Star Struck(29)

“Ex-boyfriend. We haven’t been boyfriend and girlfriend since college, so don’t get it twisted,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Ex-boyfriend, lover or whatever you want to call him, he’s my boy, but he almost got punched out this morning acting like he had an overdose of testosterone in his system.”

“Wish I could have been there to see it.”

“It was funny seeing him trying to warn me about seeing you, when we’re not really seeing each other.”

“We could always change that.” Hailey flirted. She reached out and gently rubbed the top of his hand.

He jerked his hand. “We could, but we won’t. We’re just buddies remember.”

“Don’t get scared now.” Hailey let out a hearty laugh and leaned back in her seat.

Garrett got caught up in her sexy laugh as they drove the rest of the way to the restaurant in silence. He flipped on an Anthony Hamilton CD.



***



Hailey couldn’t recall the last time she enjoyed going out with a man. Although she and Garrett weren’t on a real date, she enjoyed his company. His sense of humor had her laughing throughout their meal. She was a little sad that he refused to come in when he dropped her off at home. He managed to do something she thought was impossible. Spending time with him had made her forget about Trevon.

“Brenda, I’m home.”

Brenda walked in the hallway with Bach right behind her. “Good. We have some good news. We were able to track down the person behind the IP address.”

“Brenda, if you were a man, I would kiss you.”

Bach cleared his throat. “I had some help in this.”

“And for that I’m grateful,” Hailey said, as she kissed him on the cheek. His hand lingered on his cheek.

Brenda said, “He’s just a big old pussycat.”

Hailey looked from one to the other. Did she sense an attraction there? Both were single and in similar fields. A love connection could be brewing. “Let me call Garrett and tell him the good news,” Hailey said, leaving them alone.

Hailey dressed for bed and dosed off a few times. Maybe, just maybe this person would be caught and her nightmares would be over. Her cell phone jolted her out of her sleep. Without looking at the caller ID, she answered.

“Can you ever forgive me?” Trevon asked from the other end.

“I thought I told you I didn’t want to talk to you ever again in life,” she snapped.

“I do care about you.”

“But not enough to marry me. You proposing to another woman broke any bond that we had.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll end things with her. I love you.”

Hailey felt her heart tug. She was confused. “I can’t Tre. You made your decision. I don’t want to be someone’s afterthought.”

“I’ll end things with her tomorrow. You’ll see. It’ll be you and me; just like it used to be.”

“Tomorrow. You have until tomorrow.” Without saying another word, she hung up the phone. She laid on her pillow and cried. Her tears soaked her silk pillow cases. Before long her body was shaking from the earth shattering tears that didn’t seem to stop.

“Why am I so weak when it comes to you? I’m supposed to be letting you go,” she yelled in between sobs. She beat her pillows until her hands got tired. She rocked herself to sleep.



~ 18 ~



Garrett waited at the head of the table in the conference room for everyone to arrive for their weekly meeting. Trevon was the first to arrive. Trevon reached his hand out to him and said, “Hey man, I wanted to apologize for going off on you the other day.”

“Consider it forgotten.” He pounded his hand.

Trevon hummed as he took a seat next to him. “I’m going to do it.”

Garrett remained silent for a moment to see if he was going to elaborate. He didn’t, so he asked. “Dare I ask what?”

“I’m going to end things with Shareeka and go back to Hailey.”

“Hailey’s moved on,” Garrett responded.

“Naw man. She’s giving me one more chance and I’m taking it.”

He thought he was hearing things. When he last talked to Hailey she informed him that she was through with Trevon. What happened in less than twenty-four hours that would change her mind? He didn’t believe Trevon would end things with Shareeka and even if he did, Shareeka wasn’t the type of woman to let things go over easy. Hailey didn’t need that type of drama and if it was up to him, she wasn’t going to be a part of it.

He had been too quiet about his true feelings too long. He hadn’t come to full terms about his feelings to himself yet, but he would not sit idly by and allow Trevon to hurt Hailey again. Not now. Not ever.