Crossroads by Skyy Read Free Book Online

made her feel worse. The taste was horrible. The orange juice didn’t help the burning of the cheap vodka going down her throat. Denise didn’t care; she suffered, waiting on the effects to kick in. Soon she found herself sitting on the edge of the plush bed crying like a little baby. All the years of blood and sweat she’d given to her craft were coming out in her tears.
    Mema’s face circled in her mind. She thought about how much she missed her grandmother and how disappointed she would have been about her last years in college. Denise’s unhealthy relationship with Lena was the cause of it all. She knew karma was kicking her in her ass for messing with Lena, and Rhonda. She had broken her own rules, no women until after college. Everything that had happened Denise brought on herself.
    Denise thought about her mother Tammy. She felt more like her mother than ever in life. Her mother had a drug habit that made her incapable of making responsible decisions. Tammy’s drug was crack; Denise’s drug was Lena Jamerson-Redding.
    In the midst of her self-pity party she heard a faint knock at the door. Denise ignored it. There was another knock, this time a little louder. Denise stood up and stumbled, her head spinning.
    Using her hand on the wall as a guide, she walked toward the door. She looked out the peep hole, but all she saw was black. Either she was hearing things, or someone was playing at her door.
    There was another knock on the door. Denise flung the door open and froze. Lena stood face to face with Denise.
    Lena looked into Denise’s eyes. Her voice soft, and with affection, she said, “Hi, Denise.”
    â€œLena?” Denise inquired doubtfully, the vodka more powerful than she imagined. Now she was seeing things.
    â€œYeah, it’s me.” Lena reached out to Denise and touched her arm.
    Goose bumps covered Denise’s arm.
    â€œCan I come in?”
    Dazed and confused, Denise opened the door. Lena walked in the room. Denise couldn’t help but notice the sexy black dress and heels that Lena was rocking. She felt her body heating up just as the vodka had done earlier. She bit her tongue. A surge of pain came from her throbbing tongue. It wasn’t a dream or the effects of the liquor. Lena was in her room.
    â€œLena, what are you doing here?”
    Lena looked around the room. She turned back toward Denise. She had a whole speech prepared that left her mind at first sight of Denise.
    Lena’s voice trembled. “Well, you left Memphis, and it started with me not being able to say good-bye.” Lena sat on the edge of the bed.
    â€œSo you came to New York to say good-bye to me?” Denise slurred. She walked past Lena and sat down in her plush leather chair.
    Lena was a little confused. She expected to be in Denise’s arms by now, not explaining herself. “Well, no, I ... Denise, I was sitting at home staring at the wall. I kept thinking about you. Everything I did, everything I watched brought me right back to you. I realized something that I ... I honestly knew a long time ago, but I was too afraid to admit it. I’m ready, Denise. I want to give us a real chance.”
    Denise’s face was completely unreadable. Butterflies began to flutter in Lena’s stomach. At this point in her fantasies, Denise grabs her and kisses her. But Denise sat in the chair, almost lifeless, her eyes fixed on Lena.
    Denise stared at Lena. A piece of her wanted to take her in her arms and hold her, but something bigger was holding her back.
    â€œWhat did Brandon say?”
    The response caught Lena off guard. That was not the response she was expecting. She looked at Denise. Denise had not moved or blinked.
    â€œWell, I actually just left. When I got to the airport, you were gone, so I just got on a plane.”
    â€œSo he doesn’t know you are here?”
    â€œNot exactly, but—”
    â€œFigures,” Denise muttered. She stood up,