blade. We met at the Jay-Z concert. You gave me your number.”
    â€œHey, brown sugar.” She smiled. “I was wondering when you’d call. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.”
    â€œForgotten about you? I may not know your name, but I definitely got your number.”
    â€œAnd what would that be?” she asked.
    â€œI think we have a definite vibe going on. I mean, we’re both feelin’ each other. Am I right?”
    Her response was a throaty laugh.
    â€œI can’t get you out of my mind. When can I see you?”
    She paused for a moment. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
    â€œGettin’ with you, I hope. Just say where, and I’ll be there.”
    â€œHow about the Sandbox in Hempstead?”
    â€œOn Peninsula Ave?”
    â€œYeah, let’s meet there tomorrow night around ten?”
    â€œThat’ll work,” Blade said simply, praying he could get someone to cover for him at the G-Spot as he made plans to get into hers.
    â€œGreat, see you then,” she said.
    â€œHold up. Hold up,” Blade said. “What’s your name?”
    â€œChase,” she said.
    â€œChase,” he echoed. “I like that.”
    â€œSee you tomorrow night.”
    â€œA’ight.”
    Blade quickly dialed his buddy Jason to fill in for him tomorrow night. Jason couldn’t but thought that maybe Alec could. He was right. Alec needed to make some extra cash and was more than willing to help Blade out. Blade could already feel a rise at the thought of new meat on his table.
    Blade spent the next day working out at the gym and washing his newly acquired ride. He even stopped by his barber for a fresh cut. Then he came home, took a nap, showered, and got ready to meet Chase.
    He got to the bar around ten-fifteen and scoped out the place from the parking lot before heading in. It was packed even for a Friday night. He stood at the bar and ordered a beer, checking out the clientele—mostly white, sprinkled with a few blacks.
    His cell phone vibrated. It was probably Chase, he thought as he retrieved it from the inside of his jacket pocket. Nope, it was Tangie. He wasn’t in the mood for Tangie, not tonight.
    He let his voice mail pick up as he took another sip of beer. Another ten minutes went by and no sign of Chase.
    He ordered another beer. Was she playing games? He’d give her a few more minutes, and then he’d bounce. It was already after eleven. He