Oh, What a Life
By Nichole Williams
This morning Destiny woke up to her favorite light roast coffee with French vanilla creamer, a cheese Danish, a bowl of fresh-cut strawberries and a fine man serving it to her. Destiny has been experiencing mornings like this for months. She never thought in her life, that she would see this type of treatment and enjoy it and not push back or run away from it, it was the best feeling Destiny thought. Being on the road with Greggory has grown into a grand love affair. Going from a good-looking Casanova that only took her to undercover spoken word/poetry lounges to a real man taking her to grand shows, stadium filled crowds and exclusive events across the United States giving her, his undivided attention. Greggory had a big lifestyle that was growing but had the mentality of a small farm boy that loved quiet moments by the fireplace. Destiny loved their 3 am conversations that went on for hours even after a show, when Greggory played his heart out and his lips were numb but talking to the woman that still to this day after their first meeting electrifies his soul was all he needed.
Months have passed, seasons have changed and now it is springtime. They are headed to another concert for Greggory, this time in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the biggest locations Greggory has played to date and sold out within hours. Greggory had a talent that was breathe taking and everyone wanted a taste of it.
"Baby what shirt are you putting on with these pants?" Destiny shouts to Greggory in the bathroom, standing in the hallway.
Destiny often dresses Gregory when traveling on the road with him. She loves a well-dressed man and to dress her man is the icing on the cake. Greggory gets sheer enjoyment watching Destiny work her magic with his wardrobe and appreciates that she wants to be part of his music tour even if it's just picking out the right outfit. It has been eleven sensational months of dating and traveling with Gregory on his Love Notes U.S. Tour. Destiny has maintained her job as a caregiver nurse. She often works twenty-four-hour care for five days straight to be able to take five days off to travel with Greggory. She loves taking care of others and at one point in her life, she thought about opening a care center for the elderly. Greggory expressed to her she could quit her job and travel with him full time. He wanted a life with Destiny and for her to be happy. Destiny is an independent woman and although she would love to be by Greggory's side all the time she doesn't want to come off as a desperate chick or gold digger riding his coattails.
Coming out of the shower with only a towel draped around his waist, Greggory grabs Destiny from behind pushes her hair to the side and kisses her neck.
"Babe, how did I get so lucky? You have been by my side since that night you electrified my soul in Manhattan."
"Babe electrified your soul, wow really I did all that huh?"
"Yes, babe you did that."
"I love you to the moon and back baby," Destiny whispers in Greggory's ear.
Mille is calling. Greggory answers and puts the phone on speaker.
"Greggory you need to be at Tin Tine art gallery at 1 pm, and please don't be late."
"I will be there."
"Are you sure? Last time you and Destiny decided to take a wine tour and left fans and media waiting for an hour."
Destiny interjects, "Mille why are you bringing up old shit I apologized for that and he has been on track ever since."
"Just don't be late," the phone goes dead.
Over the last eleven months, Destiny's best friend Mille had dropped her talent agency, her full-time job at Sony and established her very own PR firm full time, which Greggory is one of her top clients. Mille loves working with Greggory but when issues are going on with the business, she has with Greggory a little friction starts between Millie and Destiny. Marrisa is married and slowed down on her flashy ways. She married her high school sweetheart who came back to New York and swept her off her feet. Marrisa still shows out when the ladies hit the town but never crosses the line being a fully committed woman and her husband would pretty much lose it if she did. Shelia is a yoga teacher and still living free. Shelia tries to keep the ladies connected with organizing outings and lunch dates for them. She keeps the ladies in constant rotation with texting and calling them at least once a week. Shelia values her friendships and wants to keep her tight-knit college friends bonded till death do them part. She is the gorilla glue that holds them all together. Ever since that Night of Ex-bashing at Lucky's, the ladies favorite bar and Destiny meeting Greggory, things have not been the same.
"What the hell is wrong with her!" Destiny stated pissed.
"I don't know babe that's your girl."
"Ever since we asked her to be your PR agent, she has changed."
"Babe you ever think that she might be going through something you can't always assume she is okay."
"So, you are sticking up for her now after the way she talks about us."
"Pump your brakes, I'm not sticking up for no one I'm just saying that's your friend check on her she could be going through some things.”
Destiny stares out the hotel window and wonders if Greggory is right.
“Enough of that for now, how much time do we have before the car comes?" Greggory says licking his lips and slapping Destiny on the ass.
Destiny thinks back to when Mille was her go-to person for everything going on in her life but lately they barely talk. Was it because of her growing relationship with Greggory? Mille is the one who set them up to meet. Destiny's biggest crush but Millie didn't think it would evolve into a full-fledged relationship. Destiny thinks to herself, I can't stress over my friend and her guilt trips I'm happy and living life. Would she rather see me drunk at Lucky's crying over another break-up instead of living my best life happy?
*****
Destiny's cellphone rings with the tone of When Doves Cry, Sheila's ring tone she tells everyone to use for her. Sheila was so demanding, so everyone pretty much did what she says.
"Hey, are you going to Lunch tomorrow or no?" With an attitude, "Well how are you Destiny? You ok Destiny? Damn, yeah, I think I should be in town that morning so I will try and make it. Where are we meeting again?"
"Girl, don't start with me, ever since you and Mille been acting funny towards each other I have to be the peacekeeper and keep y'all inline."
A three-second delay and Destiny responds, "Whatever."
"We are meeting at the new French restaurant right down the street from Lucky's, heard it was good," Shelia says energetically.
"Why are you being so fake all of a sudden?" Destiny said laughing.
"It's this new gig girl I had to force myself to change my talk. Who knew doing Yoga would make people so damn happy? They are rubbing off on me!"
"Oh my!"
"I forgot to tell you James came in with his new little flavor of the week for couple's yoga, he was looking crazy. Told me to tell you Hi."
"Well, you could have kept forgetting to tell me that mess, Girl bye."
A magnificent calm Sunday in Manhattan for the ladies to get together for lunch but the tension in the restaurant was so thick it was like trying to push a 1000-pound elephant through a 3-foot-wide door. Mille was on her iPad pretending to be very busy. Destiny was staring Millie down waiting for her to look up and say something. Marrisa is taking selfies to send her husband and having a side conversation with Sheila.
"So, are we going to talk or what?" Marrisa blurs out.
"I'm getting tired of just talking to Sheila every outing, no offense sister but I need more engaging content."
"Jesus how much bread is she going to keep bringing to the table. I know the French like bread, but this is overkill. I could build me a mini fort with all this bread. They need to talk to the waitresses". Sheila interjects.
"Crazy how a friend wants you happy but when they see you happy, they hate on you." Destiny proclaimed.
"What a Joke, stuck in your little world". Milles states under her breathe as she takes a sip of her water.
The waitress comes over looking at all the women wondering if this is a good time to ask for orders.
"Bonjour ladies are we already to order?"
"Can you tell me the specials you have today?" Sheila asks with a delightful smile.
"Yes, today is the Roasted Salmon paired with a Lobster Bisque, Confit Baby Potatoes, and Apple Kale."
"Now if that doesn't sound marvelous, I'm getting that!!"
"Sheila that's thirty-five dollars you got money for that?"
"Ewww you are working my nerves, Millie," Sheila says annoyed.
The waitress is trying to hold in her laughter as the ladies seem to be her afternoon entertainment. The ladies finally order their food and awkward silence surrounds the table.
"I'm just going to put it out there, are you jealous of me and Greggory's relationship?" Destiny out of breath as if it took everything in her and a fair amount of courage to ask Millie.
"I'm far from jealous Destiny I set you two up in the first damn place."
"True you did but I think you thought it wouldn't go this far. Like I’m a little fan and you were fulfilling my dream of meeting my favorite artist and you did your charitable make a wish foundation work." Destiny stated and walks away from the table, headed to the restroom.
Marrisa looked at Sheila in shock while drinking her glass of red wine. No other words were exchanged between Millie and Destiny, when Destiny returned to the table. The silence was the theme for the rest of the lunch combined with Shelia trying to lighten the mood with Yoga stories of her teaching classes and passing gas during downward dog poses. During one story Mille and Destiny made eye contact and shared a smile at each other for a moment.
After lunch with the girls and Millie still having ill feelings towards Destiny, they needed more than a lunch date to resolve things. Destiny thought about reaching out to Millie later maybe with a text. Millie truly wanted to talk to Destiny and get her point across but didn't want to put a damper on her happiness and the ladies' lunch date since it's been a while with all four of them together. Millie always worried more about her friends regardless of all the medical issues she is having.
*****
Falling for Destiny daily and still focusing on his hip hop saxophone career and making many collaborations with artists who are new and old to the music scene, Greggory feels the relationship he has with Destiny has grown and helped his career. Mille feels his credibility has fallen a few notches because of Destiny. He has missed two interviews and been late to three or four shows because of dates he planned with Destiny while on tour. Trying to manage his career, his love life and his girlfriend's friendship with his PR agent has been a challenge but well worth it having Destiny in his life. From dinner dates, industry parties, wine tours, picnics in parks across the U.S. and crazy shopping sprees Greggory was preparing to have the best night thus far with Destiny.
Year to the date Greggory is back in Manhattan ending his tour with a final show at Radio Music Hall, the same place he and Destiny met. His emotions were high and today was the highlight of his year.
"I remember seeing you with such beautiful woman surrounding you. I didn't know if they were your groupies or stage crew. I didn't care though, I knew I was going to meet you." Destiny reminisces.
"Oh, you did huh?" Greggory chuckles.
"Babe this is where our love magic started." Greggory kisses Destiny on her forehead.
"Why did you have me dress up Greggory in this sexy black dress like I'm performing."
"What? I can't have my lady looking gorgeous, you have been dressing me here and there on the road. I wanted to treat you to the star treatment and pamper you. You know I'm going to play for you on stage too, it's our first meet anniversary."
"Oh my, you always doing the most, but I'm not complaining the makeup and hair lady hooked me up," Destiny tells him with a little innocent schoolgirl grin.
"We have been living our best lives this past year baby and I'm glad we are connected and growing as a couple daily."
There's a moment where time stood still as Destiny takes in the positive energy she and Greggory possess.
It's like Deja vu as Shelia, Marrisa, and Mille come through the backstage door.
"Well, well, well, here we are again where is the food and drink table?" Marrisa says as she walks in, hips shaking and tities bouncing. Since becoming a wife, Marrisa does not get out on the town much, so she made sure she jazzed herself up for tonight's concert.
Mille still not talking to Destiny pulls Greggory to the side to talk about the media that are in attendance and interviews he will be doing after the show.
"Please make sure you don't rush him off after the show he has work to do," Millie tells Destiny with a side-eye and leaves the room.
"What the Hell?" I'm so over her and her shit, we are going to have it out later because this friendship is pretty much at a dead end."
"I haven't even talked to her and kept it cool since we had the girls' lunch and she's still talking crazy to me."
Stuffing a pickle in her mouth Marrisa looks at Shelia with a tilted head gesture and eyebrows raised signal to talk to Destiny.
"You know that girl loves you stop bugging," Sheila tells Destiny.
"That's not loving!"
*****
Greggory has the whole Hall on their feet and only six songs into his set. He takes a moment and asks to have Destiny come on stage with him to play his top-charting hit and Grammy-nominated song 'Oh what a night'. Destiny is sitting in a high back gold chair fit for a queen with black music notes all over it. A group of men in black suits bring her white roses at least three hundred, she couldn't even hold them all, most of them lay at her feet. The crowd is in awe. Destiny starts to cry and smile at the same time, but her big brown eyes fill with tears of joy. To be serenaded by the man she loves brings joyous excitement to her body. After playing and Greggory gets the crowd to settle down, he unhooks his sax and hands it to a stage crew member and grabs the microphone.
"Thank you, everyone, I love you, New York"! Can y'all vibe with me for a moment on a personal note? It's no secret this woman right here has been my life, my love, the electrified source to my happiness. Destiny my heartbeat it has been exactly 12 months since I met you in this very Hall and I asked you on this very stage would you go on tour with me and surprisingly you said yes with no hesitation."
Getting chills Destiny looks directly into Greggory's eyes and feels his energy and emotions.
"Destiny baby I need you more than just riding with me on tour, state to state here and there. I need you in my life permanently." Greggory drops down to one knee and goes to pull out a red box from his inner coat pocket. The women in the crowd are screaming, the men are covering their mouths in amazement and Destiny looks like a deer in headlights as tears roll down her cheeks.
"Destiny Elaine Rogers will you marry me"? Greggory asks with the biggest smile and watery eyes.
Destiny could not even move; her body and mind were in shock. She drops the roses she was holding, puts her arms out to hug Greggory and she screams, "YES!"
Greggory hugs her, picks her up and they kiss.
"Baby how did I get so lucky?"
"Honey you thought the night I met you it was oh what a night, wait till we are married it will be oh what a life! I love you, Destiny."
After the show ended Greggory met with media and conducted all the interviews Millie had lined up for him. Marrisa and Shelia have a mini Celebration for Destiny backstage on her engagement while waiting for Greggory to finish. Millie was handling her PR obligations and didn't get to speak to Destiny as she watched Marrisa and Sheila examine her engagement ring and sip glasses of champagne. Deep down Millie wished she could be a part of the celebration.
*****
&nb
sp; Later that night
Mille not feeling well at all after a long night of standing and making sure interviews went smoothly for Greggory, she was laying in her bed and decided to text Destiny.
Millie – I love you sister and I'm happy for you, don't ever think I wasn't, I have my issues I've been dealing with and I was wrong to take them out on you and Greggory.
Destiny reads her text in shock but felt relieved.
Destiny – I love you Millie and why couldn't you just talk to me? We have been through so much bullshit not to be open with each other.
Millie- I know (crying emoji)
Millie's phone starts to buzz in her hand. She looks at it and its Destiny calling.
"Hello."
"Millie are you ok?"
"Destiny I know I have been a bitch but I have a lot going on and sometimes you or Marrisa don't even ask if I'm ok just because I'm the strong friend and that hurts. Shelia knows what's going on with me because she takes time to ask and find out," Mille expressed.
"Millie, I love you! You are the sister I never had. I'm sorry I have been caught up in my world, but you threw me into this world if you wanna get technical."
Millie laughing, "Yes you are right if you wanna get technical silly girl. I don't want to keep you, go enjoy your fiancé and call me in a few days."
Destiny with a crack in her voice, "I will call you, I love you. We are going to have a long conversation and you are going to tell me everything that's going on while helping me pick out wedding venues." They both laugh while saying bye.
Sitting on the couch in front of Destiny’s apartment fireplace with her head in Greggory's lap he asks, "Are y'all, good babe?"
"Yes, babe we are good." Destiny smiling from ear to ear.
"You were so right babe I should never assume. Millie was or still is going through something. I’m not sure but, I'm going to talk to her in a few days, she wants me to celebrate my new engagement for now. She always puts others before herself. I love her for that!"
"Perfect, I’m glad you two talked. But for now, we need to talk about the next steps to our life together. Are we staying at your place or mine?"
Oh What a Life Page 1
