“It’s a friend.”
“Luna Hunt. Are you keeping a secret from your best friends?” I pointed between me and Sutton.
“Sounds like she is,” Sutton backed me up.
“You guys I like him, but I know once it gets out everything might change,” Luna explained.
“Is he keeping you a secret?” I questioned, not liking my friend being someone’s little side piece.
“No, it’s my choice. He’s well-known,” Luna said.
Meredith strolled back to the table with a bottle of red wine and a plate of appetizers with a side salad, and smaller plates for us to split everything.
“I’m starving.” I helped pass the plates around the table as Sutton opened the bottle to pour wine into our glasses.
“Dinner will be out shortly,” Meredith announced, leaving more napkins on the table.
“So, what about your love life, Sutton? I can’t be the only one getting some pleasure.” Luna drank from her glass and smacked her lips loudly.
“Unfortunately, the men department is very thin on my end. I’ve been ending up with little boys that ask me out on dates, and I end up paying or they live with their momma or roommate.” Sutton rolled her eyes then picked up the fork to eat her salad. They both glanced over at me.
“What?” I bit into the bruschetta.
“Who are you seeing right now?” Luna asked.
“Nobody.”
“Mmm,” Luna responded.
“Unlike you Luna I have too much work to juggle. Dating can wait.”
“Nothing wrong with a casual thing here and there. Dip and dabble,” Sutton implied, dipping the bread in the olive oil and sauce.
“When’s the last time you’ve had sex?” Luna asked.
“I don’t know and let's talk about something else.”
“Come on you remember, six months?”
I shook my head no.
“Nine months?” Sutton asked.
I lowered my eyes avoiding their stares.
“A year?” Luna whispered and I rubbed my temples and blew out a breath.
“Bitch! Are you a virgin?” Sutton blurted out and I covered her mouth with my hand, and she smacked it away.
“No! OMG you two are the worst.”
“So, what’s the big deal? Just tell us,” Luna said.
“Fine, three years,” I mumbled under my breath.
Their eyes ballooned.
“Damn, do you have a toy at least?” Sutton replied, and I rubbed the back of my neck nervously.
Luna choked on her wine and I jumped up and patted her back.
“I’m okay... fine.”
The entire restaurant looked over at us.
This was so embarrassing.
“Do you need help with anything?” Meredith asked.
“I mean if the dinner could come with a side of a big, long-” Luna started to say, and I glared at her.
“No, we're fine, thank you,” Luna responded.
“Sure. I’ll give you a few more minutes before I refill your wine,” Meredith explained, then went back to the kitchen.
“How is it possible to go three years without any type of sex?” Sutton said.
“I just haven't found anyone that appeals to me.”
“Girl, a blow-up doll would appeal to me in that amount of time without sex,” Luna joked and I flipped her off.
“You two need to stop acting like your sex lives are all that. You both just started getting laid might I add.”
“Honey, even if I didn’t have a man, I’d still use my hand,” Sutton said, waving her hand in my face.
“Anyway, let's rein it in and focus. So, how are things with the business?” I asked Sutton, steering the conversation away from my lack of a love life. I honestly was too caught up with building my career to even notice the last time a man touched me. Thinking back, the last guy I went out with had to have been Lex, whom I met at a grocery store one day. He was grabbing something for his mom, and I was looking less than stellar, but he found me attractive and asked me out. We went out on a few dates, but all he did was talk about himself, and how much money he had. It was a big turn-off, and a waste of time… but he did have a mean tongue game.
“What are you thinking about to have you smiling like that?” Luna waved a napkin in my face.
“Nothing important.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Luna responded.
“The business is good; clients are happy, and I’m making money,” Sutton said as Meredith placed our food on the table.
“This looks delicious,” I said.
“Enjoy, ladies, and please let me know if you need anything else,” Meredith said, taking our leftover dishes away.
I dove into my meal and moaned at the first taste.
“If only a man was giving you that satisfaction,” Luna joked.
I stuck my tongue out at her, and we all burst into laughter. The entire evening was filled with laughter, wine, and great food. We stayed there for another hour before finally going our separate ways.
I made it back home, unlocked my apartment door, and sighed. The place wasn’t too messy from earlier. Whenever I got into a story, I tended to focus just on that, and my cleaning tended to get pushed aside. Strolling into the kitchen, I opened the fridge to get a bottle of water before checking my voice messages.
“Kamara, it’s your mom. I want to have lunch and go shopping this weekend call me back.”
Every other Saturday it’s girls’ day and we get our nails and hair done and lunch together while my father goes fishing with his friends. I’ll more than likely have to check my calendar especially with this interview coming up.
“Calling for a Kamara Powell, we’d love to have you come down and discuss your piece on environmental hazards at News channel three.”
“Interesting.”
I continued to listen to each message when the last one had me stuck in place.
“Kamara, this is D. Well, Donovan Hunt. I just heard you’re doing the interview with me, and I wanted to make sure that you can keep it professional. You know, being my sister’s best friend, and all.” He cleared his throat.
I grew hot all over. For him to have the audacity to call and try to check me about being professional. Him, of all people! He got the right person today. I picked up the phone and redialed since he was the last number to call.
“Hello.” I heard a deep, groggy voice.
“What the hell do you mean be professional!”
“Who is this?” he asked.
“Answer the question.”
“Listen, it’s late, and I’m not sure who you are, or when we slept together, but I’m not interested,” he replied.
I felt offended by his choice of words. Is this how he does every girl he comes into contact with?
“It’s Kamara, jackass,” I spat back.
I heard him groan, and it sounded like he was moving around in bed. “Kamara, I have early practice tomorrow. Are you drunk?”
“What! No, I mean I had a few drinks tonight at dinner. But I'm perfectly coherent.”
“Who did you go to dinner with?” he asked.
“Why?”
“Because I want to know.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Says who?”
I was getting frustrated by this entire conversation and a little flustered.
“Listen, my dinner dates are none of your business. I’m just returning your call from earlier.”
“What did you wear? I hope it was appropriate,” Donovan grunted and I wondered what the meaning behind the attitude was.
“Since when do you care about what is appropriate? The little football bimbos I see hanging around you sure aren’t dressed like they're going to church,” I replied annoyed, and sat on the edge of my bed, and removed my heels.
“Ugh,” I grunted, massaging my feet from being in heels so long today.
“What’s that noise?” he asked.
“Listen. I just wanted
to let you know this wasn’t by choice doing this interview with you.” I closed my eyes, yawned, and pushed myself up against the headboard.
“Am I keeping you up past your bedtime?” he joked.
“No, I just had too much to drink tonight.”
“Who was the date with?”
“I... The date is none of your business. Just be ready for the interview please.”
“Are you rushing me off the phone? Is he there with you?”
“What? No and why do you care?” I huffed, checking the time on the nightstand for my wakeup time. Something about the change in his voice wanted me to confess who I was with, at the same time he is my best friend’s brother. Our paths and friends are so different.
“I don’t since you woke me up. Thought I’d return the favor.”
“Okay D. Thanks for letting me know about the interview.”
“Donovan.”
“Huh?”
“Call me ‘Donovan’.”
“Everyone calls you D.”
“You're not everyone,” he replied and the tension through the phone could be cut with a knife.
“Okay. What about bighead? Can I call you that?” I joked, trying to break up the moment.
“Only if you're talking about the head below,” he responded, and my mouth dropped open in shock.
“Um, I need to go,” I said and rushed to end the call. I flopped headfirst on the mattress and screamed. Was Donovan flirting with me? He’d always been a jackass and a prankster. Maybe I was reading into things. I turned over and rose, then headed into the bathroom to shower before I got some sleep. I still needed to look into the details of the City Council, plus prepare for the interview with Donovan.
Donovan
Two days later, Sutton asked me to come into her office to sign off on a few things, so my items could be donated to charity events. We also had to figure out the interview with Los Angeles Life. When Sutton called and said Kamara was conducting the interview, at first I was shocked because she’d always been more of an activist type of journalist. Her agreeing to do a sports story seemed weird. But knowing I would get to see her again and push her buttons made it even more fun.
Sutton’s office was in Century City, not far from my place, so I decided to stop at one of my favorite coffee shops before making it to her place. I opened the door, removed my shades, and looked to see if my favorite girl was working today. Abigail and her brother had started Cafe Sin. This was their second location, and the one closest to me.
I stood in line, slid one hand in my pocket, and texted with the other, while I waited for the customer ahead of me to finish ordering.
Reuben: Club tomorrow night?
Savion: Coach said practice tomorrow.
Reuben could go out and stay out all night and still get up for practice with lots of energy. Me, I needed loads of caffeine to stay awake. Plus, the women don’t understand about keeping their distance when we want to just chill and not be bothered.
Me: I’ll pass.
Reuben: Stop being a pussy.
Me: Fuck you.
Savion: Reuben, you’ll just end up in a hotel and bail on us.
Reuben: What’s wrong with that?
“Hello, handsome.”
I lifted my head, hearing an angelic voice.
“Abigail, you’re looking lovely today. Did you dress up for me?”
She rolled her eyes.
“That’s your problem. A big ass flirt, D.”
“Aww, Abigail you wound me. You know I only have eyes for you.”
Abigail smacked her teeth and waved me off.
“There are two people you can’t lie to, sir: me and God. I see through those green-blue eyes.” Abigail picked up a cup and started writing my normal drink down.
I started to pull out my money.
“See that’s why it will never work. You’re cold, woman.”
I pulled a twenty dollar bill out to pay and she smacked my hand away.
“You know I don’t take your money.”
“If Rodney was here, he’d take it.”
“Probably, but you help us a lot when you post about us. Anyway, how are you doing?” Abigail walked over to the coffee machine and started making an espresso caramel latte.
I stood in front of the machine and continued to talk and look around the shop. I’d met her and her brother through my sister, after she told me about them. I decided to try the place for myself, and the first person who called me out on my shit was Abigail, when I tried to skip the line. We’d been friends ever since.
“I’m betting on you guys. Make sure you bring the trophy home.” Abigail poured the milk inside, grabbed the lid and passed it over to me.
“How much?”
“A hundred.”
“That’s all I’m worth to you, Abigail?”
“You don’t want the answer to that, buddy.” We both burst into laughter.
“Fine, let me get out of here and get ready for Sutton to bust my balls.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” Abigail passed another latte over to me.
“When did I become her errand boy?”
“Stop being an ass, D. Not sure what type of woman puts up with you, but she’s not doing her job right.”
“Babe, the position’s open. Think about it.” I slid my shades back on and started to walk out of the shop.
I heard Abigail call out to me teasingly, “Sorry, babe! I like my coffee dark, no cream or sugar!”
I chuckled, shaking my head at her.
“Cream can be fulfilling.” Abigail was one of those chicks I could hang out with—like Sutton—and be completely platonic.
I slid the key in the door, started the ignition, and drove off toward Sutton’s office with her drink in my hand. Kaci was already there, according to Sutton’s last message—which reminded me that I forgot to respond to Reuben about tomorrow night. I fished my cell out of my pocket as I drove.
Reuben: Did he leave us on read?
Savion: Probably.
Me: My bad. I was talking to Abigail and now heading to Sutton.
Reuben: Tell Abigail I’m still waiting.
Me: Reuben, I like Abigail too much to make her suffer by hooking her up with you.
Reuben: Stop hating on me.
Me: Might have better luck with Sutton.
Savion: Naw, keep her name out of this conversation.
I almost spit my coffee out at Savion’s response about Sutton.
Reuben: Savion, you can’t handle competition?
Savion: Reuben, we’re boys, but Sutton’s mine.
Reuben: Does she know that?
Savion: She will once I get my lips between something sweet.
Me:. I don’t want to hear that shit about Sutton.
Reuben: She’s free rein.
I turned right at the light on Century Park and pulled up to valet. I parked with the car still running. I hopped out and left him with the car, then walked inside the building and nodded at the front staff. She was in the same building as Paolo’s agency, so it was easier when I needed to have meetings with them about my career.
Me: About to head into the meeting.
Savion: Cool. What about the club?
Reuben: What about me and Sutton?
Savion: Reuben, don’t get fucked up.
Me: You two idiots work this out on your own. I’m getting on the elevator.
I closed out of the message thread and put my phone away, tapped the fifth floor and sipped on the rest of my coffee. A minute later the doors opened, and I stepped out grinning wide at the person sitting at the front desk.
“Now, aren’t you too pretty to be working out front?” I asked, sitting on the edge of Margaret’s desk. She was Sutton’s aunt. She was in her late 60s, and she was hired to help out. She seemed to fit in with everyone, and I found out really quickly where Sutton got her spunk.
“Mr. Hunt, I suggest you get your butt off my desk before I put a newspaper to your bottom.”
&nbs
p; “Margaret, I thought we go way back.”
“Those eyes won’t win me over. Now, I see you listened to me and made the play to get ahead of your win,” Margaret said.
I smirked. She would always tell me when I messed up on a play—and even sent messages through Sutton when we won. I didn’t have any close older relatives besides my parents, who didn’t want anything from me. Margaret could still pass for being in her early 40s, with her wrinkle-free, dark brown skin, and long, curly silver hair.
“What makes you think I used your advice?” I egged on. She blew out a breath and motioned for me to come closer to hear.
“You're so happy and I know it’s not about a girl.”
“I’m waiting for you, beautiful.”
“Boy, I’ll hurt you.”
“I like hurt. Besides, I can handle you.” I winked and stood laughing at her pursed lips.
“Don’t let the age fool you, son. I still get the gentleman callers,” Margaret told me and I played along with a hard glare.
“I’m telling, Sutton. Your supposed to wait for me.”
“Baby you couldn’t handle me back then or now. But you can get me tickets to a game.” Margaret grinned then pointed at her cheek.
“Fine, but one day Margaret, I get you on my side.” I bent down and kissed her cheek.
“Stop flirting with my auntie D and get in here,” Sutton called out.
I headed inside and saw Kaci sitting on the couch wearing a short black dress, which ran up her thigh. Her blond hair was pulled up in a high bun on top of her head and the pink blouse was slightly open showing her cleavage. Sutton must have told her I was coming in too and she dressed up. I chuckled to myself.
“What’s funny?” Sutton asked. I passed her the drink that Abigail made for her earlier.
“Nothing, just thinking.”
Sutton sipped on her drink and I sat in the chair in front of her desk, kicked my feet up on her desk and as usual she smacked them down.
“Sutton, isn’t the saying, ‘customers are always right’?”
“Probably in some areas, not in my office.”
“Hi, Donovan,” Kaci said.
I turned my head and nodded. “It’s D.”
“Be nice, jackass,” Sutton said.
“What’d I do?” I shrugged my shoulders.
Sutton rubbed her temples.
She's All I Need(A Sports Romance) Page 4
