Loving the Best Man (Friends & Lovers Book 2) (11 page)

“Oh well, Deon’ll be just fine.” Jean didn’t bother looking up from what she was doing.

“Why was my father telling Deon anything anyway?”

“Shawn was telling us about you,” Jean replied, “And Deon asked if you were single. Your father said you are.”

It was strange that her father would encourage Deon. He didn’t usually like the guys she dated and she’d become convinced that he just wanted his daughter to stay single. In many ways, she wasn’t just his little girl, she was his only real family and one of his few friends.

“Turkey’s done!” Jean said, peering into the oven.

There was too much going on and Emerald quietly sipped her coffee while she tried to get her thoughts together. Lincoln’s parents knew about them. She wondered what they thought about her using their son for sex. And not only was Deon, Samantha’s nephew, interested in her enough to ask her
father
about her; her father hadn’t discouraged him! Her mind could barely process it all.

Jean finished prepping the meal with a little help from Samantha. Emerald offered to help but they were nearly done. Emerald couldn’t wait to get the meal over with so she could leave. The whole day was too weird for her and she just wanted some alone time before Lincoln came over to her apartment.

Jean started calling everyone into the kitchen to serve their own plates of food. She’d prepared turkey, baked mac and cheese, collard greens and white rice. Emerald served herself a plate after Jean and Samantha had served theirs.

Everyone took their plates to the living room and her father shocked her again by saying grace. She couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d blessed a meal. When she raised her head, her father gave her an insecure smile and she blew a kiss at him.

Emerald was seated on the couch with Jean and Samantha. Everyone else sat on chairs and some old stools, balancing their plates on their laps. They ate as they watched some Christmas movie. Emerald didn’t watch the TV long enough to figure out what it was.

As she ate, she actually enjoyed her meal. Jean really knew what she was doing in the kitchen. It was crazy how Samantha was the complete opposite.

Samantha praised Shawn for getting the promotion and that led to Latrice talking about her new job at some hip clothing store.

Emerald tuned them all out as they talked about one thing after the other. She had too much on her mind and couldn’t be bothered to pay them much attention. When she was done with her dinner, she took her plate to the kitchen. Jean was already in the kitchen cutting slices of cake.

“Do you want some cake, Emerald?” She asked.

“Yeah, I’ll have a piece. Thank you.” Emerald put her plate in the sink and then took the plate of cake from Jean. There was a slice of yellow cake and a slice of chocolate.

Emerald sat back on the couch and ended up eating half of each slice. She knew better than to overindulge. She put her fork down on the plate when she was done and stood up. Going back to the kitchen, she didn’t realize that Tiffany was right on her heels.

“So, you think you’re better than us, huh?” Tiffany demanded. “Looking like some ho in her cheap little dress.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Emerald snarled, instantly pissed off. When she was a kid she’d always fought out all of her problems and as an adult, she wasn’t beyond fighting now and then if need be.

“Don’t think you’re special because Deon likes you,” Tiffany spat, crossing her arms over her chest. “He likes anything with a pussy.”

“Is that what this is about?” Emerald demanded, “Nobody’s thinking about your brother.”

She wondered if Tiffany was smart enough to realize that in her pursuit of the perfect insult for Emerald she’d just disrespected her own brother. Emerald doubted she realized it.

“Sure,” Tiffany said sarcastically. “I know you dressed like that because you knew we were coming here.”

Emerald looked down at her dress, which wasn’t cheap at all. She’d paid almost two hundred for it a couple of years ago.

“I dressed like this because this dress makes me look even better than I usually do. It had nothing to do with you or anyone else here. Samantha didn’t tell us who she’d invited.”

“As if I’m going to believe that,” Tiffany said.

“I don’t give a fuck
what
you believe,” Emerald said. “Get out of my father’s kitchen before I kick your ass out of this
house
.”

“You won’t kick me out of shit,” Tiffany said, walking closer. “This is my aunt’s house too.”

“It’s my father’s house,” Emerald said, her hands balled into fists, her teeth gnashed together. “And guess whose name is on the lease? Not Samantha’s. So just try me.”

“You stupid bitch,” Tiffany glared at her and stalked out of the kitchen, still muttering.

That final insult made Emerald think of some of the messages that Marley had sent her. He’d called her a stupid bitch on more than one occasion in his messages. He’d even done it as he fired her. It hadn’t ever phased her as much as Tiffany’s insults did now.

She’d come to
her
father’s home to celebrate Christmas and instead of relaxing, she’d been on edge the entire time and had now been harassed by one of his guests. The gall of Tiffany to assume that she’d dressed provocatively for
anyone
. Emerald was steamed. She was able to keep herself in check because she’d endured a year of harassment from Marley. Tiffany was only a speck compared to him. And she wanted to keep the peace for her father’s sake.

She pulled up the sleeves of her dress and got busy washing dishes. It was the least she could do since Jean had done the cooking. Plus she needed time to cool off.

The kitchen door swung open and she looked up to see Deon come in with a few plates.

“Put them right there,” She said, pointing to the counter. The sink was full enough already.

He quietly sat the dishes down and leaned on the counter.

She went on washing and rinsing a couple of dishes, trying to act like he wasn’t there. She was still pissed off and she didn’t want to take her anger with his sister out on him. But finally she could stand it no longer and dropped the sponge she was using. She turned off the water and stared at Deon.

“Yeah?” She asked, wanting to get the confrontation over with. “Do you want something?”

“Yeah,” He said quickly, a broad smile on his face. “I want you to have dinner with me.”

“Sorry,” Emerald said insincerely, “I can’t.”

“I didn’t even say a day yet.”

“I’m seeing somebody,” Emerald told him. “So it doesn’t matter what day. I’m not interested.”

He nodded slowly as if he were taking in some very important information.

“So that’s how you wanna play it?”

“What?” She was honestly confused. He thought she was playing?

“You want to play hard to get, huh?”

“I’m a grown ass fucking lady,” Emerald snapped. “I don’t have to play games with anybody.”

She heard the kitchen door swing open but she didn’t look to see who’d come in.

“I don’t know what kind of females you’re used to but it’s time that you upgraded. And I don’t mean with me,” She added hotly. “I’m seeing someone.”

To hell with the dishes. I’m getting out of here.

She started to walk past him but he grabbed her arm. She pulled her arm away.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Jean demanded and in a split second she’d thumped Deon with the broomstick.

“Grandma!” Deon yelled. “Damn!”

“Take care, Miss Jean,” Emerald said. This time it was Jean who grabbed her as she tried to walk out of the kitchen. But she did so very gently as if she was scared of how Emerald would react.

“Are you okay?” Jean asked, still holding the broom.

“I’m fine,” Emerald said, but her heart was beating so fast that it seemed to make her ears ring.

“What happened here?” Jean asked.

“I guess Deon’s not used to taking no for an answer.” Emerald glared at him.

“What’s going on in here?” Shawn asked, rushing in. “Who’s yelling in here?”

“It’s fine, Dad,” Emerald said. “This fucking idiot was bothering me but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Deon laughed without humor.

“Deon?” Shawn asked, looking to the younger man. “What’s up in here?”

“She caught an attitude after I asked her out.”

“All I said was I’m not interested and you couldn’t deal with being rejected.”

“I just don’t like bullshit excuses. Bitches need to keep it real.”

“Watch your mouth,” Shawn warned him.

Jean thumped him with the broom again, causing Deon to cry out in pain.

By now, a few other people, including Samantha, were standing in the narrow doorway watching the scene.

“Did it ever occur to you that I was telling the truth?” Emerald yelled, losing the slight grip that she had on her temper. “You goddamn fool!”

Deon took a step in Emerald’s direction, a frown on his face.

“Leave her be!” Jean warned her grandson. “Emerald’s not single anyway.”

“What?” Shawn asked at the same time that Deon let loose a string of profanity.

“Don’t take her side, Grandma.”

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want to do!” Jean said, waving the broom at him. He jerked to the side to avoid it. “I was right here when Emerald spoke to her boyfriend on the phone so I know she’s not single.”

“I’m getting out of here,” Emerald said. “Bye, Dad. Bye Miss Jean.”

She grabbed her stuff from under the sink, shoved the two gift bags at her father then rushed out of the kitchen. She picked up her coat and opened up the door, not even bothering to put it on or say goodbye to anyone.

What a fucking a nightmare. Of all the ways she’d imagined the day going wrong, none of this had entered her mind. Samantha’s family were much worse than she’d imagined. From now on, she’d skip any occasions that they were a part of.

Chapter Six

Christmas was usually one of his favorite times of year but Linc would give anything to have the day come to an end. Allison had been teasing him all day, sometimes when other people were close enough to hear her. Luckily, her comments were usually vague and no one but their parents knew what she was talking about.

Linc guessed that he deserved the ribbing after all he’d done to his sister in the past. They’d always been close yet had also been rivals. But he was already annoyed with her game and the questions that his relatives were beginning to ask.

After dinner was over, he escaped to his father’s office and sat at the desk to turn on the computer. It was a little too early for him to leave so he’d hide out until he could make his escape. Playing some computer games would hopefully make the time go by faster.

The computer started up and Linc signed on before opening the internet. The office door opened and his sister came in.

“I thought I’d find you in here,” She said, closing the door behind him.

“If you came here to start with me again, turn around and go back where you came from.”

“I’m sorry.” At least she looked like she genuinely meant it.

“Why have you been giving me shit all day?” He blurted, standing up behind the desk.

“I was just teasing you. I guess I got a little carried away.”

“A little?”

“A lot. And I’m sorry.”

“So why’d you do it?” He watched her walk over to the desk before leaning on it.

“You’ve always been so...confident and damn near invincible when it comes to women. I guess I’m getting a kick out of seeing you so unsure of everything.”

“What?”

“You’ve never been in love before. Women have always chased you. Well now the shoe’s on the other foot and it’s kind of funny.”

“I’m not in love,” He denied, sitting back down and staring at the news headlines flashing across the computer screen.

“I hate to tell you this, but it’s kind of obvious.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Every word she spoke made him tense up that much more.

“Right. Because me falling in love in high school and marrying my high school sweetheart means nothing.” Allison smirked. “Right, I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“Can you just leave me alone? I’d like to get a chance to actually relax today. It
is
Christmas,” He added with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Allison surprised him by coming around the desk and leaning down to give him a hug as he sat in the chair.

“I’ll stop bothering you; I swear.”

“Thanks.”

“Grandmother was just asking about you,” Allison said over her shoulder as she walked towards the door. “Don’t hide in here for too long.”

Once she was gone, he leaned back in the high-backed chair and closed his eyes. His head was beginning to thump and he felt queasy. Was Allison right? Was he in love with Emerald? He knew he cared deeply for her. He cared more about her than he’d ever cared for a woman not related to him. But love?

He got up and went to the liquor cabinet, quickly pouring himself a whiskey. He threw it back, his eyes watering. He poured himself a double and took it with him to the computer. He sipped the fiery liquid and went to a game site that he’d used before. He’d just started a game of bingo when the office door opened yet again.

His father walked in and wordlessly poured himself a drink before sitting in one of the chairs facing the desk.

“Are you okay, son?” Lawrence asked, taking a sip from his glass.

“Fine.” Linc exited his bingo game and shut the computer down. He didn’t know why he’d let his sister get him so rattled. He felt so stupid. He pushed his glass away. If he drank anymore, he’d be too buzzed to drive and he definitely had to see Emerald tonight.

“I’ll be fine when I can get in my bed,” Lawrence complained. “I can’t stand the noise. I must be getting old.”

“I doubt that.” His father was in good shape for a man in his fifties. He was very much an athlete and had encouraged Linc to be very active as a child. Linc knew that’s where he’d gotten his love of running and swimming from. Of course in high school, he’d also been involved in organized sports.

“It would take a saint to deal with all these hours of nonstop gossip, jokes and laughing.” Linc usually had a high tolerance for his mother and aunts’ banter but not this time.

“You’re right.” Lawrence laughed. “Those women
would
test the patience of a saint.”

They laughed together for a minute and Lawrence leaned forward, his expression becoming very serious.

“I’m here if you want to talk, son. About anything.”

“I know, Dad.” Linc smiled. “I’m still trying to figure some stuff out.”

“Emerald?”

“Yeah.” Linc stared down at his hands. “Tomorrow makes two weeks since we…became more than friends.” Thinking that was vague enough, Linc went on, “But it feels like it’s been a lot longer. She’s become so important to me.”

“You two have known each other for years now. Is it possible you cared for her before now?”

In all the years he’d known Emerald, he’d been attracted for her, looked forward to seeing her whenever he could and enjoyed her company. There had been times that he’d worried about her and even missed her.

“Yeah,” He said aloud to his father as the realization hit him. He’d cared about her all along. Not as a friend. He’d known he’d had a thing for her. But this was more than just attraction. He’d dreamed of a relationship with her and had harbored feelings for her. “I have cared about her for a long time. I don’t even know how long.”

“So don’t be afraid of your feelings now.”

Linc nodded, seeing the world through new eyes. He wasn’t rushing anything. In many ways, he’d been pursuing Emerald for years. He just hoped that she’d eventually feel some of the emotion for him that he felt for her. The last thing in the world he wanted was to finally give his heart to someone and have her walk away in return.

“I’m sorry,” Shawn said, touching Emerald’s hand. They were sitting in her car and she had the car warming up. “If I’d known you had a boyfriend, I never would have told Deon that you’re single.”

“It’s okay,” She replied. “If it’s all the same to you, I don’t want to ever talk about Deon again. Just answer one question please.”

Her father nodded.

“You never liked any of my old boyfriends. And you never seemed to want me with
anybody
so why would you give Deon any info on me?”

For a few seconds, Shawn stared out of the window not speaking. Finally, after several seconds had passed, he shook his head and faced her.

“I used to think I was protecting you from a broken heart,” Her father said, his face grim.

Her eyes widened. She was shocked by his confession and didn’t know what to say.

“But all I was protecting you from was living and learning. A broken heart hurts but it wouldn’t kill you. Shit, I survived your mother dying. You could survive a breakup.”

She bit her lip and looked down at her hands. The first broken heart she’d suffered had been because of
him
, her own father, but she’d long been over it and she didn’t see a reason to tell him that now.

“It took me a long time to learn from my own mistakes. I’m still learning. But I don’t want you to pay the price for how I’ve raised you or for what I’ve done wrong in my life.”

“You did okay raising me.” It was a lie and they both knew it.

“No. I didn’t. And I’m sorry.”

She sniffled, the sudden onslaught of tears catching her by surprise. Her father leaned over and hugged her.

“I’m sorry for what you went through tonight. I’m sorry for so much. But it’s going to be better from here on out.”

He kissed her cheek and pulled back. She wiped away her tears and managed a smile.

“I forgot to give you this,” He said, reaching into his coat pocket. “It’s from me and Samantha but she wants you to know she picked it out.”

He put a small box in her hand and she turned on the light in the car to get a better look at it. She unwrapped the sparking silver and green wrapping paper, finding a red velvet jewelry box. She opened it, revealing a lovely pair of gold lever back ruby earrings.

“My birthstone,” She couldn’t help but murmur. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” His own voice was gruff from trying to control his emotions.

“Make sure you tell Samantha that I said thank you. I would go back and tell her myself but…” She shook her head.

“Its okay. I’ll tell her.” He scratched his chin before saying hesitantly, “So this boyfriend of yours… Who is he?”

She thought about correcting her father and telling him the truth about her relationship with Lincoln. But she quickly dismissed that thought. Having a relationship based solely on sex was not something you shared with your parent.

“You know him. Lincoln. Lincoln Thayer.”

“Lincoln, Lincoln,” Shawn repeated as if testing the sound of the name. “I don’t know anybody named Lincoln.”

“The man who walked me down the aisle at Robyn’s wedding? That’s Lincoln.”

“That white guy?”

“Daddy!” She objected, irked.

“I’m not complaining about him being white,” Shawn said grabbing her hand. “But can’t I be surprised? You never dated a white guy before.”

“Okay,” She said, calming down. “That’s fair. You’re right.”

She’d actually dated a couple but it had never gone beyond a date or two so they hadn’t been worth mentioning to her father.

“And how long has this been going on?”

“Only a couple of weeks. It happened at the wedding.”

“So it’s too soon for me to grill him,” Shawn concluded, making her laugh.

“Way too soon.”

“In a few more weeks I expect to see him. I need to see what kind of character he is.”

“He’s not a character,” Emerald said defensively. “He’s a nice guy.”

“Two weeks is too soon to tell how somebody really is. Believe me, I know.”

“He’s Devin’s best friend, Daddy. I’ve known him for like eight years. He’s one of the good ones. Trust me.”

“Well I’m still going to have to see for myself,” Shawn said stubbornly.

Emerald thought about the few times her father had met her boyfriends. He’d never been friendly. Maybe the new Shawn would be nicer. Oh well, she’d cross that bridge when the time came.
If
the time ever came.

“Get going now,” Shawn said, letting her hand go. “It’s getting late.”

“Maybe I’ll come by tomorrow,” Emerald said. “We can eat leftovers and watch movies.”

“Sounds good,” Shawn said. “You drive safe and text me when you get home.”

She promised that she would and her father got out of the car. She slowly pulled the car out of the parking spot and drove to her apartment, her mind feeling boggled down after everything that had happened that day.

From the conversation with her father, to her interactions with Samantha’s crazy family, it had been a weird and crazy day. She just wanted to mellow out, maybe have a bubble bath and lots of sex. She bit her lip in anticipation, putting the negative aspects of the day out of her mind as she thought about being with Lincoln again.

When she reached her neighborhood there were no parking spots in sight. After doing a parking spot search earlier in the day in her father’s neighborhood, she was immediately aggravated to have to search again. While she drove, her phone rang several times. Finally she pulled over to check it.

A message from Robyn. A message from Marley. And a missed call from Lincoln. She called Lincoln back, sitting in her double-parked car.

“Where are you? I’m outside of your door.”

“There’s no parking,” She grumbled.

“I’m coming outside.”

“Okay. Let me come back around.” She hung up the phone and sped down the dark street, littered by dirty ice and snow. She yelped when she saw that there was a parking spot around the corner from her apartment. Going as quickly as she could, she positioned the car and then put it in reverse.

“Thank you!” She exclaimed to no one while she fixed the car in the spot. She turned off the car and got out. Her cell phone rang again.

Seeing that it was Lincoln calling again, she answered the phone.

“Are you okay?” He asked seriously.

“I just parked. Sorry,” She said, already walking down her street. The streetlight was out near her building but she could make out his lean, tall frame standing in front of her building.

“It’s alright.”

“I see you,” She said, unable to hold back a smile. “I’m coming down the street.”

She hung up the phone as he looked from side to side and then turned towards her. Her feet were aching in her heels but she still walked as fast as she could.

They shared a brief kiss before they walked into her building.