Less than 24 hours later, KT swung her front door open and greeted Angela Brown for the first time in person, “Hello. I’m KT, come on in.”
Oh shit, she’s white. Angela managed to hide her shock by pretending to be interested in the décor, “Thank you. What a lovely home you have!”
KT sized the woman up with a smirk, “That means you don’t like it.”
Instantly defensive, Angela scoffed, “It does not! Why would you think that?”
“Because I lived in the south all my life and I know that ‘bless your heart’ and ‘you have a lovely home’ are the same kind of lie.”
Angela’s eyes narrowed when she retorted, “A white one, right?”
Oh hell no she didn’t! KT smiled sweetly, “You know what, I want to take the low road here, but I think it best if I choose the high road because there’s less traffic there.” She watched Angela’s face melt into a look of shock…or was that horror? “Shall we get started on business?”
I need these fliers printed and I don’t have time to find someone else to do them so I’m going to get this over and done and find a new printer for the future. Angela sighed, “My grandmother always said that if you can’t beat ‘em..”
KT turned to look at the woman and interrupted, “stand your ground anyway.”
“What?” Angela couldn’t believe her ears, “How did you know that?”
“It’s something my mother’s said all my life.” They stared at each other a moment, searching for…something. KT finally broke their reverie, “Well, let me introduce you to Penny.” She turned and led Angela to the basement. She walked over to the printing press she was so proud of and uncovered it with a grand gesture, “This, Miss Angela Brown, is Penny.”
With a condescending tone that was only half intentional, Angela laughed, “You named your printing press?”
“Yes,” KT crossed her arms over her chest, “I did. Men name their penises, I named my printing press.”
She held her hands up in mock surrender, “Hey, I was just asking. I didn’t mean to rub a nerve.”
I need to hurry up and get her out of my house. KT grabbed a sheet of paper and jotted down notes, “How many flyers are you going to need? And did you bring that proof?”
“I did,” she pulled the papers out of her purse. The spent the rest of the hour deep in discussion.
KT closed the door after escorting Angela through it. She sighed and leaned against it with her head swimming. Damn, that woman is beautiful but she’s got an enormous chip on her shoulder. She shook her head and walked into the kitchen, talking out loud, “Which means AJ’s going to fall head over heels in love with her.”
Across town AJ tried to keep her mind on the task ahead but failed miserably. She kept checking the time and mumbling to herself, “Come on, Kaycee, call me.” She imagined tall, beautiful Seven sweeping Kaycee off her feet. Kaycee would lead the woman to her bedroom and they’d begin making love passionately. She couldn’t figure out who she’d be more jealous of, Seven for seeing her best friend in a way she’s never seen her or KT for seeing Seven before she got the chance. Just as her daydream version of the women got really heated, her phone rang, “AJ speaking.”
KT’s voice was low and sounded as if she’d been chewing on gravel, “She’s beautiful and you’re probably going to fall all over yourself for her. But I want to state to you right here and now that I do believe I hate her.”
And AJ Savage didn’t know whether to be relieved or incredibly scared.
