The Nicest Guy in America

by Angela Benson

  ~ ~ ~

  Reggie Stevens was having a hell of week. Ever since his article had run in last week’s Voice and Tom Joyner had discussed it on his radio show, his phone had been ringing off the hook. It had gotten so bad at work that his partner had told him to try working from home. He was trying, but not with a lot of success. The steady phone calls and visits from reporters seeking interviews and women wanting to take him out distracted him so much that he couldn’t concentrate well enough to find the security leak in his new client’s program.

  “Still hiding out in here, man?” Luther said when he joined Reggie in the den. His friend hadn’t moved out as scheduled and Reggie had to admit that having him around was paying off for a change. His friend did a lot to keep the uninvited guests away from him.

  “I’m not hiding out. I’m trying to get some work done. I have a business to run, remember?”

  “You wouldn’t need to work so hard on your business if you’d take some of the offers coming your way. Have you thought about doing the column for the paper? The guy seemed pretty sure that you could join one of the major syndicates right away.”

  Reggie looked at his friend. “I’m no writer, Luther. I can’t believe they want me to do a column.”

  “Believe it, my friend. You’re hot stuff right now. But you’d better pounce on it while you’re still the flavor of the month. You know what they say about fleeting fame and all that.”

  Reggie knew what they said, but he didn’t care. If someone had told him that a single article written at the height of his frustration would have garnered this much publicity, he wouldn’t have believed him. He still couldn’t believe what was happening and he was living it. In addition to the offer to do the column, he’d been approached by publishers with offers to do a book, a TV promotions manager about hitting the talk show circuit, and even an offer for his own local radio talk show. All because of one article.

  Not that he didn’t believe what he’d said in the article. He did. And he believed what he said needed to be said. But now that he’d said it and people had read it, he’d done what he’d set out to do. People were thinking about and talking about what he’d written. If just one woman made the decision not to enter a bad relationship because of his words or if one brother decided to change his ways, he would have made a major contribution to society.

  He couldn’t tell much from his most recent mail though. The letters seemed to be split between women who were looking for a man just like him, to women who felt he was challenging their right to date the men of their choice, to men who felt he’d forsaken the brotherhood, and on to those men who agreed with every word he’d written. He assumed it would be a while before the life-changing letters started flowing in.

  “Did you go through today’s mail?” Luther asked.

  “I didn’t get around to it yet. Is there a lot?”

  Luther nodded. “You’re going to have to hire a press secretary. I can’t keep up with it all.”

  “I can’t afford a press secretary,” Reggie said. “I don’t even want one.”

  Luther clapped him on the shoulder. “You’d better face reality, my man. You’re a celebrity now and you’ve got to deal with it. Maybe you should call Denzel and figure out how he handles fame.”

  Reggie shrugged off his friend’s hand. “That’s not funny, Luther. I’m not a celebrity.”

  “Keep telling yourself that, but in the meantime, take a peek out your window and tell me why those people are outside.”

  Reggie got up and looked out the den window. About fifteen people were milling around the front of his house. “What are they doing here?” he asked.

  “Well, the reporters are looking for a story and the women are looking for a date. I’ll make a deal with you, you talk to the reporters and I’ll handle the women.”

  Reggie shook his head. “This is funny to you, isn’t it?”

  “No way. I take my women very seriously.”

  Reggie peeked out of the window again. “How long have they been out there?”

  Luther shrugged. “I’m not sure. It looks like the number is growing. You’re going to have to do something or they may never leave.”

  “Do what?”

  “You might try giving an interview.”

  “No way. No interviews. That’ll only feed the frenzy. Can’t you do something? You’re the nightclub owner. Handling these people should be right up your alley.”

  “Okay,” Luther said. “I’ll go out there and see what’s up. I’m not making any promises though.”

  “Thanks, man. I don’t know what I would have done without you the last couple of days.”

  Luther grinned. “Does that mean I’m welcome to stay here as long as I like?”

  Reggie laughed. “It depends on how well you take care of those people out there.”

  “Let me get on it then,” Luther said and left the room.

  Reggie dropped back down in his chair, still wondering about the interest the article had sparked. Unexpectedly, thoughts of Kim Washington popped into his mind. He wondered what she thought about his newfound fame. He wouldn’t be surprised if she called again to coax him to participate in her contest. He was savvy enough to understand that his article and his subsequent celebrity would give her renewed interest in him as a subject. He wondered what tack she would take this time to get him to change his mind.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Kim, it’s perfect,” Leslie said. The three friends were sharing a quiet Saturday afternoon at Kim’s apartment. “You can come to Atlanta with me. While I’m looking for a place to live, you can track down Reggie Stevens. You’ll have a better chance of changing his mind if you see him face-to-face. Plus, we’ll get to have some fun in HotLanta. I could even take some time off and we could make a working vacation of it.”

  “I don’t know,” Kim said. The idea of tracking down Reggie Stevens didn’t exactly appeal to her. It made her seem a little too much like the crazy women he’d portrayed in his article. She didn’t appreciate the similarity.

  “Hey, maybe I could come too,” Tam added. “School’s out so Melissa will be spending some time with Marcus and I’m not teaching this summer. It would be perfect. Come on, Kim, think about it.”

  “I think I’m gonna try calling him one more time,” she said. “Then maybe I’ll make the trip to Atlanta when I have an interview scheduled.”

  “‘Works for me,” Tam said. “Either way you’re coming to Atlanta. We’re going to have a ball.”

  “And I’d better do some shopping,” Leslie said. “I don’t have anything fit for Atlanta. You guys want to come with me?”

  Kim shook her head. “No, I’d better try to get Mr. Stevens on the phone again.”

  “How about you, Tam?”

  Tam hopped up from the couch. “Sounds good to me.”

  Kim got up and escorted her friends to the door.

  “Give us a call and let us know what happens,” Tam said. “We’re going to need to make reservations.”

  “Okay, I’ll do that. You two have fun shopping. And don’t spend too much money.”

  “You’d better let me handle the reservations, Kim,” Leslie said, looking back over her shoulder. “American Pharmaceuticals owns a hotel there and my relocation packages allows me to stay there free for three months while I’m looking for a place to live. I’m sure I can get you two an excellent rate. I’ll check on the rates for three-bedroom suites and see what I can hook up. This could turn out to be a very cheap vacation.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Tam said and Kim agreed. She had no doubt Jim would be excited about getting a break on her travel costs. That detail covered, Kim watched her friends as they made their way to their cars. Then she closed her door and headed back for the telephone. She’d give Reggie Stevens one more chance before she showed up on his doorstep.

  Here goes nothing, she said to herself as she picked up the phone and dialed Reggie’s number.

  “Hello,” she said when someone picked up
on the fourth ring.

  “Hello.” The masculine voice didn’t belong to Reggie.

  “May I speak to Reggie Stevens please?”

  “May I ask who’s calling?”

  Kim didn’t really want to tell who she was, but she didn’t see any other alternative. “I’m Kim Washington from Urban Style Magazine.”

  “Oh, you’re the one with the Nice Guy Contest.”

  “That’s me. Do you think I could speak with Mr. Stevens?”

  “You’ll probably have better luck speaking to me. You’re not too high on Mr. Stevens’ list right now.”

  “Well, you seem to know a lot about me. Who are you?”

  “I’m Luther Cross, Reggie’s best friend.”

  Ahhh, Kim thought. A best friend. This could work to her advantage. “What do you think about your friend doing the interview?”

  “Hey, I already told him he was crazy for not doing it. I’d volunteer myself but I’ve never been dumped. Women know a good thing when they meet one.”

  Kim erased modesty as a possible trait for Luther. “That’s not what your friend said in his article. According to him, women always dump the real thing for an imitation.”

  “He was in a bad mood when he wrote that article. He’d just found out that his last girlfriend had gone back to her previous old man. The guy was bad news. And that’s an understatement.”

  Some things began to become clearer for Kim. “You mean Reggie recently broke up with someone?”

  “No, what I mean is somebody recently broke up with him. I think she dumped him a few nights before you called about the contest.”

  Talk about bad liming, Kim thought. No wonder Reggie hadn’t wanted to participate in the contest. “I guess my timing could have been better, huh?”

  “A little,” Luther said with a chuckle. “Reggie’s a nice guy, no joke intended. Under other circumstances I’m sure he would have cooperated. But now . . . I’m not sure.”

  “Has he been contacted by a lot of people?” she asked. “Since his article, I mean.” It seemed Luther was in a talking mood so she thought she should take advantage of it.

  “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing and people are practically camping out in the yard. It’s a madhouse around here.”

  Just what she didn’t want to hear. “Is he talking to anybody?”

  “Only the people I let through to him. And then I have to fight to get him to talk.”

  “What do I have to do for you to get me in to see him?” she asked.

  “Let me think for a minute,” Luther said. Shortly, she heard him snap his fingers. “I’ve got it. Think about me when you do your Most Eligible Bachelors feature. I think I’m a good candidate.”

  Think about him? She could do that. “All right, you have a deal. Now let me speak to Reggie.”

  “Just remember the name is Luther Cross. Hold on a minute.”

  Kim held her breath while she waited for Luther to get Reggie to the phone. She knew this was her last chance.

  “Hello, this is Reggie.”

  He didn’t have to tell her. She recognized his voice.

  “Hello, Reggie, this is Kim Washington from Urban Style. I saw your article.”

  “You did?” he said.

  “Of course. You’ve become an instant celebrity.”

  “I don’t know about all that,” he said and she felt he meant it. Reggie Stevens didn’t strike her as the false modesty type of guy.

  “You have to know why I’m calling, Reggie. We still want to feature you in our contest. Won’t you think about it?”

  “I already have. It’s not something I want to do.”

  “But think about all the exposure you’ll get.”

  “I think I have enough exposure right now. Believe it or not, I’m a private person.”

  “But don’t you have some things to say? Your article indicates you’re a man with a lot on your mind. Why did you write that article if you wanted to remain a private person?”

  She heard his frustrated sigh. “I’m asking myself that question a lot lately. I wrote it because I thought there needed to be a voice of reason in this world of insanity.”

  “So you think women are insane because of the choices they make in men?”

  “Some of them. Don’t you think so?”

  “I’m not sure I totally agree with you,” she hedged, looking for an entrance to further her cause, “but I can see some of your points. Wouldn’t you like to expand on them in the magazine? I assure you we’d give you wonderful coverage. My editor has even suggested putting you on the cover.”

  “Whoa. First you want an interview for a contest, and now you’re talking a cover story. That’s not me. I told you I’m trying to keep a low profile.”

  “Look, Reggie,” Kim said, her patience growing short. “I think you’d better give up this search for a low profile. After that article, you’re going to be in the spotlight for a while.”

  “Not if I keep refusing interviews.”

  “You don’t know much about the press, do you? The more you won’t talk to us, the more we want to talk to you. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hasn’t already contacted your family and your friends trying to get information. That’s the way we do it. If we can’t get to the source, we get to those around the source.”

  “So, who have you talked to Ms. Washington?”

  “I only want to talk to you. What do you say? I can be in Atlanta in two days.”

  Kim waited with her fingers crossed while he thought about her proposition.

  “I don’t think so, Ms. Washington. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be in your magazine.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Reggie’s phone rang at midnight and he had to answer it since Luther was nowhere to be found. He gave a groggy hello, hoping the caller would think he was asleep and kindly hang up.

  “You can’t be sleeping, bro,” his brother William said. “You’re a big star now.”

  Reggie smiled at his brother’s wit. “Some star. How’s everybody?” He had spoken to his mother about two weeks ago but that was before the article.

  “Healthy, but talking. You’ve made the papers out here in Oak City. You should see Mom and Dad. They’re proud their son is a star, but a bit concerned about his disastrous love life. I’m surprised they haven’t called you.”

  Reggie sighed. He was surprised too. Though he was the oldest of the Stevens boys, his family tended to treat him like the baby since he wasn’t married. The attitude wore on him at times. “They probably couldn’t get through,” he said. “I’ll call them tomorrow.”

  “You always were brave,” William said with a chuckle. “I don’t know if I’d be up to the drill. You know how Mom is about seeing you married and settled down like your younger brothers.”

  “Speaking of settled down, how’s that beautiful wife of yours and those wild animals you call sons?”

  William chuckled. “Still beautiful and still wild. Kathy sends her love. She says she has a friend she wants you to meet.”

  “Oh, no,” Reggie said. “I don’t need setting up. I can manage my own love life.”

  “Not according to that article you wrote. What’s really going on, man?”

  Reggie settled back in the bed and told his brother the events leading up to his writing the article. “And on top of getting dumped,” Reggie continued. “I had an offer to be in a Nicest Guy in America Contest.”

  Reggie then explained the contest and the industrious Ms. Washington who wouldn’t take no for answer.

  “This Ms. Washington sounds interesting. You ought to do the interview, bro, just so you can meet her.”

  Reggie faked a yawn. “When your little brother starts advising you on your love life, it’s time to end the conversation.” He and his brother exchanged a few more quips, said goodnight, and then hung up. Reggie went to sleep thinking about Ms. Kim Washington.

  Chapter 4

  “If I had known that all we were going to do was stand around in front of
the man’s house, I’d have gone house hunting with Leslie.”

  Kim looked over at Tam and felt sorry for her friend. It was ninety degrees or more and Tam looked as though she could use a dip in a cool pool. “Well, I didn’t plan to spend the day out here either. You’d think the guy had found a cure for AIDS instead of just having written an article.”

  “Look who’s talking. You’re trying to get to him yourself. I thought you called before we came over here.”

  “I did, but no one answered.” Kim had wanted to speak with Luther again. She was hoping he’d get her in to see Reggie. “I thought that if we were here when he came home we’d have a better chance of seeing him.” Plus, she didn’t want the other reporters here to have an advantage over her.

  Tam wiped the sweat from her brow. “You call that a plan?”

  “Forget it, Tam. Why don’t you go back to the car and turn on the air-conditioner?”

  Tam turned up her nose. “I have a better idea. Why don’t I leave the cell phone with you and go back to the air-conditioned hotel?”

  “And leave me out here?”

  Tam looked around at the other people milling around Reggie Stevens’ house. “It’s not like you’ll be by yourself.”

  Kim considered her friend’s words and decided she had a point. There were at least a half-dozen reporters present along with a handful of women looking to meet the man of the hour. “Okay, give me the phone. I’ll call you when I’m ready to leave.” Tam handed her the phone and turned to go to the car that was parked around the corner. “And please hang around the hotel, Tam,” Kim called after her. “I don’t want to have to stay here all night.”

  Tam threw up her hand and waved back to Kim, not even taking the time to look back. Kim just shook her head. She hoped this trip to Atlanta wasn’t going to turn out to be a bust.

  She walked over to Glenda, one of the reporters she’d met earlier, and leaned against the hood of her rented brown sedan. Glenda was a freelancer looking to break into the big magazines like Essence and Ebony. Kim was about to speak when Glenda said, “Here he comes.”