Man Enough For Me by Rhonda Bowen Page B

they all needed to watch out.
    “We can’t sit back anymore and watch ‘Dre mess his life up with these chicken-heads when there is a woman who is perfect for him right in front of his face.”
    “Who?” Tanya asked in confusion.
    “You, you silly girl,” Maxine said. She looked from Jules to Tanya, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “We’re gonna set up ‘Dre and Tanya.”
    “What!” Tanya exclaimed with an even mixture of fear and shock. “No!”
    “Yes!” Maxine insisted. “And if this is going to work we’re gonna need your cooperation, so don’t start fighting me now.”
    “Maxine!” Tanya exclaimed.
    “Tanya,” Maxine said, imitating her friend’s tone. “I love you, but, girl, you’re either going to get with ‘Dre or get over ‘Dre. The two of you have been friends for more than five years, and if I have to go through one more year of you pining after him, I’m gonna kill one or both of you.” Maxine took Tanya’s face between her hands. “You are a kind, brilliant, beautiful woman, with a good head on your shoulders, and more booty than I’ve ever seen on a white girl.”
    Jules laughed out loud.
    “Maxine is right, Tanya,” Jules said. “And trust me when I tell you, you’ve been better to ‘Dre than a lot of those other girls have been.”
    “I appreciate what you guys are saying, but I still think this is a bad idea,” Tanya protested.
    But it was too late. Maxine had already made up her mind. As she paced the living room thoughtfully, Jules could already see the wheels turning in her friend’s head.
    “All we have to do is get him to see that Tanya is perfect for him,” she murmured. “A couple orchestrated ‘moments,’ and a few planted suggestions here and there should do the trick.”
    “You know that might just work,” Jules said.
    “Jules! I can’t believe you’re encouraging her,” Tanya exclaimed.
    “We should get Truuth to help,” Jules said, ignoring Tanya. “But what about Sunbeam; don’t you think she will be a problem?”
    “Her name is Sunshine,” Tanya corrected.
    “No, she’s not an issue,” Maxine said dismissively. “Those wannabes always find a way to sabotage themselves. Remember Rochelle?”
    “Oh, yeah,” Jules said, laughing as she remembered the last girl ‘Dre had been dating. Jules didn’t know all the details because ‘Dre refused to talk about it. But what she did know was that that homegirl had somehow managed to find her way into ‘Dre’s bed, buck naked. Needless to say things had not gone as she had planned. When would these women learn that not every man was motivated solely by his lower region?
    “Maxine, Jules, you can’t do this,” Tanya said in weak desperation.
    “It’s already been done, sweetie,” Maxine said. “I know you two are good for each other, and it’s time you both stopped dancing around the issue.”
    “Come on, Tanya, it won’t be that bad,” Jules said, throwing an arm around her distraught friend’s shoulder. “Worst case scenario, you’ll find out how he really feels about you, and you’ll get some closure.”
    “He won’t even know what’s happening,” Maxine added.
    “How can you be sure of that?” Tanya groaned.
    “Girl, please, it’s ‘Dre,” Jules said.
    Tanya sighed heavily, and Jules instantly knew she and Maxine had won.
    “All right,” Tanya conceded.
    “Yes!” Maxine exclaimed.
    Out of the corner of her eye, Jules saw Tanya shake her head as she watched her friends dance around the kitchen. Tanya had no idea what she was getting herself into.

Chapter 6
    “S orry for being late, guys,” Jules said, as she stepped through the door of the office that was home to Triad Entertainment. “My car wouldn’t start, and I had to call Germaine to come pick me up.”
    As if on cue, Germaine stepped in behind her and closed the door quickly to keep out the cold air.
    “It’s raining like crazy out there,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it up