Was it Good for You Too? (10 page)

Brenda snapped her finger and pointed to Shannon, “You,”—she crooked her finger—“to me.”

The whole bus choked back hysterical smirks of laughter as Shannon crept forward with her belongings and slumped into the window seat next to Brenda. “Y'all get into too much trouble sitting together,” Brenda finished as she sat down.

Delvin was howling as Joyce and Les got in on the fun.

“Traci,” Joyce announced, “this window seat has your name on it, sugar.”

“Chanel, darling,” Les opened his arms invitingly, “that leaves you with me.”

Traci and Chanel huffed, puffed, and whined all the way to their final destinations.

Once everyone was settled in, and the comedy act was over, Delvin rose and moved to the back of the bus to his favorite spot next to Tailan.

The tension, strain, and turmoil of the day had taken its toll. She looked tired but no less beautiful. Delvin nearly moaned as she absently fell into an old habit he had always loved. Tailan's head dipped and settled on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and mumbled, “Thank you for having my back today.”

The sweet joy of that quiet moment was promptly altered as Malcolm stood and asked Tailan, “Ms. Tai, how come you didn't tell them news people the truth?”

Delvin looked down at Tailan's resting head and felt her entire body lock with tension. Slowly her lids lifted, and he gripped her hand for support as she stood to address the entire bus, whose attention was now focused her way. “I couldn't tell them what really happened,” she sighed. “I never want to give Woodland or any big-box retailer a reason not to carry your books or host future book signings.”

Tailan stepped into the aisle. Delvin could not allow her to face this obstacle alone. Boldly he reached for her hand and squeezed and hoped she would not let go.

She kept their hands clasped as she continued to address the group. “I've put everything on the line for this tour—for you. Some of your own publishing houses weren't all that sure it would work.” Tailan took a moment before adding, “Even Nelson's been dragging their feet because it's all about numbers. Our genre—
Black
books—represent only one percent of Nelson's sales.”

Murmurs of realization echoed from everyone.

“NEG puts its resources for marketing and promotions to the other ninety-nine percent. This tour can change all of that. My goal—
our
goal,” she amended, sweeping a gaze across everyone, “is to make them notice the cold hard facts. And the fact that they can't ignore is that book sales—no matter the race of the author—equal cold hard cash.”

A chorus of
Amens
ensued.

Tailan scanned the bus. “So, we all agree. The real story stays between us. Corporate knows what happened here, so we'll let them handle it without blasting it to the media.”

“Yes,” the whole bus chorused—even The Divas.

Tailan turned to Delvin and smiled. That smile filled him with so much longing, he felt like his heart was bursting. She gave his hand another squeeze, then he lifted it to his lips.

as he did, Delvin peered into the row to their right. Michelle wore a horrified expression that did not seem to fit in with the jovial atmosphere of the bus.

He pulled Tailan down to earshot and whispered, “Check that out.”

Tailan turned as Michelle hurriedly put her phone away, ignoring a call that had just come in. Tailan moved over to Michelle's seat and stooped. “Man troubles?” she asked.

Elona shrugged and addressed Michelle, “You might as well tell her.”

Michelle passed the phone. Tailan scrolled through the call log. Her mouth sagged.

“Tai,” Delvin said, noticing the abrupt change in her demeanor. “Everything all right?”

“It will be,” she tossed to him, then turned her attention to Michelle. “What's going on? Margo's called you forty-three times.”

Michelle slumped down in the seat. “I'm going to lose my job because I won't spy for her.”

Tailan's eyebrow shot up. “Give it to me quick and dirty.”

“Since you haven't been following the original schedule, she wants to know every single thing you're doing on the tour. Where you're going next. Any drama. Hell, the woman practically wants me to sneak in your room every night and learn what toothpaste you use.” Michelle shook her head. “I couldn't do it. I've been letting the calls bounce to voicemail. Now she's calling me on every number I have—she even left a few messages on my home phone.”

Delvin felt a mischievous smile forming on his lips. Tailan's profile was one he remembered. His little firecracker was thinking. Her “give-away”—she was tapping Michelle's phone against her chin. Suddenly Tailan handed Michelle the phone. “Misdirect her.”

“Come again?” Michelle said, frowning.

“If she wants to play games, then let's change the rules,” Tailan replied. “She's not aware that we're onto her. So, answer the next time she calls.”

“I don't want to talk to her,” Michelle huffed, her voice edged with anxiety. “I might slip up.”

“No, you won't.” Tailan smiled, the wheels of cat and mouse playing in her head. “We're on the road. We're on a tour bus—horrible reception, no cell phone towers. As soon as we land back at the hotel, you call
her
. Tell her your phone died, there was no signal anywhere for hours. And you won't lose your job.”

“But what about all the Intel she wants me to gather?” Michelle asked, her thin lips pulled into a frown.

“Easy fix.” Tailan smiled and caressed the girl's trembling hand. “Going forward, you give her what she asked for—Intel on the places we're going, but only after we've already left. That way, she'll be behind us instead of ahead.”

Michelle gulped her concern. “She plans to have you fired when the tour ends.”

“With the numbers we brought in?” Tailan gave the woman's hand a reassuring pat. “Margo's selling wolf-tickets. Her father speaks one language—money. If it doesn't make dollars, then it doesn't make sense. And baby, we cashed out today!”

Chapter 11

S
OUL
E
XPRESS
T
OUR
—D
AY
3
2:18
P.M.

They were on the bus following a successful beginning on the third day of the tour. Two stores, all sold out, and the authors were getting along famously. Especially since The Vets were keeping The Divas in check. The last store took longer because they had to wait for more stock to arrive.

“And this puts us way behind schedule,” Tailan said to her staff with another weary sigh and a quick look at her watch. “We're supposed to stop at Benihana's for lunch on the way to the Marriott reception. Now we don't have time.”

“How about pizza?” J. L. piped in.

“Quit eavesdropping.”

“Ear hustling,” he corrected.

“Whatever,” she shot back, giving him the “stink eye.” “I can't serve them pizza.”

“Why not?” Beverly said, rubbing her flat abdomen. “Our stomachs aren't too ritzy that we can't enjoy some good ol' Italian pie.”

“You can say that again,” Lutishia chimed in.

Tailan shook her head. “This tour has been classy and I'm going to keep it that way.”

“Then put the pizza on some China and keep it moving,” J. L. countered. Then before she could rein him in, he stood and yelled out, “Hey peeps!”

Everyone turned to the youngster.

“We're low on minutes. How about some pizza?”

“Pizza sounds great!”

“Sausage and cheese please,” several called out.

“Make mine pepperoni.”

“Anything but anchovies,” J. L. said, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Almost everyone grumbled their consent to that one.

Tailan playfully ruffled the young man's unruly waves as he grinned. “See? Told ya. Italian Fiesta Pizza is the bomb. If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for us too.”

And then it happened. The age-old arguments about Chicago pizza versus New York pizza started.

Tai shook her head and leaned over to Renee. “Call it in and we'll pick it up on the way to the hotel and eat lunch there. My credit card's on file.”

“Eat pizza much?” Delvin teased and she snickered.

Delvin tried to focus on Joyce's book,
Getting Away With Everything
, and realized that he was not “getting away” with putting Tailan's presence out of his mind.

“What did David say to get you here?” she asked him in a voice just above a whisper.

“That you hadn't been the same since our break-up and you needed help,” he replied.

“He had no right to tell you that,” she said through her teeth, her body tensing again.

Delvin turned her around and locked eyes with hers. “He had
every
right.”

Tailan's eyes dropped to his mouth. He could feel her emotions battling for ownership of her actions—give in to her passion or put up her dukes and punch him.

Fight it out apparently had the stronger hold as she blurted, “Since you want to talk, let's talk about the fact that you're under the misguided notion that I
owe
you a second chance.”

Delvin froze at her harsh tone, but said, “I was wrong—completely—I'm not ashamed to admit it. I should've believed you and I thought I could change you.”

He fought the urge not to traipse into the past, but his mind wouldn't let him hide from the blatant warnings he chose to ignore.

* * *

When they had arrived home on Sunday after their prom night, Delvin's parents knew without them even opening their mouths.

“So, it finally happened,” Anna Germaine had said, sounding a little relieved as if she had been expecting it to happen long before now.

Tailan's face turned red. Delvin was quick to announce, “We kept our promise,” as he took Tailan's hand. “And honored rule number one—never in the house.”

“You are using protection?” Delvin Senior questioned.

“I'm
keeping up with that,” Tailan piped up instantly. “I don't want children. Ever.”

The conviction of her tone gave the small group pause. Especially Delvin.

No children? No little angels conceived and born from our love?

Delvin's mom looked to him, then cast her eyes over to Tailan and said, “Let's hope you'll feel differently once the two of you finish college and get married—in that order of course.”

Tailan shook her head and lifted her determined chin. Delvin saw the first hint of her unwavering stubbornness. “After what I've seen, I'd never bring a child into this world. There's too much ugly in people.”

“But that's not what you've learned from us—from Delvin,” Anna countered, her concern etched into her classically beautiful features.

“You all are the exception to the rule,” she said softly.

“No, Tai,” Delvin chimed in. “Your aunt and uncle are the exception. Don't let their warped sense of family taint your interpretation of what a loving family is.” He brought her hand to his lips.

His mom sighed and rose to take Tailan into her arms. She pulled back and shared, “Delvin's right and so are you. But,” she caressed Tailan's face, a gesture Delvin knew was meant to soothe. “There's real beauty in the world. Maybe if you talk to someone about—”

Tailan pulled away from Anna. She looked to Delvin then again to his mom. “I trust you enough to tell you, and that's only because you insisted, but I never wanted to dirty another person's soul with what I know.”

She shook her head and an eerie feeling slithered up his spine.

“I appreciate what you're saying. But my mind is made up. I will never, ever have children.”

Delvin felt Anna's eyes on him and turned. They mirrored his. In his mother's deep brown pools he saw only one thing … heartbreak
.

* * *

The brisk walk around the hotel had simmered Delvin's spiked emotions. Tailan was within reach. She was in his world again and he was determined to keep her there.

He headed for the elevator and came up short at the screech of a familiar voice. “You're cheating!”

Delvin edged a little closer to the commotion, making sure not to be seen. “You don't know how to play,” Les snapped back. “It's Joker, Joker, Ace, King, and then on down the line. I don't know where you get that mess that the deuce is supposed to kick in before the Ace.”

“That's the way it's done,” Shannon snapped, shifting in the café chair.

“I don't know where you learned to play cards,” Les said to the opposing team. “But in Philly, we don't make up the rules as we go along.”

“Amen,” Susan agreed.

“You weren't paying attention,” Nona said, dealing the next hand.

Les let out a chuckle. “You're just pissed that you got your ass whipped.”

Sitting on the sidelines, Brenda, Beverly, Fran, and Joyce—mature women he had termed “the Vets”—all shook their heads before they burst into laughter.

The bawdy laughter from the rest of the group near the table prompted Nona to sass, “It's too much estrogen up in this camp. Where's a man when you need one?”

The Vets' attention snapped to Delvin and all five of them gestured for him to hang back.

“Yeah,” Delvin mumbled. “That's my cue. I'm out of here.”

And before the Divas could spot him, Delvin gave the Vets an appreciative nod and quickly sidestepped that little show. He dashed inside the elevators just as the doors were closing.

Once inside he could not hold back a little chuckle. This book tour had more surprises and twists than he could keep up with.

Chapter 12

S
OUL
E
XPRESS
T
OUR
—D
AY
3
9:32
P.M.