The Unexpected Affair Page 14

  He watched college basketball until his eyelids were too heavy to stay open.

  * * *

  The second day on that couch and he was bored out of his wits. He pointed the remote at the television and surfed the channels looking for sports. His phone rang and he hoped it was Whitney. He had called her twice and texted, but she hadn’t returned his calls or text message. They were both as stubborn as mules, one not willing to give in to the other. But it was better this way. She should go her way, and he his. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. And he didn’t want her settling for someone who didn’t meet her standards.

  The owner of the company was finally returning his call.

  “Hello, Lane. Sorry it took me so long to get back with you,” said Perry. “I heard what went on, and let me just say that I’ve spoken with Blake. He was wrong for suspending you.”

  “Yes, he was,” said Lane.

  “I can’t do anything about your friend that was fired, but I want you to return to work tomorrow. And you’ll get paid for today.”

  “Thanks, Perry, but I don’t want to return as a supervisor. Not as long as Blake’s in charge. I want my old job back.”

  “Man, you drive a hard bargain. I need that position filled,” said Perry. “But I’ll respect your wishes. You go back to your old position tomorrow.”

  “Good. Thank you.”

  That was good news. He felt bad that Tyler had lost his job, but at least he wasn’t the one who’d had to fire him. And he was grateful to have his job back.

  Chapter 25

  She met Kenya and Tasha for dinner, although she wanted to be alone. She just wanted to sit at her baby grand and make music. It was what she did when she was feeling down. Music always changed her mood. It gave her strength. It was her passion. But Kenya insisted.

  “You don’t need to be sitting in the house sulking,” she’d said. “That’s not healthy.”

  “I’m fine. I’m over it.”

  “Well, good. But you still have to eat, right?”

  “I guess I do.”

  “We’ll meet you at our favorite place in downtown Dallas at seven. We’re not taking no for an answer. We’re worried about you.”

  “Fine,” said Whitney.

  * * *

  She took a seat across the table from them. It looked as if this would be more of an interrogation than a dinner. Whitney gave the menu a quick glance. Nothing sounded good, but she decided on the turkey club and an Arnold Palmer.

  “I’m sorry that Lane overheard us talking, sweetie. I never meant for this to hurt him,” said Kenya.

  “But we only spoke the truth,” Tasha chimed in. “You’re too good for him. If he doesn’t live up to your standards, then what is the point?”

  “The point is, I liked him regardless of the stupid Man Menu.”

  “Oh, it’s stupid now? The Man Menu has been a part of our lives since college. We live by it. It keeps us grounded,” said Tasha.

  “Not every good guy is going to have every single thing on the Man Menu. And furthermore, we created it in college. We were young and dumb then. We’re grown women now.”

  “I used the Man Menu to find my Louis.”

  “And I used it to find Will.”

  “And how’s that working out for you two?” said Whitney.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” said Tasha.

  Whitney was in a mood and decided to toss pleasantries out the window. “It means that you both ended up with men who met all of the criteria on the Man Menu but are cheaters.”

  “Excuse me?” asked Tasha with plenty of attitude.

  “Louis fathered a child outside of your marriage.” She looked Tasha square in the eyes. “Did the Man Menu prevent that from happening? Hmm?”

  “How dare you?” asked Tasha. “I told you both that in confidence, because you were my friends. Not for you to throw it up in my face.”

  “But it’s true.”

  “And I’ll have you know that Will is not a cheater. He’s a workaholic, but a cheater he is not!” said Kenya in defense of her fiancé.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean, Whit?” asked Kenya.

  “Why should I say it? You won’t believe me anyway. It’ll be just like when we were in college.”

  “If you have something to say, just say it!” she exclaimed.

  “I saw Will a few weeks ago. He was with another woman, kissing her in public, and in broad daylight,” said Whitney as she took a sip of her Arnold Palmer. “I was in my car. He was so engrossed in what he was doing, he didn’t even see me.”

  “I can’t believe you just said that to me!” Tears welled in Kenya’s eyes.

  Whitney immediately regretted her words. Wished she could take them back. She’d planned on telling Kenya about Will, but not like this. She wanted to do it in private, and with a lot more empathy.

  “I’m sorry, Kenya,” she said. “I didn’t want to tell you like this.”

  “Well, how and when were you going to tell me? You’ve been holding on to this for a few weeks?”

  “I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t think you would believe me.”

  “You just want to get me back for the things we said about Lane on the phone the other night. Want to make me feel the way you felt.”

  “I’m being honest right now. But if you must know the truth...yes, the things you two said about Lane were awful. Especially you, Tasha! I probably lost the only man that I’ve ever truly loved. The two of you were so busy judging me, you forgot to look in your own damn backyards and realize that your men aren’t all that great.” Whitney dug into her purse and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.

  “You love him?” Kenya asked genuinely.

  Whitney didn’t respond, just placed the money on the table. “That’s for my food. I’m out of here.”

  She walked briskly out of the restaurant and to her car. She sat in the driver’s seat for a moment, reflected on the last few moments of her life. Suddenly she felt alone. She lost not only Lane but quite possibly her two best friends, as well.

  She walked into the quiet of her home and decided it should remain quiet. She didn’t turn on the television or music, like she always did. Instead she tossed her keys on the kitchen counter and removed her shoes. She plopped down onto the sofa and grabbed her laptop, placed it in her lap. She logged into Facebook and realized that she had a message waiting in Messenger. She’d received a message from one of the local lounge owners she’d reached out to about performing one of her pieces. Sean Goldwin had replied that he wanted her to perform at the end of the month on a Friday night. He would pay her two hundred dollars, and if he liked her, they would discuss a regular gig. She replied yes and then shut down the computer.

  She sat at her baby grand piano and flipped through her music notebook. She needed to find her best three songs and practice them like crazy. Despite the crazy week she’d just had, music always changed her mood. Her plan was to get lost in it and block out everything and everyone from the outside world. She turned her cell phone off and placed it on top of the piano. She didn’t need any interference.

  * * *

  She remained disconnected for the next few days, leaving her cell phone off. She poured her all into her kindergarten class each day, and each night she poured an equal amount of energy into her music. She wanted to be well prepared for her debut. After she’d settled on her best three songs, she practiced until her eyelids wouldn’t allow her to play anymore. She would certainly be ready.

  When her doorbell rang, she looked at her watch. Seven thirty. She couldn’t think of a single person who should be ringing her doorbell. She hadn’t invited anyone over for a visit, and most people didn’t just pop up unannounced. She walked over to
the door and peeped out. Kenya. She continued pretending not to be home.

  “I know you’re in there, Whit. Open the door,” said Kenya.

  Whitney didn’t respond, just sighed and swung the door open. She turned and walked away from the door and sat at her baby grand, flipped through her music notebook.

  “I tried calling your phone,” said Kenya. “It kept going straight to voice mail.”

  “I turned it off.”

  “I’m sorry, Whit. Sorry about all of this,” said Kenya.

  “Okay.” Whitney dismissed her friend’s apology, stared at her music notebook.

  She began to play a song, drowning out any further conversation. She hoped Kenya would get frustrated and leave.

  “Whitney!” Kenya yelled over the music.

  “What?” Whitney exclaimed.

  “You were right...about Will. I confronted him, and he told me everything.”

  “I’m happy for you, Kenya. Glad you two worked it out.”

  “We didn’t work it out.” Kenya hung her head. “We broke up. The wedding’s off.”

  Whitney looked at her friend for the first time. She sat on her couch, pain in her eyes and a look of defeat on her face. Tears welled in Kenya’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Kenya. I know how much this wedding meant to you.

  Kenya cried. “He says he loves her.” Her voice broke.

  Whitney went over to the sofa, sat next to Kenya and wrapped her arms around her.

  “I’m sorry, honey.”

  “I’m just glad I found out before we were married. Thank you for telling me. I know it must’ve been really hard for you, Whit.”

  “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I wanted to do it another way.”

  “The truth is the truth, and I’m just glad we got down to it,” said Kenya. “I must attract cheaters.”

  “No, honey, you don’t attract cheaters. You’re a good person and a great woman. Don’t blame yourself for his horrible actions,” said Whitney. “We shouldn’t put so much merit into that damn Man Menu!”

  “You’re right. And I’m sorry about Lane. I wish I could take back every word we said on that phone.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve moved on. It wasn’t meant to be, obviously.”

  “When you were at dinner the other night, you said that you love him.”

  “What do I know? I don’t even know what love is.”

  “You know when you love somebody, Whit. And I’ve never heard you use those words before.”

  “I was wrong.” Whitney walked back over to the piano. “I have a gig next weekend. At the lounge I was telling you about.”

  “He replied!” Kenya dried her tears and managed a smile.

  “He said if he likes me, we could discuss a regular gig.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Nervous. But excited.”

  “You’ll do fine, sister. And I’ll be right there cheering you on.”

  “How’s Tasha?”

  “She’s still mad, but she’ll get over it. You know how she is. Just give her some time,” said Kenya. “But we’re good. You and me.”

  “We’re good.” Whitney stood and Kenya did, too. They embraced.

  Chapter 26

  When he read the message, he was instantly proud of her. Kenya had needed to make things right and managed to find Lane on Facebook. She sent him a message and invited him to Whitney’s performance at a local lounge. She would be performing a few songs that she’d written, and she thought it would be an opportune time to get the lovebirds back together.

  He smiled after he read the message, because he knew how badly Whitney had wanted this. She loved teaching school, but music was her passion. He sighed when he thought of her. She would be nervous, but she would do good. If he were still a part of her life, he would tell her to relax and just be herself. Since he wasn’t in her life anymore, he thanked Kenya for the invitation but declined. She messaged back and left the address, just in case he changed his mind.

  He shut his computer down and tossed it aside. Picked up the remote and looked for a game on television. He’d had a long tiring day, and all he wanted to do was relax and unwind. Besides, the invitation hadn’t come from Whitney. Who was to say she even wanted him there. In fact, he hadn’t heard from her since the night she walked out of his home. He’d reached out a couple of times, but she hadn’t replied. He translated that as noninterest. However, he wanted her to be happy. Maybe she would meet someone who was more on her level—because according to her friends, he wasn’t.

  He glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes after eight. Part of him wanted to be there. If he dressed quickly, he could make it to the club by nine. Perhaps he’d just creep in and sit in the back. She wouldn’t even have to know he was there. Even if she didn’t know he was there, he would know in his heart that he had been there to support her.

  He pulled himself up from the sofa, hopped into the shower. Slipped on a pair of slacks and a short-sleeved silk shirt. He dabbed some cologne onto his neck and placed a silver bracelet around his wrist. He brushed his hair, popped a mint into his mouth and headed out the door.

  He stepped into the dark lounge, paid the cover charge and took a seat at a table in the back. Whitney was seated at the piano at the front of the room. She wore a white suit, with a black tight-fitting blouse underneath, the one he loved so much. She looked beautiful and he couldn’t help staring. She seemed nervous and he wished he’d had an opportunity to give her that pep talk that she needed. She was a woman who didn’t know her own capabilities. She doubted herself too much, in his opinion. She was an amazing woman and didn’t even know it. He missed her. His heart ached.

  The waitress in a short skirt brought him a vodka and cranberry. He thanked her and gave her a smile. He listened as Whitney played and sang. The crowd was cooperative and shouted in agreement with her words. She sang about love and pain, and she was passionate about it. She sounded as if her heart had been broken. Lane took a sip of his drink as a wave of guilt passed through him.

  When her set was over, he finished his drink and placed a twenty-dollar bill onto the table. He looked up and saw a woman watching him. He recognized her from her Facebook profile—Whitney’s friend Kenya. Their eyes met and she smiled. He gave her a smile, stood and slipped out the door.

  He unlocked his car, hopped in and turned the music up as he drove out of the parking lot. As much as he’d tried to erase his feelings for Whitney, he knew they were still there. However, he tucked them away and drove home. He had work on Saturday morning.

  Chapter 27

  Whitney felt good about her performance. It started off a bit rocky, but she’d managed to get a standing ovation at the end. She was so grateful for the audience participation when she sang the piece that she’d written just days before. It was a song about her breakup with Lane and the heartache she felt. She’d saved that one for last. Singing it was effortless; she just put her heart and soul into it.

  Kenya was yelling as if they were at a Texas A&M football game. She smiled at her friend and shook her head. When she left the stage, she took a seat at the table next to her.

  “You were so good, Whit! I was really feeling that song,” she said. “It made me cry. I thought about Will.”

  “Aww, sweetie. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “It’s okay. Maybe if I get it all out, I can stop crying so much.”

  Whitney’s heart went out to her best friend. “We’ll get through it together.”

  “At least your guy still loves you,” she said.

  “I doubt that.” She raised her hand to get the waitress’s attention.

  “No, he really does.”

  The waitress appeared and gave Whitney a smile. “You really did a great job, girl,”
said the waitress.

  “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll just have a rum and pineapple.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Right away.”

  “Lane was here,” said Kenya after the waitress walked away.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t be mad, but...” Kenya smiled sheepishly.

  “But what? What did you do?”

  “I reached out to him on Facebook. Told him about your performance tonight,” she said. “And he came!”

  “Right.”

  “He did! Sat right over there at that table.” She pointed across the room. “He slipped out after your performance.”

  Whitney’s heart beat rapidly. “Who cares? He didn’t care enough to stick around.”

  “But he came, Whit. He loves you.”

  The waitress placed the cocktail on the table. “Here you go, Miss Talbot. Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

  Whitney gave her a smile. She changed the subject. “I think I might have a regular gig.”

  “I think so, honey. You rocked the house tonight,” said Kenya.

  “I did, didn’t I?” Whitney giggled and took a sip of her cocktail.

  * * *

  She walked into her home, kicked her shoes off at the door. It had been a great night. Sean had asked if she could play again next Friday night, and she was elated. She had a week to work on some new material. She removed each piece of clothing as she made her way to her bedroom. She turned on the shower and hopped in. Tonight had been a great night.

  * * *

  Saturday morning came quickly. She rushed to meet Kenya at one of their favorite brunch spots. She walked to the table and to her surprise, Tasha was there, sipping on a glass of orange juice. Whitney was inclined to walk out but decided not to. She would face whatever Tasha had to offer.

  “Hello,” said Whitney.

  “Hey, Whit,” said Tasha. “Let’s hash this out. We’ve been friends too long.”

  “I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” said Whitney. “Well, maybe I was. Because I was hurting, too. The two of you said some pretty mean things about Lane, and he heard every word.”