In Between Lies (17 page)

             
“Whoa, momma, be easy,” Jazzy said, jingling her many bracelets in the air.

             
Naomi looked at the two sitting before her, quietly soaking in every movement they made, especially
Savannah
’s. “I’ll have the same,” she said when the waiter came to her.

             
“Hell, give me one too,” Jazzy said. “Who is the

designated driver gonna be?”

             
“I can handle it,” Naomi spit out. “If you need me to drive, I will take you both home.”

             
“I don’t think I will need that. But thanks anyway,” Jazzy replied.

Chapter 12

             
After consuming two drinks,
Savannah
knew she’d reached her limit but continued to grab at the Jerk flavored chicken wings. She was exhausted and  was getting sleepy because she put some much energy lately into the production of the commercial.

“I will be right back,” she said to both Jazzy and Naomi. “I need to go to the ladies room for a minute.” She grabbed her purse and headed off, leaving them both behind.

“So, Naomi, tell me a little more about yourself,” Jazzy said inquisitively. “I really haven’t had a chance to get familiar with you or your profile since all of the changes made to the commercial came about so quickly.”

“What do you want to know?” Naomi responded. She’d been pretty quiet the whole time, just observing and not wanting to disturb the peace just yet. Besides, she needed the money.

“How long have you been acting? Where are you from? Do you have any family here? Any kids?” Jazzy let the questions roll one after another without hesitation.

Naomi laughed, “Well, originally, I’m not from here. But I came here at an age where I was able to start a new life, so I can claim that I am home grown. Right here in
Chicago
. I grew up on the South side, which was rough, but managed to come out intact and in one piece. Um, I just recently started pursuing an acting career within the last three years. I travel back and forth between here and
New York
, and
Atlanta
, hoping to find decent work.” She stopped to take a bite of her fish sandwich. “No kids, and a very small and limited family here.”

“Never been to
Cali
?” Jazzy asked. “Seems that would be a place on your list too?”

“Not yet. Just kinda keeping it
Midwest
and East for now. Eventually, I will make it out there.”

As she spoke, her cell rang. Looking down and seeing that it was Kevin, her expression lightened her face up.

Jazzy noticed, “You need to take that? Handle your business.”

“Yeah, excuse me for a second.” Naomi got up from the table and walked towards the front door to take his call.

“Hi baby,” she said, smiling. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting on you to call for a grip now.”

“I need to talk to you. Are you busy right now because- well, this wont take long.”

“What’s the matter?”

“In case you haven’t noticed that I don’t come around that much anymore….it’s because I kind of found someone else to spend my time with. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings because I know you want more than what I am willing to give you.”

Instantly upset, Naomi said, “So, you are choosing the cowards way out by telling me this over the phone? What kinda shit is that? You could have told me to my face…at least give me that respect!” Her voice raised and she looked around to see if anyone noticed.

“Look, I am sorry, but we really didn’t have anything in the first place.”

Naomi heavily sighed.

“What? Sex? Naomi, you know that I like you. But to  be honest with you  it was nothing but the sex that kept me coming back. Now, I didn’t want to say that, but it’s true. We never talked about any future plans of staying together.  We never went out anywhere together or anything. How could you possibly think that there was more? You know what? Never mind.”

“Why can’t we talk about this later this evening. Come to my place because I am out right now with some friends.”

“I’ve said what needed to be said. Stay out with your friends. There is nothing more to say about it.”

“So what you think you just gonna use me like that and end it?”

“Who is she? Who is the bitch?!”

“Now see, the old Nama is still there. I knew she would come out sooner or later. That’s why we didn’t last before. You still act the same. Can’t even have a conversation without you going off like a fool.”

“What? Whatever!”

“Yeah…whatever,” he replied.

“What about how I feel? How about taking that into consideration? Look, you be at my place in an hour…if not I am coming to yours…invited or not. This shit ain’t over.” She hung up.

Savannah
had already returned to the table and was pulling her share of the money out to pay. By the time Naomi made it back to the table to have a seat, she really wanted to choke someone, namely,
Savannah
. She was the cause. Then she thought about the money and the commercial. Get the money first, girl, calm down, she thought.

“I need to excuse myself. Something just came up.” Naomi really wanted another drink, but decided to leave as the air in her lungs felt heavier and heavier with each breath. She’d grab a drink on her way home. “I will see you tomorrow morning, ladies. And I had a nice time,” she lied.

Jazzy watched her as her figure disappeared through the door and said, “I don’t like her.” She’d watched her while she took her phone call and could tell that something really wasn’t right about her. Even though she knew Naomi was trying to be discreet by stepping out and down the hall, she could see her flailing her arms in the air in anger. 

“Why not?”
Savannah
asked. “She does seem a little pre-occupied at times, but you really don’t know her to say that. You don’t know that girl from Eve.”

“Now, I got it! I knew I’d seen her face before.” Jazzy wasn’t even paying attention to
Savannah
.

“What are you talking about?”

“
Savannah
…you are just so clueless sometimes…you really do need me to keep you on track, I swear.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Remember the opening night at The Blue Horizon?”

“Yeah.”

             
“She was there. I remember her now.”

             
“So what? What does that mean?”

             
“Never mind, girl. You ready to go?” Jazzy grabbed her purse and tossed a tip on the table. “Let’s go, I have something to do.”

             
“Fine, I’m ready to go anyway. I have a busy day coming up tomorrow. We need to finish this commercial.”
 

On the drive home,
Savannah
thought about Jazzy and her instant dislike of Naomi. She had to admit that she’d too felt the cold draft coming from Naomi a couple of times while sitting there eating with her. She’d brushed it off, using the excuse of not really knowing her, and she wanted to keep things on professional level anyway. The invite out to eat was just a common courtesy move on her part to make Naomi feel more comfortable, nothing more.

Savannah
plopped her jacket down then herself on her bed. Now that her stomach was full, she was content and quickly drifted off, still fully dressed.

***************************

Naomi sat impatiently in her front room waiting for Kevin to arrive. An hour had passed by already with no sign of him, no call or anything. Feeling her anger rise, now at the thought of him and how he just broke from her, she bounced from her sitting position, ran to her room and pulled out an old pair of jeans to put on. Keeping her promise that if he didn’t show up at her place, she would be at his, was one she meant to keep.
             

Determined that he was going to hear her out, she drove to his place and saw that his car was there. He really had no intentions of talking to me, she thought. She dialed his number in her cell.

“What happened to you? I still want to talk to you,” she said with as much calmness and smoothness she could muster.

“I told you that there was nothing else to say. I said what I needed to say. Now, I need to finish getting ready for work.”

“Kevin, don’t do this to me. Do you understand that I love you?”

“What?! Where the hell did that come from? Naomi, I am sorry that you feel like I’m giving you a hard time. I do understand that you like me, and you want to pick up where we left off… but if you remember as you are clearly making me recall, the craziness that you put me through before. You have to know that this wont work.”

“No, I don’t think you remember, Kevin. All the crap that you did to me….and open your door, I am out front.”

Right then, Kevin all too clearly remembered why he’d moved away when he finally was rid of her. He knew she had problems before, and had hoped that she would have changed. Now, sorry that he’d become involved with her again, especially while he was falling for
Savannah
, he knew there would be problems if he didn’t try to fix this distraction.

If he’d only just walked away in the beginning, he may have saved himself and eventually,
Savannah
the hassle.  Now knowing that he had feelings, true and genuine feelings for
Savannah
, Naomi needed to be dealt with now, before things really got out of hand.
Savannah
was the only innocent person of the three and he wanted to keep her that way. What she didn’t know won’t hurt her. She didn’t know about Naomi, and after tonight, he would not have anything else to do with her either.  Determined to keep
Savannah
out of the situation, he opted to handle this as flawlessly and smoothly as possible.

Kevin opened the door, fully clothed and ready for work.  “Come on in, and please make it quick.”

“Why are you being so cold towards me? I haven’t done anything to you,” Naomi said as she passed through the doorway. “I just wanted to look you I the face and want you tell me that you don’t want to be with me anymore.” She turned to him, neither of them moved, then, he spoke.

“Look, Naomi, I can’t lie. I like you but I never had any intention of taking things this far or giving you the impression that it was anything more than what it is.” He ran his head over his freshly, clean shaven head. “I don’t want us to be enemies. Can we just be friends?”

“What? Friends? So what you are telling me is I was just a jumpoff?” She raised her hands in the air. “Why did you even start anything up with me if you had no intentions of it being anything else?”

“I said I was sorry. And you are right, I should not have touched you.” He looked at his watch.

A slight tear escaped from her eye. “So are you going to tell me who you are ditching me for? At least give me that.”

“If I told you, you wouldn’t know her anyway. And it doesn’t matter. Besides, it’s best if you didn’t know her,” he motioned for her to move back towards the door. “I really have to go.” He held out his hand. She hesitantly took it. “Friends?” he asked.

She looked him in the eyes for what seemed like an eternity and said, “No… I can’t be your friend.” She dropped his hand and quietly left his house. She slowly got in her car, pulled out the driveway, tears in her eyes, and left without taking one last glance back at him.

Kevin stood motionless. He thought he handled it smoothly. He’d managed to calm her down, and she left quietly. What did it matter to him that she didn’t want to be his friend. He really hadn’t meant that anyway. That was just a ploy to feed her so she would leave exactly as she had. A few more minutes passed. He snatched his coat and raced out of the house.  His initial thought was to head for the station, but then  decided to stop by
Savannah
’s first. After seeing her, and knowing he’d just made the perfect decision to be rid of Naomi, his world was perfect. Now he would be able to move on as he had planned.
Savannah
had come into his life at the perfect time and he intended on keeping her.