They made love like long-lost lovers. Theyfuckedlike they both had sex addictions. They comforted each other as if they were afraid to go to sleep at night.
They were soul mates in every way until he broke her heart in the worst way. “Six months and several moons ago.” She clarified.
Katrina knew enough about Aaliyah to know when she was smitten with a man. Most men fell under the ‘Netflix and Chill’ category. Aaliyah spoke more about dick appointments than she did about getting serious with any of them.
She had good reason to be cautious – most men wanted to be associated with her for the homie hookup of getting a free tattoo (only bonafide, certified relatives received that honor). The others just wanted to bang her and claimed they did so. Aaliyah always made it a point to let a man know thatshefucked him, never the other way around.
Now Aaliyah acted in a way that told Katrina Ocean was in a category by himself. Aaliyah could make all of the snide comments she wanted but it was clear as the nose on her face, she was still in love with Ocean.
Katrina believed that fact bothered Aaliyah more than Ocean’s reappearance. “But you still carry a torch for him, yes?”
“No!” Aaliyah bristled.Liar.“I don’t have any feelings for that man whatsoever.”Liar.“Besides, it was just a kiss and that’s it. He’ll be seen with a new woman soon and this will be fake news.”Pants on fire.
“Uh-huh.” Katrina didn’t want to risk getting fired so she went along with whatever hogwash her boss said. “Well, I hope to meet him one day. He seems like a great guy with good character.”
“He’s a senator.” Aaliyah replied. “They’re great actors in the public. It’s what they do behind closed doors that’s the issue.”
“Okay,” Katrina swiped through her boss’s playlist and found exactly what she was looking for – the eponymous “Fuck You” playlist. It contained nothing but angry and bitter songs of the hard and fast variety. She quickly turned it on and heard Janet Jackson’s soothing coos as “Son of a Gun” played in the overhead speakers. “Let’s get this out of the way because I don’t want to hear you bitching about Mr. O for the rest of the day.”
Katrina knew Aaliyah almost better than herself at times. “Let’s do this.”
~~~~~~
“Senator Ellison! Senator Ellison! Who was that lady you were caught kissing?”
“Senator Ellison! Are you going to be married any time soon?”
“Senator Ellison! What are your thoughts on the illegal immigration holding centers?”
Ocean Ellison stopped and turned around to answer the only question that was worth answering. “I think today’s version of concentration camps are repulsive and disgusting. This is not what America is about. When immigrants flee their nations and come over here, they’re not taking anyone’s job nor are they rapists, murderers, or lazy workers. Some of the best and finest people who served in our military were first-generation immigrants. These people sacrifice their livelihood just to give their children a better life. I think that is something everyone can relate to, no matter what side of the immigration debate you’re on. That is all I’ll be saying on this for now. Thank you.” Ocean was ushered into his office and closed the door behind him.
“Well,” Justin sat down at Ocean’s desk, “that wasn’t too bad.”
“It’s not bad because no one cares about me.” Ocean sat behind his mahogany desk. “I’m not the target. Liyah is.”
“And how is Ms. Aaliyah?” Justin asked. “How is she doing with the newfound attention?”
“She can’t decide if she loves me or hates me.” Ocean replied. “She wants to stay angry but she’s afraid if she does, it’ll take away whatever power it gave her.”
“Well, you did motivate her to start the tattoo shop.” Justin replied. “So, there’s that.”
Ocean bristled at the notion. Oh, he motivated her by starting the tattoo shop all right – by giving her the worst heartache. “She would’ve started one on her own. I didn’t help her with that.” Ocean replied.
“But you did give her motivation indirectly,” Justin countered. “She had many reasons to prove to anyone she could make it on her own without anyone’s help.”
“And I love that about her but she’s always been like that.” Aaliyah was wowed by Ocean’s background but she was always more interested in him. She couldn’t care less what he drove or why he worked long hours at the hospital and student health clinic.
All she wanted to know was if he was going to be available to blow her back out on any given night. Ocean had to calm his erection down before he stood up again. “That hasn’t changed a bit.”
“You still going out with Ximena tonight?” Justin asked as he handed over the dossier faxed over by Ocean’s mother, Starr. “Your mother doesn’t seem to be that impressed by her.”
Ocean opened the folder and read the scathing cover sheet attached to it:
You’re better off watching paint dry while getting kicked in the balls.
Love you,
Mom.
