He spotted Trevon and Shareeka first. Trevon was dressed in a black suit and Shareeka wore a short strapless black dress. Her short Halle Berry hair do complimented her face. “There’s the happy couple,” he whispered.
Hailey responded, “She’s cute, but she’s not all that.”
Garrett laughed. “Women.”
As they got closer, he asked her, “Ready? We can turn around now.”
“Let’s do this.” She squeezed his arm tighter.
Trevon was busy talking to a guest so didn’t see Garrett and Hailey walking towards the receiving line. Garrett could feel the venom beaming from Shareeka’s eyes as she plastered on a fake smile. “Garrett, so glad you could make it. And this is?”
She’s good. Real good.
“Hailey Barnes. You know the talk show host/ex-super model,” Garrett said, adding fuel to the fire.
Trevon turned around just at that moment. If looks could kill, Garrett and Hailey both would be dead.
Hailey reached out her hand and barely touched Shareeka’s hands. “It’s about time I met the woman who captured Trevon’s heart.”
She hugged Trevon and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Congratulations,” she said.
Garrett hugged Shareeka. She whispered, “This was a bad idea.”
He pulled back and then shook Trevon’s hand. Trevon mouthed the words. “We need to talk.”
He shook his head up and down to acknowledge him. He grabbed Hailey’s hand as if they were a real couple and was ushered to a table near the front.
He pulled out the chair for Hailey. “Have you had enough?”
Hailey accepted the drink the waiter was offering and took a sip. “Dear, I’m just getting started. Did you see how that heifer rolled her eyes at me?”
“She doesn’t even know you. You’re just being paranoid,” Garrett lied.
“I’m a woman. Trust me she knows. She knows that Trevon belongs to me.”
Garrett rubbed her back gently. “Calm down. You want Trevon to see what he’s missing right?”
“Yes.”
“Then for tonight. Pretend like we’re more than buddies. Pretend like we’re new lovers.”
“I can act, so that shouldn’t be too hard.”
Garrett placed his other hand over his heart. “Well, I’m offended.”
Hailey laughed. Her laugh was like a drug to him. She responded. “You’re so silly. I actually like seeing this side of you. Show it more often.” She winked.
Trevon was taping him on his shoulder before he could respond. He said, “We’ll be right back. Behave.”
Hailey held up her drink as if doing a toast. “Tre.”
“Hailey,” he responded, before leading Garrett away from the crowded room.
“Man, why did you bring her here?” Trevon blurted out as soon as they were outside in the corridor.
“When I got my invitation to this shindig, it said, it was an invitation for two.”
“Out of all of the women that you know, you couldn’t find someone else to bring with you?”
“Tre. If you’re serious about getting married, you need to get used to seeing Hailey out in social settings. Remember, we are friends. Just because things didn’t work out with you two; doesn’t mean her and I will stop being friends.”
“You two don’t even like each other. You just hung out because of me. So come on. This was her idea wasn’t it?”
“There you are. I was wondering where you two went off too,” Shareeka said, as she reached for Trevon’s hand.
“We were discussing some best man duties,” Trevon lied.
“I’ve left my date long enough, so I’ll leave you two love birds out here to do what you do,” Garrett said, as he excused himself.
***
Hailey signed autographs while waiting on Garrett to return. She noticed Shareeka in the corner and that prompted her to turn up the charm. She flashed her million dollar smile and laughed at some of the not so funny jokes as people kept making a beeline to her table. She felt a slight victory when she watched Shareeka storm off.
She knows and now she knows I know she knows.
“Folks, this will be the last autograph. We’re here to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my friend and I don’t want to steal the spotlight from the bride to be.”
She heard a few disappointed grunts. Garrett showed back up at the table as she signed the last napkin.
“Can’t leave you anywhere without a crowd forming,” Garrett teased.
“It happens.” Hailey motioned for the waiter to bring her another glass of champagne.
Garrett intervened and took the glass away from Hailey and placed it on the table. “I think you need to slow down on those.”