Star Struck(7)

Trevon and him vowed to treat her like one of the guys; well that is, until the day he came home early and caught them two butt naked on the couch. Although the dynamics of their relationship changed, Garrett still treated Hailey as he would any other female friend that he wasn’t sleeping with. She was the friend he called when he needed female advice. As they had gotten older, they rarely had heart to heart talks; instead he seemed to always be caught in the middle of playing referee between her and Trevon’s on again off again relationship.

Garrett removed a notepad out of his pocket and jotted down some notes. Hailey didn’t know it, but she was about to have a brand new security system put in. There were so many holes in her current system, he wanted to find whoever sold her the one she had and slap them himself. He wouldn’t trust the system she had with an enemy and being in this line of business, he was sure he had plenty of those.

He caught up with Brenda and Hailey in an upstairs bedroom. Although her place was elegantly decorated, it felt like home.

“I was just telling Brenda that we go way back,” Hailey said, as she looped her arm through his arm as they headed back down the stairs.

“Don’t believe a word out of her mouth,” Garrett responded.

“One thing hasn’t changed. He’s still a ladies man,” Hailey said.

“I’ll pretend like I didn’t hear you say that.”

“Would either of you like anything to drink before you go?” she asked.

“No, but I could use your little girl’s room,” Brenda responded.

“It’s the third door to your left.”

As soon as he knew Brenda was out of earshot, he said, “I know the game you’re playing and I’m not going to be a part of it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hailey led him to the living room.

“I get that you’ve been threatened, but I’m sure you could have gone with another security firm.”

Hailey batted her eyes. “I wanted the best and the last time I checked. GT Securities was the best.”

“You thought Trevon was going to run over here. Trust me, he would have but I think it’s about time you two grow up and part ways.”

Hailey walked closer to Garrett. “I think you need to mind your own business and do what I’m paying you for.”

“Me and my employee can walk out and let you fend for yourself. You and your faulty security system.” Garrett refused to be bullied; especially by the likes of Hailey.

Brenda walked in the room. They ignored her. She cleared her throat. “Hailey it was nice meeting you and I look forward to working with you. Garrett, I’ll meet you in the car.”

Neither said a word. Hailey was the first to break the silence. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all,” she said, as she shrugged her shoulders.

“You hired us to do a job and we will do our job; but as your friend, I hate to see you get hurt.”

“I’m a big girl.”

“Tre told me about what happened. Tre’s my boy, but you can do better.”

Garrett noticed Hailey’s body tensing. She said, “Let’s agree to keep our personal life separate from our business.”

He extended his right hand out to her. “I can, but can you?”

Hailey hesitated before shaking his hand.



***



Hailey let out a scream she had been holding in since learning that Garrett was the one handling her case and not Trevon. Her little plan to get some alone time with Trevon without it seeming obvious was backfiring. She had to come up with another plan. Brenda seemed like an okay person but she was not who she envisioned on being her bodyguard.

Garrett was still the same conceited man he had always been. She wanted to knock the smug look off his face. If she wasn’t trying to get Trevon back, she would make it a mission to make Garrett fall in love with her and then break his heart like he had done the countless other women she knew about.

She meant to ask him what he meant about her faulty security system. The thought left as quick as it came. Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. Trevon’s name displayed. “What do you want?” she snapped.

“Just checking to see if everything is okay.”

“If you cared so much, then it should have been you over here.”

“Under the circumstances, I just thought it was best.”

“Best for who? You. You’re one selfish m-f.” Hailey mouthed several other obscenities.

“You need to calm down. I thought I was doing the right thing. If you want me to handle things from now on, I’ll talk to Garrett and we can see about re-arranging things.”

“I don’t care what you do.” Hailey flipped her phone close, which disconnected the call.