“IS it just me or has Fuentes been acting weird lately?” Patrick leans back in his chair, hands clasped tightly on top of his stomach. The bolts make a creaking sound when his weight hits against them. Black eyebrows pull tight in deep thought.
I stiffen. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Nah.” Patrick shakes his head. His pressed shirt bears a coffee stain. Thick lips press into a thin line. “I suggested a cross-promotion between him and one of our other athletes. Fuentes turned me down. Said he didn’t want to commit to something beyond the two-month probation.”
My fingers stall on the laptop. “Did he say anything else?”
“No.” Patrick’s eyes burn into me. “But I was hoping you had a clue.” “I don’t.”
He sinks into his seat, a dark thumb scrubbing his chin. “The day he signed with us, the kid was floating on clouds. I could have told him to get into a clown suit and hand-sell tickets and he would have done it. Now, I’m about to pour gasoline on his career and he wants to pump the brakes? It doesn’t add up.”
A frown tugs at the corners of my mouth. Fuentes and I haven’t talked about the night he caught me with Ashley. I debated calling him but decided against it. Doc’s already in my ear telling me what to do and how to conduct myself.
I’m grudgingly submitting myself to the mechanic’s instructions because I’ve seen the results. Fuentes is a different story. If the rookie doesn’t bring up what he saw, then neither will I.
Patrick pushes out his lips. “J, you don’t seem that concerned. We spent a crazy amount of money on this guy. Money we don’t have and need to make back as soon as possible.”
“I’m aware.” I tap nonsense on my keyboard and watch the words parade on the computer screen.
“So you’re not worried?” “It’ll work out.”
He shakes his head. Grabs his coffee. Takes a swig. “I’m getting a bad feeling about this.”
“That’s probably because you’re on your fifth cup for the day.” I nod to the java. “You should give it a break. Too much caffeine isn’t good for you.”
Patrick rolls his eyes and gulps the brew down. “Now you sound like my wife.”
“She nags because she cares about you, man.”
Patrick bursts out laughing. “Since when do you take up for my wife?” He shoves his legs and his chair flies toward me. “J, I think you’re being brainwashed.”
“What does that mean?”
“I notice how much time you’re spending with Harriet these days.
What’s up with you two?” “Get out of my face.”
Patrick pushes even closer, his grin widening to reveal big teeth. “Are you falling in love with your wife again, Jerrison?”
He’s mocking me. “Since the meeting’s over, I’m going to head out.” “Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“To Ashley?” Patrick smirks. “She never thanked me for pulling her out of harm’s way that day. If Harriet found out she was here to see you, that woman would have popped off.” He laughs as if he’d love to see it. “Come to think of it. You haven’t brought Ashley around much.”
“We broke up.” I slap my laptop into the case. Patrick barrels out of his chair. “What? When?” “It doesn’t matter. It’s over now.”
“Did she break it off?” “I did.”
Patrick grabs my shoulder to keep me from leaving. “Why? You seemed like you were really into her.”
“What do you mean why, Pat? I’m married.”
He chuckles. Then he sees my expression and his laughter fades. “Since when has that mattered?”
“I have to go.” A glance at my watch makes me wince. “I need to pick up Harriet from the hair salon.”
“You’re doing what?” His expression is one of pure horror. I push him out of my way and stride to the door.
Patrick hurries to keep step with me. “Are you okay, man? Are you having some kind of mid-life crisis?”
“No.” I barely restrain the head shake.
He jumps in front of me, his eyes brimming with concern. Leaning in, Patrick whispers, “Does Harriet have some kind of dirt on you? The kind that’ll put you in jail?”
“Stop talking nonsense.” I stride past him.
“If she does, you should let me know. We’ll fight this together.” I get into the elevator. “Just mind your own business, Pat.”
He scowls at me.
The door closes with a beep.
I cringe and pound my fist against the wall to release the nervous energy in my body. That was close. Patrick’s suspicious about Fuentes. He’s going to kill me if we lose the contract. I haven’t been putting enough energy into solving that problem. I should probably start mediating with Fuentes again.
I’m still debating what I should say to the athlete when I park the car in front of the hair salon.
“Jeh-ruh-son!” Auntie Yuri-not related to anyone by blood but a mother-figure all the same-grabs my cheeks when I walk in. She smells like cocoa butter and hair chemicals. Her lips leave a bright stain when she kisses my cheek.
“Hey, ladies.” I send a wave to the other technicians.
“It’s been years since you’ve been here!” Auntie Yuri chuckles. Turning to the others, she shares, “When he was dating Harriet, he would bring her to every appointment and sit right there with a magazine.” She points to a corner of the room. “He was a wide-eyed white boy in a black woman’s hair salon. It was the cutest thing!”
I chuckle good-naturedly.
“Why haven’t you been around anymore, Jerrison?” Auntie Yuri pouts.
Because when you’re destroying your wife, it’s hard to do nice things for her. “I, uh…”
“He got busy.” Harriet rises from the chair and steps toward me. She’s wearing a crisp, white-colored blouse, tight jeans and low heels. Red lipstick coats her plump lips and frames her white teeth.
Holy…
My wife looks amazing.
“Honey, you need to close your mouth before you start drooling on my floors.” Auntie Yuri taps my jaw.
The women in the salon giggle at my expense.
I cock my head to the side, too busy admiring my wife to care. “You look incredible, baby.”
“Thanks.” She slings her arm around my waist and rests her head on my chest.
Auntie Yuri smacks her gum. “Awww! It does my heart good to see a couple thriving right now. Everyone seems to be breaking up these days.”
“Marriage is hard,” I state, bobbing my head. “It takes a lot of work.” “And are you putting in the work?” Auntie Yuri asks.
“He’s working hard to keep me happy, Auntie Yuri.” A smile plays at the corner of her mouth. “Don’t worry.”
My fingers curve around her waist, pulling her closer to me. “You mean that?” I search her face for any sign. Any indication that all I’ve been doing has been noted and appreciated. That’s all I want.
“I do,” she whispers, staring into my eyes.
“Whoo! Chile! Ya’ll betta get out of here before you start a fire and burn my place down.” Auntie Yuri waves a pudgy hand. “Don’t be a stranger, Jerrison.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod to her and the rest of the ladies.
Taking Harriet’s hand, I lead her to the car and open the door for her. She doesn’t immediately get in. Instead, she leans her body against the truck like she’s posing for a calendar shoot.
Her fingers slide around my neck. “Thank you for picking me up. It’s always a hassle to find parking around here and I really didn’t want to take a cab back.”
“I’ll take you every time you need to do your hair,” I promise. “Really?” Her smile goes soft.
“I never should have stopped.” I touch the end of her hair. It’s similar in length to her regular extensions but this one has golden and light brown highlights. The hair frames her gorgeous face and allows the chocolate of her complexion to pop.
“You like it?” She winds her finger around a strand. Her tone is playful. “It makes you look like a different person.”
Harriet scrunches her nose. “Is that a compliment?”
“Let me be more clear.” I caress her cheek. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
She laughs softly. “Are you hitting on me?”
“If you have to ask, I’m not doing it right.” My forehead rests against hers.
“Mm.” She closes her eyes.
“You don’t happen to have a boyfriend, do you?” I growl, rubbing my thumb in a circle on her hip.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I want to take you out tonight.”
“I’ll think about it.” She plants her hands on my chest. Pushes me off.
Dances away.
I follow her. “What’s there to think about?” “A girl can never be too careful these days.”
I laugh and watch the way sunlight dances on her brown skin, the glitter in her dark brown eyes, and the fine sheen of sweat running down her neck. Whether she believes me or not, I have truly never seen a more enticing woman.
“What can I do to get a yes from you?” I slip a hand into my pocket and offer her my best smolder.
Her breath hitches. “That’s a nice start, but if I tell you all the answers, it won’t be fair to the other guys.”
“What other guys?” My eyes narrow. She laughs. Shrugs.
I chuckle because I can tell she’s just messing with me. “You’re playing hard to get.”
“Isn’t it more exciting that way?”
I smirk and hold the door open. “Let me take you back to work.”
On the way, Harriet holds my hands and talks about her plans for the next celebrity event.
I listen keenly, enjoying her company. It’s rare to feel so… content. She’s everything I could ever want and I’m still amazed that I get another chance to prove it.
“Are you okay, Jerrison?” Harriet asks, looking intently at me.
“I am.” And that’s the truth. Even though Fuentes is still a headache and the company’s in jeopardy, with Harriet beside me, it feels like nothing else matters.