“We can do one of two things. We can ignore it and it’ll go away or we can make a big deal about it and then worry about the paparazzi swarming around you even more. You decide.”
“I’m up for an Emmy. I don’t need any negative publicity right now. With that Emmy, I can demand more money when its time to renew my contract.”
“In this case, I say let it ride.”
“For some reason I knew you were going to say that.” Hailey sighed.
“Dear, in this business, I’ve learned to pick my battles wisely. Next time, we can go after them with full force. Hold on.”
Hailey skimmed the article and cringed. Lies. A whole bunch of lies mixed in with some truth. Yes, she had been pining away after someone else’s man; but no more. She was free. Free of Trevon. Free of all men.
“Parris says she’ll see you tonight.”
Hailey had forgotten about her dinner plans with her two friends, Parris and Casper. She ended her call with Carmen and called Parris to cancel. Before she could get through, Garrett’s name was popping up on her phone display.
“How are you today?”
“I’ve been better.”
“Need me to cheer you up.”
“You’re part of the problem.” She twirled her chair around where her back was now facing the door.
“I have a solution. Let me take you to dinner tonight.”
“No,” she snapped.
“You can sure tear down a brother’s ego.”
“It would take more than me telling you no to tear down your mountain sized ego.”
“Hailey Marie Barnes. You have hurt my feelings.”
She couldn’t stop chuckling. It had been awhile since she heard someone use her whole name. Even her mother, didn’t resort to calling her by her full name these days.
She recalled the dinner plans she was in the process of canceling. She interrupted Garrett before he got even more outrageous.
“I have a proposition for you,” she said.
“Does it require strawberries and cream?”
“Get your mind out of the gutter. A friend has invited me to dinner tonight and I need a date. If you’re free, you’re welcome to tag along.”
“Let me think about it and get back to you.”
She swung her chair back around just in time to come face to face with Brenda. “Yes or no because I have to go.”
“What time?”
“Be at my place at six. See you then.” She flipped the phone off.
***
Trying to convince Hailey of his sincerity seemed a difficult task but he was up for the challenge. He had waited all of these years to settle down with one woman, so he wasn’t going to let something like a little attitude stand in his way of getting what he wanted. He could play the substitute friend since she and Trevon were no longer talking, but there would be one difference; he wasn’t going to be satisfied with a piece of a relationship. He wanted Hailey; all of her.
Trevon’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I need your help.”
He listened as Trevon tried to convince him to tell Shareeka about Hailey. “So you want me to tell Shareeka that Hailey and I are now a couple to get her off your back.”
He let out of sigh of relief. “I knew I could count on you.”
“A few days ago you cussed me out because you thought Hailey and I were a couple and now you’re encouraging me to be with her. You need Dr. Phil.”
“Look. I’m just trying to get some order back in my life. If you dating Hailey is going to get them both off my back, then so be it.”
“You’re a mo-fo joke. Hailey don’t want you. Didn’t you tell me she kicked you out? In fact, she told me herself.”
“Wait a minute. You’ve been talking to her behind my back.”
Garrett looked around. “Man, this is a place of business and I’d appreciate it if you keep your voice down. Secondly, Hailey is a client or have you forgotten about that. Thirdly, I can talk to whoever I want to when I want to. I don’t need your permission.”
Trevon backed down. “I’m just saying. She was mine first. I just don’t want us to be fighting over a woman. You know. Our friendship means more to me than that.”
“Well I don’t have a problem. Get a grip.” Garrett got up and walked past him.
~ 22 ~
Hailey took extra time preparing for her date with Garrett. As much as she hated to admit it, her feelings for him were slowly changing. She found herself mentally comparing Trevon to Garrett and without a doubt Trevon didn’t measure up. She had seen many women hurt by Garrett so she wasn’t so easily convinced that he could give up his playboy ways. She had never seen him be with any one woman for a long period of time. She wasn’t foolish enough to think she could break the cycle and change him. If she couldn’t make Trevon commit to her, she knew in her heart there was no way she could make Garrett commit.