Holding up my hand and shaking my head at her, “this is my story okay. I don’t want to hear about Sebastian.” Laughing at her pouting for me dissing her man, “anyways, yeah I know what they say. The best part was, and I can’t get it out of my head, was when we slowed danced.”
“Slow danced,” she screeches.
Nodding my head, “yes, slow danced. Camille, he has a huge penis! I don’t think it’s as big as Aiden’s.” Watching her surprised expression, “oh shit, did I just say that?”
“Yes you did. I knew there had to be something keeping you from leaving his ass.”
“Okay Rhonda, I call her, she says the same exact thing. Well, back to Terrance. He was grinding up against me like I couldn’t feel his package.”
“Um hmm, like girl grabbing Aiden’s package.”
What? “Camille, it’s not the same thing and you know it. What happened with me at that club isn’t available for everyone to see. However, what Aiden did, not his first time might I add, is headline news.”
“Sharon, one situation is no better than the other. Okay, we can see his fault but yours is hidden in the Bahamas.”
“Whatever! I’m still breaking it off with him.” Looking down at my hands, maybe I was wrong but it still doesn’t compare to the humiliation from Aiden’s actions. He just doesn’t even consider how his consequences might affect me or my career.”
Breaking into my thoughts, “so how long do you plan to avoid Aiden?”
As long as I can is what I want to say. “I don’t know. I just need to be completely sure of myself and not let him wiggle his way out of this by sidetracking me like he’s done in the past.” I dare not tell her about how he uses his magic tongue as a weapon to get me to do what he wants.
“I hear you there. You just need time alone to think and weigh out everything.” Looking at me with sincere eyes, “Sharon, I want you to remind you or inform you of something. You’re not a weak woman. You’re just a woman in love with the first man who you lost yourself to. Aiden has his faults, but he loves you. He takes you for granted because he can. He knows that you love him unconditionally. I don’t know if you’ll forgive him for this but don’t let his actions make you feel the need to hide. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Grabbing my hand, “actually, he had nothing to do with this video. He was recorded without his knowledge of being recorded.”
“Camille, maybe you’re right about the video, but he allowed some woman, Amy, to grope him twice. He only pushed her away once.” Taking a deep breath, “he argues with me about everything from spending too much time with Brian, to don’t allow another man to put his tongue in your mouth during acting scenes to this, to that and then once again, he’s caught in a compromising situation that although you say it doesn’t affect me, it does. It shows others that I have poor judgment!”
“You didn’t fully listen to me. Ignore what people think about you and your judgment. They are on the outside looking in. If you decide to break up with him then fine. If not, that’s also fine. Just don’t hide because of his actions.”
“I heard you.” Shaking my head, “it’s just hard to ignore the stares and comments sometimes. Being in the public eye can be a bitch. I would probably be an unknown actress to many if it weren’t for Aiden and his whorish ways. That’s a very troubling thought.”
Rolling her eyes at me, she says, “and you haven’t been an actress since you were sixteen?”
Ugh! “You already know that. What’s your point?”
“My point is this, you’re a good actress with or without Aiden. You being with him just gives people something to talk about. Girl, you have women out there willing to put up with an ounce of your shit just to be with the man.”
Getting up from the floor, “well they can have all of my shit concerning Aiden.”
Laughing at my last statement, Camille gets up to follow me back into the kitchen. “So, are you going to see Terrance again?”
“If he calls me, I might.”
“Damn, it’s after one o’clock, I’ve got to meet Sebastian to get SJ so that he can take care of his errands.”
“Okay, thank you Camille.”
“Why are you thanking me? I didn’t do anything for you that you haven’t already done for me.”
“Maybe so, but thank you anyway.”
Giving each other hugs, Camille heads out to her SUV and waves goodbye as she pulls out of my driveway.
Chapter Twenty Four
This is so frustrating! I know that Sharon has seen footage of Kevin’s bachelor party which is why she’s avoiding my calls. Damn that bitch Amy, she had to have set this up. From what I hear, there’s footage of several other guys who attended the party as well, including one of Kevin banging some chick. I wonder how things are going with his soon to be wife.
Trying Sharon’s cell again, still no answer. Leaving a voice mail:
Sharon, please talk to me. It’s not what you think,
I didn’t sleep with Amy. I promise. I didn’t sleep
with anybody. Please call me so that we can talk about
this baby. I love you so much.
Maybe I should just drive by her house and see if she’ll let me in to talk to her. Hearing my phone ring, I answer without checking the caller id in hopes that it’s Sharon calling me back. “Hello.”
“Hey man, what are you up to?”
It’s Sebastian. “Not much, just trying to get in contact with Sharon, she’s not answering my calls.”
“Man, sorry to hear that but listen, the reason I’m calling is, I found out that that skank you were talking to along with her friends are responsible for that video going viral.”
“I knew that shit was a set up! I should find her ass and choke the hell out of her!”
“I knew something wasn’t right too. Well anyways, Kevin’s attorneys are having the video blocked and I think charges are being filed against those trifling tramps.”
“You know that was Amy right?”
“I thought she looked familiar. That means she knows you’re with Sharon, so her crap was personal.”
“Yeah, it was personal alright. I kept trying to rack my brain as to who she was once I sobered up and actually watched that fucking video. Amy saw me with Sharon two years ago at the hotel so her part in this was definitely personal.”
“Shit man. So, you haven’t talked to Sharon at all?”
Sitting back on the sofa, giving a frustrated sigh, “no, not at all.”
“Camille picked her up from the airport so more than likely, they are just hanging out. When Camille gets home, I’ll ask her about Sharon.”
“And you’ll call me?”
“What did I just say?”
“Hey, you know how wrapped Camille has you. If she tells you not to say anything, I won’t know anything until you get mad or some shit.”
“Man, I said I’d call your ass. Hell, you’re actually innocent this time so I don’t mind playing interference on your behalf.”
“Thanks, looks like I’m going to need all the help I can get. I was just about to head out and drive over to Sharon’s to try and talk to her.”
Hearing SJ crying in the background, “hold on little man, Aiden, I’ll call you after I talk to Camille. She should be home soon for me to run some errands.”
“Thanks again, I’ll talk to you later.” Hanging up the phone, I have a strange feeling that Sharon isn’t going to be so forgiving of this mishap. Going into the kitchen to get something to drink, I’m relieved that that stupid ass video will no longer be available for view. Now if only I could just talk to Sharon, I’d feel so much better. I really need to know where her head is. Pounding my fist against the kitchen wall, I hate feeling like this. Shit!
Chapter Twenty Five
I’ve been avoiding Aiden’s calls for the past three days by hanging out at Brian’s house while he’s out of town on business. After Camille left, I called Brian and cried on his shoulder about my big dilemma. He has the same opinion as
Camille but I have to do what I feel is best and still, I don’t know what I want to do. I love Aiden so much and each time he does this to me, I resent him and my love for him even more. Brian will return on Friday, so until then, I just need to stay busy.
Trying to get my mind off of Aiden, I decide to call Terrance back. He’s called me a couple of times and left messages. Dialing his number…
“This is T, what can I do for you?”
Chuckling to myself, “hi T, this is Sharon.”
“Sharon, what can I do for you?”
Is he serious? “I guess you can talk to me.”
Laughing into the phone, “it’s about time you called me back girl, you been screening your calls?”
Hell yes! “Yeah, something like that.”
“Sorry to hear about your boy, that was messed up! Are you okay?”
Man he just gets straight to the point. “I’m fine. Is that why you were calling me?”
“Yes and no. I didn’t realize you were really seeing Aiden Taylor until I returned home.” I hear some sarcasm in his voice. “You know how the tabloids are and you never mentioned that you were seeing him while we were in the Bahamas.”
“No I didn’t, did I? I didn’t think you even knew who I was when we met.”
Making what I think is a grunting sound, “girl, I knew who you were. Did you dump your boy after you saw that video?”
What? “You are so blunt. I haven’t talked to him since I returned home.”
“No need to beat around the bush. You’re playing the avoiding game, huh?”
“I guess you can say that.” I think I’m going to hang up, ugh. He’s too blunt. “Did you call me to talk about Aiden?”
“No, I just wanted to see where your head is concerning him to know whether or not I should ask you out. Since you failed to mention him while we were in the Bahamas, I assumed that you two aren’t in a serious relationship. Did I make a wrong assumption?”
I don’t have a clue. “Are you asking me out?”
Giggling into the phone, “hell yeah, I’m asking you out. Just so you know, you’re a point blank person yourself, I like that in a female.”
His tone has changed, damn he sounds so sexy and for some reason, I am horny as hell. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. “No need to beat around the bush, right?”
“That’s right baby. Have you eaten lunch already?”
I love how his voice sounds. Lord, help me! “No, not yet.”
“Would you like to join me for lunch?”
I should probably say no. “Sure, where would you like to meet?”
“Meet, I can’t pick you up?”
Um, that would be a no because I’d probably rape you on site! “I think we should just meet somewhere.”
“You are throwing me off my game. Where do you live?”
“You have game too, huh? Where do you want to meet in the Bakersfield area?”
“Frank’s place sound okay to you?”
Hell no, I don’t want to go back to Frank’s place! “Not really, how about we meet at Gloria’s Steak House over on fifth?”
“Sounds good to me. Around one o’clock?”
“I’ll see you at one.”
Hanging up the phone, I don’t know why I just agreed to meet with him. I do need to move on with my life and stop procrastinating. I have no idea what I should wear. I only packed a few items. Gloria’s isn’t a fancy place so I decide to wear a pair of jeans, a tan, short sleeved, fitted turtle neck sweater and my multi-colored UGG platform shoes. It’s cool outside but not cold, typical late September weather for California. Getting dressed, my mind keeps going back to what I should do about Aiden. My emotions are all over the place. Frowning as I look in the mirror, are my breasts getting bigger? They are! I thought being depressed makes you lose weight. I’m gaining weight! Maybe I shouldn’t wear this sweater. Turning in the mirror, I’ve got curves that I’ve never had before. Maybe I shouldn’t be stressing over this – I’m not fat but I don’t want to gain weight. Falling back onto Brian’s bed, I feel the tears streaming down my face. Ugh, I scream, “I hate my life!”
Parking across from Gloria’s, I spot a photographer aiming his camera directly at me to take photos. I hate this! I probably look at hot mess. I have my hair pulled back in a low ponytail with a part on the side because I didn’t know what to do with it – it’s a hot mess too.
Walking into Gloria’s, Terrance is waiting for me at the door. “Hey lady, you look beautiful.”
Is he talking to me? “Thanks, you just get here?”
He’s staring at me with a smile on his face, “not too long ago, you are so beautiful!”
Trying not to go off on him, for what reason I don’t know, I say, “thanks.”
The waitress has arrived to take us to our seats. I turn to see the same photographer standing in the window of the restaurant. Hopefully he’ll be gone when we leave.
Pulling out the chair for me to sit, “I know I keep saying this to you and I don’t want to sound freaky or anything but you really are absolutely beautiful Sharon.”
Looking around the restaurant, “you really are working my nerves right now.” Oh shit, did I just say that out loud? “Terrance, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. I…”
Shaking his head and holding up his hand to stop me from coming up with an excuse for my unexpected bluntness, “don’t apologize. I would have probably said the same thing if it were me. Besides, I like your cockiness.”
Raising my brow, “cockiness, I was just being rude.”
“I wouldn’t call that rude but I will say that maybe you have a lot on your mind so at the moment what comes up comes out.”
Giving him my most sincere, apologetic face, “I’ll accept that for an excuse.” Reaching across the table to touch his arm, “I am really sorry.”
“Apology accepted. But damn, you’re beautiful!”
Laughing and making small talk, the waitress has returned to take our orders. I’m really enjoying lunch with Terrance. He is so funny and our conversation just seems to flow naturally.
“Besides acting, do you do anything else?”
“Actually, I co-own a day spa in Delano with my best friend.”
“You live in Delano?”
Why does he want to know where I live? “Where do you live?”
“I live in Farmersville. Why can’t you tell me where you live?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I just want to know. I can just look it up for $14.95 if I have to.”
Smirking at him, “I live here in Bakersfield. So you drove for over an hour to meet me for lunch?”
“I would have driven even further just to see you again.”
Looking down at my hands so he can’t see me blush, I change the subject quickly, “so are you dating anyone seriously?”
“I date, but nothing serious.”
That’s probably the same line that Aiden uses. “Um hum.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, um hum?”
Shrugging my shoulders, “it means what it means.”
Taking a sip of his drink, he looks so damn sexy! “If I were dating someone seriously right now, I’d be in trouble for what I’m thinking.”
“What are,” shaking my head to clear my thoughts because I’ve been down this road before with Aiden, “as long as you keep them in your head and don’t act on them we should be cool.”
Looking at me, “you really don’t know how sexy you are, do you?”
Getting really annoyed, I sigh, “it’s not something I focus on too often.”
“Surely, your ex tells you that you are fine, beautiful, gorgeous and exotic. Did I leave anything out?”
My ex. Wow! “He tells me those things but does it really matter considering all that’s happened. Besides, I don’t need a man to tell me things to build my ego, I know my worth.”
“Well if you were my woman, not only would I tell you, I’d show you. Your boy just doesn’t r
ealize what he has. Not everybody knows how to appreciate a sista.”
Where is he going with this conversation? Placing my napkin on my plate, the smell in the restaurant is starting to make me feel nauseated. “Well Terrance, I really enjoyed our lunch, thanks for inviting me.”
Frowning at me, “you have someplace to be? I thought we could hang out for a while.”
“I don’t have any plans for today but the smell in here is making me feel a bit queasy so I really want to go home.” He’s looking at me like a spoiled brat. “Maybe we can get together another time.”
“Yeah, sure that sounds like a plan. Wait, did you say queasy? You aren’t pregnant are you?”
“Pregnant? Hell no! I think it’s the aroma of the soups.”
“Okay, just checking. Let’s go. Paying our bill, we head out of the restaurant. Walking me to my car, he hugs me, really tight and kisses the side of my neck. I glance up and the photographer who I saw earlier is snapping away. “Um Terrance, there’s a photographer taking pictures of us.” Terrance turns his back to block out any extra photos from being taken while allowing me time to climb into my car and motions with his hands that he’ll call me later.
Pulling away from the curb to blend in with the traffic, I decide that I need to go back to my house and stop trying to avoid Aiden. Like Camille said, I have no reason to hide. Sighing with relief that I’ve finally made one decision in this mess, I head home.
Chapter Twenty Six
It’s Friday and I still haven’t heard from or seen Sharon. She must really be pissed at me. Sebastian’s weak ass didn’t call me back until Wednesday to tell me that Camille said that Sharon was upset and was done with our relationship. I need to hear this from her. Why is she avoiding me? Getting out of bed, I head into the bathroom to take a shower. Picking up the remote, I turn on the television to find out what the weather’s going to be like today.
Stepping out of the shower, I think I just heard Sharon’s name. Walking into my bedroom, what the fuck?
Well, it seems that Ms. Sharon Wen has finally decided to move
on with her life according to a close source. Sharon was seen on yesterday
His Choice, Her Decision Page 9
