Mya turned her head to hide her laughter. It was obvious this girl wanted those boots at any cost.
As Stephanie struggled to get the left boot off, Tangie looked up at Mya as she tried to pull the right boot off. “Hey, don’t just stand there. Help me get this damn boot off my foot,” Tangie yelled at Mya.
Mya dropped her bags, then rushed over and grabbed the right boot and began pulling with all her might. People standing around were laughing as Tangie’s body twisted and turned in all directions.
Stephanie and Mya struggled for two or three minutes, dragging Tangie’s body down the aisle of the shoe department until they managed to get the boots off.
After more laughter, everyone managed to compose themselves while Tangie straightened her clothes and put her hair back in place before sitting down next to the empty shoebox.
Mya paused for a moment, admiring the size six that she so desperately wanted. “Do you mind if I try them on?” she asked politely.
“Hell, no. Be my guest,” Tangie replied, wiping the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead.
Mya took off her shoes and slipped both her feet into the boots with ease and walked in front of the mirror.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Tangie said, disappointment in her voice.
“How do you think they look on me?” Mya asked.
“I hate to say it but they really look good on you,” Tangie replied.
“Yeah, they do look nice,” Stephanie said.
Then the salesclerk passed by and saw Mya walking in the boots. “Oh, so you were able to find the last pair of size six, huh?”
Mya smiled and turned toward Tangie, who was sitting with a look of disbelief on her face.
“Well, I guess she did,” Tangie said dryly.
“Okay, well, when you’re ready, I’ll ring them up for you,” the salesclerk replied as she walked off.
Mya smiled and sat down next to the two women, happy to get the boots, and began taking them off and placing them back into the shoebox.
“Thanks, you guys,” Mya said as she stood up to walk to the register.
“Oh, you’re quite welcome…Oh, I’m Stephanie Hall, by the way, and this nut over here is my friend, Tangie Jackson.”
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Mya LeVeaux.”
“LeVeaux?” Tangie repeated, sitting up in her chair. “Surely you’re not from Atlanta?”
“No, I’m from New Orleans. Why?” Mya replied.
“Just never heard the name—”
“Anyway, Mya, so how long have you lived in Atlanta?” Stephanie interrupted.
“Oh, not quite a year yet,” Mya replied. “I teach fourth grade at Austell Middle School near Six Flags.”
“Oh, you teach school, too?” Tangie replied, surprised. “So do Stephanie and me. We teach at Stephenson Middle School in Stone Mountain.”
“Oh, really? That’s a coincidence,” Mya replied.
“Well, Tangie and I∧ are about to grab some lunch and drinks at the Cheesecake Factory down the street. You’re welcome to join us,” Stephanie said.
Surprised at the invitation, Mya agreed, and after paying for her boots, they all exited the store.
From that day on, the three of them found that they all had a lot in common and established a loving friendship.
CHAPTER 1
Mya
At three o’clock the school bell rang, ending my last class for the week. I put my books in my desk drawers and placed all of the papers from the day’s lessons in my briefcase to take home and grade over the weekend. I watched as my fourth-grade students rushed out the door with big smiles and filtered into the hallway with the other students.
Tangie put in a good word for me at Stephenson Middle School after the fourth-grade teacher moved out of state. I was glad to get out of Austell Middle School, being that my commute was about seventy miles round-trip. Stephanie teaches second grade, while Tangie teaches third.
After straightening up my classroom, I locked the door behind me and walked down to the teachers’ lounge near the front entrance. When I opened the door I saw Tangie and Stephanie sitting on the couch, looking exhausted.
“Girl, I’m so glad it’s Friday, I don’t know what to do,” Tangie said, pressing her palms against her temples.
“Girl, I’m ready to go home, take a hot bath, and sip on a nice, cool glass of wine,” Stephanie said.
“Wine? Girl, I need some Grey Goose and cranberry juice right about now, with these bad-ass kids,” Tangie said.
“I just want to go home and curl up with a good book,” I said, my eyes closed in thought.
“A book?” Tangie mocked. “Girl, you should be trying to curl up with a man. When was the last time you got some?”
I opened my eyes as Tangie broke my train of thought. “What?”
“You heard me—a man. I know your dad is a big-time preacher and all, but c’mon. You’d better jump on one of these fine single brothers out there. What are you waiting for?”
“Tangie, you know Mya is waiting for Mr. Right. You’d better tell her—”
“Mr. Right, huh? Ain’t no such thing,” Tangie responded with assurance.
“Amen to that,” Stephanie replied.
“One thing I do know is that I’m curling up with Mr. Todd Wilson tonight.” Tangie continued.
Todd Wilson had been the quarterback of Tangie and Stephanie’s high-school football team. According to Stephanie it was merely a sexual relationship that lasted throughout their high-school years. After graduation, Todd went to Alabama State University in Montgomery on an athletic scholarship, and never looked back.
“What? Todd Wilson?” Stephanie replied in disbelief. “Last I heard he was married with kids and living in Tennessee.”
“He was living in Tennessee but they moved back to Atlanta about a year ago. We ran into each other at the club this past weekend and exchanged numbers.”
“You mean after all these years you’re just going to spread your legs for this man?” I asked in a shocked tone.
“Hell, yes. Girl, you don’t understand. Todd was my first. Every time we did it, my fucking toes curled. It’s rare that you meet a man that can do all that.”
“Girl, where is your respect for yourself? That man is married with a family,” Stephanie exclaimed.
“Look, I’ve been married twice, and me and those bastards got on each other’s nerves. Hell, if you ask me, I’m doing his wife a favor by getting his ass out of the house every now and then. After all, it’s just sex.”
“Anyway,” Stephanie replied dryly.
“Yeah, Tangie, you can’t trust a man who cheats on his wife,” I said.
“You two just don’t understand. It’s not trust that I want…It’s that ten-inch dick.” Caught off guard, Stephanie and I laughed out loud.
“Now, if you two don’t mind, I will see you later. I have to get ready for my weekend.” Tangie winked at us.
Outside the window from the teachers’ lounge you could see the rain beginning to come down in drizzles. I gathered