Tempest grinned. “Well, I told Geren a little fib. He asked me to go Rollerblading with him next Saturday, and I kinda sorta told him I was an expert.”
“How much of an expert?” Janessa asked, knowing Tempest had two left feet and could barely walk straight without tripping over something.
“Damn near a pro!”
They both fell back on the bed, crying laughing.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Learn how to skate or fake a leg cramp or something.”
“You and your damn leg cramps.” Janessa giggled, staring up at the ceiling and targeting the remains of a swatted fly from a few years back. “By the way, I used that line on a brotha when he tried to get some. It worked like a mofo charm.”
Tempest laughed. “I told you it would.”
“Damn sure did!” Janessa slapped Tempest on the thigh. “Now what the hell do I have to do with you learning how to skate?”
“Don’t you know how?”
“Hell, naw, I can’t skate!”
“I thought you used to go down to the ice-skating rink on the mall in Northwest.”
“That was to check out men; not to skate.”
“Great! Looks like I’m busted, then. I’ll figure out some way to get out of it. Maybe I’ll say I have the flu and ask him to come over and bring me some chicken soup.”
“The flu? In the summertime? Chile, please!”
“Good point,” Tempest agreed. “I wonder if he would really bring me some, though. He seems like the type.” Tempest got up off the bed. “I’m going to go get the yellow pages. Maybe I can take some skating lessons at Wheaton Regional Park or something like that.”
“Sounds like a winner.”
Tempest yanked the bedroom door open, and Fred tumbled in onto the floor. She glared down at him. “It’s a damn shame you’re still lurking around here eavesdropping. Get a life, why don’t you!”
“Uh, uh, I was ju-ju-just coming up here to put the antennae on Janessa’s new TV,” he stuttered, lying his ass off. He looked at Janessa. “You asked me to do it. Remember?”
“That was three days ago,” Janessa hissed. “Like Tempest said, you’re just a nosy mofo. Now get out!”
Tempest started down the hallway so she could go downstairs to get the book.
“Tempest, hold up,” Fred said, coming after her.
“What is it?” Tempest asked, obviously irritated. “I already told you we could get busy the first time you spot a T-Rex walking down Pennsylvania Avenue.”
“No, that’s not it. I was just playing with you about the sex, gurl.” Fred chuckled, trying to save face.
“What is it then?”
“I know how to skate. I could teach you.”
“You know how to Rollerblade?”
“Real good, too,” Fred boasted. “My boys and I go blading all the time in Rock Creek Park over by the Carter Baron.”
Tempest stood at the top of the stairs, contemplating her next move. Beggars can’t be choosers, she thought to herself. “Okay, Fred, desperate times call for desperate measures. I refuse to let Geren find out I can’t skate, so put on your teacher’s hat. It’s going to be a long day!”
• • •