Worth the Wait

chapter 27


“So where are we going?” Devin asked as they buckled their seatbelts in his black Ford F-150.

Tasha blinked back the tears that threatened to spill the moment Jared admitted he’d lied about loving her. She’d suspected it, even accused him of it, but stupidly let him convince her otherwise.

“My friend is at a party at the St. Regis hotel in Buckhead, can you take me there?”

He nodded. “Sure.”

Tasha thanked him and pulled out her cell phone to call Shayla. She hadn’t told her friend she was coming to Atlanta with Jared. It had been such a whirlwind decision she hadn’t told anybody. It would be a miracle if Kenyatta didn’t tell Angie as soon as she left the party.

Shayla answered after a few rings, the sounds of laughter and talking were in the background. “I can’t believe you have the nerve to call me after avoiding my calls all day. You better not be wrapped up with Jared somewhere and coming up for air just to tell me you’re not coming to my party. I could have figured that out myself.”

Despite her crushed spirits, Tasha mustered a small laugh. “You’re a fool. No, I’m calling to tell you I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”

“Are you serious? It’s after … ten. And you don’t leave the house that late.”

“Unusual circumstances.”

“You came with him, didn’t you? Is he coming too?”

“No.”

“Oh.” A slight pause. “Fine, come on, girl. You can tell me the story when you get here.”

“Thanks, girl. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up and looked out the window. “I can’t believe he lied to me,” she whispered.

“Neither can I.”

She turned toward Devin who glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Why would he say … what he said?”

Devin shrugged. “That’s a new low, even for Jared. But sometimes I don’t think he understands himself.”

Tasha rolled her eyes and turned away. “Spare me. I know he doesn’t trust women, doesn’t believe in love, and doesn’t believe in marriage. This is my fault.”

Devin didn’t say anything and Tasha leaned her head against the seat rest. She closed her eyes and images of her time with Jared flashed in her mind. The way he looked at her, touched her, made love to her. It had all felt so right. They’d clicked, or at least she’d thought they had. But with the good images came the bad. He’d manipulated her to stay every time she’d tried to end it, starting in Charleston when she’d known he was too much for her to handle. She should have trusted her instincts then and walked away. Now she was broken hearted and … pregnant. She bit her lip to keep from sobbing. If Devin noticed, thankfully he didn’t say anything.

Thirty minutes later the car stopped. She opened her eyes and stared at the front of the St. Regis hotel. She blinked several times as the valet attendant came over to open her door.

“Thank you, Devin,” she said.

“I’ll walk you in.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“I know, but it’s against my nature to drop you off at the door.”

Tasha smiled. “Thanks.”

He got out and told the attendant he’d be right back. They walked into the hotel and Shayla immediately ran up to Tasha. She looked flawless as usual in a sleeveless red dress that hugged her perfect figure and complemented her smooth brown skin.

“Girl, you look like someone stole your dog.” She embraced her friend. “I told you it was time to break it off. I told you not to come here with him. But I also agreed you should sleep with him in the first place. Don’t listen to me when it comes to men.”

Tasha sighed and pulled away. “Amen to that.”

Shayla sucked her teeth before looking over Tasha’s shoulder and freezing. Her mouth fell open and she pulled at the top of her dress. Tasha turned to see what had stunned her friend. Devin wore a similar expression. His gaze ran over Shayla’s figure from the top of her perfectly flat-ironed shoulder-length brown hair to her pedicured feet in black peep toe heels.

“Devin,” Shayla gasped, her almond-shaped eyes wide.

Devin swallowed before answering. “Hello, Shayla.”

Confused, Tasha looked between the two. She could light a match with the electricity firing between them. Shayla always had an effect on men, but she’d never seen Shayla reduced to staring.

Tasha pointed from one to the other. “You two know each other?”

Shayla cleared her throat and looked away from Devin. “Devin Jones,” she said. Tasha raised her eyebrows and shrugged. Shayla shook her head and said, “Devin Jones from high school.”

Tasha’s eyes bulged and she looked back at Devin. “You’re Shayla’s Devin?”

“I’m not Shayla’s Devin,” he answered.

Shayla pointed at Devin. “You didn’t recognize him?”

“I never met him. You two were at Helena High, I went to Airport, remember? He only dropped you off at my house once. You always kept Your Devin to yourself.”

“I’m not her Devin. She was my teammate’s girlfriend.”

Shayla stiffened. “That’s right. Remember, Tasha? Devin and I weren’t cool after I started dating Tony.”

Tasha frowned. “You didn’t start dating Tony. That ass took advantage — ”

Shayla cut her off with a wave of the hand. “It doesn’t matter, that was years ago.”

“Years ago,” Devin agreed.

She didn’t like how Shayla had breezed over what she was about to say. Tony was a jerk who’d taken advantage of Shayla, but she respected her friend’s wish and left it alone.

Tasha turned to Devin. “Thanks for the ride.”

He opened his mouth to respond when a man approached. He walked with a swagger and an air of arrogance in his blue eyes. He presented Tasha and Devin with a large fake smile, before turning to Shayla. “I was able to get away for a minute. We can have that talk now.”

The look in his eye gave Tasha the impression he was interested in more than talking.

Shayla glanced briefly at Devin before pulling the man to the side. “Mark, my friend just got here and she’s upset. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Mark rubbed his chin, the light gleaming off the gold band on his left hand. He looked at Tasha quickly before turning back to Shayla. “I’m free tonight.”

Shayla crossed her arms and stepped back. “Then we’ll talk another time.”

Mark smirked. “Fine.” He ran a finger down her arm. “Tomorrow.” Without so much as a word to Tasha or Devin, he turned and walked away.

Tasha didn’t like him. “Shayla?”

Shayla held up her hand. “Don’t even start. We’ll talk about this after we talk about you.” She looked at Devin. “I guess I still disappoint you, huh?”

Devin’s eyes were sad as he shook his head. “It’s not about disappointing me. You know what you’re worth.” Shayla stiffened and he sighed. “You look beautiful, Shayla,” he said before turning away.

“Devin,” Tasha called. He turned to look at her. “Please don’t tell Jared where you brought me. I don’t want to talk to him.”

He nodded and walked out. After he left, Tasha turned narrowed eyes on Shayla. “What was that all about? And who was that man?”

Shayla crossed her arms. “Forget the man. I can’t believe you brought Devin Jones here. Ever since Tony he’s only found fault with me.”

“Don’t yell at me. I didn’t know he was Your Devin. Maybe he wouldn’t find fault if you’d tell him the truth about Tony.”

Shayla scoffed. “Doesn’t matter. That was years ago, and since I have no plans to move back to Helena, hopefully I’ll never see him again.” Tasha started to interrupt but Shayla shook her head. “No more talk about Devin Jones. I’ll get my stuff and you can tell me about Jared Patterson.” She turned to walk away.

“I think I’m pregnant,” Tasha blurted out.

Shayla spun around so fast Tasha was surprised she didn’t trip over her five inch heels. “No.”

Tears burned the backs of her eyes but she wasn’t going to cry. This was her mess and she had to deal with it. “Yes.”

“No, no, no, Tasha. This shit isn’t supposed to happen to you. This is the type of mess that happens to me,” Shayla said walking back to her.

“Tell me about it,” Tasha said.

Shayla laughed and Tasha joined in before they turned into sobs. Shayla pulled her into her arms. “Stop it. You don’t cry over a man, remember?”

Tasha nodded and tried to stop the tears.

Shayla put her hands on her shoulders and held her away. “Now you said you think you’re pregnant. Have you taken a test?”

“No,” Tasha answered, wiping the tears from her face.

Shayla nodded. “Okay, I have one at my house.”

“Why?”

Shayla shrugged. “You never know when you need one.”

Tasha shook her head. “You’re a mess.”

“Tell me about it.”

They laughed again and Shayla squeezed her shoulders. “It’ll be okay.”

“How am I going to tell my father?”

“Daddy, I’m pregnant.”

Tasha rolled her eyes. “It’s not that simple.”

“I know. Preacher isn’t going to be too happy about this, but what can he do? If you are, you are. Unless you don’t want to be.”

Tasha knew what Shayla implied and she shook her head. She knew of at least one abortion Shayla had had years ago, but had never asked her friend if she’d done it again. Tasha couldn’t do it, no matter how hard it would be to have this child.

Shayla’s lips rose in a small smile. “I didn’t think you would. Come on. No need to stand in this lobby looking like two lost souls. Let’s go to my house, take the test, and go from there, okay?”

Tasha closed her eyes and took a reassuring breath. “Okay.”

“Good. Now let me get my stuff.”

Tasha nodded as Shayla walked off. She closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer that everything would work out. She didn’t know how she’d face her father, but telling Jared scared her more. How could she face the man who lied about loving her that she was having his baby?