Turned Out Saga (34 page)

However, that wasn't what was in the cards for him.

For the past forty-five minutes, Thomas had been in his office talking to a potential client when he realized how late it was. It was almost two a.m. and he was ready to start sending people home. Any other time, it would have been over by now but he'd been so preoccupied with his thoughts and trying to conduct business that the time flew by.

The second Thomas arrived from the back office, his front door burst open with men in uniforms following.

“What the. . . .” Everyone stopped in their tracks to see what the hell was going on.

One of the officers stepped up. “Thomas Wade? We're here for Mr. Wade.”

Everyone turned to face Thomas who had stepped up. “What is it Officer?”

“Are you Thomas–”

“Yes, yes, I am.”

“And this is your residence?”

At this point Thomas' attorney stepped up. “Excuse me Officer. I'm his attorney and I would like to know what's going on.”

Several of the officers by now had dispersed and were moving throughout the house. The officer who was speaking pulled out a search warrant.

“We have reason to believe that there are minors under the influence at this residence and that they are here soliciting.” He waved his hands around to indicate the numerous men who were standing and watching what was taking place.

Thomas laughed at this. “I can assure you gentlemen that all the ladies here are of age.”

From behind Thomas, he heard women fussing and talking about, “Get your hands off me. What do you want? I want my lawyer.”

Thomas turned around to see what the ruckus was about and was shocked to see some women he didn't even know. Not only didn't he know them, but he had no idea who let these women into his home.

He took a step forward toward the girls. “Who the hell are you?”

One of the girls popped the gum she was chewing. “You know who the hell we are. You sent for us.”

“All right, all right,” one of the officers said.

“Oh, hell no. I don't know any of you. Who the fuck let these girls up in my house?”

No one answered. He looked at the girls again. If you looked hard enough and were experienced enough to see under the makeup, it was obvious these girls were either just eighteen or slightly under.

“You are under arrest. . . .” and so the story went.

So here Thomas sat, wondering just like Alexis “What the fuck was going on and who the hell would set him up like this?”

Alexis hung up the phone. She'd just spoken to Champagne, who had informed her that Thomas' attorney was working on getting him out of the holding cell. It might not happen until Monday, depending on if they could find a judge.

“Fuck!” Today was Sunday, the day she'd told Gavin she would go out with him. That was the last thing she felt like doing but Champagne told her maybe it would be the best thing to get her mind off what was happening with Thomas.

Shamel tried to call her numerous times but she just let the phone go to voice mail. She had some other shit she was trying to deal with and he wasn't a priority.

Alexis went into her bathroom and turned on the bath water. She sat on the edge of the tub and questioned what she was doing. Alexis had contemplated calling Gavin all day and canceling their date. She would have if she hadn't misplaced the card with his cell phone number and she forgot to save it on her cell phone.

She wanted to stay home and find out what was going on with Thomas but Champagne already said there was no more information to give.
I kind of do want to go on this date. Shit, it ain't like I can concentrate on anything anyway.

Alexis settled down in the tub, letting Calgon take her away.

* * *

Across town Gavin was finishing up a conference call at one of his shops. He was looking forward to this date since earlier this week.

Dating older women never made Gavin nervous. Successful older women were more his preference. They were more secure in themselves, comfortable in their bodies, and less likely to beg. They also had fewer inhibitions.

That night when she'd called him up, he was surprised. He was almost positive that he wouldn't hear from her after he gave her his number, but thankfully he was wrong.

Tonight he planned on taking her to Dave and Busters, a game lounge for adults and kids. He wanted to do something fun and different, to show her that life did not have to be so serious all the time. But first he told her to meet him next door at the bar called Honeys. On Sundays they had open mic and he had a treat in store for her.

* * *

A few hours later Alexis was walking into Honeys. The plan was for them to meet inside. On her way there, Gavin was kind enough to call and let her know that he would be running a few minutes late and that he'd left her name with the hostess.

Alexis had never been there before. That might have been because this whole hanging out thing was new to her. When she stepped through the door, she noticed that the crowd seemed to be professionals in their midtwenties and early thirties.

When Alexis gave her name at the door, the hostess smiled and stated, “We were expecting you.”

She then led her to a table that was in the center of the floor with the best view of the stage.

As she took her seat she noticed that the people at the surrounding tables were looking her way and whispering. It made her self-conscious. She stopped a waitress and asked her, “Do I have something hanging from my skirt? Why are these people staring at me?”

The waitress laughed and told her, “They're trying to figure out who you are because that table is usually reserved for celebrities.”

Alexis felt a little uncomfortable with all the stares and hoped that Gavin would hurry and join her.

“Would you like a drink or an appetizer?” the waitress asked.

“As a matter-of-fact, I'd like a Mojito.”

The waitress nodded and walked away.

Alexis turned her attention to the stage where a band was setting up.
I wonder if Thomas is okay. I hope no one is doing anything to him. Okay girl, get him out of your head, you are here waiting on another man.

Speaking of the other man, Alexis looked at her watch and wondered when he'd be there. He said a few minutes late it was now more like fifteen, damn near twenty.

The waitress returned with her drink. She placed it on the table. Alexis went to reach for her purse which she sat on the chair next to her, but the waitress stopped her and said, “Oh, no sweetie, it's taken care of.”

“By who?” She looked around to see if another man was looking her way.

The waitress tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the stage where Gavin was standing with a white rose and looking directly at her.

“I'd like to sing this song for the sexiest girl in the club.”

“Who me handsome?” a voice yelled out in the crowd. Everyone started laughing.

“You too but I'm talking about that lady sitting right there.” He looked directly at Alexis, which made everyone look her way.

That's just what he did when he started singing “Sweet Lady.”

Oh my God, that's my song. How could he know that?
Alexis closed her eyes and pretended that Tyrese was up on that stage singing to her, although Gavin wasn't too far from it.

Once the song was over Gavin stepped off the stage and walked over to the table. She stood up and they hugged.

“You like?” Gavin asked.

“I loved,” Alexis told him and she did. “I've never had anyone sing to me like that before.”

“I'm glad I was the first.”

Gavin pulled out her chair. “Finish your drink and then we're going next door.”

“Next door?” The only thing she saw next door was Dave and Busters and that was a game room.

“Yes, next door.”

“To Dave and Busters?”

She must have been frowning because he told her, “Don't knock it until you try it. Watch, you'll have fun, you're with me.”

Alexis wasn't really into arcade games but shit, she was willing it give it a try. Who knew, she just might have a good time.

After finishing their drinks and listening to the band play, Gavin stood up. “Are you ready?”

“Don't you have to pay?”

“It's on my tab.”

Alexis smiled. “So, you have a tab here? You come here that often?”

“Nah, one of my boys owns the place.”

“Well, good for him,” she said while smiling.

“What's got you smiling?”

“It's just good to see black men succeeding.”

Gavin knew where she was coming from because there was a time when he didn't think he'd make it out of the streets. He thought he would be a hustler for life, but fortunately after a four-year bid in prison, he wanted more for himself. He had stashed his drug money with an old girlfriend he could trust, someone that wouldn't do him dirty. When he was released, he did the right thing, cut her off a nice chunk and opened his first detail shop. Initially, only the other hustlers were his clients but he hired this smart female, who told him to offer specials to businesses and their employees. Once he did that, it was on and business started booming so much so that he had to open another and another and another.

They were walking through the door of Dave and Busters and since this was her first time here, she asked Gavin if they could walk around first.

“It's your night; we can do whatever you want to do.”

As they walked around Alexis found herself feeling like a kid.

Eventually, she became overwhelmed because she didn't know where to start. “So, what do you want to try first?” she asked him.

“How about basketball?”

To basketball they went.

For over an hour, they played games. Come to find out, Alexis was more competitive than she realized. She even won a couple of small prizes.

Gavin watched her with amusement. It was obvious she was enjoying herself. Gavin asked her, “Do you want to get something to eat, grab a drink, or play pool? It's on you.”

“Let's order something light and play a little pool.”

As they were walking to the dining area, Alexis felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

She turned around and no one was there. “Mmm, I could have sworn I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.”

“Maybe someone bumped into you and you thought it was a tap.”

Alexis knew what a tap felt like. She turned around and scanned the crowd, trying to see if there was someone she knew on the premises.

They found a table, sat down, called the waitress over, and ordered appetizers and drinks. Alexis stuck with her Mojito, while Gavin ordered Hennessey.

Alexis just happened to glance at the television and on the screen was Thomas. Gavin must have been talking to her and she'd tuned him out because he touched her hand.

“Earth to Alexis.”

She shook her head. “I apologize, I was watching the news.”

Gavin turned around and glanced up at the television that was behind him. The commentator was talking about athletes and performers seeing underage girls and the kind of example they were setting.

“Why are you so into what they're saying?”

“Because one of the people they're talking about is a good friend of mine.”

“Who? Thomas?”

Alexis was surprised to hear him say Thomas' name. “Yeah, how did you know?”

“I didn't, I was just guessing. Plus, he's from around here. As a matter-of-fact, he and I sponsored a few little league teams together. He's a decent guy.”

Alexis didn't know what to say because all she was thinking was,
This is a small-ass world.

“So, are you dating him?” Gavin wasn't one to beat around the bush. He wanted to know where he stood with her, if he even had a real chance.

Alexis didn't lie. “We've seen each other a few times.”

Gavin knew what that meant. He knew because of the way her eyes looked and her body shifted when she said it.

“Are you two serious?”

Alexis looked him dead on then and told him, “If we were I wouldn't be here with you.”

Gavin, relieved, raised his glass and said, “I'll drink to that.”

The waitress came with their food and as they ate, they talked about themselves, how they grew up and where they saw themselves in the near future.

“I used to be holy and sanctified,” Alexis told him when they got on the subject of religion.

“Get the hell out of here.” Gavin just could not see it because when he thought of holy and sanctified, he thought of women in long dresses, no makeup, no jewelry, shouting in the aisles. “What happened, did you backslide?” he joked.

“I don't really know what happened. It's like all of a sudden I started living my life in a different way and started slipping away from the church.”

“Do you not go at all now?”

“I haven't been. Sometimes I wonder if it'll make that much of a difference in my life if I did. Because honestly, when I was going, I wasn't that happy.”

“Well, are you happy now?”

That was a question Alexis was really going to have to think about. There were moments when she was content. She thought she was happy when she was with Khalil and now, well, she was just going through the motions.

Before she got a chance to respond, the waitress approached with another drink.

“I didn't order that,” Alexis told her.

“I was told to deliver it to your table by the gentleman over . . .” She turned to identify the person who sent the drink. “Where is he?”

Gavin turned to look in the direction she was looking in. He wanted to see who the hell was disrespecting him but no one was there.

“What did he look like?” Alexis asked.

“Tall, slim, brown-skinned.”

Alexis and Gavin waited on a better description and she gave them none.

“Is that it?” Alexis asked.

“Well, that's all I could remember.”

“Well, shit,” Alexis said, “that's half the black men in here.”

Gavin picked the drink up off the table and told her to take it back. Alexis didn't even stop him because she agreed.

Standing up, Alexis told him, “I'm ready to go.”

“So soon?”

“I don't feel comfortable now.”

Gavin told the waitress to bring the bill.

“Do you want to do anything else, go anywhere else?”

“No, I just want to go home.”

The waitress returned, Gavin looked at the bill, pulled some cash out of his pocket and gave some to the waitress. “Keep the tip.” He placed his hand on Alexis' arm. “What's going on?”

“I don't know Gavin. I hope I'm not being paranoid, but I think someone is watching me, that I'm being followed.”

They were heading toward the door. “What? Are you sure?”

“No, I'm not sure. It's just a feeling.”

“Is there anyone that has something against you, that's angry with you?”

“Not enough to stalk me.”

“Do you want me to stay with you tonight?”

“No, I'm going to call my girl Champagne and see if she'll stop by.”

“Well, I'm going to follow you home.”

When they were standing in front of his car, Alexis turned around and kissed him on the mouth gently. “Thanks for showing me a good time.”

Gavin took her hand and told her, “If you need me I'm here for you, as your friend or as whatever you want me to be.”

Alexis climbed into her car and drove off with Gavin following close behind.