Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel by Marissa Monteilh

these Wilson
men.”
    “Seems Mason’s good. He’s behaving.”
    “He is.”
    “He’s not tripping about Vegas?”
Sequoia looked like she intended to make a joke.
    “No. You’re the only one tripping
about Vegas. Let it go.”
    As they walked to the front door,
Sequoia looked at Mercedes with a side angle. “Is something up?”
    “No. Stop.”
    “Okay,” Sequoia said. “I know you.”
    “Actually, I thought you did, but
obviously you don’t.” Mercedes stepped over to her white CLS that was parked in
the driveway next to Sequoia’s white Range Rover.
    “I guess if I don’t by now I never
will.”
    “Then you never will. I’m good.”
Mercedes put on her burgundy shades. “I’m headed back to the office. Kiss TJ
for me.”
    “Will do. Ciao , Sis.” Sequoia
smiled, but still knew in her heart, though not in her head, that her
sister-in-law cheated on her husband.
     
     
     
    7
     
     
    Mercedes
     
     
    “What was that about?”
     
    That evening, Mercedes was back at
home spending time with her mother-in-law, Mattie. Mattie’s hair was thick and
long and wavy just like Star’s. It had always been the texture of an Indian’s
hair, dark with a few platinum strands. It was down her back past her backside.
These days, however, it was fully gray and always cornrowed, flowing down into
a long braided ponytail by either Star or Mercedes or Lucinda. If Mattie
touched the top of her hair and it felt like it was undone, she would point to
whomever and put them to work. She swore by Camay and always smelled of White
Shoulders. She was one who always had it together. An original diva.
    Today, like the other days, the smell
of White Shoulders was in full effect.
    Mattie’s room was average size with a
queen bed against one wall and a big dresser with a wide mirror along another
wall, positioned perfectly so Mattie could see herself. There was a rocking
chair and a large television, and also a beautiful shelf that had family
pictures ranging from when she first got married to Jesse, to a photo of blue-eyed
Nadia. There was a glass vase full of white tulips along her nightstand. Mason
would make sure to bring her fresh flowers every week.
    The décor was green. Always green.
From the chair, to the dresser, to the bedding, to the carpet. Hunter, jade,
moss, it didn’t matter. The only splash of color other than green was a big,
red, framed photo of a heart, and the bold word, LOVE.
    Mercedes, barefoot in a short cotton
robe, dialed Mason’s number and he answered, but just as he greeted her through
the phone, she also heard him answer from behind her in the hallway. She turned
around at the same time that he walked in. She hung up looking surprised.
“Where’re you coming from?”
    “Starbucks.”
    “No, I mean, you were down the hall?”
    “Yeah. Looking for Lucinda. I thought
Mom was with her.”
    “Mom’s always in this room.”
    “No. Lucinda has her in the wheelchair
at the front window of her room so she can look outside at the street. Mom was
just in her room last week.”
    Mattie grunted. Her weathered face
told on her years.
    “Anyway,” Mason said, coming over to
stand at Mattie’s bedside. “Hey Mom.” He kissed the soft, red-clay skin of her
cheek.
    Mattie gave another grunt and turned
her head toward Mercedes.
    Mercedes remarked, “She’s saying stop
messing with me.”
    He talked to Mattie even though she
still looked at Mercedes. “Mom, she’s the one who asked me where I’m coming
from in my own house.”
    “Whatever. Mom knows.”
    “What she knows is, you still don’t
trust me.”
    “Oh, please. Whatever, man.” Mercedes
put up her hand.
    “Next subject. Mom, you look pretty.”
He looked down at her hand. “Got your nails all done up. Can I get some of that
manicure treatment?” He extended his left hand toward her.
    Mattie looked at his hand and turned
up her chiseled nose.
    Mercedes smiled. “She looked at you
like, not with those claws.”
    Mason looked at his