Love Me Now (24 page)

“With whom?”

“You don't know him, so don't start getting all big brotherly on me. I just got the same thing from Joshua. He's a nice guy and I don't want you or Joshua scaring him off.”

“When have we ever scared off someone you were dating?” She looked at him and shook her head. “All right, all right, maybe there was that one time.” She opened her mouth, but he confessed to a few more times before she said a word.

“So tell me about Kenya, what did you do to her?”

“What do you mean, what did I do to her?”

“Three days straight you and she were attached at the hip, no pun intended, and now for the next three days she's MIA and you don't even leave the house.”

“I didn't do anything to her,” he assured her. “Kenya's in New York on business. Okay?”

Regina nodded. “Okay, I'm just checking, don't get all defensive. 'Cause you know how you can be when it comes to women.”

“And how is that?” he asked, slightly insulted by the implication.

“Never mind, all I'm saying is that I kind of liked her for you. I mean, I don't really know her, but first instinct, I liked her. She was different from the other hangers.”

“Hangers?” he asked.

“The women that hang around you for one reason or the other,” Regina explained.

“Maybe she's a hanger, too. Everybody wants something.”

“At least she's chill about it. And, of course, since she's been around, you've changed.”

“You think I've changed?”

“Yeah, usually with you it's business, business and more business. Granted, on occasion the hangers are there as a temporary distraction. But they never seemed to mellow you.”

“Mellow me?”

“I think so. Or maybe it's the twins. Either way you're different, big brother. So is she gonna be around a while?”

Trey frowned. “I'm glad you liked her, but I doubt she's going to be around much. She's very busy with work.”

“See, that's what I'm talking about. You go through women like a box of tissues on prom night. They keep popping up and you just keep tossing them away. Even the good ones.”

“This tune sounds familiar. Apparently you've been hang
ing out on Crescent Island too much. But, I assure you, with Kenya, this is a very different case.”

“Okay, whatever, I'm out,” she said, looking at her watch. She headed to the door then stopped and turned back around. “Oh, I just saw the twins and met Mrs. Thatcher. She's nice and great with the twins. I can see Madi wanting to keep her on.”

“It's been good having them here this week,” Trey mused.

“Are you ready to relinquish the Mr. Mom role? Everybody's coming back in a couple of days.”

“The house is going to be empty when those two little guys leave.”

“I bet. Okay, I'm out.”

“Wait, here, you left one of your phones here the other day. I already charged it for you,” Trey said as he grabbed the cell phone and disconnected the charger cord, then tossed it to her.

Regina caught it, looked it over then shook her head. “Nope, this isn't one of mine.”

“It's not?” he said.

She shook her head. “Not mine. I gotta go, see you later.”

“Have fun tonight, but not too much,” he called out as she waved her hand and left. Curiously, Trey opened the cell. The screen was black. Just as he moved to press the on key, his phone rang. Moments later he and Joshua were back to work.

“D
o you see her yet?” Asia asked.

“No, but we still have a few more minutes before the train boards,” Kenya said as she looked around the upper platform for Shelly. She checked her watch. “But she should be here by now.”

“She's probably just running late. Traffic is always crazy this time of day,” Asia said, looking around. “I'm gonna run over and grab a cinnamon bun. Want one?”

“Girl, I have no idea how you can eat like that and still not gain a pound or an inch.”

“I gain. Are you kidding me, my butt is huge,” she said and walked away.

“Oh, please.” Kenya laughed as she watched Asia. Then she saw two businessmen bump into each other as they nearly broke their necks checking her out. Another man stumbled and nearly fell. Kenya shook her head. Asia didn't even notice.
She never did. Her acting career always came first. Kenya admired her focus.

She looked around for Shelly one last time, then grabbed a seat. She placed her suitcase and shopping bags on the empty seat beside her. At least she wasn't as tired as she was the day she arrived. She remembered that she could barely think straight, even after her nap on the train. But it was her own fault.

She and Trey hadn't slept all night. There was the occasional cat nap, but that was about it. She smiled, remembering. That was definitely a mistake knowing that she had an important meeting the following day. But it was well worth it, and unquestionably a night she'd never forget.

Thankfully, she had regrouped and the meeting with the Youngin's design team went extremely well. They loved everything she and Shelly showed them, including their new line. Afterward, they decided to stay in town a few extra days. Shelly visited her family in Brooklyn, and Kenya stayed with Asia in Manhattan. They met and shopped in the fashion district, then hung out on Fifth Avenue, checking out the store displays. They finished the day at Bergdorf Goodman.

“Did you see her yet?” Asia asked as she sat eating her bun. She handed Kenya a bag. “Here, for the ride home.”

“Thanks. No, not yet,” she said as she shifted her bags.

“I can't believe you're leaving already,” Asia said, leaning her head on her sister's shoulder. “You just got here yesterday.”

“It was two days ago,” Kenya corrected. “I had to leave sometime.”

“I know, but we barely got a chance to hang out, not to mention talk. I wish I knew you were coming in advance. I could have gotten out of my rehearsals.”

“Are you kidding? No way. I loved seeing you onstage in rehearsals. You were absolutely brilliant. You had me laughing and crying at the same time. You are so talented.”

“Thanks, sis, that really means a lot. Okay, have you heard from Mom or Dad lately? Last I talked to her she said they'd be out of touch for a while.”

“She told me the same thing. I lost my cell phone the other day, so I'm still changing things over. I called and I left a message anyway but that was a few days ago.”

“They must be back by now. You don't think anything happened.”

“Of course not, Asia, don't even think that.”

“Yeah, but for real, how long does it take to go on a safari?”

“They're fine, don't worry.”

“Did you find out anything new about the money thing? I'd hate for them to come back home to that drama.”

“I'm still working on it.”

“You'll figure it out. You always do. Oh, before I forget, Sidney called yesterday when you and Shelly were out shopping.”

“Please don't tell me you two are arguing again?”

“No, but she told me that you were seeing someone.”

“What, she told you that?” Kenya said.

“Yes, so who is he?”

“I'm not seeing anyone,” Kenya lied.

“Remember that conversation we had about you not being a good actress,” Asia said, implying the obvious.

Kenya sighed heavily. “It's nothing, trust me.”

“Anybody I know?”

“No, he's just some guy,” Kenya said. Asia smiled. “Don't get all excited. I told you it was nothing.”

“But nothing from you is major. Do you realize you haven't actually dated in almost a year?”

“Why are you keeping tabs on my personal life?”

“Somebody has to. You're not. If you're seeing someone, I think that's great. It's definitely about time. I was afraid that after Craig, you were gonna become a nun.”

“Hey, guys,” Shelly said, rushing over. “Sorry I'm late, traffic is brutal out there. We ready to go?”

“All set,” Kenya said, shifting the bag and grabbing her purse.

“I thought we mailed everything to the boutique yesterday.”

“We did. This is something else.”

Shelly was just about to respond when their train was announced over the loudspeaker. “That's us,” she said.

Kenya hugged Asia and said goodbye then the three of them hugged. “Be safe. I'll call you when we get there,” Kenya promised.

“Okay, bye,” Asia said and waved.

Shelly and Kenya got on the crowded train and actually got a seat together. They stored their overnight bags and prepared for the train ride home. As soon as they settled in, they started talking about the Youngin's meeting. They were both still excited. By Philadelphia, they were talking about the items they'd purchased and the different new ideas they had for the boutique and the new line.

By the time they got to Baltimore, the conversation had shifted again. “I forgot to ask you the other day, how did your first date with Trey go?”

Kenya smiled instinctively. “It was a business date and it was incredible.”

“Really?” Shelly said. “Okay, details, details.”

Kenya's smile broadened. “The note read formal attire, so I wore the champagne-colored strapless gown with a shawl. Trey, in a tux, picked me up in a limo.”

“Ooh, elegant. Where did you go?” she asked.

“We went to a political fund-raiser for a friend of his, Senator
Randolph Kingsley. I met his wife, Alyssa. She was really nice. We had a private booth at the Cirque du Soleil performance, and then we slipped backstage to the costume workshop.”

Shelly's mouth dropped opened as she gasped. “For real, are you serious? You went backstage and saw the costumes up close?”

Kenya nodded. “Girl, up close and personal. They were unbelievable. The actual costumes are just astounding. They took my breath away. The colors and the textiles were unreal. I found out that eighty percent of the fabrics are treated and dyed in-house. They employ over three hundred professionals in the workshop. I spoke to a couple of the designers in the show. They were great. One of them told me about the dyeing process they use.”

“What process do they use?” Shelly asked excitedly.

“They use a mixed-media mixture of silk-screening, bath-dyeing and a few others—even hand-painting. I was speaking with one of the designers and she told me of a technique she learned while studying in Ghana. She was wearing a shirt she designed using the technique. It sounded pretty easy to duplicate and her shirt looked amazing. The colors were so vibrant and incredibly rich.”

“From Ghana, for real. Great. You know I love African dyeing techniques. They change the whole look of fabric.”

“I know. Anyway, I got her e-mail address. You two need to chat. Maybe she can give us some new ideas.”

“That would be fantastic,” Shelly said. “We seriously need to try that.”

Kenya chuckled. “I know it was tacky, but I took some serious notes.”

“Tacky? Don't even try it. I would have grabbed somebody's camera and got all Coppola on them. That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“I know, I still can't believe it.”

“That's too awesome,” Shelly whispered softly in true amazement.

“Anyway, afterward we had a nice quiet romantic dinner in town.”

“Aw, that's so romantic, talk about a perfect first date.”

“Yeah, it was. It was amazing.”

“Then what?” she asked, smiling.

“We went back to my condo and after a while, he let me sketch him,” Kenya said. Shelly smiled. “And before you say anything, don't.”

“I didn't say a word.”

“Good, because I feel guilty enough as it is. You were right. I shouldn't have started this whole thing. It's getting way too personal.”

“So have you given up on the revenge thing?”

“Yes, maybe, I don't know,” Kenya answered. “To tell you the truth, I don't know anything anymore, everything's all confusing. The man depicted in the press isn't really made of ice. The truth of the matter is so different. He's not like that at all. It was all PR and I fell for it.”

“Kenya, we all did. That's what newspapers and lawyers do. They shift sympathies. They make the bad guys the good guys and vice versa.”

“Well, it's wrong. They made Trey out to be this cruel monster that stole his father's company out of spite. In reality, the truth is nothing like that.”

“But isn't that what you thought he did to your father's company?” she asked.

“Is it, but I don't know anymore.”

“That's what your dad told you.”

“I know, but…”

“Kenya, the only way you're gonna find out what really
happened is to talk to him. Get both sides of the story, and then go from there. Tell him now before it's too late.”

“I can't, Shelly, not now. I'm too far in.”

“Kenya, you obviously really like him,” she said. “Just make it right.”

Kenya half smiled. “It's a trip, isn't it? I was gonna get him to fall for me, then dump him. And now look at me. I didn't even see it coming.”

“Love sneaks up on people.”

“Love, no way,” Kenya said.

“Yes way, girl—love. It's all over your face.”

“It's not love,” she vowed. “I like him, that's all,” Kenya said firmly. “So much for my diabolical plan, I should have just talked to him and told him everything after the first night.”

“You can still do that. Just call the man when we get back home. You two can have a heart-to-heart and clear the air,” Shelly said.

“No, it's too late for that. I think I'll just leave well enough alone. It's been three days since we were last together.”

“Call him, get it over with. It may not be as bad as you think.”

Kenya looked out the window. The train was coming to Union Station in Washington, D.C. The next move was hers.