All That Drama by Tina Brooks McKinney Page A

of a lot of fun. The only problem was, I was not used to casual relationships.
    My first affair started right under Keith’s nose. We were attending the same cookout although we took great pains to avoid each other. My girlfriend and neighbor invited me and her husband invited Keith. When I found out that Keith was coming I almost stayed home but the music was sounding too good! The noise coming from their backyard beckoned me, and it appeared like they were having a lot of fun.
    Sherry and Howard usually gave good parties, which lasted well into the night. Eventually the party would turn into several cutthroat card games and I loved to play cards. Keith liked card games as well and we used to be a pretty good team but that night, I was not feeling that. Instead of going to the card tables I wandered off by myself to just enjoy the music and sip on my beer.
    Much to my surprise, a guy I had grown up with stopped by the party to grab a plate. I didn’t know that he was a friend of Sherry since she was much older than he and me. I had not seen him since I had worn pigtails.
    “Marie?” he asked obviously shocked to see me as well.
    “I don’t even believe this,” I said, jumping to my feet to embrace him. “David, oh my goodness, I haven’t seen you since we were kids!” I exclaimed excitedly. He looked me up and down and even swirled me around and as he did, my face grew plum red from the animal lust I saw in his eyes.
    “Damn girl, what ya been doing? The last time I saw you, you were…How should I say this…thick?” he stammered.
    “I was more than thick; I was down-right fat!” I exclaimed, punching him in the arm. I had slimmed down and was showing curves that I never knew existed. For this cookout, I wore a black bodysuit without a bra that left nothing to the imagination. I was enjoying his attention and started to warm up to his mild flirtation.
    “Well, let me say, you got it going on now!” he yelled and dropped his voice for a deep bark. I felt my nipples stand up and he noticed it immediately.
    “I didn’t know that you knew Sherry,” I said, trying to change the subject.
    “Girl, my mom used to live across the alley at the corner house, so I’m over here a lot. My brothers and I have the house now since Mom died, but I ain’t never seen you here,” he said. “I heard you got married and shit,” he said as he realized for the first time that we weren’t alone.
    As a child I never found him to be attractive since he was a year younger than me and always full of games but as a man, the brother was cut! I fought to keep from looking at his broad shoulders and his muscular arms.
    “Let’s catch up,” he said as he steered me back down to the bench I had been sitting on. I looked around to see if we were being watched. Even though Keith and I were officially separated I did not want to flaunt a man in front of his face. After a few too many beers, he had a tendency to get belligerent.
    “I ain’t gonna bite ya,” he said, patting the seat beside him.
    “I know.” I sat down and tried to appear as nonchalant as he was but I was failing in my attempt.
    “So, fill me in on the gaps. I know that you got married and moved away. Did you have any children?” he asked.
    “Two, they are around here somewhere,” I said, again scanning the crowd.
    “There, see that little one with all the curls on top of her head. That’s Keira.” He turned his head and body to look in the direction of my pointed finger.
    “Hell, if I would have looked around, I would have been able to pick her out of a lineup. She looks just like you!” he said.
    “And, that’s Kevin holding onto Sherry’s leg. He is already a ladies man and he is just turning three!” I said, laughing.
    “He looks just like you, too! There is no way that you would ever be able to deny either of those two. What about your husband, where is he?” I shifted in my seat and took a big swallow of my beer. I crossed my legs and then