The Real Deal

by Warren, Alexandra

  Caleb’s head flew back as he looked at me with tight eyes and a scowl. “Bro, are you crazy? You’re actin’ like labels are just lined up outside of our door or somethin’. We need this, G. I need this.”

  I knew how much my success meant to Caleb since he was my right hand man, my temporary manager, my producer, my DJ, my everything. A payday for me was really a payday for us.

  “I hear you, bro. I’ll give them a call and work something out, but I gotta go to this wedding. It’s important to me.” There was no way I could let Reagan down.

  We grubbed on a few more bites before Caleb randomly tossed out, “Does this have something to do with that girl Shy saw you at The Black Market with?”

  I froze; my pizza in midair as it hovered in front of my mouth while he continued, “Yeah she told me you were smiling in some girl’s face the other night. I didn’t believe her at first, figured she was just on some jealous shit. But now I can tell there’s clearly somethin’ going on with you. Somethin’ different.”

  I definitely felt different now that Reagan and I were having what felt like real fun with each other. But that still didn’t mean it was Shy’s place to share what she saw just because it wasn’t her.

  Reagan was right about her being a bi….

  “Listen, Caleb. I don’t know what Shy told you, or why she decided to run to you with it, but there’s nothing going on with me. I grabbed a bite to eat with my supervisor, but that was it. Now are we gonna get this shit with the label figured out or what?”

  He sighed, swiping a hand down his face as he answered, “Yeah, man. We’ll get it taken care of. But you do realize I’m gonna find out the truth sooner or later, right?”

  “The truth? The truth about what?”

  It was the first smile he’d given me since I broke the news about the wedding when he said, “You and this little supervisor of yours. I asked Shy was she cute and she smacked her teeth when she answered no. So I know that really means she’s fine as hell.”

  Fine as hell was turning out to be an understatement.

  Reagan was fuckin’ royalty.

  The more time we spent together, the more I realized just how much of a hidden gem she really was. And I was grateful that I had found her before some other trash ass nigga could snatch her up even if we were still technically role-playing.

  But that was the last thing Caleb needed to hear, so I nonchalantly tossed out, “So. What’s your point?”

  “My point is, this chick obviously has you wide open. And though I’m a little offended that I had to hear about her from the streets, that part of things I can handle. It’s you being off your A-game that I’m not settling with.”

  I wasn’t sure why Caleb was taking this shit so far, but I had no problem bringing him back down to Earth. “Bro, nobody is off of anything. We’ll still have the meeting, we’ll still get signed, and we’ll still make our dreams come true. Now quit trippin’ so we can get this shit handled.”

  &

  “Reagan?”

  She peeked up from her computer wearing her sexy work-only glasses and actually gave me a smile.

  Shit, I can’t do this.

  After going back and forth with the label about rescheduling our meeting, the best they could give us was 30 minutes earlier than the original scheduled time. And since I wasn’t exactly sure how long these types of meetings usually lasted, I had to break the news to Reagan that I’d probably be late to the wedding at best.

  I rubbed a hand along the back of my neck as I tossed out, “Hey. I umm… I have some news for you.”

  “Actually, I have something for you first.”

  I watched as she bent down to pull her purse from one of the drawers of her desk, sitting it on top of a hoard of papers. Then she sifted through it for a minute before tossing me a gift-wrapped box.

  “What’s this?”

  She gave me a little smirk as she answered, “If I was gonna tell you what it was, I wouldn’t have wasted the time or money getting it gift-wrapped. Now open it.”

  I peeked over to her with a smirk of my own, always getting a kick out of her sassy ass mouth, before yanking the wrapping paper off of the box. Then I pulled the top off and saw a…

  “What is this?” At first glance, it looked like a fancy silk headscarf similar to the ones Mama liked to wear.

  “It’s a pocket square, Gavin. Matches the fabric of the dress I’m wearing to the wedding. Gotta look the part, right?”

  Shit, I have to do this.

  “Uh… yeah. Look, about the wedding…”

  Before I could finish, she cut me off. “What do you think about me wearing my hair straight? I have a hair appointment early Saturday morning, but I haven’t decided if I want her to do some curly up-do, or get it flat-ironed. Maybe I’ll get a rod-set.”

  “Reagan, I’m sure you’ll look fine either way.”

  She brushed me off, standing up to pace the confines of her office. “I don’t wanna look fine, I wanna look the best. I wanna… shit on everybody; bridal party, attendees, hell, even the damn servers. I want people to be like, “Who is that and why isn’t he marrying her instead?”” By the time she finished, her chest was visibly heaving up and down and her face was flushed red from getting fired up.

  I walked over to her, wanting to pull her into a hug, but instead settling for simply stroking her cheek with my thumb. “This really means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”

  She sighed, giving me her eyes that looked on the verge of tears. “I just… I need it to make sense to me, Gavin. I need my questions answered. I need this… closure. But I know I’m not strong enough to face it alone. That’s why I’m glad you’re coming with me.”

  Shit, I definitely can’t do this.

  Only for Reagan would I find myself legitimately trying to figure out a way to make the meeting and still be on time for the wedding. And regardless of what that meant for us in the long run, she deserved it.

  Reagan

  My dress was hung up on the door with jewelry and shoes to match below it. The ensemble had come together perfectly with the help of Leilani who had thankfully talked me out of a few tempting dresses that would’ve been too attention-grabbing. In her words, “You want to be noticed for looking good, not for looking like some ho that doesn’t belong.”

  My skin was smooth and waxed in every place the esthetician could find, all twenty of my nails were perfectly polished, and now all I needed was for Serenity to work magic on my mane in the morning to complete my look. I was pretty sure I’d be getting it straightened for the first time in almost a year which meant it’d be the first time Michael would see it too.

  They’re gonna regret inviting me to this shit.

  I laughed to myself like a damn maniac as I headed to the living room, opting to watch some TV since I was too hyped to go to bed. The pickings were slim for something entertaining, so I settled on Kardashian reruns while I looked on my phone for something more interesting. I bounced between Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for at least ten minutes before I took a break, just to do it all over again. But the second time through, I noticed a particular someone had uploaded a new picture. And not just any picture, but a damn thirst trap. I mean, that was the only reasonable explanation for the shirtless black and white-filtered pic from his bed with the caption, “I hate sleepin’ alone…”.

  I scrolled through the comments and of course it was a bunch of girls fawning over how they wanted to join him. Strangely enough, I wasn’t jealous at all though I could assume that had something to do with the fact that he wasn’t really my boyfriend. But I actually found it funny how he could get the girlies all riled up with one little picture; so much so that I decided to join in the fun.

  @RegularAssReagan: @GGriff23 Pull the camera back so we know it’s real… ;P

  Before I could exit out of the app, I saw there was a notification.

  @GGriff23: @RegularAssReagan Only for you, sweetheart. ;P

  Oh shit.

  Things between
Gavin and I had been completely situation-based, but him acknowledging our little arrangement on a public platform took things to a whole different level. Before I knew it, I was getting a bunch of new followers - men and women alike - that I could assume were his fans. I thought about deleting the comment to calm the brewing hysteria, but there was hardly any use.

  People could think what they wanted to think.

  I tossed my phone on the couch, giving my full attention to the TV until there was a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I legitimately had no idea who it could be. And when I peeked through the peephole, it was the absolute last person I expected.

  “Michael, what the fuck are you doing here?”

  He stumbled his way into my apartment before I could stop him. I peeked into the hall to make sure he was alone before I finally shut the door, not bothering to lock it since I didn’t plan on his visit being any longer than an explanation.

  He sounded exhausted when he finally answered, “Reagan, I’m making a mistake. It’s you that I should be marrying. Not Alicia.”

  It was hilarious to me that at some point I had thought the same thing. I thought I was supposed to be the one getting pre-wedding jitters and rehearsing my vows. But now that he was the one crawling to me the night before his wedding, I busted out laughing.

  “Seriously, Michael. What are you doing here? I mean, what do you expect to get out of this? Some pussy or somethin’?” That had to be the only reason he had shown up. One last hit before he was stuck with bougie ass Alicia who probably didn’t even know how to give decent head.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close enough to catch a whiff of Jack Daniel’s Honey on his breath.

  Ahh that’s what this is about.

  “No, Reagan. I just want you. I’ve always wanted you, baby.”

  I surprised myself when the word “baby” didn’t even make me budge. I suppose I had already gotten so use to being “sweetheart” that “baby” had officially been shelved for good.

  “Yet here we are. You sneaking away to be with me the night before your fuckin’ wedding, the same way you apparently snuck away to be with me for six months straight. Do you even have a heart by this point? Matter of fact, you probably donated that shit to a patient in need. Still gotta hold up the image, right?”

  I thought the insult would be enough for him to give up, but it wasn’t. In fact, he dropped to his knees and started begging. “Reagan, I’m sorry baby. I’ll do anything.”

  “Anything?” I asked, reeling him right in. And when he nodded his head eagerly in response, I licked my lips before giving him a few instructions. “This is what I need you to do. Go home, or to your hotel, or wherever else they accept your kind, get some sleep, and wake up ready to give Alicia the world because she’s the only one prepared to tolerate your bullshit. I don’t want you anymore, Michael. I’m good.”

  His face went from hopeful to a scowl as he stood up and adjusted his clothes. “I know this doesn’t have something to do with that little nigga from the center. He can’t take care of you like I can, baby.”

  The nerve of this fool...

  “First of all, you and I both know there is nothing little about him. Second of all, why are you so concerned about what he does for me? It’s not like you’re doing anything for me other than giving me a headache.”

  That must’ve been the trigger line I was aiming for as Michael felt the need to spit out, “Fuck it then, Reagan. If that’s how you wanna be; fine. The pussy wasn’t that good anyway.”

  Now that I really had to laugh at as I opened the door to let him out. “Yet again, here you are. The night before your wedding. Trying to get it and professing your love. Makes perfect sense. Have a good night, Michael.”

  &

  I’m gonna kill his ass.

  In fact, I was already thinking of my weapon of choice. Maybe I would just run his tall ass over with my car. Or maybe I would reel him in with a hug and shank his ass like they do in jail. Or maybe… maybe I’d just invite him over for dinner and poison him; after I fucked him. There was no way I was gonna let him die without seeing what the dick was like first.

  I checked my watch and while most of the crowd from cocktail hour had already made their way into the main room where the wedding ceremony was being held, I was holding onto dwindling hope that Gavin hadn’t stood me up. Originally we were going to ride to the wedding together, but he apparently had something important come up that required him to meet me here instead.

  And now I was stuck.

  I mean, sure I could’ve gone inside and found a seat for the both of us. But how awkward would that have been? Me being here was already awkward enough, even though I surprisingly knew more people than I imagined I would considering Michael and I didn’t really run in the same circles. But during cocktail hour, I had discovered that Alicia was a sorority girl - not my soror, but a sorority girl -, which meant some of the same people that I’d see at different Greek events around the city were also in attendance.

  I checked my watch again then peeked at the door just in time to see Gavin strolling in lookin’ fine on the highest levels of the spectrum. I mean… damn. I knew I looked good, but Gavin was on some other shit. His haircut was fresh and his suit was perfectly tailored to his frame; a shade of gray that only he could pull off with the navy pocket square I had given him. Hell, you’d think he was the one trying to stunt on everyone instead of me.

  Cut it out, Reagan.

  You’re mad at him.

  “Where the hell have you been?” I whisper-yelled as he snatched me up by the hand and dragged me towards the main room.

  “Tell you later, sweetheart. We don’t wanna miss the ceremony now, do we?”

  Of course he was all chipper and sweet while I was already on the verge of a breakdown. I could hear the music beginning for the procession of bridesmaids and groomsmen and knew he was right. But I was gonna get my answers sooner than later.

  For now, I was just grateful that he had showed up.

  Gavin

  I gotta hit that tonight.

  That’s all I could think about as I watched Reagan join the rest of the reception attendees in a line dance. The dress, the heels, the hair, the makeup; it was all on point. And even though I knew it was a very calculated move to look the way she did, I was pretty sure I appreciated it more than any other nigga in the room; especially Michael’s bitch ass.

  Reagan had gotten a little emotional during the ceremony, holding onto my arm as the couple delivered their vows. But now that she had survived the “I Do’s”, she was the light and airy Reagan I had grown to… like.

  I liked her.

  And it had nothing to do with our exchange of favors. In fact, it had everything to do with the real exchange of favors I preferred; the kind that involved mouths and hands in sensitive places.

  The only thing holding me back was the fact that I wasn’t sure how she really felt about me. I mean, there was definitely something there and whatever it was kept our act afloat. But it was still an act that we were keeping up for an audience regardless of how either one of us felt about it. I would just have to push my real feelings to the side and focus on the task at hand… for now.

  Since we were still technically boyfriend and girlfriend for the night, I got up from my seat to join Reagan on the dance floor. The song had changed over to something slow, so I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind before anyone else could approach her. I couldn’t see her face, but I could tell she was happy I was there as she sunk into my hold. We rocked back and forth for a little while before I decided to strike up a conversation.

  “How you holdin’ up, Reagan? You good?”

  “Better now that you’re here. It sucks to see him frontin’ for all these people knowing his ass showed up to my apartment last night trying to get me back.”

  “Wait a minute… he did what?”

  She only sighed, shaking her head to confirm that I had heard her right.
/>   “I can’t believe you ever fucked with him like that, Reagan. You deserve so much better than that scrub.”

  I could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Well at least I’m getting better for the night, huh?”

  Now it was me with the goofy little smile, as I tossed my head back in disbelief at her compliment while she continued, “But seriously though. Thank you for doing this, Gavin. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

  My chest bloomed as I told her, “I got your back, Reagan.” And I meant that shit. It wasn’t often that I found women who I felt like I could genuinely be myself with. But with Reagan, shit just felt… right.

  So putting all the bullshit and favors to the side, I leaned into her ear and asked, “What time is Cinderella planning on running away from me tonight?”

  She giggled as she tossed over her shoulder, “Really, Gavin? Cinderella? I hardly see myself as some homely girl who got prettied up for a night just to find her… oh shit. I am kind of like Cinderella!”

  I laughed with her, pulling her against me a little tighter as I corrected her, “You’re not homely, sweetheart. You always look beautiful. And I don’t think I qualify to be anyone’s Prince Charming.”

  “But you are my Prince Charming, Gavin. Coming in here and stealing the eyes of every woman in the building. I even saw Alicia sneaking a couple looks at you.”

  I turned her around so that I could see her face and sure enough, she was wearing a smile even bigger than what I expected as I wrapped my arms around her waist from our new position. I hardly recognized the giddiness I felt as I said, “Well I guess it’s a good thing that I’m only here for the eyes of my girlfriend, huh?”

  Her tone was teasing as she said, “You know… I’m starting to wonder if you just like calling me that.”

  I shrugged. “Just gettin’ it all out of my system since this is the last night I’ll be able to use it.”

  If I was being honest with myself, I had gotten more than comfortable with the idea of Reagan being mine for real. But I’d be damned if I made the first move just to get a workplace-Reagan response, though in this moment I had a hard time believing that would be the case.