Spice & Soul by C. Stewart Lewis

Juanita stood at the counter waiting for her mocha latte, extra foam with whipped cream.  It was her self care treat, if anyone asked. The coffee shop was busy, which shouldn’t have surprised her but it did.  She hoped she wouldn’t have to sit outside. It was May, still too early for summer weather to stick around, and despite the sunshine she wasn’t looking forward to huddling over her coffee cup while people in shorts and T-shirts tried to catch some rays sipping their iced coffee.

“John Needita.”

“Juanita. One. Knee. Ta,” replied Juanita, taking the drink from the barista, who rolled his eyes and turned to get the next drink.

“Bitch,” said Juanita under her breath and turned to find a seat. Every place looked to be taken.  Uggh!  She moved towards the exit when she spotted a free seat.  Ha ha!  Lady luck is smiling on – damn. There was a lady sitting on the other side.  Hold up.  Mmmm.  Not just a lady, a fine looking Latinx.  Long curly hair, auburn or some shit, bright red lipstick, big eyelashes.  Let me check this out.

Juanita put her latte on the table.

“Is this seat taken?” she asked.

Maria looked up and then up some more.  Hmmm. Hello there.

“I don’t know. Were you planning on sitting there?”

Juanita frowned. “I was thinking about it.”

“Then I guess it is.  Have a seat,” replied Maria and smiled up at the woman.

“Juanita,” she said and extended her hand.

Maria glanced at the outstretched hand. Hmmm. Long fingers. Manicured. Short nails. Dark brown skin. Maria took Juanita’s hand and shook it, letting her hand stay in hers a second before pulling it back. She went back to her book.

Juanita sat.  Okay bish, I see you and your fine self trying to play cute.  Uh huh.  I’ll see your cute face licking my kitty and choking on my pussy juice too.

She took a sip of her mocha latte.

Ordinary Home by Carolina Lopez.  Okay, so you’re an educated bish.  Nice. I just hope she’s not one of these stuck up woke bitches Juanita thought.

“What you reading?” she asked.

Maria looked up and tilted the book to show her the title.

“Ordinary Home.  It’s about a girl growing up in Miami after fleeing the civil war in Nicaragua,” she asked.

“Mmmm hmm,” said Juanita, licking some whipped cream off her top lip. “You like it?”

Maria hid her smirk behind the book.

“It’s pretty intriguing … if you’re into that sort of thing.”

“I suppose,” said Juanita, “I found the scene where she loses her virginity a little contrived but overall it was pretty good.”

“So you’ve read it?” asked Maria.

“A couple of months back before it hit the bestseller’s list and became everybody’s favorite lesbian go to book.”

“I’m not much of a reader so I’m late to the party,” said Maria and took a sip of her coffee.  “My girlfriends recommended it.”

“Girl friends or girlfriends?” asked Juanita leaning in, her elbow on the table.

Maria smiled. “Both,” and arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Or I should say ex-girlfriend. I’m currently single.”

“Nice to meet you, Single.” Juanita held out her hand, “I’m Juanita.”

“Hahaha. Maria,” she replied and shook her hand again, this time letting her fingers trail along Juanita’s as she withdrew from the handshake.

“So, what do you do when you’re not reading books recommended by ex-girlfriends?” asked Juanita.

“Work, movies and watching TV shows about interior decorating,” said Maria, chuckling softly, “And you?”

“I like working out and motorcycles. You ever been on a bike?  Riding down a country road with the wind in your face. Nice.”

“No, I’ve never been on a motorcycle. I prefer softer things rumbling between my thighs.” said Maria looking in Juanita’s eyes.

“Too bad. There’s nothing like the feel of a powerful, throbbing machine between your legs.  Your hands holding on, controlling where and how fast it takes you from zero to wherever the road takes you,” Juanita dipped her finger in the remnants of her whipped cream and licked it off, “You really should try it. It’s a thrill like nothing you’ve ever experienced”.

Maria leaned in close, focusing on Juanita’s lips.  “You make it sound tempting but I’ve got to get going.”  She sat up and pulled out a business card. “Call me. We’ll go out for dinner.”

“You free tonight?” asked Juanita.

“I should be, yes.”

“Then I’ll call you,” said Juanita as she took a long sip of her coffee.

***

Maria showed up at the restaurant promptly at eight.

“Reservation for two under Juanita Johnson,” she said to the maitre d.

“Hmmm. Yes. Are you Ms Johnson?” she asked.

“No, that would be me,” said Juanita walking up behind Maria.

“Ahhh, yes.  Right this way ladies.” 

“You’re late,” said Maria, smirking.

“Fashionably,” replied Juanita. 

The maitre d seated them. “Your waiter will be right with you.”

“Nice place you picked out,” said Maria, “a favorite of yours?”

“It was convenient. Close to both of our houses,” replied Juanita. “I’ve been here a few times so I know the food is okay. A favorite restaurant of mine is Johnson’s Soul Shack on 4th. We’ll have to get dinner from there one night. Do you like soul food?”

“Yes, I enjoy eating a good soul dish. I tend to like things spicy, so the spicier the better,” Maria said and smiled.

“Hi, my name is Andrew and I’ll be your waiter for tonight. Would you like to hear tonight’s special or may I start you off with some drinks?” asked the waiter, interrupting their conversation. 

“A glass of white wine,” said Maria.

“I’ll have a strawberry margarita to start,” said Juanita.

Maria raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t take you for a fruity drink kind of girl.”

“Sweets are my weakness. I enjoy drinking a bit of sweet juice especially if it’s got a bit of a kick.”

Maria didn’t know how to take that. Was it just a bad double entendre? Was she saying something else with that? Maybe she’s just a freaky bitch. The last thought turned her on. She kind of hoped it was the last.

“So, how was your day?” asked Maria.

“Not bad. Spent most of the day going over documents for this closing I’m going to tomorrow. My client finally has everything settled to get into the house. It’s been a nightmare for them to get the closing done on this house so I’m just going over everything to make sure everything is straight. I’ll be glad to see things finally done.  How was your day?”

“Phew. It was good but busy. I had one of my stylists, Victoria, she came in with her dog because it was sick. I try to help out my girls but I can’t have a dog in the shop all day. So she comes in with her dog and she has an appointment right away, and we’re stacked. Booked solid for the whole day; so I can’t send her home. This little dog. Oh my gawd.”

“So, you let the dog stay in the shop?” asked Juanita.

“Well, for this first customer. And the dog starts yapping. Like this high pitched, annoying barking. And I’m’ like Victoria, take care of your dog. And she’s like she’s gotta go out. And so this little bitch, the dog, not Victoria, has to go outside and Victoria, the bitch, is elbows deep washing this customer’s hair. So I’m at the front, greeting customers and cashing them out; so I’m looking around like what the hell am I going to do about this damn dog, and one of the other customers she’s like I’ll take her out. And I’m mortified. But I don’t see what I can do, and Victoria is like Oh, thank you. Thank you.  So, the lady takes the dog out front and we can see her out the front window and the dog does its business on a little patch of grass in front of the sidewalk. No problem. Lady picks it up with the little doggie poop bag.  No problem.”

“So, the customer takes the dog out. Problem solved?”

“That time. But see the dog had diarrhea. That’s why Victoria was late, her little shitpoo dog was pooping all over the place. So not 15 minutes later. The little shit starts barking again. To tell you the truth I had forgotten about it; that’s how busy we were.”

“Why didn’t you send the girl home with her dog?”

“Like I said. We were busy and I had forgotten about the dog. So the dog had to go out again and the other lady was now in her chair and Victoria was still dealing with her customer. So there was enough of a lull that I figure I can take the little shit machine outside and be back in quick.  But stupid me I don’t want to be out front with this pooping dog for all the world to see so I figure I’ll take it out back.”

“You’re not a dog person, I take it.”

“I’m not a pet person. I know people love their pets and God bless them but it ain’t me. You have a dog?”

“No. I live alone and am out too much to own a dog.”

“Good. So I take the dog out back. But there’s not a lot of grass out back.  It’s like an alley. So the dog starts sniffing around but not doing anything. I’m getting impatient because I got clients to get back to and I’m waiting for this dog to shit. It’s sniffing around and whining at me and I’m thinking well if you have diarrhea you should be ready to go, don’t look at me. Finally, I figure out I should be on the grass and take the dog over to the bushes area out back and she does her business.”

“Ladies, your drinks,” said their waiter. He put down the drinks in front of the respective lady. “Are we ready to order?”

“Oh, I haven’t had time to look through the menu,” replied Maria.

***

To read the rest of Juanita & Maria's tale, continue with page 4 on C. Stuart Lewis' website.