Seduced by Mr. Right(19)
Can I have a picture of you, so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas?
She’d laughed so hard soy milk had spewed out of her mouth. For the past two hours, they’d been trading text messages, and every time his name popped up on her cell-phone screen her heart danced with excitement. Working with Emilio is going to be a challenge, but I know I can do it. I have to, or Brad will swoop in and steal him away—
The front door creaked open. Sharleen felt her mouth fall open, but she quickly shut it. Jocelyn, the biracial cutie with the quick wit and flamboyant personality, was a mess. Her yellow bathrobe was wrinkled, stained with coffee, and her curly brown hair was disheveled. She looked exhausted, as if she hadn’t slept in weeks, and she was nervously shuffling her feet.
“Jocelyn, how are you?” Sharleen knew it was a dumb question, regretted it the moment the words left her mouth, but she didn’t know what else to say. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What are you doing here?”
“Now, is that any way to greet your partner in crime?” Sharleen asked, giving her best friend a hug. “I haven’t heard from you in a few days, and I got worried. It’s not like you to ignore my calls, so I decided to stop by for a visit.”
“I have a lot on my mind,” she mumbled. “I’m busy. You should go.”
Ignoring her, Sharleen walked inside the house and kicked off her sandals. Glancing around the kitchen, she was shocked to see dishes piled high in the sink, the hardwood floors streaked with dirt and the overflowing garbage can.
Sharleen opened the fridge, grabbed everything she needed to make breakfast and placed the ingredients on the granite countertop. “Sit,” she said, pointing at the table. “I’m making you a Sante Fe omelet, and you’re going to love it.”
“Don’t bother.” Jocelyn dropped into a chair. “I’m not hungry.”
“When was the last time you ate?”
“Can’t remember.”
Sharleen washed the vegetables, chopped them up and tossed them in a glass bowl. “How’s your mom doing? Has she been discharged from the hospital?”
“No, they’re running additional tests and prepping her for surgery.”
“Try not to worry. Your mom’s a fighter. She’ll pull through.”
To reassure her, Sharleen squeezed her hand. Jocelyn had taken Sharleen under her wing when she started working at Pathways, and over the years they’d become closer than sisters. They had weekly girls’ nights, traveled together and spent holidays with Jocelyn’s fun-loving Bahamian family. After numerous visits to the ER, Mrs. Calhoun had been diagnosed with heart failure, but her cardiologist was confident her upcoming surgery would be a success.
“When are you going to the hospital?” Sharleen turned on the stove, sprayed the frying pan with cooking oil and poured in the egg batter. “If it’s okay, I’d like to come with you.”
Her face brightened. “My mom would love that. She asks about you all the time.”
“Think I can get away with sneaking food into the hospital for her?”
“If you do, she’ll love you even more!”
“Then it’s worth the risk.” Sharleen pointed the spatula at Jocelyn. “But if I get arrested you better bail me out ASAP, or else.”
The joke lightened the mood, caused the tension in the air to recede.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the Mind, Body & Soul Conference?” Jocelyn asked.
“I wanted to check in on you, so I switched time slots with Christelle.”
Jocelyn’s cell phone buzzed, and she glanced down at the screen. “Men are jerks,” she fumed. “They’re dogs who can’t be trusted, and we’re better off without them.”
Not all of them, Sharleen thought. Emilio had a gentle nature, and she felt close to him, connected to him in a way she’d never experienced before. What was it he’d said? You’re the prettiest woman in the room... I had a great time with you tonight... Don’t make any plans for dinner. I’m taking you to Dolce Vita Atlanta for the culinary experience of a lifetime.
“I wish I could get away for a while.” Jocelyn picked up a pack of cigarettes off the table and opened it. “If my mom wasn’t sick, that’s exactly what I’d do.”
“You quit smoking, remember?”
“I’m stressed. I need something to help calm my nerves.”
“Then I’ll fix you a cup of coffee.” Sharleen snatched the lighter out of Jocelyn’s hand and stuffed it inside her back pocket. “Friends don’t let friends smoke.”