Star Struck(37)
Unlike Trevon, Garrett was prompt as usual. She slid on her five inch sling back heels and met him at the door. She wasn’t prepared to feel the queasiness in her stomach. She blushed when he flashed his kilowatt smile. “You look absolutely beautiful,” Garrett said, as he embraced her.
“So do you,” she responded.
“I’ve been called handsome or even cute, but beautiful. That’s a first,” Garrett teased.
“I don’t give out compliments freely, so you best take that.”
“Hailey, one day you’ll let go of the attitude.”
She grabbed her purse. “Maybe, but today is not that day.”
About an hour later, they pulled up into the driveway of Parris and Casper’s elegant home. “How long have you been friends?” Garrett asked, after opening Hailey’s door.
“CJ and I have been friends for over five years. Parris and I became friends after her and CJ got together.”
Their conversation was cut short when Casper opened the door. “If it isn’t my favorite talk show host,” he said, greeting Hailey with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Casper, this is Garrett Morgan. Garrett, this is Casper.”
They shook hands. “And this is my beautiful wife,” Casper said, as he moved and Parris, who was dressed in a white chiffon pants suit, extended her hand.
After the brief introduction, they were led to the formal dining room. Neither couple seemed to be able to take their eyes off their mates. In between eating, Casper asked, “So how did you get into your line of business?”
Garrett responded, “I decided to put both of my degrees to use. I have one in criminal justice as well as computer science.”
“I didn’t know you took up criminal justice,” Hailey said.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Garrett said, right before flashing a huge smile.
Hailey blushed. Parris and Casper looked at one another. It’s as if they could sense something more there than what Hailey knew herself.
Parris said, “Hailey’s been secretive about you, so excuse us if we seem to be a little nosy.”
Hailey almost spit out her drink. “Please. Even if I would have told you about Garrett, you would be asking him fifty questions.”
Hailey held her head down.
Casper said, “It takes a special man to put up with our Hailey.”
Garrett said, “I’m up for the task. I’m in this for the long haul.”
Hailey held her hands up. “Excuse me y’all, but I’m sitting right here. You’re talking about me like I’m not in the room.”
Parris intervened and said, “Lay off guys.”
Casper wasn’t about to. “She’s always in other folks business, so I’m just returning the favor.”
Hailey held up the peace sign. “If you stay out of my business, I’ll stay out of yours.”
Everybody at the table laughed, except for Hailey. In between laughter, Garrett said, “Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you.”
An hour later, Parris and Hailey were alone in the kitchen. “Girl, if I wasn’t married to the man of my dreams, I would jump on that,” Parris said, as she placed the half eaten platter in the refrigerator.
Hailey looked in the direction of the door. “Garrett’s okay.”
“He’s more than okay. I hope you’ll stop running behind Trevon. I’ve never thought he was the one for you anyway.”
Hailey took a sip of her drink. “Now you tell me.”
Parris looked at her. “Like you would listen to me anyway.”
“True.” She devoured the rest of her drink. “Can I be honest with you?”
“You don’t even have to say it,” Parris said, as she wrapped up some of the dishes.
“Is it obvious?”
“To me it is, but I can tell Garrett’s not so sure.”
“All of this is new to me. I never thought I could feel this way about another man other than Tre.”
“Girl, let your hair down. Enjoy yourself. Garrett seems like he’s not a pushover and he’s not going to let you give up on him too easily.”
“That’s another thing. He doesn’t let me get away with anything. I think that’s one thing that attracts me to him.”
“Him, looking like a GQ model doesn’t hurt either now does it?”
Hailey laughed. “You got that right. But you know I’ve dated plenty of pretty boys in my life, but there’s just something about Garrett that sends my hormones into overdrive.”
Parris said, “That’s because Hailey, my dear, he is the one.”
“To scratch this itch,” Hailey said, although she knew exactly what Parris meant.