Admission of Love (29 page)

She left the room to retrieve his jacket, returning with it quickly. “Good night and good-bye, Calvin. I hope you can finally be mature about all of this.”

Calvin accepted his jacket and slipped it on. He watched her intently as he did. What he saw hurt him. His Cat was lost to him forever. He knew then, as she stared unflinchingly into his eyes, that he had lost this incredible woman standing before him. He would regret that for the rest of his life. Before she could stop him he pulled her into a tight hug. “Good-bye, Cat.”

She felt no reaction at all from his body being so close to her. He left with a brief kiss on her cheek. As the door closed behind him, she actually felt a large chapter in her life close as well.

Chapter Twenty-two

The two teenaged girls walked out of the high school where they were sophomores. They had just turned the comer to walk to the bus stop when a tall, muscular guy called out to them. They both stopped and turned to face where he leaned against the comer of the brick apartment building.

Chloe wasn’t interested in a boyfriend, so she was happy when the leather-bomber-and-construction-boot-wearing boy turned his attention to Anika with his handsome grin. Chloe didn’t trust men. How many times had she seen girls her own age or women like her mother struggling to raise a child by themselves? Men seemed only interested in the now and not the forever, especially when it came to their children.

Their bus pulled up and Anika’s chubby face broke into a pretty smile before she ran behind Chloe to catch the bus. She yelled out her phone number to him just before the doors closed behind her. He was, of course, all the girls talked about on their ride home.

Anika didn’t harbor the same ill feelings that Chloe had toward men, but then she
had
a father. So why should she?

Usually after school Anika came over to Chloe’s to do her homework, but that day she went home in case Hakeem called. So Chloe did her homework and had chicken fried, rice steamed and corn boiled in butter by time her mother came in from work. She could see how tired her mother was, and she tried to help out by keeping their small apartment cleaned and by fixing meals.

She thought of Anika’s exclamation of being in love with Hakeem on their bus ride. "Mama, how do you know when you’re really in love? ’’

At Adell’s raised brow, the beautiful teenager rushed to explain about Anika. That only made Adell sigh as she thought over her answer carefully.

"You know you’re in love when you meet a very special man. See, love is a feeling. It’s about the affection and tenderness two people have for one another. It is the basis for many a good long relationship. A lot of young girls think being in love is only about that feeling. But love is so much more than just feelings. It’s actions too.’’

"When you’re in love you’re unselfish, loyal and faithful. You have concern for one another’s welfare, trust and respect. See, if a person says they’re in love but doesn’t show it, then it's just three little words. And it takes time to really fall in love. It’s too special to happen too fast and still be real.”

“But even if you’re in love, don’t ever let a man talk you into doing something you don’t want to do. Love ain't about hurting and abusing. It’s about feeling good. And if it’s more bad than good, then it ain't love.”

"Love is so very special, Chloe, and you’ll know, baby, believe me. When the time comes, a man that is beautiful inside and out will make your heart race and make you feel special and worth loving. When you think of yourself down the line, that person is still who you want to share your life with.”

"Please Chloe, don’t forget what I’ve said. And I’ll make sure I'll tell little Miss Anika the same thing when I lay my eyes on her.”

∞

Chloe smiled as she remembered her mother’s words of wisdom. All of her words fit the way she viewed and felt about Devon. She knew it as she sat huddled in the dark in her plush armchair overlooking the New York City night. It was as plain as the nose on her face.

She picked up the cordless phone, dialing the numbers by the moon’s light.

“Hello,” Anika growled, half asleep and all angry.

“I’m sorry to wake you, Anika, but I had to tell you . . . you were right.” She sniffed as tears welled in her eyes. “I am so deeply in love with Devon.” Her voice was husky and soft, barely above a whisper as a lone tear raced down her cheek.

“Oh Chloe, welcome to the world of the seeing, for you are no longer blind, my friend,” Anika said, her voice equally soft and filled with emotion.

Chapter Twenty-three

“Look this way, Chloe and Kyle.”

Chloe plastered a false smile to her face and kept it there as she turned on her date’s arm to pose for another round of photos for the paparazzi. Questions were of course asked about the article in
The Star Gazer,
but Chloe ignored them.

She was anxious to get inside and get seated. The constant flashes from the cameras were causing colored spots to float in front of her eyes. And the mundane and repetitive questions of the entertainment reporters were starting to sound like gibberish to her. On top of that, her arranged date with a popular R&B singer was a total disaster. He seemed to believe that the date included sex, and she swore if he groped at one of her private areas again she was going to deck him in his face.

They finally made their entrance into the building and were seated. He crossed his legs and slipped his hand onto her knee. Using her freshly manicured nails she pinched him . . . hard. She felt vindicated and pleased when he yelled out in pain and jerked his hand away.

“What’s wrong with you?” he whispered in her ear angrily.

They were surrounded by reporters, celebrities and the elite of the fashion and entertainment industry, so she didn’t want to make a scene. She forced a tight smile onto her face. “Don’t touch me again, or next time I’ll grab something that will make you sing high notes that you never knew you could!”

The lights of Radio City Music Hall dimmed. Latecomers rushed to their seats. The hostess for the 1999 Fashion Awards, a leading actress known for her trendsetting fashion sense, took her spot on stage. As the cameras began to roll, she began her monologue and Kyle again attempted to strike first base with Chloe.

All she could think was,
What am I doing here?

∞

“I saw a glimpse of Chloe,” Nana Lil shouted excitedly as she pointed to the screen.

She sat on the edge of one of the recliners, and Cyrus sat on the other with his feet up on the built-in footrest. Deshawn lounged on the couch with Poochie, and Devon was upstairs, refusing to watch the awards show when Lil told him about it. As they all spotted the well-known singer sitting beside her, they all thought it was a good thing he wasn’t watching. The man was obviously her date. Devon was in a bad enough mood and he didn’t need to see that!

∞

The audience clapped as the next two presenters were announced. Silence fell as the couple began to read the TelePrompTer. Chloe had to admit she was nervous as a cameraman stationed himself close by to point the camera at her as the winner for the award she was nominated for was announced.

Although the seat next to her was empty, Chloe was glad. Kyle had stormed out in anger an hour ago when she pressed her stiletto heel into his foot for groping her in the darkness of the auditorium.

“The winner for the 1999 Fashion Award for Female Model of the Year is ...”

Chloe forced a neutral face for the television cameras pretending not to notice it directed toward her face. The male presenter, dressed in chocolate leather pants and a knit sweater, ripped open the envelope. He handed it to his female counterpart, an actress dressed in a silver pantsuit.

Chloe wanted to scream,
Just read the damn name will you!

“It’s Chloe Bolton!”

The look of shock and excitement on her face was not faked. People sitting next to her clapped her shoulders in congratulations and hugged her as she stood and made her way down the aisle. She finally got to the stage amongst a standing ovation, and stood behind the podium clutching her award. This was a major feat to win after she had already retired. She was speechless and happy.

∞

The Jamison living room erupted with applause and exclamations when Chloe’s name was announced. Lil shushed them as Chloe moved to the podium and was handed her award. The camera swung to the audience as she received a standing ovation.

∞

Devon closed the book he was reading. The excitement and applause reached him upstairs in his suite. Chloe had won. Against his better judgment he used the remote to turn on the television, flipping through the channels to the cable station where the award show was being broadcast.

His heart hammered in his chest as her smiling face filled the twenty-seven-inch screen. She looked beautiful and . . . different. She had cut off her hair. The extremely short pixie cut hairstyle framed her face and highlighted her large, cat shaped eyes, high cheekbones and full mouth. The smoky makeup on her eyes and the shimmery lipstick were perfectly matched to the white lycra top she wore with a keyhole neckline and quarter-length sleeves. Snug copper leather pants and matching boots completed the look.

Chloe looked even more beautiful than ever. If only he could believe what his grandmother had told him. If only he hadn’t misunderstood the call from what his grandmother called “a no-account harassing fool.” But it was too late for “if only.”

∞

Chloe paused in her speech, having just thanked those in the business who helped her career, including Liv and Jeffrey. “Thank you ... I would also like to take this opportunity to announce the launching of my new line of hair care products by Ashanti Inc., which will be simply named ‘Chloe.’ I have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with Ashanti during my career, and I’m sure this new venture will continue that trend. I’m proud to state that all profits accrued on my behalf will be donated to several charities that I have been connected with in the past through the Bolton Foundation, which will be set up in my mother Adell Bolton’s memory.”

Applause again.

“Lastly, I have to thank a wonderful group of friends that I have, new and old. To my mother and my grandparents, who are all here in spirit, I love you all. Anika Foxx. Nana Lil Jamison, Cyrus Dobbs, Deshawn Jamison and. . . Devon Jamison.” She looked directly into the camera. “Devon is a very special man in my life. I miss you, baby. Thank you all for this award.”

∞

Nana Lil sighed in pleasure at Chloe’s speech. She beamed with pride, as if she were her own grandchild. A commercial came on and Deshawn remarked on how beautiful Chloe’s new looks were, earning him a sharp elbow from Poochie.

The doorbell rang and Deshawn jumped up to get it, a way to avoid Poochie’s retaliation for his harmless comment. He opened the door to find Alicia standing on the other side.

“Hi Alicia,” he said, confusion clearly etched on his face.

“Is Devon home?” she asked, not even greeting him.

“Yeah, he’s upstairs.” He stepped back out of the way as she flew past him up the stairs.

“What is that all about, Shawnie?” Nana Lil asked as he reclaimed his seat.

“Devon . . . what else.”

∞

Alicia opened the door to the suite at his gruff, “Come in.”

Her eyes widened in shock as they fell on the suitcase opened on the bed. “Devon?”

He looked up and sighed when he saw her. “Look Al, I don’t mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?”

Tears filled her eyes. “How can you be so cruel to me after what almost happened?”

Devon rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Coming to your house yesterday was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” she wailed.

“Yes!” he shouted. “I was jealous because I thought Chloe was with another man. I thought I made all of this clear yesterday when I forced you off my lap and made you get dressed, Al. I don’t feel that way about you and I’m just glad I didn’t let jealousy push me to do something I didn’t want to.”

Her throat was tight with pain. Yesterday when he lowered his head toward her breasts, she had thought the world she wanted was finally hers, but suddenly he had jerked his head away and pushed her off of him. “I gave you time to think it over. That’s why I didn’t come over until tonight. I thought with a little time you would realize that we were meant—”

“To be friends, Al. Nothing more. And I’m not even sure that’s appropriate any longer,” he said firmly. “I’m sorry if I gave you any other impression.”

He moved to his closet to snatch several outfits and then retraced his steps to the bed to place them in the garment bag.

“Where are you going?”

He zipped the garment hag closed and folded it over to snap. “New York.”

Tears fell in earnest as pain clawed at her like a rabid dog.

“Why?”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” he said, slipping the bag over his shoulder. “But I’m going to get Chloe.”