Star Struck(21)
“And he’s supposed to be your best man. Looks like I would get another friend if I were you.” She winked at Garrett.
Garrett ignored her. He stood up and extended his hand out to Hailey. “May I have this dance?”
“I don’t see what Tre sees in her,” Hailey said, as they twirled around the dance floor to a rendition of Luther Vandross “Superstar.”
“She’s not as bad as she seems.”
Hailey pulled back from him for a minute. “Come on now. This is me. Tell me the truth.”
He pulled her back closer to him and whispered in her ear as they danced. “I think they deserve each other.”
“Well I think he deserves better.”
Garrett pretended like he didn’t hear her. From the outside, it appeared as if they were a happy couple. He was confused about his feelings. It had been ages since he wanted to feel connected with someone outside of the bedroom. When it came to Hailey, he was becoming protective of her and not just because they were friends.
Her scent invaded his nostrils. Although Hailey was tall, he was still a few inches taller than her. His chin could rest on the top of her head comfortably. As he held her in his arms and they danced to several slow jams, he blocked out the other people on the dance floor.
“I hate to end our dance, but I need to go to the ladies room,” Hailey whined.
He walked her off the dance floor. “I’ll wait right here,” he said, as he watched her walk away.
He was entranced by watching Hailey walk away, that Shareeka’s hand touching him startled him. “Dance with me. We need to talk.”
“What about your fiancé?”
“He’s somewhere mingling.”
She led him on the dance floor. He made sure their bodies kept a safe distance from one another as they slow danced.
“Don’t you think it’s time for you two to be making your exit?” Shareeka asked.
“It was your bright idea for me to invite her.”
“Well, I don’t want her here anymore.”
“Too bad. You should have thought about it before.” Garrett twirled her and then released her hand and walked away leaving her on the dance floor.
She was oblivious to others and ran up behind him. He took a seat at the table and she plopped down in the chair next to him. “You didn’t tell me you two had something going on.”
Garrett leaned closer so no one else could over hear. “Look. What I do in my personal life is no concern of yours.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Batting your eyes won’t work with me.”
“First Tre. Now you.”
“Jealousy doesn’t become you.”
Shareeka laughed. “Please. I have no reason to be jealous.”
“Then act like it.”
“So when were you going to tell me?”
“You’re a joke.”
“You owe me at least that.”
“The day I decided not to tell Tre about your appetite for dessert on the side, that’s when our debt was paid in full.”
“You can be so difficult,” she snapped.
“Women like you made me the way I am.”
A waiter came by the table and offered drinks. Garrett took two. Handed one to Shareeka and kept one for himself. He toasted. “To the happy couple.” He clicked her glass. He drank his champagne as Shareeka looked on.
“Might as well drink up. You’re supposed to be celebrating remember,” Garrett stated.
Shareeka placed the glass down. “I have other people to mingle with.”
“Peace,” he said, as he held up his glass and watched her walk to another table.
***
Hailey paced the bathroom floor. Her emotions were on overload. Since Garrett picked her up, she was spending too much time concentrating on Garrett and not enough time on Trevon. That had to be it. That had to be why she was feeling the way she was feeling. She was getting wrapped up in her own scheme.
She reapplied her lipstick before exiting the bathroom. Trevon was nearby talking to a group of people. She spoke to everyone and looped her arm through his. “I came to steal him away for a few mintues.”
She got no complaints. Trevon removed her arm and followed her outside to the balcony. The cool wind sent a chill down her spine. “Nice party,” she said.
He grabbed her by the arm and swung her around. “Stop with the games Hailey.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She batted her eyes and faked her innocence.
“The hell you don’t. You knew coming here would cause problems.”
“I had no idea that your fiancé knew about me.”
“Why wouldn’t she? We’ve been seen in just about every entertainment rag over the years.”