Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents) (9 page)

Giselle reached across the table and grasped my hand. “Congratulations, my sister.”

The waiter brought over our champagne and three chilled glasses. He poured our nectar and then left us to our celebration.

Charlee delivered the toast. “Wishing you
all
the happiness you deserve.”

I clinked glasses with Charlee and we peered into each other’s eyes for a beat. I averted my gaze to Giselle. She tapped our glasses and then sat her champagne down on the table.

I stopped short of taking a sip from my glass. “Why aren’t you drinking? You’re not on call today, are you?”

“Whatever she ain’t drinking, I got covered,” Charlee said.

Giselle fidgeted with her utensils. “I also have something to share with the two of you.” She inhaled and released a shaky stream of air.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, damn it.”

I put my hand on top of Charlee’s to silence her.

“I’m fourteen weeks pregnant.”

Charlee and I sat, gaping at Giselle. I could feel my eyes bulging out of their sockets and forced myself to blink a couple of times. “Gigi, when did this happen?”

Charlee rolled her eyes at me. “If she’s fourteen weeks pregnant, you do the math.”

“I mean how or with who?”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you for a few weeks. I found out about a month ago.”

“You’ve known for a month and didn’t say anything?” I asked.

“Actually, I’ve known for longer than that, but I was confused about what to do and wanted to make a decision before I told you. I have my career; I’m not married. I didn’t even know if I wanted to be a mother.”

“What about the father?”

“A colleague of mine.” Giselle looked down in her lap. “He’s pretty much out of the picture, so it was solely my decision to make.”

I moved my chair closer to Giselle and gently rubbed her back. “Are you all right?’

“I will be. I have no choice but to be all right, and I’m going to have this baby. Things will change for me. My life is going to change drastically, it already has, but I’m having this baby.”

And I thought I had news to share with my friends. Giselle, pregnant. I had so many questions, but I refused to inundate her at the moment.

Giselle straightened her back a bit and then picked up her menu. “Let’s eat. I know I’m famished.” She glanced at Charlee and myself and then back at the menu. “Girls, I’m pregnant. It’s not
the end of the world,” she said, not raising her eyes from menu.

“Anything you need, we’re here for you.” I figured I had better speak for both of us since Charlee was still observing Giselle like she was a specimen in a Petri dish.

“The only thing I ask is that you be the great aunties I know you will be.”

I hugged Giselle tight. When we separated, she wiped a tear from her face. Charlee hugged her next. “It takes a village and you’ve got one right here. Don’t worry about a thing.”

• • •

There was no way I was going back to the office after lunch. I was a bit buzzed from the champagne and extremely numb over Giselle’s news. I tightened the belt on my cream wool coat and walked down Madison Avenue. Rich, golden sunlight streamed across my face. My hair whipped in the breeze, the tips getting stuck on my glossy lips. I kept tucking it behind my ears to no avail. Giselle weighed heavily on my mind. Three months pregnant and planning to raise a child on her own. Financially, she wouldn’t have a problem, but the day-to-day responsibility of being a single mother, balancing baby and career, would be difficult. I wanted to know why the father was not involved. I didn’t know that Giselle was seeing anyone. She inquired whether I was happy—I should have asked her the same. If the situation held any joy for her I surely didn’t see it. The giddiness of my announcement was overshadowed by the reality of Giselle’s.

After about ten blocks, I threw my hand up for a cab. I slid into the backseat and instructed the driver to take me to Brooklyn. Thankfully, it was a brother driving the cab. He didn’t give me an attitude about the trip or complain that he may have not been able to get a return fare. I planned to give him a big tip for that reason alone.

I gazed at my ring, the way it sparkled. It truly was beautiful. I smiled to myself. I was going to be Mrs. Ellison Harlow III. I was going to be a wife. I was going to take vows that committed me to another person for the rest of my life, regardless of what we went through, good or bad. My stomach churned. I took a deep breath. It was a little early for pre-wedding jitters—I just got engaged, for goodness sake. We hadn’t even set a date yet. My breathing sped up with the thought of the road ahead. I had to start planning. I needed to pick the perfect day, find a church, a dress, a place to have the reception, a cake, gifts for my guests and the dreaded guest list and seating chart. It hit me, right there in the back of a cab; I was getting married and had tons of work to do. I needed to call my mother later to start brainstorming with her about my special day.

• • •

I put my key in the lock. The door opened, taking my keys along with it, before I had the chance to turn my wrist. Malik stepped to the side, allowing me to pass by him. I took my time hanging up my coat, stealing a glance over my shoulder to see if Malik was standing in the living room. I closed the door and leaned my back against it.

Malik rubbed his hands together, then cleared his throat. “I want to apologize for last night, Mel. I made an unnecessary comment and I was wrong.”

“I think you made more than one comment that was inappropriate,” I said, joining him in the living room.

“We both said some things that we shouldn’t have.”

“You’re right,” I reluctantly admitted.

“I don’t know about you, but it bothered me all night. I didn’t really sleep.”

“I’m sorry for what I said about your choice in women.”

“And for trying to mess up my night with Kai?”

“That too.”

“Well, if you can admit to throwing wrenches, then I can say congratulations on your engagement.”

We stood two feet from each other, wearing contrite smiles. Malik opened his arms for a hug. I shook my head, then stepped up to him and encircled his waist with my arms.

He kissed my forehead. “Friends?”

I nodded and then pulled away. “What are you doing home?”

“I took a half-day. I’m going to the Yankees game tonight.”

I started toward my room. “Oh, well have a good time.”

“I have an extra ticket. You want to go with me?”

I scrunched up my nose. “I’m not really a baseball fan.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s the playoffs. You can’t turn down the playoffs.” He came over to me and placed his arm around my shoulder. “To make amends for last night, hot dogs and beer are on me.”

Malik flaunted one of his best smiles, one that had probably convinced many women to do many things.

I relented. “Sure, why not.”

“All right, cool. I need you to do me one favor.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“Observe my attire.” Malik got into male-model stance. He pretended like he was posing for an ad in a magazine. “Now please go into your room and try to dress accordingly for a baseball game. Don’t come out here in one of your high-class get-ups.”

I laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

T
he crowd roared. The Yankees scored a homerun, giving us a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Melina sat to my left, clapping her hands with the rest of the fans. She was wearing a Yankees baseball cap, which I purchased for her, pulled down low on her head. I told her she wasn’t a true fan unless she donned a hat like the rest of us. I glimpsed at her studying the game. It was unusual to see Melina sporting a hooded sweatshirt with tight jeans and sneakers. In the midst of all the hoopla she fit right in with everyone else. Earlier in the game she asked a few questions that demonstrated her lack of familiarity with baseball. Among other things, I explained who was who on the team and why the pitcher would purposely try to walk a player.

I shouted over the incessant cheering. “Do you want another beer?”

“Okay, but three is my limit.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but this makes four.”

“I guess I lost track.” She started giggling. “Well, four is my new limit.”

I called the hawker over and bought two more beers. I handed Melina a cup along with a lighthearted warning. “Last one.”

“Thanks for inviting me, Malik.”

“No problem. As long as you’re having a good time.”

She nodded.

Melina directed her attention back to the game. I checked the centerfield scoreboard and then found myself gazing at Melina again. She looked exceptionally cute with her hat covering most of her eyes. I followed the movement of her lips as she brought her cup up to her mouth. She had a sexy innocence. I shook my head to rattle those thoughts from my mind. The beer was beginning to affect me.

Melina tilted her head, unleashing her light-brown eyes on me. “What are you thinking about over there?”

I choked on my beer. “Work. I just thought of an idea for the Sphere account.”

She smiled. “Umm hmm. Were you contemplating work or Kai?”

“Kai is the furthest thing from my mind. Trust me.” I turned away from her doubtful eyes.

It probably wasn’t a good idea for Melina to meet Kai. She already had notions about my feelings for Kai. Some of them may have been correct, but most of them weren’t. What I did like about Kai was that there was no pressure from her. Our primary goal was to work together and produce a stellar campaign. The time we spent on extracurricular activities was the icing on the cake. Would I consider Kai as someone I could eventually settle down with? Yeah, I would. She was fine as hell, catered to me sexually and stimulated my mind. Did I plan on making that happen? Highly unlikely. Our current set-up was better than cool. Fun and sex. Fun sex. No strings attached.

My last real relationship ended over four years ago. I met Angelique at the annual auto show at the Jacob Javits Center. She was sitting behind the wheel of a Jaguar XKR convertible, checking out its features. I slid into the passenger seat and joined her
personal tour. We sat in the car for over an hour, talking and laughing, while others got annoyed that they couldn’t get a closer peek at the latest model. Eventually, we exited the vehicle and ditched our friends, spending the rest of the afternoon cruising the Javits Center together. That evening I took her to dinner. I had never clicked with any woman the way I did with Angelique. She was my girl from the moment we met. We moved in together after dating for only two months. My mother was counting on me to make Angelique her daughter-in-law. I wanted to make that happen. Angelique’s parents frequently commented on our living situation and alluded to our making things official. I was in complete agreement. Angelique wasn’t. A year or so into our relationship, Angelique left the law firm she had been with for years and went into business with a friend from law school. Her time at home diminished and her time spent in the office, with him, increased. Accusations flew from my mouth to her ears. Turbulent months passed with Angelique trying to reassure me that she was faithful. I began to resent her and she began to resent me. I resented how the dynamics of our relationship shifted. Hated how her career took precedence over me. She resented me for not being supportive, hated me for not trusting her. We tried to make it work, but I wanted more than she was willing to offer. Angelique wasn’t prepared to settle down. Wife and mother were not at the top of her list. According to her, we had all the time in the world to get married and start a family. I felt that we needed to seize the day, the minute, the moment. We split two-and-a-half years after our love affair began. I moved out, angry and rejected. The woman I loved enough to make my wife was content with being my girl. I took it personal, thought she didn’t want me as a husband. We parted bitterly. In retrospect, I realized that Angelique needed to complete herself before she could
complete me. Angelique taught me a vital lesson. Relationships don’t belong at the top of your list.

• • •

Melina fished her cell phone out of her knapsack. She put the phone to her ear, spoke a few words into it, and then shoved it back into her bag.

“The Stuffed Shirt Patrol got an APB out on you?” I asked.

She sighed like a balloon losing air. “Reminding me to make a call.”

“That’s new. You’re becoming his wife and secretary. Interesting concept.”

“Ellis didn’t want me to forget to contact his mother about a lunch date.”

There was a dimming in her eyes that prevented me from taunting her like I usually did. “Is it that bad, Mel?”

“His mother can’t stand me.”

“C’mon, now. You’re exaggerating.”

“Believe me, I’m not. No matter how nice I am to her she always snubs me. Makes me feel like I don’t belong with her son.”

Seeing her so vulnerable made me feel protective. “What does Ellis have to say about this?”

“I don’t think he notices and I haven’t mentioned it.”

“Don’t be naïve. He knows.”

Melina twisted the ring on her finger back and forth. She looked over at me and gave me something that resembled a smile but didn’t quite make it. “I’ll just have to handle Ellis’s mother on my own.”

I tugged on the bill of her hat. I should have offered words of reassurance that everything would work out for her. I didn’t—not because I didn’t have any—but because I didn’t want to.

E
llis kept me on the phone the entire ride from Yankee Stadium. He must have asked me ten times why I was at a baseball game and why with Malik. I couldn’t answer half of his questions because Malik was next to me, driving us home. I tried to get off the phone, but he kept talking. Kept right on talking as if he did not hear me ask to call him later. Though I was hesitant to believe it, I had to. Ellis was jealous. Jealous that I was out with Malik.

Ellis was still in the city at his office. After he heard that I had spent the evening with Malik, he said he’d meet me at my apartment. Surprisingly, Malik spared me the smart comments when I got off the phone. We had a pleasant conversation about nothing and everything. One of those chats that in a few days you won’t remember the details, but when you reflect back, it makes you smile.