Back to Me by Wanda B. Campbell

familiar voice said. “I’d rather stand.”
    Paige ceased chewing and snapped her head around. It couldn’t be, but it was. Standing next to Kevin, in a dark brown tailored suit, a tan shirt with gold cuff links, and alligator shoes, was the stranger she’d come to detest. He was holding a loaded plate.
    Kevin’s head tilted toward his male guest. “You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œNo. I’m not sitting next to that mean, judgmental, rude woman.”
    â€œMan, are you serious?” Kevin asked.
    The man’s presence and his assessment of her discombobulated Paige to the point where she forgot she’d just popped a jumbo shrimp into her mouth, and attempted to swallow. The shrimp got lodged in her throat, obstructing her airway. Instantly, her hands flew to her throat, and the gasping began. After several failed coughing attempts meant to dislodge the shrimp, frantically, she grabbed Kevin’s arm.
    A throbbing pressure in her head caused her eyes to slam shut at the same moment that she heard someone begin to pray in a tongue she didn’t understand. She guessed that Kevin understood her dilemma, because almost instantaneously, rock-solid arms lifted her from the chair and spun her around. What felt like the heel of a hand struck her between her shoulder blades several times before the arms encircled her and then a fist pressed into her torso, just above her naval. After three powerful thrusts the shrimp became dislodged and landed on Kevin’s shoe.
    Partially bent over, Paige didn’t wait to say a prayer of thanks. Between each labored breath she thanked God for sparing her life until her breathing returned to normal. When she finally opened her eyes, the brown alligators came into focus. It was then that she realized it was the stranger’s arms that were wrapped around her and not Kevin’s.
    He released her at the same time that she stood upright. The clapping and praising from the crowd distracted Paige long enough for her to gather her thoughts before expressing her gratitude to the man in the brown suit. She turned to face him, only to discover that he had removed his suit coat and was eating, as if nothing life altering had just happened.
    â€œHere. Drink this.” Kevin had returned with a bottle of water and was now offering it to her. In the commotion she hadn’t seen him walk off.
    Moments later Reyna and Marlissa joined them.
    â€œAre you sure you’re all right?” Reyna asked, also handing Paige a bottle of water.
    â€œI’m fine, thanks to . . .” Paige turned to the man, who was now devouring ribs and potato salad, and let the words hang.
    â€œWe’ve got to stop meeting like this,” he said before she could swallow her pride and address him. “These dramatic moments are getting old.”
    â€œHuh? You two know each other already?” Marlissa asked.
    â€œOf course, they do,” Kevin answered. “I referred him to Paige for some investment property.”
    Paige gasped like she was choking again. “What?”
    Kevin’s face twisted. “Didn’t Tyson tell you about Serg-X?”
    â€œWho?” Paige wanted to know.
    Kevin turned to his guest. “Man, I thought you said you met Paige?”
    The guy took a swig of water before answering. “I did, but we didn’t have a chance to discuss business. She was too busy worshipping and doing the Lord’s work to give me the time of day. She doesn’t even know my name.”
    â€œWell, let me formally introduce you,” Kevin offered after he and the ladies shared a laugh at Paige’s expense. “Serg-X, the woman whose life you just saved is Paige McDaniels, real estate broker extraordinaire. Paige, this is my colleague Dr. Sergio-Xavier Winston Simone, but he goes by Serg-X. He’s the lead neurologist at Sutter.”
    Paige’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. In their two previous encounters,