She Gets What She Wants

by Denise N Wheatley

  Devon felt a pull in her chest at the sight of his reaction. But she couldn’t bring herself to break from her chilly demeanor. “Cool. Did you need anything else?”

  “Nope. That’s it.”

  “Okay then.” Devon turned back around and began dialing Jason’s number. Through the corner of her eye, as she watched Ryan slowly slink away, she couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Devon stood in front of her full-length mirror, adjusting the hem on her strapless pink bandage dress. She slid her feet inside nude patent stilettos, then swiped one last layer of shimmery gloss across her lips. After spritzing perfume along her décolletage and fluffing her beach-waved bob, she gave herself a final once-over.

  “Ayyee!” Gabby said when she approached Devon’s bedroom doorway. “You look great! Where are you off to? Hanging out with some of the show writers?”

  “Not exactly…” Devon replied cryptically, straightening her tassel earrings while avoiding Gabby’s gaze. She was on her way to meet Jason for dinner and had yet to tell Gabby he was in town.

  “Well, you must have a hot date then. Who are you creepin’ with behind my back?”

  Devon remained silent while grabbing her clutch and tossing her keys inside.

  “Hello. Earth to Devon. What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange all week. Are you still upset over what’s going on with Ryan?”

  Devon shook her head adamantly. “Definitely not.”

  “You two still haven’t talked since we’ve been back from Berman?”

  “Not really, no.”

  Gabby flopped down onto the bed. “I wish you two would just sit down and talk. Vince even mentioned how down Ryan’s been. He hasn’t really wanted to hang out with the guys, his workouts have been lackluster… Vince is convinced Ryan’s madly in love with you and just doesn’t know how to approach you now, after things went left at the gala.”

  Devon rolled her eyes. “I can’t tell considering he’s acted so shady toward me since we’ve been back in L.A.”

  “Probably because he’s so worried about you and Jason. According to Vince, Ryan thinks you two have something going on.”

  Devon took a deep breath. “Speaking of Jason…”

  “Yeah, what about him?” Gabby muttered, her face buried in her cell phone.

  “He’s in town and we’re hanging out tonight,” she blurted out before heading toward the door.

  Gabby’s mouth fell open. She dropped her phone, stood up and followed Devon.

  “You’re kidding, right? You aren’t really hanging out with Jason, are you?”

  Devon nodded her head.

  “He’s here? In L.A.? And you’re actually going to see him?”

  “Yes, Gabby. Jason and I have been in contact since the gala, and I’m open to reestablishing our friendship.”

  “You’re not interested in more than that, are you?”

  “No, I’m not,” Devon replied exasperatedly as she hurried down the stairs. “We’re just hanging out, Gabby. Please don’t make a big deal out of this.”

  Gabby’s slippers nipped at Devon’s heels as she followed her into the living room. “Don’t you think it’s interesting how Jason’s suddenly reemerged now that you’re out here in L.A., all glowed up and living your best life?”

  “What exactly are you getting at?”

  The two friends stared at one another silently for several moments before Gabby opened the door. “Nothing, Devon. Enjoy your evening.”

  “Thank you. I will.”

  Devon closed the door behind her and headed toward the car. She inhaled the cool night air, suddenly feeling lighter after escaping the weight of Gabby’s interrogation. When she climbed inside and pulled away, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Jason.

  Hey, love. Just left my last meeting for the day in Santa Monica. Almost in West Hollywood now. Won’t take me long to get to Catch LA. Can’t wait to see you…

  Devon found herself slowly beginning to smile. Any remnants of her awkward confrontation with Gabby immediately dissipated.

  Sounds good, she wrote back. I’m on my way now. Looking forward to seeing you, too.

  *

  “Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?” Jason asked Devon.

  “I believe you did, but you can tell me again if you’d like,” she joked.

  “You look gorgeously stunning, and absolutely amazing.”

  The pair was standing near the bar at Catch L.A., swaying back and forth to the rhythm of Sister Nancy’s reggae hit “Bam Bam.”

  “I love this place,” he said, looking around at the beautiful, rustic décor and rich foliage spread throughout the restaurant. “And the food! That was the best snapper I’ve ever had. Today’s been a good day.”

  “Yes, it has. And I’m guessing your meetings went well, too?”

  “The meetings were great. A few of our sales reps who work for Kenelli Pharma’s west coast office shadowed me while I met with doctors in Santa Monica, Culver City and Topanga, and I did some on-the-spot training while introducing a new insulin pen. The doctors were really receptive to it and impressed with my presentation.”

  “That’s so awesome,” Devon said, squeezing his shoulder. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, thank you. But that’s not all. When I checked in with my supervisor today, she told me that if the rest of this trip goes well, I could be promoted to regional manager really soon.”

  “Seriously? Jason, that’s amazing!” Devon clinked her glass against his. “Cheers to all your fantastic news.” Devon took a sip of her drink. When she looked up, she noticed Jason staring at her intently.

  “Let me ask you something,” he began. “If I do get promoted, and things move forward between us the way I’m hoping they will, would you be willing to move back to Berman?”

  Devon froze mid-sip, hoping that she’d misheard him. “I’m sorry. What’d you say?”

  Jason placed his hands on Devon’s hips and pulled her in closer. “If I’m promoted to regional manager, the next step would be regional director, then senior regional director. After that, the sky’s the limit. But I can’t see myself making all those big moves without a supportive woman like you by my side.”

  “Don’t you think you’re putting the cart way before the horse? I mean, we’re literally just talking again, and you’re already asking me about moving back to Berman?”

  Jason’s hands fell to his sides. “Come on, Dee. We’ve been close for years. This bond that we have can’t be broken after just a few short months of us not talking.”

  “Yeah, well, a lot happened within those few short months. But more importantly, I’ve got a great life and career here in L.A. I actually think I’m getting closer to being promoted to staff writer.”

  “I know. And I’m really happy for you, baby. But can’t you write for the show from anywhere? And videoconference in or whatever when it’s time to have your meetings?”

  Devon took a step back. “Uh, no. That’s not how a writers room works.”

  Jason pulled her back in and playfully rocked her back and forth. “Look, let’s just drop it. We can talk about all that later. I just wanna have a good time and enjoy your company. Okay?”

  Devon hesitated, not yet able to shake the feeling of irritation brought on by Jason’s question. But when he bent down and nuzzled her neck, she couldn’t help but laugh and swatted him away.

  “Will you cut it out?” Devon said, twisting from side-to-side. As she straightened back up, she noticed a commotion over by the entrance. Cell phones flashed in every direction, and a group of scantily clad women were freaking out. After a few moments, Ryan, Malcolm and Simone walked through the door.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Devon mumbled.

  “What’s wrong?” Jason asked, whose back was to all the hubbub.

  “Nothing,” she quickly replied, hoping that Ryan hadn’t seen her. But when Malcolm yelled her name from across the bar
, she knew he had.

  “What’s up, Dee?” Malcolm called out before stopping to take selfies with a group of YouTube influencers. Simone waved at her excitedly before getting swallowed up by a group of professional basketball players. And then there was Ryan, who despite being pulled and tugged from every angle, was focused solely on Devon.

  Her head swiveled back and forth between Ryan and Jason. Ryan barely acknowledged her, his unflinching expression cold as ice. When Simone grabbed his arm and led him away, Devon exhaled, her tightened jaws relaxing now that he was out of sight.

  Jason chuckled and grabbed Devon’s hand. “Isn’t that your boy, Robert? He didn’t seem too happy seeing us together, did he?”

  Devon waved him off, her nonchalant reaction much cooler than the anxiety buzzing in her head. “Yes, that was Ryan, and no, it’s not that. We recently had a run-in at work over issues with the script. He’ll be all right.”

  “Would you like another drink?”

  “I’d love one.”

  “Cool. Be right back.”

  A dizzying surge of nerves hit Devon. She peered through the corner of her eye and noticed Ryan standing over by the bar. He was talking to the owner of the restaurant but staring straight at her.

  She quickly dropped her head and opened her clutch, shuffling through it as if searching for something. Devon eventually pulled out her cell phone and checked her email, refusing to look up again until Jason got back with her drink.

  The minute he returned, she grabbed her vodka tonic and took a couple of long sips. She discreetly peeked back over toward the bar and saw that Ryan was gone.

  Jason pulled her toward him, gently brushing her hair away from her face. “So, I know you weren’t really receptive to the idea of moving back to Berman when I first brought it up, but promise me you’ll at least think about it?”

  Keep your cool. Keep your cool, Devon told herself, remaining silent while continuing to nurse her drink.

  “Come on, Dev. Just consider it. For me. You and I have so much history, and I can really see us making a life together.”

  “Listen, Jason. I honestly don’t ever see myself moving back to Berman.”

  “Wow. Really, Dee?”

  Devon could barely focus on what Jason was saying at this point because she was so shocked that Ryan was there. She turned away from him in exasperation, which is when she noticed Ryan holding hands with a woman and leading her to the dance area. The DJ slowed the music’s tempo, and the pair pressed their bodies against one another’s while moving provocatively to the beat.

  Devon choked on a piece of ice.

  “Are you okay?” Jason asked, patting her back.

  “Ye…Yes. I…I’m fine,” she sputtered.

  Her voice faded as she continued staring at Ryan and his gorgeous dance partner, whose blond pixie cut, pouty matte red lips and curvy size-two figure had captured the attention of everyone around her.

  “Hey, Lay-Lay!” Devon heard Simone yell excitedly.

  That’s when it dawned on her. The woman dancing with Ryan was none other than Laila James, host of the Gotcha! entertainment news television show. Laila had visited the set of Here To Stay earlier that week to interview Ryan, and Devon remembered several cast and crew members commenting on the intense chemistry between the pair.

  “Listen, Dev,” Jason said, pulling her back in, “I know I just hit you with a lot. But all I’m asking is for you to give it some thought. Okay?”

  “Uh-huh,” Devon uttered, barely listening to him. She was entranced by Ryan and Laila and couldn’t look away as they laughed and whispered in each other’s ears.

  Ryan glanced over at Devon, his jovial expression falling a bit. But when Laila caressed his cheek and turned his attention back toward her, he broke out into a huge grin and ramped up his sensual dance moves.

  “I think I’m ready to go,” Devon told Jason.

  “Really? Are you upset because I asked about you moving back to Berman again?”

  “No. It’s just that… It’s so hot and crowded in here, and I can barely even hear what you’re saying.”

  “Okay. Why don’t we go back to my hotel and hang out for a while?”

  “Yep, that’s fine,” Devon said, practically throwing her glass onto the bar. She grabbed Jason’s hand and led him toward the exit. On the way out, she couldn’t resist giving Ryan one last glance.

  Laila was rolling her hips against him while his hands gripped her thighs. She tickled his neck with her fingertips, and he burst out laughing.

  The minute he noticed Devon watching him, she flew out the door.

  *

  “Let’s make an official toast,” Jason said, holding his glass in the air. “To us reconnecting, reigniting the flame and hopefully planning an amazing future together.”

  Devon cocked her head to the side. “You’re way ahead of yourself on a couple of those, but nevertheless, cheers.”

  She and Jason were sitting in the living room of his suite at Hotel Belmar, sipping champagne and nibbling chocolate-covered strawberries. Devon finally felt herself beginning to relax after coming down off the shock of seeing Ryan and Laila together.

  “So you’re really digging this whole Hollywood thing, huh?” he asked.

  “You know, I really am. It’s actually better than I thought it’d be. My home is beautiful, my social life is great, and work is amazing. When I accepted the PA job, I had no idea I’d be working with the writing team. Sometimes I still can’t believe this is my life.”

  “That’s awesome, Dee. I’m really happy for you. I just wish I could’ve been a part of it all. And I know that was my fault. I really messed up. But now that you’ve forgiven me, I hope you’ll let me back in for a lifetime.”

  Devon took a sip of champagne, then set her glass on the table. She looked over at Jason and took a deep breath.

  “Uh-oh, here it comes,” he said, draining his glass and then refilling it.

  “No, no. It’s not even like that. It’s just…” Devon paused and stared down at her lap in search of the right words. “I’m sure you can understand my hesitation at jumping into something with you, right?”

  Jason leaned back and put his arm around her. “I can,” he replied slowly, “but I don’t know how much more I can say at this point for you to get that I’m all in. My head wasn’t in the right place around the time of the reunion. But it is now. You, on the other hand, are gonna have to tear down that wall you’ve built and let me back in.”

  Devon picked her glass back up and took a long sip. “Easier said than done.”

  “I know it is. But come on…” Jason grabbed Devon and gently tickled her. “I know you’re still feeling me, girl.”

  She burst out laughing and pressed her hands against his chest. “Will you stop it!”

  “You gonna be my girl?” he asked, refusing to let up. “You gonna stop with all that let’s see where things go and just let me love you?”

  “If you don’t back up off me,” she said, slapping Jason’s hands away playfully.

  In between giggles, Devon heard her cell phone buzz.

  “Do you need to get that?” he asked, picking up a strawberry and holding it to her lips.

  “No,” she replied before hesitating, then biting into it.

  “Good.” Jason reached down and took Devon’s hand in his. “I have to go to San Francisco in the morning and won’t be back in L.A. until later this week. I wanna spend as much time with you as I can before I leave for Berman. Why don’t you stay with me tonight?”

  “Jason, I…” Devon began before placing her champagne flute to her lips. In between sips, her cell phone went off again.

  Saved by the bell, she thought, reaching down inside her clutch and grabbing it.

  “While you think about my question and check your phone,” Jason said, “I’m gonna hit the bathroom, then go grab some ice. You good?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Cool. Be right back.”

  Devon typed
in her security code. When the home screen appeared, several missed calls and text message notifications popped up. They were all from Ryan.

  She sat straight up and almost dropped the phone as her trembling fingers tapped one of the texts.

  We need to talk. Can you please call me?

  Devon opened the next message.

  Dee, please. Call me ASAP. I really need to talk to you.

  She tapped the third text.

  I’m on my way to your house. I hope you’re there and willing to talk to me…

  “What?” Devon squealed.

  “What’d you say, babe?” Jason called out.

  “Nothing! Just…just checking my phone.”

  “Okay, I’m going to grab the ice.”

  When the door closed behind Jason, Devon replied to Ryan’s text.

  I’m not at home.

  A few seconds later, he responded.

  Is there any way you can get there? I’m almost at your place.

  “Are you serious?” Devon huffed.

  Jason came bouncing back into the room singing Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady.” He set the ice bucket down on the table, then smiled at Devon.

  “So what’s it gonna be, beautiful? Tell me something good. You gonna stay with me?”

  Devon’s phone pinged again. She looked down and saw that it was yet another message from Ryan.

  ??? it read.

  She stood up. “That was actually Gabby blowing up my phone. She needs me to come home. I’m not sure what’s going on, but she seems really upset. I don’t know if something happened with her boyfriend, or one of her friends, or—”

  “Or if she just wants to get you away from me,” Jason interjected. “I know she’s not feeling me. But hopefully once she sees my intentions are good, that’ll all change.”

  “Gabby respects whatever decisions I make when it comes to my personal life,” Devon told him, knowing full well she was stretching the truth.

  “If you say so. That’s not the impression I got when she saw me at the gala. But that’s neither here nor there. Go check on your girl and make sure she’s okay.”

  “I will.” She glanced down at the phone and saw that Ryan had sent her another message.