“Okay, you’re making it up!” Eric slapped the table, attempting reverse psychology.
“Why do I even bother with you guys, man! Eric, man, you wanna know what she smells like, too?” I yelled in jest, to which Mark fell over in laughter.
“Give it up, Jacobs!” Mark tried taking a breath, asking for more information.
“…acting real female-like!” I mumbled to myself before saying out loud, “Her glowing brown skin is more like a caramel shade, she’s about five foot seven and weighs between one thrity-five and one forty. She’s a dime for real. Her conversation is inspiring and she loves to laugh…even makes jokes about herself. She’s familiar and mysterious all at the same time…like she doesn’t press me for much, and as stimulating as that is, it makes me wonder if the reason why is because she doesn’t want to be pressed. Of course, that would mean she has something to hide. I just wanna make sure she’s legit, you know?!” I said waking from my trance.
“You’re serious…?” Eric declared, appearing really shocked.
“Oh, yeah,” I answered with furrowed eyebrows.
Shaking his head, Mark alleged, “No! Jacobs is making this all up. It’s just as he used to do in undergrad. He’s pulling our chain!”
“Come on, man! You’re buggin’!” I blew off the comment with a wave.
Eric reasoned, “Azmir, I’ve never heard you speak of a woman as if she’s more than an object created for orgasms. If this Rayna Brimm really exists it means you’re evolving, man. Cheers to you!” he lifted his glass to me.
“I’m having a reopening at my club in Venice in two weeks. We just got confirmation of the performer. If this girl truly exists—materialize her there!” Mark assumed he had cornered me.
“Ah man! You know I don’t like my chin being tested like that. I don’t know, my nigga.”
“How convenient,” Eric said feigning disappointment; he was goading me. Mark just shook his head.
“Okay, let’s do this…I’ll bring my little mamma if you, Eric, bring Natasha and Mark brings his new blonde lover,” I tested.
Things got quiet for a while. Testosteronic fumes were looming over the table. I didn’t know if they’d take the challenge but I had to put it out there.
“I’m in,” Eric said with resolved reluctance.
After another long pause Mark shrugged his shoulders, sighed and mumbled, “Agreed.”
The next morning I asked Rayna to attend Petey’s wife, Kim’s, fortieth birthday party and Mark’s reopening with me. Surprisingly, she said yes to both right off the bat.
~~~~~~~~~~
Rayna