A Li'l Dab of Drama

by LaJill Hunt

  A lie! Her inner voice said, Your issues are just as serious as theirs. Look at that picture.

  Tennille glanced up at her own wedding photo. There she was, dressed in a gorgeous gown, makeup and hair perfectly done, smiling as she stood next to Brandon, her husband. They looked like the typical married couple, but Tenille saw something that she wondered if everyone else saw when they looked at the picture. Her sadness. It was the weirdest thing. A woman's wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. The day that she had planned and been waiting for her whole life. The day she said 'I do' and was joined in holy matrimony with their soulmate. For Tennille, that wasn't the case. She was happy, in a sense, but instead of feeling overwhelmed with emotions of happiness, she felt empty and couldn't understand why. Brandon was a great guy and had everything a woman wanted in a husband. He was good looking, a hard worker, a great provider, laid back, nice, dependable and he loved her. What more could she want? There was no reason for her not to marry him, so she did. Now, five years later, she was still empty.

  "Tenille," Chastity knocked on the door, "I have your itinerary for next weekend. I made sure you got a window seat."

  "I'm more concerned with if you got me a first class seat," Tenille teased. She didn't know how Chastity did it, but somehow, she was always able to get her bumped up to first class without paying more or cashing in her frequent flyer miles. She was also able to get upgrades at hotels and resorts at no extra charge. Hiring her had been even more beneficial than she thought.

  "Of course, you know I did," Chastity smiled, "Are you sure you don't need me to accompany you and assist?"

  Chastity had assisted Tenille with the last three weddings she shot. All of which had been larger weddings with over two hundred guests in addition to have large bridal parties. She knew this was one of the weddings she would love to assist, especially since it was a destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She didn't blame her for trying.

  "I'm sure, Chastity. You know the wedding is small, only about 50 people. No assistance needed. Thanks for offering though," Tenille smiled and took the file from her.

  "I can't wait to go with you on the good trips," Chastity hinted.

  "You just went with me to San Francisco," Tenille reminded her, "Not only was that wedding fabulous, but we got treated like royalty."

  "I want to go on the exotic trips!"

  "Believe me you'll get to go. But remember, the more exotic the trip, the smaller the wedding."

  "Tell the couples you can't travel without your new assistant, then I can go," Chastity suggested, "The more the merrier."

  "Okay, I'll suggest that," Tenille said.

  "Your flight gets in late Sunday evening. You need me to pick you up or will your hubby be there waiting with flowers?"

  The thought of Brandon waiting for her at the airport with flowers almost caused Tenille to crack up laughing. She didn't think he had ever bought her flowers. Flowers and romance were not her husband's strong points.

  "Sparkle is gonna pick me, it's no big deal," Tenille shrugged. Sparkle was her best friend of over twenty years.

  "Does he ever travel with you? It seems like the destination weddings would be a great chance for you and he to sorta hang out and spend some uber-romantic one on one time," Chastity winked.

  Tenille almost laughed out loud again. Instead she said, "You know he works a crazy schedule at the ship yard."

  That was a true statement. Brandon was a long shoreman and worked a crazy schedule which included days, nights, weekends and holidays. The pay was great, but he put in long hours.

  "Well, it was just a thought," Chastity said as she walked out of the office.

  Tenille looked back at her wedding photo, and sighed, "Empty.

  Nick

  "Maria, Maria, she reminds me of a West Side story, growing up in Spanish Harlem, she livin' a life just like a movie starrrrrrrrr," Nick sang as he pulled his car into the parking lot of Horizon Telecom where he worked. Although there were plenty of empty spaces near the front of the building, Nick parked all the way in the back of the parking lot where he was sure no one would park near his car. He reached in the backseat and grabbed his new Armani blazer before stepping out and slipping it on. Clicking the alarm and checking his reflection, he was just about to walk off when a car came dangerously close to hitting him as it pulled into the space next to him, music blaring loudly.

  "Man, you don't know how close you came to meeting your maker," Nick yelled when the driver stepped out.

  "Whatever, I know how to drive. Wasn't nobody about to hit your ass," Eric Thurmond, his co-worker and best friend laughed, "Nice jacket."

  "Thanks," Nick adjusted his jacket, "A little something I picked up this past weekend."

  "And you waited all week to wear it?" Eric shook his head, "Today is Thursday."

  "Don't be mad because you wear your new gear on Mondays. I have self control, bro."

  "What the hell ever. So, you rolling out this weekend or laying low?" Eric asked.

  "Haven't decided yet," Nick replied. Eric had been wanting to go on a road trip for a while. Normally, Nick would be packed and ready to go at the drop of a dime, but lately, he hadn't really had the desire.

  "Man, what's wrong with you? You've been flaking out on hanging since Christmas," Eric shook his head, "Let me guess...you found a winter boo already. Who is she?"

  "Naw, man," Nick replied.

  "Then what's the problem? You getting old?"

  "Never that," Nick told him, he pointed to two women walking toward the building, "Look, Sheridan and Danielle."

  "My, my, my, what a lovely sight to see early in the morning," Eric said loud enough for the ladies to hear. The women paused, turned around and smiled. Both women were fine as hell, fly, and classy.

  "Oh, no, here comes trouble," Sheridan, the darker of the two women shook her head at them.

  "Where? I need to be running from it," Eric responded. They hurried and caught up with the ladies. Eric reached over and took the large box Sheridan was carrying out of her arm, "Let me help you out there."

  "How noble of you," Sheridan said.

  "What are you two doing here?" Nick asked.

  "Interviewing for a new hire class," Danielle told them.

  "Word?" Eric grinned, "Fresh meat."

  "Calm down, man-whore!" Sheridan snapped.

  "Why am I a man-whore?" Eric smiled, innocently.

  "Boy, please," Danielle rolled her eyes. At five-six, she was slightly shorter than Sheridan, and a little thicker. Nick knew Eric had a thing for her.

  "So, how long are y'all in town for?" Nick asked.

  "Depends, maybe a month or so." Sheridan answered, "So, you guys have plenty of time to wine and dine us."

  The four of them normally hung out when the girls were in town, especially since they had the use of a per diem card. Dinners at the hottest restaurants and clubs, courtesy of the girls. The only thing they had to spring for were drinks; they weren't allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages on their company cards. Nick enjoyed hanging out with them. Danielle and Sheridan were good people. Plus the fact that Nick and Sheridan had been sleeping together for the past year or so when she was in town was also an added bonus. They both agreed to keep it a secret not only because fraternization between employees was frowned upon, but also because Nick didn't want people to think they were a couple, which they weren't.

  "Word," Nick nodded, "Where are y'all staying?"

  "The Montclair, downtown," Sheridan answered as they walked into the large glass building and headed toward the elevator, "It amazes me that as large as this company is, they're still not willing to spring for security. Anyone can walk in this piece and go postal."

  "Don't be scared, sweetheart," Eric winked, "Big Daddy E will keep you safe."

  "What the hell can you do to protect us, Eric? Flirt someone to death?" Danielle teased. Nick couldn't help laughing along with them.

  "Oh, y'all just chock full of jokes today,
huh?" Eric snapped, "And you're supposed to be my boy and have my back."

  "I do, E. But that was funny," Nick admitted.

  "Whatever. Here, you carry this, Sir Laugh a Lot, this is my floor," Eric shoved the box into Nick's arms as the elevator stopped on the third floor and the doors opened.

  "You're not gonna come upstairs with us?" Danielle pouted.

  "No, I'm not. I have a team to manage and I need to be there for them in case an intruder gets in the building and I have to flirt them to death!" Eric stepped off the elevator and started to walk away.

  "Don't be like that, Eric," Sheridan called after him.

  "What time do you wanna go to lunch?" Dannica added.

  "Twelve-fifteen," Eric answered without even turning around, "I'll meet y'all downstairs!"

  "He is so damn sensitive," Sheridan laughed, "I don't know why you give him such a hard time, Danni. You know he has a crush on you."

  "Because he's so damn cocky. He thinks all the women want him."

  Nick glanced over at her and said, "Well, uh, most of them do."

  Not only was his friend the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, but he had style and personality that attracted women. He was a straight chick magnet.

  "And that's what his problem is. He's used to women falling at his feet. I don't know why, I mean, look at Nick."

  "Me?"

  Danielle continued talking as if Nick wasn't on the elevator with them, "He's cute, fine as hell, funny, and can dress his ass off. He has no kids, a good job and his condo is the bomb!"

  "That's true. Nick does have it going on," Sheridan nodded, "He's definitely a catch."

  "Exactly, but he doesn't try so hard. He knows he's a hot commodity and doesn't have anything to prove to anybody. Nick has..."

  "Swagger," Sheridan said.

  "Yeah, swagger," Danielle repeated.

  "Ahem, I don't know if y'all realize it or not, but I'm still on the elevator with you," Nick told them.

  "Uh, you work on the sixth floor, the same floor as us," Dannielle stared at him like he was crazy, "Why wouldn't you be on the elevator with us."

  "You thought we didn't see you, Nick?" Sheridan glanced at him, knowingly.

  Nick felt an urge in his manhood, and smiled, knowing he would be in for a treat sooner rather than later. Their "friends with benefits" relationship was casual, the way he liked it; no expectations, no strings, no emotions. And strangely enough, the same way it worked for him, it worked for her. Just two friends, enjoying each other's company and, when the mood struck them, having great sex. What more could he want?

  The doors of the elevator opened and he followed the two women to the training room and put the box down on a nearby desk.

  "So, twelve-fifteen?" Sheridan asked.

  "Twelve-fifteen," he nodded.

  Her comment on his being "a good catch", echoed in his head. As he headed to his office, he hoped she wasn't trying to change the way things were. Right now, things were exactly the way he liked them.