Games

by Wanda B. Campbell

  “It’s a start. It’s also quite impressive. What about your family?”

  “I was raised by my mother. My father died in an automobile accident before I was born.”

  “I bet your mother was happy when you received the scholarship to Stanford, with her being a single parent and all,” Jason clarified.

  Shay pushed her glass away. She hated when people assumed she was on a scholarship simply because she was an African-American. It especially bothered her when it came from other African Americans, like they didn’t believe there were successful people of color with enough money to pay college tuition.

  She interlocked her fingers before responding to him. “Jason, I didn’t receive a scholarship for Stanford, nor did I receive one for Harvard. My mother wrote a check. You do know African-Americans are allowed to have savings accounts with more than a fifty-dollar balance?”

  After the waitress took their dinner order, Jason continued. “That explains it.”

  “Explains what?”

  “I was wondering how you can afford a new SUV and an apartment without a job. You’re from a wealthy family.”

  “Does that bother you?” Shay hoped it did. “True, my family is well-off, but I worked hard for my degree,” Shay defended. “And I’m working hard for this Master’s and Teaching Credential.”

  “I’ve seen you in action. I know you work hard. And no it doesn’t bother me at all that you’re well-off.” He reached for her hand. “What does bother me is why you don’t like me.”

  “It’s not that I don’t like you, Jason, I really don’t know you,” she answered, trying not to bruise his ego again.

  “Are you seeing someone?”

  Shay immediately thought of Brian. Although they weren’t on speaking terms, they still shared an unspoken commitment to one another, especially after sharing their bodies. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  “Let me guess, you like the tall and dark type.”

  She smiled. Tall and dark; definitely Brian. “Something like that.”

  “Nice”

  Confusion masked her face. “What’s nice?”

  “Your smile,” Jason explained. “This is the first time I’ve seen you smile. You should try it more often.”

  Shay was glad the food arrived because she couldn’t get Brian out of her head. He liked her smile and her hazel eyes among other things.

  They talked more over dinner and she learned a lot about him. Jason was actually quite likeable and had a wonderful sense of humor. Like her, he was an avid reader and dabbled in poetry. She still wasn’t attracted to him, but decided he would be a good person to hang out with, a way to chase the loneliness away. When he walked Shay to her car, she accepted his invitation to the movies the following Friday and finally gave him her cell phone number.

  Chapter 18

  The Mission Impossible ringtone on his cell phone sounded just as Brian’s hand touched the doorknob. He pulled the Smartphone from his waist clip to answer the call and immediately recognized Shannon’s number. She had called him every day since he had given her his number four days ago. Talking to Shannon helped Brian realize just how much he really missed Shay. Up until the night he took Shay into his bed, a day rarely went by that he didn’t hear her soft feminine voice. But for now Shannon Yates would be his replacement for female conversation.

  Each day he talked to her for at least an hour and yesterday morning Brian joined her for a jog around Lake Merritt. Walking toward her in Lakeside Park, Brian couldn’t help but wonder why Shannon jogged in the first place. It certainly wasn’t to watch her weight. Shannon didn’t look like she had an ounce of fat on her; she barely had meat on her bones. He kept his curiosity to himself and enjoyed the fresh winter morning, not wanting Shannon to get the wrong idea that he harbored an attraction to her body.

  Outside of a few clouds, the Oakland morning was beautiful. The mid-sixty- degree weather attracted a large amount of seagulls equal to the number of runners. On the four-mile trail, Brian had to admit that he enjoyed both the jog and the conversation. Not one time did Shannon mention Shay or flirt with him. Instead, she centered the majority of the conversation on Brian and his father.

  “My father is my best friend,” was what he told her when she asked about his relationship with his father.

  “Have the two of you always been close?” she asked slowing her slow jog to a brisk walk.

  “Since we met five years ago.” Brian went on to explain the events to Shannon.

  “That’s amazing; no wonder you’re so close to your stepmother. Does your father pressure you into becoming a minister like him?”

  Brian slowed his pace. “My dad doesn’t pressure me to become anything that I don’t want to become. He encourages me to be me, not walk in his shadows. If I do pursue the ministry, it’ll be because I hear a call from God in my heart; not pressure from my father.”

  “I’m going to block that call,” Shannon teased. They made more small talk about him, but she didn’t talk about herself. Brian noticed, but didn’t press the issue.

  Drawing his attention back to the ringing in his hand, Brian pressed the green answer key button. “Good morning, Shannon,” he answered while locking his front door.

  “Good morning, Brian. I hope you slept well. I didn’t. I was lonely,” Shannon whined.

  “I’m on my way to church. Is there something you want?”

  She cleared her throat. “I was wondering if you could pick me up for church this morning.”

  Her request surprised Brian. During their previous conversations Shannon hadn’t mentioned a desire to attend today’s worship service. “I’m glad you want to come to church, Shannon, but it’s a little late for me to pick you up. Why don’t you just meet me there?”

  “That’s too bad, Brian, I really wanted to see you today.” She pouted.

  “Sorry, but I don’t like being late for service. If you’re sure you’re coming, I’ll have the usher save you a seat,” Brian offered as he started his RAV4.

  Shannon wasn’t happy and said as much. “It’s too early for me to throw a temper tantrum, so I’ll drop it for now. Will I be sitting next to you?” She sounded like a wounded puppy.

  “No, but you’ll have a good seat.” Brian didn’t tell her that as his father’s personal adjutant, he sat on the dais with the ministers.

  “I guess this is the only way I’ll get to see you today?” she conceded.

  “It sure is. I’ll see you later.” He ended the call and turned his attention to the road.

  As always, Brian knocked on Reggie’s office door before turning the knob and entering. “Do you need anything, Dad?” he asked, leaning his head inside.

  Reggie sat in his chair holding Josiah. Brian stepped inside and immediately Josiah threw his hands up and called out, “Brian!” He took his little brother from his father and tickled him.

  “Julia is preaching this at morning’s service,” Reggie answered with an expression that conveyed how much he cherished the opportunity to watch his children play.

  Reggie studied his eldest son’s face. Brian worked very hard to keep up in law school, but Reggie suspected there was more on his son’s mind than just school. “What’s going on with you and Shay? I’m not one to pry into your personal business with Shay, but I don’t want you to make a huge mistake either.”

  Brian turned so he couldn’t face his father and focused on Josiah. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?” Reggie asked incredulously

  “We’re just friends, like always.”

  Before he asked, Reggie guessed the answer to his next question by Brian’s mannerisms. “You haven’t told her how you really feel about her and that you want to build a relationship with her? She doesn’t know that you’re in love with her?”

  “Kind of, but the feeling isn’t mutual. We’re just friends.”

  Reggie rested his elbows on his desk and lowered his head. What Brian said didn’t make sense. Reggie knew for a fact that Shay was in l
ove with Brian; she’d told him so before leaving for Cambridge, but that was something Brian should hear directly from Shay.

  “Is that what she told you? Did she actually say she didn’t love you?” Reggie wanted clarification.

  “No she didn’t actually say that, but she implied it.”

  “I see. I remember how hard it was for me to communicate my true feelings to Julia at age forty-one. Brian, I really feel, no, I know, you and Shay need to sit down and have an honest heart-to-heart talk, before one of you takes a wrong turn.”

  Brian listened to his father’s words, his dad was probably right. “Maybe next week at Thanksgiving, I’ll try talking to her again.”

  “I’m sorry, Brian. I guess I forgot to tell you. Shay’s not coming home for Thanksgiving. She said she needed to spend that time studying.”

  “Oh.” Brian tried to conceal his hurt, but wasn’t too successful. He felt like his heart had been pulled from his chest and stomped on. He knew without a doubt the only reason Shay wasn’t coming home for her favorite holiday, was to keep from seeing him. He moaned and asked himself, Does she hate me that much?

  “You don’t have to wait until she returns home, you can give her a call or better yet, you can go to Massachusetts,” Reggie suggested.

  “Yeah, right.” Brian sat Josiah down and left the office.

  Halfway through Praise & Worship, Brian spotted Shannon walking down the far right aisle. He couldn’t believe what she’d worn to church. He never understood why some women liked to wear skimpy clothing in the wintertime and then try to keep warm with an oversized winter coat.

  Shannon looked like she was headed to a nightclub instead of Sunday church service. The black V-neck tank dress barely came halfway to her thighs. Even from where he sat, Brian could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra by the deep cut down the front of her dress. The black straps from her shoes wrapped around her bare ankles added to the nightlife look. She must have gotten a new weave, because instead of black, her hair was golden which Brian considered too light for her dark-brown complexion. Brian watched, embarrassed, as Shannon argued with an usher about finding her a seat up close. When Brian finally made eye contact with her, Shannon folded her arms and glared at him. With Shay’s latest rejection of him still fresh, Brian didn’t have the energy to worry about Shannon’s attitude. He ignored her for the rest of the service.

  ***

  “I’m a guest of Brian Pennington and I’m supposed to be seated up front,” Shannon barked at the usher.

  “Miss, I would seat you closer, but you are inappropriately dressed. If you would like to wear your overcoat for the duration of service, I’d be happy to seat you up front,” the female usher responded firmly.

  “Why would I wear my overcoat while I’m inside?” Shannon fumed. When she realized that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the usher, she rolled her eyes and sat down on the fifth row.

  After the choir’s second selection, the congregation stood as Pastor Julia Pennington stepped to the podium. She began by praying. Shannon was impressed with how “religious” Julia looked in her ministry attire. Shannon perceived that Julia took preaching seriously and she prayed like she really knew God. She didn’t look or sound at all like the millionaire she was and that bothered Shannon. Besides her five-carat wedding ring, she didn’t even have on any flashy jewelry. “When I become a millionaire everyone’s going to know it, from my hair all the way down to my feet,” Shannon mumbled as Julia began her sermon titled, “Overcoming Evil Desires.”

  Shannon didn’t pay attention to the sermon Pastor Julia preached. She hadn’t come to church to hear anything about evil desires. She came for one purpose only and that was to draw Brian into her and secure herself a meal ticket. In the few days she’d spent talking with him, she had learned just about everything there was to know about him. She knew all of his favorite foods, colors, places to go and even his favorite movies. She knew his ambitions, likes and dislikes. There were only two walls she hadn’t managed to penetrate yet. One was his commitment to God and the church. No matter how hard she tried, Shannon couldn’t get him to talk about this Shay person. That bothered her, because Shannon liked to know as much as possible about the competition.

  As soon as service ended, Shannon sashayed to the front of the sanctuary and stood directly next to the church mother, Mother Elsie, in search of her prey.

  “Baby, did you forget its wintertime?” Mother Elsie asked as she took in Shannon’s attire.

  “Excuse me, but you don’t know me well enough to make comments about my clothing.” Shannon rolled her eyes and neck at the elderly mother.

  Mother Elsie stood her ground. “I’m not commenting about your clothing, I’m commenting about your lack of clothing. You’re right I don’t know you well, because if I did, you would have never walked in here looking like you’re on your way to a street corner. Have more respect for yourself and put some clothes on next time.” With that Mother Elsie walked away and greeted two ministers.

  Shannon dismissed the old woman’s words. “She just mad, because she can’t wear this dress,” she grumbled and rolled her eyes in Mother Elsie’s direction. She then quickly directed her attention back to searching for Brian. She spotted him walking toward the back with the pastor and first lady.

  “Brian, honey,” she yelled.

  She not only got Brian’s attention, but Reggie and Julia’s as well. When Brian didn’t respond fast enough, she yelled again. “Brian, honey!” This time she got the attention of everyone within fifty feet of her.

  Embarrassed, Brian looked as if he wanted her to shut up. He left his father and stepmother and walked over to Shannon.

  “Who is that? Why is she referring to Brian as honey?” Brian heard his father ask.

  Julia had an answer for him. “That’s the devil.”

  “Shannon, I’m busy right now. I’ll call you later.” Brian’s attempt at brushing her off failed.

  She whined, “But, honey, I thought we could spend the afternoon together since you’re done with the church thing.”

  Brian narrowed his eyes. “Shannon, I never told you that. I’m spending the afternoon with my family and friends.”

  Shannon smiled then decided to use the back door instead of the front. “Can you at least introduce me to the pastor and first lady before you go?”

  Brian rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Come on. Since you’ve caused a scene, I’ll have to explain your presence. This will be quick and then you can go.”

  Shannon slithered over to Reggie and Julia. Brian tried to stay a step ahead of her, but Shannon interlocked her arm with his.

  “Dad, Mama J, this is Shannon. Shannon, this is Reverend Pennington and First Lady Pennington,” Brian said dryly and looked away.

  Reggie and Julia looked back and forth between the two before they said, “Hello, Shannon.”

  “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Shannon said with an overabundance of cheerfulness. “I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like we’re family.”

  Julia raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? We haven’t heard anything about you.” Julia looked at Brian who was having a hard time making eye contact.

  “Yes, Brian talks about you guys all the time. I mean there’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t mention you.” Shannon thought she was making a good impression, so she continued, “Since Brian and I are so close, can I call you Mom?”

  Brian stepped back and gave Shannon an I-don’t-believe-you-just-said-that look, but she didn’t care

  “No you cannot!” Julia answered quickly and sternly.

  Her harsh response took Shannon by surprise. “I’m sorry,” Shannon whimpered. “I just thought that since you and Brian are so close, it would be a good idea if you and I could be close also.” Shannon gave her best impression of her feelings being hurt and then cried fake tears. But Julia wasn’t buying it, especially after Shannon fell onto Reggie for support. Other than hand Shannon his handkerchief, Reggie seemed co
nfused as to what to do

  Standing directly in front of Shannon, so she could say exactly what she wanted to without being heard by others, Julia let her have it. “Let’s get a few things straight. First of all, I don’t care how close you claim you and Brian are, you will never call me ‘Mom’, ‘Mother’, or any other derivative of the word. Second, you can stop with all the drama and the crocodile tears, because I’m not buying it. And lastly, the next time you decide you want to meet a young man’s parents put some clothes on! If you want to make a good impression, don’t walk into his father’s church looking like a whore!” With that Julia turned and left. Reggie followed.

  Shannon was insulted, but she wasn’t angry. If anything she’d gained respect for Julia Simone-Pennington. Here she was a self-made millionaire who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She knew how to and wasn’t afraid to protect what was hers. I want to be just like her, Shannon thought to herself.

  Brian, on the other hand, appeared utterly humiliated. “Shannon, I think you should leave. Now.”

  “Brian, I’m sorry.”

  “Whatever! Like I said before, I have dinner plans with my family.” Brian turned to leave, but Shannon grabbed his arm.

  “Brian, give me another chance, let me join you for dinner. I promise I won’t dress like this again. I’ll even go home and change,” she pleaded.

  “It’s not just your clothing, Shannon. You lied to my parents. You made my parents think that you and I are in a relationship.”

  Shannon thought this would be a good time to condescend. “You’re right, Brian, I was wrong. I won’t let that happen again. Just give me another chance to redeem myself. I promise at dinner, I’ll clear up any misunderstandings I may have caused,” Shannon promised. When he didn’t answer she knew she had won him over. “Why don’t you follow me to my apartment and I’ll change into something more appropriate. It’ll only take me a few minutes; you don’t even have to turn the engine off.”