Who's That Lady? (10 page)

“Why are you doing this, Shonté? You have Graham already.”

“I wanted to give you moral support. Maybe I’ll even meet some nice single guy who doesn’t bore me.”

She and Shonté found their assigned seats at adjoining tables. Shonté patted her shoulder before leaving her alone. “Just do it. Don’t think about it,” she murmured.

Just do it.
Crystal tried to turn off her thinking process as a man settled into the chair opposite her. That wasn’t difficult to do as she was drawing a complete blank.

“Hi. I’m Michael.”

Michael was a decent-looking man except for an especially gruesome lip piercing. A spiny rod stuck out of a puffy red scar on his lower lip. She fought the urge to rub her mouth.

She flipped to his page in her portfolio. Computer technician; never married; “
Open for adventure.”
What had Shonté put in her profile?
“Big, boring and bossy?”

After an uncomfortable silence, Michael continued. “I see you’re a training manager at a hospital. Does that mean you get along well with people?”

“Sure. I’m really easy to get along with once people learn to worship me,” she quipped.

He looked startled, then laughed nervously. “Oh, yeah, well…”

She clenched her jaw shut, but it was too late. The poor man was looking around as if for her keeper. The conversation lagged after that. Michael sprang to his feet when the bell went off.

She was more cautious with the next man, but the conversation was a struggle again. Their five minute interval dragged on torturously. Everyone had been given a tablet to keep notes on the people they wanted to get together with later. This second candidate wrote furiously. She watched his hand flying across the page. When he caught her peering, he gave her a weak smile and shielded his writing with his other hand.

Crystal glanced about surreptitiously to see if anyone else was having as much difficulty. The woman on her left leaned forward and her pen slashed checkmarks down the page as she fired off question after question. On her other side, Shonté laughed and flirted. Crystal suppressed an inner sigh of envy. Shonté was tiny and dainty with pouty lips and a button of a nose, and straight hair hanging below her shoulders. She wore spike-heeled boots with faded jeans that showed off her figure.

She’d love to be as comfortable as Shonté in social situations.

Soon she was bored rather than uncomfortable. She had said the same thing, laughed at the same lame jokes, smiled the same phony smile, and said a dutiful thank you each time the bell went off. After the sixth man, she began to jot notes for an article on the sociological aspects of speed dating. What fueled the fad? What kind of people took advantage of it? Society’s attitude toward the practice. Results? She was soon absorbed and barely acknowledging her partners.

At last the session ended. She leaned back with a sigh of relief.

But to her dismay the organizers had arranged a gathering afterward for people who got more than five positive hits. Shonté got a ticket to stay. Crystal didn’t. She practically dragged Shonté
from the room.

“So did you meet anybody?” Shonté asked eagerly.

“You met the same men. What do you think?”

“Okay, okay, there are an awful lot of jerks out here in single life.”

“And I met all of them tonight,” Crystal grumbled.

Shonté sighed in exasperation. “You’re too picky, Cee. You don’t need Mr. Right. You need Mr. Right Now and
Fine
.” She did a little spin to keep a man they’d just passed in view. He was doing the same thing. They exchanged sizzling once-overs that should have left blisters. Shonté laughed exuberantly as she continued by Crystal’s side.

“Girl, behave,” Crystal said without much hope. “You know that isn’t me. I want a caring relationship based on respect and trust.”

“What about passion?”

“Well, that comes later.”

“You hope,” murmured Shonté.

Or it came in a one-night stand.

“I’d like passion,” Crystal said slowly. “But what if it’s with someone who’s not appropriate?”

Laughter lit up Shonté’s expression. “Appropriate? Girl, I don’t think
appropriate
and
passion
come in the same package.”

Thoughts of Key filled her mind. Key wasn’t exactly inappropriate but the passion was there for sure. Still, being so close all these years made it all too complicated.

“You mean I’m doomed to these losers?”

“Welcome to my world.”

Crystal gave her a startled look. “You? Go out with losers? You can have your pick of men, Shonté.”

“Not the right ones.” Shonté shrugged. “Isn’t that what you’ve been telling me ever since Trevor came into my life?”

“What about Graham?”

“Graham,” she scoffed. “Graham is more your type than mine.”

“Yes, I’d like a sweet man like him that I can trust and respect. Isn’t that what you want, Shonté?”

Shonté gave her a twisted smile of exasperation. “I want not to be bored,” she said. Before Crystal could ask for clarification, she glanced at her watch with an exclamation.

“Oh, let’s hurry. Key said he’s cooking shrimp and chicken soup today and invited us.”

Crystal stopped in her tracks.

“I don’t want to go to Key’s.”

Shonté turned a disbelieving stare toward Crystal. “Why on earth wouldn’t you? It’s Key’s famous shrimp and chicken soup!”

“I’ve got stuff to do,” Crystal blurted, shifting from foot to foot. “I have to wash my hair and do laundry and get ready for work tomorrow—”

Shonté blew an exasperated breath. “For Pete’s sake, Crystal, it’ll only take a few minutes.”

“Do I have to go with you?” Her mind hammered in panic. Seeing Key again so soon, when she still wasn’t sure she could hold out against her desire…Impossible!

“I’m not driving you all the way home only to come back downtown.”

Crystal’s head was starting to hurt and she couldn’t think of any more excuses that wouldn’t arouse Shonté’s suspicions.

She slid into the passenger seat. Apparently, she was stuck.

CHAPTER 9

“Have you two been fighting?” Shonté asked suspiciously as she pointed the car in the direction of Key’s apartment.

“No,” Crystal mumbled. “I’m just tired.”

When they got to the apartment, Crystal felt trapped as she plodded behind Shonté into the breezeway that led to Key’s first floor apartment. Every step felt as if it led to her doom. Shonté rang the doorbell and it swung open just as she arrived behind her.

“Hey, princess,” Key greeted her, then caught sight of Crystal lingering behind Shonté. He went very still for an instant, his expression blank. Crystal’s mouth went dry.

“Hey,” he added in a soft tone. He wet his lower lip with his tongue, then turned away. “Come on in, you guys,” he added casually.

“Um, smells good.” Shonté
inhaled appreciatively.

Crystal let out her breath in a long silent emission as she eased inside and shut the door. She thought she’d prepared herself, but still she had been ambushed by a shot of lust when she saw him.
When
would that stop happening?

Key strode back to the kitchen, which was off to one side of the living/dining room. His fashionable, casual clothes suited his big muscular body. Today he wore tricot sweat-style pants with zip pockets and a matching jacket. His shoes were smooth white leather with a hidden zipper that ran diagonally across the instep. Almost dress shoes. She couldn’t help noticing the tightness of his rear end as he moved across the room.

Key’s apartment reflected his unpretentious style. The predominant colors were black and cream. Besides the cushiony, cream couch and chaise lounge, two black leather arm chairs completed the seating. After one look at the couch, Crystal chose one of the leather chairs.

Key’s voice floated from the kitchen. “I just got home, but the soup’s been in the crockpot all day. We can have crackers and cheese with it. You two hungry?”

“Yes!” Shonté bounded into the kitchen to get a bowl.

Crystal listened to the siblings chat as they served themselves.

“Hey, Crystal, aren’t you going to get some?” Shonté called out as she emerged from the kitchen with a bowl and spoon and perched on a chair at the glass-topped dining table.

“I’m not hungry.” Crystal scowled at her. The smells of seafood, vegetables, and Cajun-style spices wafted through the air, making her stomach rumble, but she didn’t want to acknowledge weakness of any kind as far as Key was concerned.

“Come on, Shortcake.” Key stood in the doorway of the kitchen holding out a bowl for her. “It won’t hurt for a couple of minutes, will it?” He lifted his eyebrows in a question.

“All right,” Crystal huffed. She shrugged off her jacket, walked over and took the bowl without meeting his eyes.

Key turned, got himself another bowl of soup and sat down with them at the table.

“So what have you two been doing?” he asked, breaking the momentary silence.

“We just got back from a speed dating club,” Shonté announced.

He shot a quick look at Crystal. “Whose idea was this?”

“Mine,” chimed Shonté. “I had to practically force her.”

“Did you meet anybody interesting?” Key asked, his gaze on Crystal.

Shonté shook her head. “She’s being a perfectionist as usual. Tell her she won’t meet Mr. Perfect.”

Key took a swallow from his glass of juice and set it down on the table, his hand cupping the rim. “Is that what you’re looking for, Shortcake?”

Crystal forced a mouthful of food past her suddenly tight throat muscles. She and Key were both so forcibly not looking at one another that she didn’t see how Shonté could miss it.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” she managed to croak.

“Oh, come on,” prompted Shonté. “I’ll bet you have it all figured out, down to a complete psychological profile of the man you plan to marry.”

“No, I don’t.” Sweat made the back of her neck clammy. “I’ve got plenty of time.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun in the meantime. Come on, Crystal. What kind of man would raise your blood pressure?”

Crystal closed her eyes.
Lord help me, he’s sitting across the table from me right now.

“Stop it, Shonté.” Key’s quiet voice flowed over her like a soft blanket of protection.

Crystal’s glance fluttered up and back down. Shonté subsided without a murmur.

But then she went off on another track. “Why don’t you go with us next time, Key? Maybe you’ll meet your dream woman.”

Crystal’s breath caught in her throat. Air refused to go in and out of her lungs as a picture of Key with someone else filled her mind.

“I know I’m not going to any more of these things,” Crystal announced in a loud voice.

“Don’t discourage Key,” Shonté said. “You were taking an awful lot of notes, Crystal. There must have been somebody who piqued your interest.” She darted over to the couch where Crystal had left her purse. “Let’s see what you wrote.”

Crystal jumped up with a protest of annoyance.

“Hey, put that down,” Key ordered in a sharp voice.

Crystal glanced at his face, surprised by his vehemence. What did he think she’d written in there? He couldn’t possibly be jealous. Could he?

Shonté
ignored him. She flipped open the tablet and scanned the notes eagerly. Then her brows drew together while her mouth fell open. She looked at Crystal in dismay. “You were doing some kind of sociological study.”

“Are you satisfied?” Crystal demanded savagely. She stomped over to grab the purse from Shonté’s limp hands.

Shonté gave an exaggerated sigh. “That is
so
Crystal. You’re so clinical about everything that I don’t believe you’re even capable of falling in love.”

Fury infused Crystal as she stared at her friend. Did Shonté really think she had no feelings?

“Just because I don’t fall in love every damn week like you do doesn’t mean I can’t.” She turned and snatched up her coat. “I’m ready to go
now
, with or without you.” She jerked awkwardly to put her arms into the tangled garment. “Thank you for dinner, Key,” she added as she marched out the door.

Downstairs, Crystal waited, fuming, by the car. It was a few minutes before Shonté came out, her cheeks red.

Once they were both in the car, she said in a gruff voice, “Key told me I should apologize to you.”

“It’s all right,” Crystal muttered. Her anger had left her, replaced by profound apathy.

“You know I was only teasing, don’t you?” A pleading note entered Shonté’s voice.

“I said okay,” Crystal snapped. Her headache banged a slow, savage thump.

Shonté was silent a moment. Then, with forced cheerfulness, she began to discuss their plans for the next few days.

* * *

Crystal got up late the next morning and joined Shonté in their laundry room in the little alcove off the dining room. They spoke little, dodged around piles of dirty laundry or stacks of folded clothes and linens. Between loads, they read the newspaper, watched TV, tweezed their eyebrows.

This was a mundane, domestic scene, familiar as an old shoe with little need for communication. But today, a feeling of vague surrealism kept surprising Crystal.

Later Shonté perked up and suggested they ride their bikes to the nearby shopping center. The strip mall boasted several trendy thrift shops. Under Shonté’s tutelage, Crystal picked up a couple of clothing items to round out her new look, along with some vintage jewelry.

“The thrift shop is your friend,” Shonté
gushed. “Instead of spending big bucks on something bland and boring at the mall, we can let thrift shops fill in the gaps in your wardrobe.”

Shonté used the same technique here which she’d used at the mall. She cruised the aisles, glancing at each outfit, pulling out one here and there for a closer look, putting most back, and handing Crystal a few to hold.

Crystal was delighted with the faded jeans and graphic print tees. They even found a designer suit, perfect for work, and only eleven dollars. Shonté nabbed a pair of glittery ballerina flats for herself and they picked up some funky jewelry. Loading all the purchases into their backpacks, they indulged themselves with lunch at a fast food restaurant.

As they finished lunch and prepared for the ride back home, Shonté’s cell phone rang and Crystal listened to some of her responses.

“I’m busy, Graham. No, I’ll be tired later. Yeah, I’ll call you. I don’t know what time. See ya.”

She clicked off the phone.

“That was cold,” Crystal commented.

Shonté hunched her shoulders. “I told you he annoys me.”

“Then why do you stay with him, Shonté? You stay with him, treat him like dirt, and cheat on him. What is that all about?”

“You said it yourself, I’m a slut.” Shont
é spoke carelessly, but her return stare glittered with challenge.

“I didn’t mean it!” Crystal exclaimed. “I just don’t understand why you do these wild things.”

Shonté’s reply was cynical. “Because I’m a slut.”

“No, you aren’t,” Crystal said in a low, fierce voice. “You’d be wonderful for any man.”

“No, I wouldn’t, Crystal. You know me better than anyone. You know the dark places in my life. Do you think anyone would want to be with me if they knew everything?”

Crystal scanned Shonté’s eyes and saw a shadow of the unhappiness that still haunted them both. If Crystal had the power she would erase her friend’s memory. She didn’t know if Shonté had done the right thing or not, but it had happened. She wanted Shonté to forget it.

“I know the dark places and I
still
love you.”

When Crystal continued to peer into her face in growing concern, Shont
é suddenly burst out laughing, transforming in one of her lightning mood switches.

She reached across the table to squeeze Crystal’s hand. “Thanks, Crystal. I do appreciate that.” She stood up briskly. “Let’s not argue today. I need to get going if I’m going to make it to rehearsal tonight. I’ll be home late.”

* * *

It was late, but Crystal was still awake when Shonté slipped in and closed the front door. She called out and her roommate came to the bedroom doorway. Shonté sagged against the doorjamb, pushing a hand through her heavy mane of hair.

“Kind of late for you, isn’t it?” she commented, her smile weary.

Crystal shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep. What about you? You look exhausted.”

“I am.”

“You just finished rehearsal?”

Shonté shifted against the door frame, seeking a comfortable position. “No, I stopped by Key’s place on the way home. I felt like talking to him.”

“Oh yeah? How’s he doing?” Crystal kept her voice casual.

“Fine, I guess. Kind of grumpy. He had Luther Vandross playing at full blast on his audio system and he was working out with his weights.”

Crystal forced a croak that approximated a laugh. “Yeah, right.” She could picture him, sweat rolling down his sinewy back and sculpted pecs, in the spare room which was dimly lit the way he liked it when he worked out, while Luther’s silky, seductive voice serenaded in the background.

Shont
é gave a little laugh. “Maybe he had just ended a hot date. You know how he is about Luther. It’s his make-out music.”

A cold lump of sludge settled in Crystal’s stomach. He had someone new already? Had all his sexy talk been a game?

“Shoot,” Shonté continued. “You’ve started going out and if Key gets a new lady, I’ll be the fifth wheel. Guess I should get busy!”

Crystal grunted in response.

“I know.” Shonté brightened, her back straightening. “We should all three sign up for the dating service and find our ideal mates together. Then we’ll all get married together and we’ll be as happy as Mom and Pop!”

Crystal closed her eyes with a shudder. “You know there’s the possibility of being too close.”

Shonté warmed to the topic. “No way. We’ll buy houses in the same neighborhood and our kids will go to the same schools and play together. We’ll keep hanging out together and go on triple dates and we’ll have dinner at one another’s houses. We’re going to be together forever!”

“Oh, great,” Crystal breathed. Shonté was too caught up in her new fantasy to notice Crystal’s revulsion.

“Friends until the end. One for all, all for one. Right? Now all we have to do is find these perfect mates.”

Yeah, that was all. Nothing to it.

Shont
é laughed, pushed off the door frame and walked down the hall toward her own room.

Shonté had been kidding, but her words tolled a warning for Crystal. Were their lives really changing that much? The Emerson family had been a part of her life for years. Was it possible that bond could change? The thought left her reeling.

* * *

As Crystal left work on Monday, her cell phone rang.

Graham’s voice greeted her.

“Sorry to bother you, Crystal, but I’m really worried about my relationship with Shonté. I haven’t seen her since last week, and she still says she doesn’t have time to go out with me.”

Crystal sighed. “Graham, take this up with Shonté.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing going on, Crystal? I don’t mean to be a pain, but I care for that girl so much. You know I’ve been thinking about getting serious with her. This is really messing up my head. Could we get together and talk?”

Crystal didn’t feel like listening to Graham moon over Shonté, especially since she was pretty sure the man was on his way out. But Graham pleaded and she figured at least meeting with him would rescue her from being stuck in the condo alone. And maybe she could figure out a way to give Graham a clue as to how to woo Crystal away from Devlin, without letting him know there was a rival.

She couldn’t help wondering what he would think of her new look. She remembered the kiss he’d mistakenly given her. Had that been only a week ago? She hadn’t thought about it since being with Key. Now the memory made her nauseous.