“Just don’t let it happen again.” They each departed and went their separate ways.
“Hold on,” Mo said, to whoever he was on the phone with, as she passed him by. “Looking good Diva.” He never waited on a response before going back to his phone conversation.
Jackie rushed behind her. “You’re not going to like this but you’re on the cover of a tabloid—the one everybody claims to not read, but does.”
Eva stopped in mid-step and snatched the rag magazine from Jackie’s hands. The caption read, “Day time Diva Dishes Out Advice But Can’t Take it.” She screamed, “Heads are going to roll. Get me my agent on the phone now.”
She stormed to her office and waited for Jackie to let her know Carmen Grisby, her agent, was on the phone. “Find out who wrote it and get them fired,” she yelled.
Carmen responded. “And hello to you too.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that after all that I’ve been through this is the last thing I need.”
She briefly told Carmen about some things going on in her personal life. Carmen remained quiet before interjecting her comments.
“We can do one of two things. We can ignore it and it’ll go away or we can make a big deal about it and then worry about the paparazzi swarming around you even more. You decide.”
“I’m up for an Emmy. I don’t need any negative publicity right now. With that Emmy, I can demand more money when its time to renew my contract.”
“In this case, I say let it ride.”
“For some reason I knew you were going to say that.” Eva sighed.
“Dear, in this business, I’ve learned to pick my battles wisely. Next time, we can go after them with full force. Hold on.”
Eva skimmed the article and cringed. Lies. A whole bunch of lies mixed in with some truth. Yes, she had been pining away after someone else’s man; but no more. She was free. Free of Trevor. Free of all men.
“Parris says she’ll see you tonight.”
Eva had forgotten about her dinner plans with her two friends, Parris and Casper. She ended her call with Carmen and called Parris to cancel. Before she could get through, Garth’s name was popping up on her phone display.
“How are you today?”
“I’ve been better.”
“Need me to cheer you up.”
“You’re part of the problem.” She twirled her chair around where her back was now facing the door.
“I have a solution. Let me take you to dinner tonight.”
“No,” she snapped.
“You can sure tear down a brother’s ego.”
“It would take more than me telling you no to tear down your mountain sized ego.”
“Eva Marie Ward. You have hurt my feelings.”
She couldn’t stop chuckling. It had been awhile since she heard someone use her whole name. Even her mother, didn’t resort to calling her by her full name these days.
She recalled the dinner plans she was in the process of canceling. She interrupted Garth before he got even more outrageous.
“I have a proposition for you,” she said.
“Does it require strawberries and cream?”
“Get your mind out of the gutter. A friend has invited me to dinner tonight and I need a date. If you’re free, you’re welcome to tag along.”
“Let me think about it and get back to you.”
She swung her chair back around just in time to come face to face with Brenda. “Yes or no because I have to go.”
“What time?”
“Be at my place at six. See you then.” She flipped the phone off.
***
Trying to convince Eva of his sincerity seemed a difficult task but he was up for the challenge. He had waited all of these years to settle down with one woman, so he wasn’t going to let something like a little attitude stand in his way of getting what he wanted. He could play the substitute friend since she and Trevor were no longer talking, but there would be one difference; he wasn’t going to be satisfied with a piece of a relationship. He wanted Eva; all of her.
Trevor’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I need your help.”
He listened as Trevor tried to convince him to tell Cheryl about Eva. “So you want me to tell Cheryl that Eva and I are now a couple to get her off your back.”
He let out of sigh of relief. “I knew I could count on you.”
“A few days ago you cussed me out because you thought Eva and I were a couple and now you’re encouraging me to be with her. You need Dr. Phil.”
“Look. I’m just trying to get some order back in my life. If you dating Eva is going to get them both off my back, then so be it.”
“You’re a mo-fo joke. Eva don’t want you. Didn’t you tell me she kicked you out? In fact, she told me herself.”
“Wait a minute. You’ve been talking to her behind my back.”
Garth looked around. “Man, this is a place of business and I’d appreciate it if you keep your voice down. Secondly, Eva is a client or have you forgotten about that. Thirdly, I can talk to whoever I want to when I want to. I don’t need your permission.”
Trevor backed down. “I’m just saying. She was mine first. I just don’t want us to be fighting over a woman. You know. Our friendship means more to me than that.”
“Well I don’t have a problem. Get a grip.” Garth got up and walked past him.
~ 22 ~
Eva took extra time preparing for her date with Garth. As much as she hated to admit it, her feelings for him were slowly changing. She found herself mentally comparing Trevor to Garth and without a doubt Trevor didn’t measure up. She had seen many women hurt by Garth so she wasn’t so easily convinced that he could give up his playboy ways. She had never seen him be with any one woman for a long period of time. She wasn’t foolish enough to think she could break the cycle and change him. If she couldn’t make Trevor commit to her, she knew in her heart there was no way she could make Garth commit.
Unlike Trevor, Garth was prompt as usual. She slid on her five inch sling back heels and met him at the door. She wasn’t prepared to feel the queasiness in her stomach. She blushed when he flashed his kilowatt smile. “You look absolutely beautiful,” Garth said, as he embraced her.
“So do you,” she responded.
“I’ve been called handsome or even cute, but beautiful. That’s a first,” Garth teased.
“I don’t give out compliments freely, so you best take that.”
“Eva, one day you’ll let go of the attitude.”
She grabbed her purse. “Maybe, but today is not that day.”
About an hour later, they pulled up into the driveway of Parris and Casper’s elegant home. “How long have you been friends?” Garth asked, after opening Eva’s door.
“CJ and I have been friends for over five years. Parris and I became friends after her and CJ got together.”
Their conversation was cut short when Casper opened the door. “If it isn’t my favorite talk show host,” he said, greeting Eva with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Casper, this is Garth Morgan. Garth, this is Casper.”
They shook hands. “And this is my beautiful wife,” Casper said, as he moved and Parris, who was dressed in a white chiffon pants suit, extended her hand.
After the brief introduction, they were led to the formal dining room. Neither couple seemed to be able to take their eyes off their mates. In between eating, Casper asked, “So how did you get into your line of business?”
Garth responded, “I decided to put both of my degrees to use. I have one in criminal justice as well as computer science.”
“I didn’t know you took up criminal justice,” Eva said.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Garth said, right before flashing a huge smile.
Eva blushed. Parris and Casper looked at one another. It’s as if they could sense something more there than what Eva knew herself.
Parris said, “Eva’s been secretive about you, so excuse us if we
seem to be a little nosy.”
Eva almost spit out her drink. “Please. Even if I would have told you about Garth, you would be asking him fifty questions.”
Eva held her head down.
Casper said, “It takes a special man to put up with our Eva.”
Garth said, “I’m up for the task. I’m in this for the long haul.”
Eva held her hands up. “Excuse me y’all, but I’m sitting right here. You’re talking about me like I’m not in the room.”
Parris intervened and said, “Lay off guys.”
Casper wasn’t about to. “She’s always in other folks business, so I’m just returning the favor.”
Eva held up the peace sign. “If you stay out of my business, I’ll stay out of yours.”
Everybody at the table laughed, except for Eva. In between laughter, Garth said, “Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you.”
An hour later, Parris and Eva were alone in the kitchen. “Girl, if I wasn’t married to the man of my dreams, I would jump on that,” Parris said, as she placed the half eaten platter in the refrigerator.
Eva looked in the direction of the door. “Garth’s okay.”
“He’s more than okay. I hope you’ll stop running behind Trevor. I’ve never thought he was the one for you anyway.”
Eva took a sip of her drink. “Now you tell me.”
Parris looked at her. “Like you would listen to me anyway.”
“True.” She devoured the rest of her drink. “Can I be honest with you?”
“You don’t even have to say it,” Parris said, as she wrapped up some of the dishes.
“Is it obvious?”
“To me it is, but I can tell Garth’s not so sure.”
“All of this is new to me. I never thought I could feel this way about another man other than Tre.”
“Girl, let your hair down. Enjoy yourself. Garth seems like he’s not a pushover and he’s not going to let you give up on him too easily.”
“That’s another thing. He doesn’t let me get away with anything. I think that’s one thing that attracts me to him.”
“Him, looking like a GQ model doesn’t hurt either now does it?”
Eva laughed. “You got that right. But you know I’ve dated plenty of pretty boys in my life, but there’s just something about Garth that sends my hormones into overdrive.”
Parris said, “That’s because Eva, my dear, he is the one.”
“To scratch this itch,” Eva said, although she knew exactly what Parris meant.
Before Eva and Parris could finish their conversation, Casper and Garth entered the room both laughing at something Casper said.
“Man, we’re lucky to be with the two most beautiful women in the world,” Casper said, as he wrapped his arms around Parris.
“And you know it,” Garth planted a kiss on Eva’s cheek. The gesture caught Eva off guard. He draped his arms around her and all Eva could do was lean into his hard chest.
“Let’s go sit on the patio,” Casper said.
After getting situated outside by the pool, Casper announced, “Eva, you’re one of our best friends and we would love it if you would agree to be our baby’s godmother.”
Eva’s mouth flew open in disbelief. “You’re going to have a baby.”
Parris, excited, said, “We found out a few weeks ago. I wanted to tell you in person.”
“Congratulations,” Garth said.
Casper rubbed her stomach. “Junior will be here in seven months.”
“Princess,” Parris responded.
Casper looked at Eva. “As long as our baby is healthy, I don’t care what sex it is.”
“Wow, my best friends are having a baby. And I’m going to be someone’s godmother.”
“You know he or she will be spoiled,” Eva said.
“Stand in line,” Parris said. “This one here has already started buying stuff for the baby.”
Casper said, “I can’t help it. This is my first and he or she will not want for anything.”
Garth said, “I feel you man. Whenever I have a child, I’m sure I’ll feel the same way.”
Eva hadn’t expected to get this emotional about someone else having a baby. Up until this point, she had never thought about having kids. Now, as she sat with her friends and Garth by the pool, she thought of all the possibilities her life could hold if she had her own family. Garth seemed to sense something and soothed her by rubbing her arm.
They chatted as Casper massaged Parris’s feet. Parris must have been relaxed because she soon fell asleep.
“This baby has her taking naps every time we turn around,” Casper said.
“She looks happy,” Eva commented.
“She is and so am I. Can you believe it? I’m going to be some kid’s daddy,” Casper said.
“You’ll be a good daddy. If you can put up with me as a friend, you’re going to do fine,” Eva joked.
The conversation remained light as they talked about how times had changed since they were growing up. Eva didn’t realize it until she felt Garth gently shake her that she had fallen asleep.
Eva heard Garth say, as she woke up, “We’ll definitely have to keep in touch.”
Casper said, “Remember what I told you.”
“What did I miss?” Eva asked, as she rubbed her eyes.
Garth kissed her on the forehead. “Man talk baby. Man talk.”
Casper gently shook Parris. She stretched. “I apologize for falling asleep on y’all. This baby has me sleeping a lot,” Parris said.
“Don’t feel bad. Sleeping beauty here wasn’t too far behind you,” Garth teased.
“I can’t help it that your chest is like a comfortable pillow,” Eva responded, as she snuggled up closer to Garth.
“I have no comment after such a wonderful comment.” Garth blushed.
Eva thought it was cute that she was able to make him blush. She could really get used to having him around. Relaxing with him and her friends was the perfect way to end her day. If you would have asked her a year ago if this was possible, she would have denied it. Garth had a way of making her see things in a new light.
“We should be going,” Eva said.
They said their good-byes. Casper whispered in Eva’s ear as they hugged good-bye. “He’s the one.”
Eva started to open up her mouth to protest, but chose not to. Minutes later, they were in the car. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. Eva pretended to be still sleepy as she dealt with her new feelings for Garth. Many questions crossed her mind. Had she been going out with the wrong friend all of this time? What if she was misreading Garth’s intentions? Hadn’t he made his intentions clear. Maybe she would just be another notch on his belt. The number one question that kept popping up in her head was could Garth be trusted? Could she trust him with her heart?
Her body stirred as she thought about the feel of his hands and softness of his lips. She wondered if she could give herself to him physically without getting emotional. She knew the answer to that was clearly no. She listened to the soft jazz playing in the background as they rode to her place in silence.
“Sleepyhead, you’re home,” Garth said, as he entered the security code to the gates.
“Remind me to get my password changed,” Eva joked.
Eva felt awkward when Garth walked her to the door. They both acted like they didn’t know what was to come next. “I would invite you in, but it’s late. I have a show to do tomorrow and you. Well you have a business to run.”
“Our time is coming,” Garth said, as he kissed her on the forehead. “Lock up.”
Eva activated the alarm. She watched Garth pull out the driveway and the gate latch.
~ 23 ~
Garth woke up feeling like a new man. Spending time with Eva last night and her friends gave him a small glimpse of hope. Although Eva was resisting his advances because of her conflicting feelings for his trifling friend Trevor, he was not going to give up. He vowed to do whatever within his
power to get her to change her mind.
He walked into the office with a smile on his face. He was determined not to let anything bring him down today. For the first time in his life, he was truly in love. “Good morning Caroline,” he said, as he waltzed passed her desk.
“Garth, someone’s in your office,” he heard her say a little too late.
The sight of Cheryl sitting in his chair quickly erased the smile on his face. He closed his office door. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Tre but he wasn’t in, so I thought I would stop by and see how you were doing.” She stood up and leaned over his desk showing off her cleavage.
He ignored her advances. “I suggest you put those two things up and go sit in your man’s office until he gets here.”
“Don’t tell me that skank has her heels into you too,” Cheryl stated with venom in her voice.
“I’m going to say this one more time and as nicely as I can. Please leave.” He opened up his office door.
Caroline was looking in the direction of his office. Cheryl picked up her handbag and waltzed past Garth.
“What’s her problem?” Caroline asked, as she walked into Garth’s office.
“She’s mad because she can’t find Trevor.”
“If she would have asked me, I would have told her where he was.”
“You don’t like her much do you?” Garth asked.
“He could do better. She’s nothing but a gold digger, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I will keep my comments to myself,” Garth said. He would have said more but wasn’t too sure if he should be discussing his friend’s personal business with his secretary.
“Now that Ms. Thang is gone, I wanted to remind you of the two meetings you had this morning. One client called in and said they would be running about thirty minutes late,” Caroline said, handing him a yellow note.
“Have Trevor take the meeting at two.”
“But,” Caroline said, but stopped when she saw the “don’t question me” expression across his face. “I’ll make sure he’s there.”
“Thanks. Well if there isn’t anything else, I really need to work on this strategy.”
Betrayed by Love Page 10
