In Between Lies (4 page)

In Between Lies                    
             
                                  S. Hill 
             
             
                                                                                                 

Chapter 2

             
“Ready yet?” a voice said over the phone. “I’ll be there in about five minutes.” Jasmine had promised to take
Savannah
out on her birthday.
             

             
“Yeah, I’m almost ready now,”
Savannah
replied while checking her reflection in the full length mirror that hung on the back of her walk in closet door. She threw the cordless phone down and snatched off the black suede dress. Shortly after, Jasmine was at the door pounding as usual.
             

             
“Where are we going?”
Savannah
asked.
             

             
“Now if I told you that it would not be a surprise would it?” Jasmine plopped down on her bed. She pointed to the red sequined dress that
Savannah
had finally selected to wear? “Is that what you are wearing?”

             
“Yeah, what’s that matter with it?” Self consciously
Savannah
rubbed her hands across her stomach. “Doesn’t it look okay? By the way you look good tonight? Where are we going?”

             
“If you ask me again… nowhere. Put that one on,” she pointed to the same velvet black dress that
Savannah
had just thrown on the floor.

             
“Seems like every time I put this dress on it gets tighter and tighter,”
Savannah
said, once again studying herself in the mirror. “Even though I work out religiously, this dress makes me look like I am not making progress.”

             
Tapping on her gold watch, Jasmine reminded her, “You know I hate to be late so quit trippin and finish getting ready so we can get out of here.”

             
“Hmmpf, Imagine that…ghetto and on time…that doesn’t even go together.” Tossing out half smile,
Savannah
smoothed her stomach and gently lifted her chest in the strapless and backless black dress. Around her neck, she clipped the neck strap that held the whole piece on her. “I am going to freeze with this on.”

             
“Turn around,” Jasmine prodded.

             
Savannah
slowly turned. Her reflection twisted with her, revealing a five foot eight well proportioned frame. Her dark shoulder length hair framed her face perfectly, covering one eye and revealing a high blush covered cheekbone and a set of full pouty earth toned brown lips. “Perfect,” was all that Jasmine could say. “You go girl!  Plan on putting a hurtin on some poor soul tonight, huh?”

             
“Not really. You look like you are the one to beat tonight,” Savannah referred to Jasmine’s ankle strapped black open toe sandal like shoes, short mini length black leather skirt that split up the back, and her all too skimpy red satin backless halter that had tassles hanging from it. The only thing that detracted from her outfit was the million and one shiny gold bracelets that was Jasmine’s trademark. “Couldn’t resist adding one more bracelet, huh?”
Savannah
pointed to her wrist. “Where are we going again? And why are we dressed like this? And who would have thought the forecast called for snow? I’m going to need to carry my big jacket this evening, since you have me skimping out of here half naked.””

             
“Are you finished complaining yet missy?” Without waiting for an answer, Jasmine continued. “Well since it is your birthday, you know, I figured I would take you out to a place that I hear is supposed to be really nice…and it’s opening night. A really nice jazz club.”

             
“Aw c’mon girl, you know I am not into the club thing.”
Savannah
tossed her purse on the bed. “I thought you were going to tell me that you got us reservations at a nice lakefront restaurant or something. Or maybe surprise me with some tickets to some big act tonight.”

             
“Restaurant? This is way better than a restaurant, believe me….trust me. Besides,  those are  the kind of events your man takes you to. And the last time I checked, I don’t hardly look like a man…and you…well…don’t have one right now. But that can change real soon!”

Jasmine pushed
Savannah
aside and checked her reflection again. Her chin length bobbed hair was spiral curled and fell perfectly in place, as usual. She spun quickly and compared her sleek hour glass figure with
Savannah
’s. “Girl you know that working out has done a sista some good, but woman you know you got back…and the brotha’s like alllll that!” She pointed to
Savannah
and shook her own behind
.  “
Now g
o on and back that thang up!”

             
Savannah
picked out her jacket from the closet and put it on.  “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

             
“So take that jacket off and work it! God gave it to you, now use it and make it work for you!” Jasmine sang. “Besides you need to relax and enjoy…maybe find a new man to scoop you away from old ghosts that you are still carrying around. You ain’t ever gonna get a man to look at you all covered up. Show some skin.” Jasmine snatched the jacket away. “Besides I heard that some high rollas will be there….you never know, you might meet one with class, style and sophistication.”

             
“Im not man crazy like you,”
Savannah
laughed. “But just maybe you are right this time.” She tossed the jacket on the bed, thought better of it, and grabbed it up again before they both headed for the car.

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

             
Warm air hit Kevin as he exited from the car and made his way to the Drake Hotel. Once he reached the top floor and nodded at security he entered The Blue Horizon. At the entrance he was stopped mid stride by three women.

             
“Excuse me, can you tell me what the cover is, one asked. She was with two other women who were eying him up and down. “Don’t I know you from somewhere,” she asked blatantly securing her arm around his. The other two moved closer absorbed in the so far one sided conversation.

“Isn’t your name Kevin Styles?” She squinted as if she were trying to concentrate and remember, then absorbing in his tall, muscular build and his broad shoulders that tapered to what she could tell was a washboard stomach.
“
You are the weatherman on channel 17 news right? …a local celebrity in the house tonight.” She smiled when she saw he was pleased that she recognized him off the top.

             
“Hi ladies,” he spoke in a low voice. “Yes, that is me.” He moved in closer and whispered in her ear. “But don’t tell anybody,” he joked, placing one well manicured hand up to his mouth.

She giggled well aware of what she took to be jealous stares coming from all directions… eyes were focused on her by most of the women surrounding her whether they were with a man or not. She tried to stay in close to make it appear that they were having an intimate conversation.

“The cover is fifteen dollars and if I may, I’d be happy to give you three complementary passes for opening night.” He pulled out three passes from the inside of his black form fitting jacket. “Glad to see that someone around here watches the news,” he joked.

“Anyway ladies, enjoy.” He lead them through the blue hallway and headed toward the coat check area, very much aware of the hard stares. There was no denying a spiked interest he provoked by the way the woman grabbed him.  Purposely she squeezed his arm trying to gain his attention again.

Slightly pulling him to the side, she said, “How are you going to play me like you don’t know me? It’s me
Naomi
.” She squeezed his arm gently but firmly to press her point.

             
He focused on her face. Her short close cropped hair was done to perfection. Her make up flawless.
Bothered the recognition of
who she was
just out of his grasp
, he was interrupted by his partner, Luther, who was coming up the blue walkway with a wide semi disgusted grin on his face. The kind of grin one has right before going off and losing it.

             
“There you are. Excuse me ladies,” he said as he shifted from foot to foot in aggravation. “Your mother is here, and wants a front table seat. I tried  to sit her as close to the band as possible but she wasn’t trying to hear it. She is demanding to speak to you.”

             
Kevin waved bye to the women and started to walk from their sight toward his mother.

“Thank you for the passes.”

             
“No problem, Naomi
, enjoy your evening.” He released his arm from hers.
             

             
Kevin walked away, leaving the trio while hanging their coats up. The sight of her made his senses cringe, but not being able to pinpoint why he felt that way was odd. Although she did have a familiar air about her that instantly gnawed at him, his attention was distracted just long enough to quickly dismiss her.
Naomi
watched him as he strode away and made a mental note to catch up with him before the night was over. Oblivious and not caring of the fact that he may be there with another woman, her sheer determination and the biting challenge was on.

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

             
“Girl, this is nice. You should have told me that we were coming here,”
Savannah
smiled as they rode the elevator to the top floor of the Drake.
“
You know how much work we put into this? As a matter of f
act, I saw the commercial that we
wrote
and produced
earlier today.”