drunk?â
âI wasnât drunk at allâit was more to do with me being a black man driving a nice car. And I called my brother to come bail me out.â
âWell, I donât know what to tell you, Tonyâyou always have a million excuses. You do this all the time. Quite frankly, it all seems hard to believe.â
âYouâre calling me a liar?â
âNo, Iâm just saying I knew you would ...â
Just then, a loud noise came from the kitchen. Either David dropped something by accident or he made the noise on purpose as a friendly reminder that he was waiting.
âWho is here?â Tony asked.
âI was just about to mention that. I have a friend over, a friend from work. We were about to have breakfast and do some work.â
âItâs Saturday. And isnât it a little personal to be doing work at your house?â
Dakota knew that there was no way she was going to fool Tony into believing it was all innocentâshe was in her damn robe, for Christâs sake. But she figured sheâd play his own game on himâthat was her story and she was sticking to it.
âOh, no. We worked on some projects here last night. I was waiting on you to show upâyou never showed so we just worked for hours and hours. Before we knew it, it was so late I just let him stay over. He lives way out on the Island. So, he slept in the guest room, and now he is up, cooking breakfast.â
âMmm-hmm, Dakota. That sounds like bullshit to me.â
âYouâre calling me a liar?â
Tony knew right then what Dakota was trying to do, what game she was playing. It was way too familiar for him not to notice.
âNot even. Well, since I am here why donât I join you two for some breakfast,â he said.
âTony, we really have a lot of work to get done. You will just be a distraction for me.â
After what looked like an I canât believe this chick look, Tony replied,
âOK, âKota. Well, I am going to let you get back to your business breakfast. I guess you can give me a call when youâre done.â
âOK. I definitely will.â
She waited as he walked back out the door, gave him a peck good-bye, and closed the door after him.
Proud of her âplaya pointâ she just earned, she walked to her terrace and waited for him to come into sight. She watched him get in and pull away in his black Cadillac Escalade truck. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she returned to the kitchen. David was sitting at the table, sipping on a cup of orange juice, reading Dakotaâs Essence magazine.
âIs everything OK in here?â
David looked up. âYes, other than the food getting cold.â
âIâm sorry. Letâs eat.â
David was so tempted to ask who the guy was belonging to the male voice heâd just heard in the living room, but he figured it wasnât his place. He hadnât earned that right, and if she wanted him to know, she would tell him.
So, they sat there and ate breakfast like nothing had happened.
7
What a Celebration
A bout three hours after Jordan had hung up with Chrasey and Dakota, she was all dressed and ready for her and Omarâs anniversary lunch at Jezebelâs. As she slipped her foot into her dark-brown Italian leather pumps, Omar yelled down the hall.
âJordan, phone.â
âWho is it?â
âJayon,â Omar yelled back with a little attitude in his voice.
Jordan took a deep breath before picking up the receiver that was lying on the table.
âHello,â she said.
âHi, Jordan. Iâm sorry to call you at home on a Saturday but I couldnât sleep last night, â Jayon said, all in one breath.
With Omar in the room getting some things together, Jordan felt under pressure.
âItâs OK, Jayon. We can handle this on Monday.â
âI just want you to know that I am very sorry. I have been going through a lot since the whole
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