Twisted by Imari Jade Page A

conversation with a black man around their age. He appeared to be a professional businessman, which was right up Clarice’s alley since that’s the only type she ever dated. She waved at them, said something to the man, and then left him to join them.
    Clarice looked good dressed in a pair of black slacks and a black and white symmetrical print blouse that came down to her full hips. Tina liked Clarice’s new haircut. It was short and black with brown highlights that made her brown eyes look bigger.
    “I can’t believe you came,” Clarice said, hugging her.
    “Alexis said I needed an outing,” Tina replied once her shorter, stockier friend released her.
    “And look how skinny and toned you are. Alexis told me that the two of you are taking Kung Fu. Maybe I should sign up for a few classes. I can stand to lose a pound or two.”
    “Kevin is a great teacher,” Alexis said, leading them over to an empty table. “And he’s cute.”
    “Yeah?” Clarice asked. “How cute?”
    “Imagine a guy six feet tall with milky white skin and sexy, almond-shaped eyes. Then throw in a slim, muscular build, a nice butt and long black hair with bangs. And he’s single.”
    Tina smirked. Alexis made Kevin sound too good to be true and very appealing.
    “I’ve never dated anyone of the Asian persuasion,” Clarice said as a young Asian waiter appeared at their table. She looked him over. “But I am game for something new.”
    The young waiter took their order, unaware that the three of them were checking him out.
    Tina tried to look around the dimly lit room and ignore her two goofy friends. She saw very few romantic looking couples, just a bunch of singles getting to know each other. She sighed, knowing that she had given up this type of scene a long time ago. Either the guys were too short or too boring or were into other guys. She couldn’t imagine doing this on a regular basis.
    The waiter returned with their drinks. He handed Clarice a margarita, Alexis a glass of red wine, and a Pina Colada to her. Tina paid the waiter and sent him off so Clarice and Alexis could check out his butt again.
    “Tight,” Clarice replied as she picked up and sipped her drink. “But I don’t think he’s into girls.”
    Alexis chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know. He did gaze over at Tina when he put her drink down on the table.”
    “Huh?” Tina asked, removing the straw from her mouth. “He did not.”
    “Yes, he did,” Alexis argued. “I was checking him out the whole while and he was looking at you.”
    The guy from the bar came over and asked Clarice to dance.
    “See you ladies in a few,” Clarice said, and followed him to the dance floor. Moments later, another guy came over and asked Alexis to dance. This one was tall and slender and had a bald head.
    Alexis rewarded him with a smile and then left Tina alone to guard the drinks and their purses. Tina didn’t mind because she enjoyed the alone time.
    “You are the last person I expected to find in a bar,” a familiar voice said behind her.
    Tina turned around. Kevin ? He nursed a drink in his hand. “What are you doing here?” she asked as he sat down next to her.
    “This is my hangout,” he told her. “And the owner is a friend of mine.” He lifted his glass to her.
    “That doesn’t look like tea,” Tina replied.
    “Sometimes, I do enjoy a grown up drink,” he told her. “What are you doing here?” You’re like a fish out of water.”
    Tina smiled weakly. “I let Alexis talk me into coming.” She pointed. “She’s over there dancing with the fine black man with the bald head, and our other friend Clarice is the short woman in the black and white outfit next to her.”
    “You have another friend? Please tell me that she’s nothing like Alexis?”
    “Worse,” Tina replied. “Clarice is a lawyer and recently divorced.”
    “So I can tell,” Kevin teased. “She’s pulling out the good dance moves on that guy. That’s a sign that she’s