“Yeah, I like this one the best.” Avery turned around and looked at her behind. “Maybe I can get some butt pads to make the back look as good as the front.”
Tabitha laughed. “You have enough junk in your trunk, girl. As a matter of fact, you should donate some to me.”
“Yeah, you are lacking in that area. I guess being a size two does have its disadvantages,” Avery teased. “No junk in your trunk and no food in your stomach.”
“I have food in my stomach. Heck, you’re the one that’s been starving yourself these past couple of weeks.” Tabitha stood up and unzipped the dress.
Avery gently held the lace against her skin to keep it from falling as she walked back into the dressing room. Once the door closed behind her, she stepped out of the dress and looked at herself. She had lost weight. Not too much, but it was becoming noticeable, especially in her face. Even Demi commented on it a few days ago.
“Wow, you’re looking good, Avery,” she told her. “You been working out?”
“Nope, not at all, just working hard.” Avery smiled and kept walking. She really didn’t feel like hearing any of Demi’s no-nonsense advice, critiques, and more importantly, cynicism. The truth was she had cut back. No more lattes in the morning, just hot tea. She started bringing her own lunch, and when they did go out, she was mindful about what she ordered. She even started walking outside during her breaks every now and then. It was surprising what a big difference the little changes in her life made. She even felt a lot better.
“Is Duke coming to the gala?” Tabitha’s voice asked over the dressing-room door.
Avery took a deep breath and answered, “No, you know the gala isn’t his cup of tea.”
Even though she had expressed to Duke how important the gala was to her, he had flat-out refused to attend.
“I don’t even like you working at that place. Do you really think I wanna pay to rent a tuxedo and hang out all night with a bunch of fake-ass folks that I don’t know and don’t wanna know?” he said, grimacing when she asked him for the fourth and final time.
“You know me, Duke, and that’s all you need to be concerned with,” she told him.
“I don’t see you making an effort to hang out with me at Los’s house, and you know all of us,” Duke replied. “I asked you to come with me to his sister’s baby shower and you didn’t want to come.”
“That’s because I had class, Duke. I’m not missing class for a damn baby shower,” she said, especially for some seventeen-year-old chick that I don’t even know.
“And I’m not missing the basketball play offs for some gala I don’t wanna go to,” Duke said. “End of discussion.”
Avery didn’t mention it again. She just planned to attend without him. In her mind, she started planning to do a lot of things without him. She remained in contact with Bobbie, and even started looking at new construction homes on Saturdays when she got out of class. She hated to do it, but Duke’s attitude was making it easier and easier for her.
She put the dress back on the hanger and after getting dressed, headed out to pay for it.
“Do you need shoes?” Tabitha asked.
“No, I’m good with shoes and a purse. I just needed a dress. Do you have everything you need?”
“Girl, I’ve been ready for months. I thought I was gonna have a date, but Kurt declined my offer.”
“What? You asked him to the gala? You actually talked to him? I can’t believe it.” Avery smiled.
“Yeah, the other night at Steinhilber’s,” Tabitha said, smiling.
“Oh no, Tabitha, you didn’t!”
“It’s not what you think.” Tabitha turned beet red.
“You’re stalking him now?”
“No, Malcolm’s wallet fell out in my car when we went to lunch, so I had to take it to him. Kurt was outside when I got there. But we did talk,” Tabitha explained. “And I even flirted a little.”
“I hope his date didn’t see you.” Avery gave the cashier her credit card.
“He didn’t have a date. It was just him, his family, and Malcolm. He did buy me a drink at the bar though and it was nice.”
Avery felt a twinge of jealousy, but brushed it off. You have a man.
“So, he knows you’re interested at this point?” Avery asked.
“I’m sure he does. It’s not as if I came out and said ‘Hey, I wanna get with you’.”
Avery gave her a knowing look. “Don’t front like you haven’t said that to a guy before. I’ve been there when you’ve done it, at a bar, mind you, while standing on the bar.”
Even the cashier laughed at Avery’s statement.
“Well, no, I didn’t say that. And this time, I wasn’t standing on top of the bar. I really just made small talk with him. Talked about the job—turns out he works out at the same gym as I do, so we talked about that.” Tabitha smiled. “Then I brought up the gala and I asked if he had a date.”
“And what did he say?” Avery took the now plastic-wrapped dress and draped it over her arm and thanked the cashier.
“He said no. So I asked if he was interested in one. And believe it or not, he kinda got excited. So, you know I thought I was in there. I smiled and said ‘me’.”
“Well, no subtleness there, huh?” Avery laughed. “Then what did he say?”
“He thanked me and said he was flattered, but he had to respectfully decline. Do you think he really has something going on with Demi?” Tabitha became serious. “I can’t see him even being attracted to that toad. She looks like a bobblehead doll. A scary one, with those ugly contacts.”
“You are so mean. I’m really thinking that there’s nothing going on there. You can’t listen to office gossip. You of all people should know that. Look at how everyone said that you were sleeping with Malcolm. That rumor circulated for years.”
“Yeah, it did,” Tabitha laughed.
“And that’s all it was: office talk, assumptions, and lies.”
“Well . . .” Tabitha said, guiltily.
Avery stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her friend. “Well what? It was just talk, right?”
“For the most part, it was. But, Malcolm and I did hook up a couple of times when we first started working there.”
“What? Are you serious? When? Where was I? I can’t believe this.” Avery couldn’t believe this was the first time she had heard Tabitha talk about this.
“I think you were still in training, a newbie, when we hooked up. I mean, it’s not like we dated or it was serious. It was purely physical and out of that we became like the best of friends. We haven’t slept together in years.”
Avery was still in shock. “And neither of you ever said anything about it?”
“We don’t talk about it, Avery. I mean, what? You think I’m gonna look over at him and say, ‘Hey Malcolm, remember that time you came over to my apartment and did me on the living room floor’?”
“He did you on the living room floor?” Avery continued to be stunned.
“Yeah, and it was great.”
“I don’t even wanna hear any more! He’s like my brother!”
“Okay, believe me, as soon as I saw how much of an office whore he really was, I stopped ASAP!”
“I can’t believe you never said anything,” Avery shook her head.
“I can’t believe you didn’t know,” Tabitha giggled, then seeing that Avery was serious, she added, “I really thought you knew, Avery. I’m sorry.”
Avery didn’t know whether to be angry, disappointed or amused. On one hand, she felt that if Malcolm and Tabitha shared this deep-dark secret, what other secrets did they share between them? On another, she knew that if neither one felt the need to share the fact that they had, at one point, slept with one another, then it must not have been that serious.
“Well, what else have you been hiding?” Avery asked her.
“Um, well, you know Brinkman from accounting?”
“Yeah.” Avery nodded, wondering what in the world Tabitha was
about to say about the old, balding man who had a habit of belching at the most inappropriate times.
“I did him in the back parking lot one day after staff meeting,” Tabitha looked down in shame.
“What? Oh my God, Tabitha! What the hell is wrong with you? That’s so gross!” Avery couldn’t help yelling. People in the mall stopped and stared at them.
Tabitha began laughing uncontrollably. “I’m just kidding, Avery. You know I would never do him. I do have standards.”
“I used to think you did, but now I don’t know. I mean, you did sleep with Malcolm.”
“Malcolm is fine, and you know it. Hell, if you weren’t so in love with Duke, you would be all up in his face the same way all the other single females in the office are.”
“Including you,” Avery teased.
“I was never in his face, he was in mine. But, now that it’s all in the open, let me ask you a question. And I need for you to be totally honest with me.” Tabitha became serious.
“What?”
“When the rumors started about Malcolm and me, people really started treating me different—some were even nasty. Now, Malcolm has slept with plenty of women in that building, more than you and I can even count. But when they thought it was me, it damn near caused an uproar. I even think that’s why I wasn’t selected for the JDMP last year. Why do you think that was?”
Avery knew exactly what Tabitha was getting at, and she knew there was no point in trying to sugarcoat the explanation. She had too much respect for her friend to lie, so she said straight up, “Probably because you’re white. You know that.”
Tabitha seemed relieved at Avery’s answer. “I know, and you’re right. But, do you think that’s why Kurt declined my invitation?”
“Now that, I don’t know,” Avery told her. For some strange reason, Avery was relieved that Kurt turned down Tabitha’s invitation. Not that she didn’t want to see her friend happy, because Tabitha deserved someone special in her life; Avery just didn’t want that person to be Kurt.
Now, you know you’re wrong, Avery Belmont. How can you be so selfish? You have a man, why wouldn’t you want Tabitha to be with someone as nice, charming, smart, attractive, and desirable as Kurt? Why wouldn’t I? Wait, I know why. Because he’s nice, charming, smart, attractive, and desirable and you want him for yourself.
“Hey,” Avery said, walking into the bedroom and hanging her dress bag on the closet door. Duke was lying across the bed, flipping through a car magazine.
“Hey,” he said, looking over at her. “What’s that?”
“My dress for the gala.” She removed it from the bag and held it against herself so that he could see it.
Duke looked up and nodded. “That’s nice.”
“Tabitha helped me pick it out,” she told him, then, testing the waters, she said, “Guess what I found out today?”
“You’re pregnant?” Duke’s eyes widened.
Avery shook her head. “No fool, I’m not pregnant. Remember a while back when I told you about people saying Malcolm and Tabitha were sleeping together?”
“Let me guess, they were.”
“Yep,” Avery said, nodding, “Can you believe that? And I had no clue.”
“That’s because you’re unaware,” he said.
“What?” She frowned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re innocent.” He smiled. “Gullible, a square. I told you if people were talking about it, it was probably true.”
Avery rushed over to the bed and playfully began wrestling with him. “I’m innocent? A square?”
“Yes, you are.” Without warning, Duke flipped her over on the bed and straddled her, looking deep into her eyes. Avery wrapped her arms around him as he said, “That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. You were a goody t wo-shoes.”
They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, and in that moment, everything was right between them. Nothing else seemed to matter, not the job, not school, not Kurt, not the condo, and for the first time in a long time, Avery didn’t feel as if she was constricted and confined to a world that she no longer wanted to be in, but was afraid to leave.
Chapter 11
The ballroom of the Omni Hotel was a perfection of blue and silver, the company colors of Jennings International. There was a band and a DJ, an open bar, and waiters offering endless trays of appetizers and flutes of champagne. It seemed as if the company wasted no expense. Avery had heard the tales of how elegant and extravagant that the gala was, and now she was experiencing it firsthand. She scolded herself for missing it in the past.
“Wow, Avery, you look gorgeous,” Malcolm said.
“Wow yourself,” Avery said, admiring her friend looking quite dapper in his tuxedo. “You clean up nice, friend!”
“Stop hating, I’m always clean,” he said. “Man, you look amazing!”
“Well, I didn’t know I looked that bad before,” Avery laughed. She knew she looked good, she made sure of it. Her hair was straightened and pulled up into a perfect chignon, with soft curls framing her face. Her makeup was flawless, along with her nails and feet, thanks to the talented staff of After Effex, her favorite salon. Not only had Duke done a triple take when she passed him as she walked out of the house, but she could feel the eyes on her when she walked into the ballroom. For some reason, she felt as if this was her night.
“Naw, you know what I mean. Everyone knows you’re pretty, Avery, but tonight, you really look like a model. A supermodel,” he said, grinning.
“Now you’re going too far.” Avery shook her head. “But thanks for the compliments. Did you pick up the roses?”
“Yeah, I put them in the coat check,” Malcolm said. “I sure hope they call Tabitha’s name. If they don’t, she’s gonna go off, believe that.”
“I know she is,” Avery agreed. Earlier in the week, Tabitha had put a contract on the large condo she had been wanting, confident that after tonight, she would be the latest selectee for the JMDP and guaranteed a huge raise to help her pay for her new home. “I’m sure she’s gonna get it, though. There’s no one else who can beat her out for the spot.”
“That’s true,” Malcolm said, nodding.
“Where’s Sharice?”
“She’s riding with Kurt. I think she wanted to arrive in his C Class rather than my Camry,” he laughed. “But, it’s cool. She’ll be departing in it after this is over.”
“I guess Tabitha isn’t the only confident one.”
“Don’t you think I have every right to be?”
They turned to see Tabitha walking up, looking stunning in a black silk gown. If anyone looked like a supermodel, it was she. Malcolm gave a low whistle and Avery began applauding.
“Mah-va-lous, dahling, simply mah-va-lous.” Avery kissed both sides of her cheek in a dramatic fashion.
“No, you are fabulous,” Tabitha told her. “I told you that dress was perfect.”
“Not as perfect as yours,” Avery replied.
“Ladies, ladies, no need to argue. I can settle this right now, yours truly is the babe of the ball tonight,” Malcolm told them. Tabitha playfully punched him in the arm and Avery tried to fight images of the two of them having sex out of her head.
“Shall we take our seats?” he asked, looping his arms thro-ugh each of theirs. They made their way through the crowded ballroom until they found their table. Avery scanned the crowd, noticing her coworkers and trying to see if she could spot Kurt. He’s probably going to be seated at the head table, she told herself. And he’s probably going to be with his date.
“Champagne?” one of the waiters offered.
“No thanks,” Avery told him, then pointed to Tabitha. “She’ll probably want some.”
“No, none for me,” Tabitha said, to all of their surprise. “I want to be sober when they call my name.”
Malcolm shook his head in disbelief, then said, “There’s Sharice. Let me go over so she’ll see how good I look.”
Tabitha took the time to
introduce Avery to all of the company execs and key people she felt Avery needed to know. They circulated the room, speaking and making small talk until the program began. Mr. Jennings, the CEO, along with several other members of the board of directors, Kurt, Demi, and a few other managers, all took their seats at the head table. Avery could barely concentrate on the welcome speech Mr. Jennings gave because she was focusing on not staring at Kurt. Tabitha didn’t make that task any easier, especially with her commenting every five seconds about how sexy he looked.
“I’ll be right back,” Avery said, standing up once the first half of the program was over and dinner was served.
“Where are you going?” Tabitha asked.
“To the restroom.”
“I’ll walk with you. I need to go to the bar.”
“I thought you weren’t drinking,” Avery reminded her.
“I need something to calm my nerves,” Tabitha sighed. “Just one martini and I should be good.”
“Okay.” Avery shrugged and they walked into the hotel lobby. “I’ll meet you here.”
“Cool,” Tabitha said, nodding.
Avery walked into the bathroom and checked herself in the mirror, reapplying her lipstick.
“Avery, you really look nice.”
Avery looked up to see Demi smiling at her, dressed in a slightly too-tight blue cocktail dress and matching heels. Her weave was slightly longer than normal in a mass of thick curls, and the blue and charcoal shadow she wore on her eyes made her gray contacts even scarier.
“Thanks,” she told her. “You look really nice too, Demi.”
“I love the gala. It’s the best event the company has. The food, the music, the dancing, the decorations, it’s all so magical. It’s a privilege just to be a part of it all, you know what I mean?”
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