Page 15 of Fever

Chapter Five

Santana

What a long drawn out day. From the moment I rose from bed groggy and ruffled, I should’ve known I’d feel like knocking out as soon as I got home. Which I did. But seeing Desiree’s Audi parked in front of the mailbox, I knew knocking out wouldn’t be on the agenda. I pulled into the driveway and parked, climbing out of my Volkswagen Beetle. Staring at me through the glass pane of her front window Desiree cut her eyes at me. I sighed and quickly made my way up the walkway to the front porch.

I wrestled with my keys, trying unsuccessfully to unlock the door. With the sun’s rays attacking my back, I adjusted the Christian Dior shades on my face and hurriedly fumbled for the correct key. A car door behind me slammed when I’d finally jiggled the keys inside and turned the lock.

“So, you think you’re just going to run past me and get away with it?” Desiree said, making it to the door.

“I’m just trying to get out of this heat,” I replied, opening the door wider to allow her entrance behind me.

She strutted inside and hung her purse on a nearby rack. I trotted to the kitchen and Desiree followed closely.

“Start talking,” she said.

I pulled out a bottle of Moscato and poured two glasses.

“What kind of Moscato is this?” Desiree asked.

“Does it matter? They’re all pretty good.”

“That’s true.” Desiree folded her arms. “Now spill it.”

“What?”

“You know what,” she said, “I’ve got all day. Julian is in California. I could even spend the night if I wanted to. So, keep acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about, and I’ll bug you for the rest of the night.”

She put the glass to her lips and took a big swig, then made a show of getting comfortable in her seat. I rolled my eyes and smirked.

“What is it that you would like to know, Desiree?”

“Like you don’t know,” Desiree replied. “Where the hell did you disappear to the last two days in Jamaica!? You’ve been able to dodge me because of my honeymoon, but…”

“You have to tell me all about that,” I said.

“Santana!”

“Okay, okay.” I cracked a smile. “It’s no big deal.” I shrugged. “Josiah asked me if I’d take a ride with him. And I acquiesced.”

My smirk was turning into a full-blown smile. Desiree smiled in return, and her mouth dropped. “And where did you go? Come on, spill it!”

I guffawed. It was interesting being on this end of the microscope. When Desiree and Julian dated, I was all in her business, trying to get details. Now here we’d come full circle.

“Giiirrrllll,” I said, dragging out the word, “Josiah is so fine.” I kissed the tips of my fingers one by one. “Everything about him is hot, right down to the blood beneath his skin.”

Desiree’s gaping mouth widened. “You had sex with him?” she yelled.

“I didn’t say all that.” I put a hand on my hip and sipped my wine. “But we got dangerously close.”

Desiree squealed and threw her head back. “Oh my God. I did not see this coming, but I should have.”

I frowned. “I didn’t see it coming either, but why should you have?”

“Girl, the way that man looked at you when he came down to Houston was telling enough. I thought you would end up his meal.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I believe he was kinda hungry.” We were both tickled at that comment.

“So, what did y’all do?”

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