Read Almost Doesn't Count Online
Authors: Angela Winters
Almost Doesn't Count (19 page)
“Just need a break from all that hot air,” she said.
He looked nice in an ordinary gray suit and white shirt. It impressed her that he chose to go a little off-color, out of the ordinary.
“You're not enjoying yourself,” he said, joining her as he leaned against the rail. “I think it's great in there. I've already gotten seven business cards. A lot of wealth-management opportunities.”
“Enough,” she said. Mostly because she wanted him to shut up, but also because she wanted to think about someone other than Ricky, Billie reached out and grabbed him by his expensive tie. She pulled him toward her and leaned up. She planted a kiss on his lips.
“This is nice.”
She separated from Robert and turned toward the familiar voice. Could he have worse timing?
“I'm surprised to see you, Porter.” She pasted on a saccharine smile that doubled as a get-the-hell-away-from-me signal. “You must be a plus one, because I know Sherise would have never let you get on this invitation list.”
Porter was ignoring her. He had eyes for only Robert as he approached.
“I was wondering when I'd meet you,” he said.
“There's no reason for you to meet him,” Billie added, resenting the possessiveness of that statement.
Porter offered him a tepid smile before turning to Billie. “So, what have you been bugging me about?”
“Now is not the time,” Billie said.
“You've left me three messages,” he answered back. “Now is your chance.”
She had been trying to talk to him about Tara, hoping he would reconsider what she felt was punishment for being a teenaged girl.
“Can we meet at another time?” she asked.
“I guess Tara is only important enough to not interfere with your love life.”
“You know that's not true.” Billie could see Robert's growing discomfort.
“Then talk to me.” He smiled as if he was proud of his disruptive presence.
“Stop being a child,” Billie demanded. “Wearing your jealousy on your sleeve is not a good look.”
Porter's grin vanished. “I was just giving you a chance, but I can see that your little date is moreâ”
“You can't see anything,” Billie said. “You can't see anything beyond your ego and pride. I'm on a date. Grow up and deal with it. If you can't do that, then go away and show out somewhere else.”
“Classy, Billie.” He tried to hide behind a disappointed glare, but it wasn't working. He seemed to know it and, after giving Robert one last disapproving glare, turned and walked away.
Billie turned to Robert, who was the poster boy for awkward. “I'm sorry about that.”
“I like you, Billie,” he said after a short hesitation.
She recognized that tone. “But?”
“But I'm not a fool,” he added. “There is still something between the two of you.”
Billie laughed, but stopped when she realized he wasn't laughing along with her. “You're serious, aren't you? Jesus, Robert. No, there is nothing between us.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked.
“Not that it's any of your business,” she answered, “but I'm sure.”
“Trying to keep a man in your life through his kids is textbook,” he said.
Billie was frozen in place, her jaw almost dropping to the floor.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I'm sorry,” he stammered. “I didn't mean to offend you, but it's the truth.”
“Well, you did offend me and it's not the truth. I care about Tara like a daughter, and the only reason I'm trying to . . . Why am I even saying this? I don't have to explain myself to you.”
“You're right,” he said. “I'm sorry, I just . . .”
“You're just like him,” she said, looking him over. “You and Porter should date each other.”
“I think you're out of line,” he suggested firmly.
“I'm out of line?” She laughed. “At least with you I know straight up who you are. Porter used to be different. He turned into you. I'm not about to make the same damn mistake again. Enjoy your night of networking, Robert.”
He didn't call her name at all as she walked away. It wouldn't have made a difference if he had, but that fact that he hadn't only told Billie she'd done the right thing. This man was not what she wanted.
10
“T
ake this,” Erica shoved a glass of wine in Sherise's face. “You look like you need it.”
ake this,” Erica shoved a glass of wine in Sherise's face. “You look like you need it.”
Sherise took the glass even though she knew she needed something much stronger. “You've been ignoring me all night.”
“Um . . . maybe because you're being a bitch.”
“I'm dealing with a crisis here.”
“Justin is not cheating on you, Sherise. Stop it.”
“Not that.” Sherise stopped herself before she went further.
“Then what?”
“No, I mean . . .” She didn't know how much longer she could keep this up. “Just try and have some compassion.”
“I was trying,” Erica said. “But you fuck it up insulting my boyfriend.”
“From boyfriend to fiancé to boyfriend.” Sherise made a mocking gesture. “That sounds healthy.”
“See, there you go again.” Erica threw her hands in the air. “I'm done with you for the night.”
Just as she was about to leave, Billie showed up in a huff.
“Why didn't you tell me Porter was going to be here?”
Sherise shrugged. “I'm in charge of press. If I had something to do with the guest list, I wouldn't have let Porter, Jonah, or Terrell past that door.”
“Bitch,” Erica said under her breath.
“Well, he's here.” Billie snatched the glass of wine out of Sherise's hand and took a sip. “And he's being a dick as usual. Not to mention Robert. He's done. You understand me? His expiration date was today, five minutes ago.”
“What did he do?” Erica asked.
“He had the nerve to accuse me of using Tara to stay in Porter's life!”
Waiting for incredulous stares from both Sherise and Erica, Billie was infuriated by their hesitation.
“Ugh!” She slammed the glass on the closest table. “I'm going home.”
“Stop it.” Erica grabbed her before she could leave. “He was way out of line. Wasn't he, Sherise?”
They both looked at Sherise, but she was looking suspiciously around the room.
“What are you doing?” Billie asked.
“Nothing.” Sherise shook her head. “What are we talking about? How you use Tara to keep Porter around.”
“How I don't!” Billie insisted. “I'm the only woman in that girl's life. I'm trying to help her.”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Robinson.”
The women turned to a member of the hotel catering staff, a middle-aged Asian man, who offered a glass of a dark mixed drink to Sherise.
“This your drink,” he said, although it was more of a question than a statement.
“I didn't order a drink,” Sherise said, even though she took it. She hoped it was stronger than a glass of wine.
“I was told by a lady you ordered this and I should give to you.”
“What lady?” Erica asked, looking around. “LaKeisha?”
“No name,” he said. “Red dress.”
Sherise took a quick scan of the room. “There are about twenty red dresses just in my line of sight. Was she black or white?”
“Yes,” he said before turning and walking away.
Erica laughed. “Yes? Maybe she's biracial.”
“So you got ladies hitting on you now, too?” Billie asked.
“This isn't the first time,” Erica said. “Remember when we were at that bar above Marvin's? That blonde chick came hard at Sherise. She was all likeâ”
“Shit!”
Sherise was loud enough to get some stares from people nearby. Her head shot up and she looked around. She wanted to panic, but she knew she had to get control of herself. She took a deep breath and scanned the room.
“What is it?” Billie asked.
Sherise handed her the napkin that she was served with the drink. The words, written in blue pen, were a little blurry from the glass, but the words could not be mistaken.
What goes around comes around!
“What the hell?” Billie asked, showing the napkin to Erica.
Sherise eyed the room like a hawk. Her stomach was fluttering like crazy, but she looked like steel. She wanted whoever it was to know she was not going to be some sitting duck. She was studying every woman she could see in a red dress, but none of them were familiar and none of them seemed at all interested in her right now.
The only person in the room at that moment who seemed to have eyes only for her was Jonah. He stood several yards away in a circle of people chatting away. He wasn't chatting. He was looking at her. She caught his eyes and glared.
“Jonah,” she said. “It's him.”
“Bullshit,” Erica said.
“The waiter said it was a woman,” Billie interjected.
“He sent a woman to do it,” Sherise said. “Of course, the man would easily point him out in a crowd.”
“That doesn't make any sense,” Erica said. “Jonah is having an affair with Justin?”
Sherise realized that the girls still thought she was thinking about Justin's affair. She snatched the napkin from Erica and looked at it again. The threat didn't really fit the doctor's records situation, but it did fit an affair.
“Where is that waiter?” Sherise turned around to see if she could spot him. “I'm gonna drag him around untilâ”
“She's probably left, whoever she is,” Billie offered. “Besidesâ”
“Sherise! Where have you been?”
LaKeisha sauntered over to the trio of women, looking as if she'd had more than a few drinks . . . wearing a cocktail dress that seemed a size too big and reached an awkward two inches below her knees . . . and was red.
Sherise, Erica, and Billie all shared a glance, thinking the same thing.
“No,” Billie said.
“No, what?” LaKeisha looked as if she knew she'd interrupted something.
“Nothing,” Sherise said. “What is it, LaKeisha?”
“Northman wants to talk to you.” She smiled, but it faded as she did not receive the excited reaction to her news from Sherise as expected. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing,” Sherise answered suspiciously. “That sounds great. I'll talk to him soon.”
“He wants to tell you how much he loved the job you did tonight.” LaKeisha, even a little tipsy, seemed to realize that Erica and Billie were staring at her oddly as she looked at both of them with a little trepidation. “I know he wants you to come on board.”
No one said anything.
“Permanently,” LaKeisha added as if she thought it would have a different effect.
“That's great news,” Sherise said, still eyeing her with subtle suspicion. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
LaKeisha looked around, clearly having no clue. “Um . . . no. Well, of course, there will be the background check and all that, but we know you.”
“You mean like with my social security number?” Sherise asked.
Billie slightly jabbed Sherise with her elbow. She was acting very weird. “She's just playing with you, LaKeisha.”
“Of course!” LaKeisha didn't do a good job of pretending she wasn't a little weirded out by the scene.
“Has anyone been asking about Sherise?” Erica asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Tonight,” Erica clarified. “Do you know anyone who's been asking about her?”
“That woman!” Sherise yelled out.
Without thinking, she grabbed LaKeisha by the arm.
“Sherise!” Billie yelled and tried to pull Sherise off her.
“What's going on?” LaKeisha looked terrified.
“You said a woman was talking about me,” Sherise said. “A few weeks ago. That was what made you remember me! Who was that woman?”
LaKeisha was looking at Sherise as if she was crazy, but Sherise didn't care.
Billie grabbed Sherise's hand and loosened her grip on LaKeisha. “Take it easy, girl.”
Sherise tried to take a deep breath so she could calm down. The thought had suddenly occurred to her and something clicked. This was the key.
“Do you remember?” Sherise asked. “You told me her name.”
Nothing.
“Think!” Sherise wanted to strangle her.
“Oh!” LaKeisha almost jumped up and down. She laughed. “That is so funny. I was like, what the hell is sheâ”
“Who?” Sherise demanded.
“Jennifer Ross,” LaKeisha said. “Do you remember her now?”
Sherise looked at Billie and Erica. Both women shook their heads. They had no clue.
“Have you seen her here tonight?” Billie asked.
LaKeisha shook her head. “I don't . . . No, I haven't, but she's in DC all the time, so she could be here. She is a supporter of Northman, butâ”
“What do you mean âin DC'?” Sherise asked. “She doesn't live here? She lives in Maryland or Virginia?”
“No,” LaKeisha said. “She lives in Texas. I think . . .”
“Dallas,” Sherise finished for her.
“How do you know that?” Billie asked.
Sherise looked at her, not sure of what she should tell her. Her mind was spinning. There was no way this was a coincidence. It was true. This woman, Jennifer, was after her and she was after Cady. Why?
“I'll Google her,” Erica said, reaching for her phone in her purse.
“You do that,” Sherise said. “LaKeisha, you're gonna help me find that woman here tonight.”
“I don't think she's here,” LaKeisha said.
“She's here,” Sherise responded. “And I'm gonna find this bitch.”
Â
Standing in the half-circle driveway entrance to the hotel, Erica looked up from her phone just long enough to see Jonah walk outside. He looked like an older male model, his hands stuck in the pockets of his crisply tailored suit.
What did he want from her? She had already said hello and engaged in small talk for a few minutes with him. That was really the best she could do. It was weird. He made her feel like she was doing something wrong by talking to him and she resented him for that. Still, she was curious about him.
“It's a little early to call it a night.” He stopped as he reached her.
“Some of us have to be at work in the morning.” She smiled awkwardly.
“Where is your date?”
“Terrell is getting the car.”
He frowned. “He didn't do valet?”
Not liking the tone of his voice, she gave him a stern look.
“Sorry,” he offered with a humble lowering of his head. When he looked back up, he said, “You look lovely, Erica. You're veryâ”
“Don't,” she softly pleaded.
He frowned, looking somewhat sad. “I was justâ”
“I know what you were doing,” she said, “and I don't want you to do that. I don't know you, Jonah. I don't know if I want to. You're used to being in charge of everything, including every relationship you have. Not with me.”
“I just wanted to say good night,” he said. “I apologize if you felt I was being too familiar.”
“I need time,” she said.
His expression softened as he looked into her eyes. His hand reached up and gently touched her shoulder. “I'm just grateful you're giving me this chance.”
“Someone will see you,” she said as she looked at his hand.
He sighed before slowly removing his hand
“Sherise is being harassed by someone,” she said. “If you'reâ”
“I would never do that,” he interrupted. “I feel like we've had a breakthrough, Erica.”
“Don't assume that much.” This rare, tender side of him touched her, but she knew enough about him to know he usually did this when he wanted something or was up to something.
“I'll tell you what I won't assume,” he said. “I won't assume you'd forgive me if I went after one of your friends.”
“She's more than my friend.”
He smiled. “She's made that clear to me.”
“I didn't think you had anything to do with it,” Erica said, “but I had to ask.”
“I deserved that.” He paused. “Erica, I want us to have aâ”
The honk of Terrell's horn was deep and bellowing, and it made Erica jump. She turned to the car, which was on the other side of the driveway. Terrell was looking through the passenger-side window with a menacing glare directed at Jonah.
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