The Company We Keep by Mary Monroe Page B

gave Nicole a blank look and shook her head as if she were shaking rocks out of it. “What did you say?” she asked, glaring at Nicole even though she’d clearly heard Nicole’s remarks.
    “Nothing,” Nicole mumbled. Now the smug look was on Nicole’s face.
    “Where is that photographer? Where in the world is that Eric Graves? I’m paying him by the hour,” Reuben said to no one in particular, looking around the room with his neck swiveling like a barber’s chair. His words were forced, but it was the only way he could think to change the subject at such short notice. He wanted to diffuse the situation going on with the women. He recognized a bitch’s brew when he saw one. And a smackdown between two of his guests was the last thing he wanted to deal with on his wedding anniversary. He knew that he would never hear the end of it. Carla would make his life a living hell. “I want a shot of me, Harrison, and Dwight Davis for my office.”
    “Dwight is here, too?” Teri asked, obviously annoyed. It was one thing to know that Harrison was on the premises, with his fine self ; she could deal with him. But Dwight’s name was at the top of her shit list. She beckoned a waiter and had him refill her glass.
    “Oh yes, Dwight is here. Lakers all-star forward.” Reuben smiled. “And it wasn’t easy to get him to come out here. A brother like him gets more invites than he can handle. Living over there inBrentwood, everybody in his neighborhood wants him on their guest list.”
    Teri rolled her eyes and looked around the room, glad she didn’t see Dwight. A passing male guest stopped and leered at Mia. It took him a few moments to notice Teri, Nicole, and Carla. Then he leered at them, too. “Why are all you foxy ladies hanging out in the dining room when all the eligible brothers are in the living room?” The women heard him but they all ignored him.
    “Is Dwight here alone?” Carla asked her husband.
    “He came with me,” Mia volunteered before Reuben could even open his mouth. There was a satisfied look on her face.
    “I figured that,” Teri said, making sure Mia heard her.
    “It was nice chatting with you ladies,” Mia said, finally smiling. But a blind man could see how insincere her words were. Carla excused herself and led her husband away. Mia whirled around and pranced out of the room, strutting like a gay rooster.
    “I hope I don’t have to take off my earrings up in here tonight,” Nicole said, watching Mia until she was out of sight.
    “I hope you don’t, either. I thought we left all that shit behind us in grade school. I haven’t been involved in any violence since sixth grade.”
    “Well I have, and I can thank that thang I married.” Even though there was no telling where Greg was tonight, Nicole still felt his presence. The last time he had come to pick up Chris, three hours late, he had lunged at her and grabbed her by the throat when she demanded her back child support payments. And she’d bounced her Crock-Pot off his head, leaving a knot the size of a lemon. “You used to be the one that handled more business than Mike Tyson. I’m surprised you didn’t snatch that bitch bald,” Nicole said.
    “And don’t you forget that every time you got caught up in a smack-down, you got your ass kicked. I’d hate to see that happen in here. Don’t embarrass yourself or me. You should know by now that the world is full of skanks like Mia,” Teri said.
    “I bet I could whup that bitch with one hand tied behind my back,” Nicole declared.
    “Well, I don’t want to find out. Now, you behave yourself. She is a guest here just like we are. Let’s at least respect that, and thefact that this is Carla’s house,” Teri insisted. “I wonder what she did to Dwight for him to bring her here. He usually attends these kinds of things alone.”
    “Dwight’s taste must all be in his mouth.” Nicole huffed. “Mia’s bubble butt must have more fingerprints on file than the FBI. He seems