Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Layla was the first to break the silent. “Darius, this is my boyfriend, Vincent Jones. Vincent, this is my cousin’s fiancé, Darius Tate.”
“Congratulation man.” Vincent offered extending his hand. “If you’re marrying a Williamson beauty, you hit the jackpot.”
“Thanks.” Darius laughed, accepted his hand, and shook it. After he released it, he pulled out a chair for Yvonne. While his fiancée was sitting he didn’t miss the short and unfriendly greeting between John and Vincent.
Evangeline watched as Darius leaned over and whispered in John’s ear. She heard Darius ask John if he had any friends in Llanview. She felt a little bad for him, and it showed on her face as she looked at him. Her hand involuntary went to his arm to offer comfort. When both he and Darius looked over at her, she cleared her throat and turned her attention to Vincent. Vincent and Layla had already taken their seats. She didn’t miss how everyone’s eyes were on her.
“Vincent, where is Cristian?” She asked looking towards the entry door praying they will stop studying her.
“He tried calling, but he got your voicemail.” Vincent informed her. “Training today and tonight wore him out. He was exhausted and wanted me to let you know he’ll call you in the morning.”
Yvonne studied Evangeline as she reached into her purse and pulled out her razor cell phone. Evangeline flipped it opened, pushed a button, and placed the phone to her ear.
Yvonne glanced at Layla who was still glaring at John then back at Evangeline who looked disappointed.
“Vincent is right.” Evangeline informed then stood. “I should go check on Cris.”
“Vangie please.” Layla said looking at Vincent then her big sister. “Cris is just tired. He’s training for a serious title fight. He’s not sick or anything. He doesn’t need you there.”
Evangeline glanced at Vincent then sat back down.
Yvonne studied both of her cousins and made a mental note to ask them about this. She knew her elder cousin and from her actions now, she knew Van didn’t approval or trust Vincent. And, from the looks of the glares Lay was giving John McBain, Van wasn’t the only one who didn’t like her sister’s choice in men.
“So, your boyfriend is a boxer?” Darius asked hoping to lighten the atmosphere a little.
“Yes.” Evangeline answered politely glancing at her sister and cousin.
“Oh.” Darius looked at Yvonne. “I thought you said he was a painter.”
“I thought he was.” Yvonne looked confused at her cousin.
“He is.” Evangeline smiled as she tried to explain. “Cristian recently discovered his passion for boxing.”
“And, he’s good.” Vincent jumped in. “He’s the first guy I have managed, but I am truly impressed by his heart and skills.”
“Really.” Darius replied then everyone went quiet for a few minutes until he offered to get everyone drinks.
“That’s great baby.” Yvonne kissed him for offering.
“Okay. I know my baby wants an Emerald Martini…” He pointed to Layla.
“I’ll take a Cosmopolitan.” He then pointed to Evangeline.
“Just get me a ginger ale.” Evangeline avoided everyone except Layla’s stare as they gave her questioning looks.
“Okay. Lay wants a Cosmo, and Van wants a ginger ale. JD, I know your poison.” Darius glanced at Vincent. “What can I get for you?”
“How about I help you get the drinks?” Vincent stood not giving the man a chance to protest or John a chance to offer. “I need to make a call anyway.”
Evangeline raised her eyebrow at Vincent and watched as he and Darius walked away. Yvonne’s voice grabbed her attention back to the company in front of her.
“So… John, how are you going to feel about running into my father again?” Yvonne asked rudely.
John didn’t reply as he searched her features and realized Layla was studying him. Evangeline shot a challenging stare at her cousin that went ignored.
“Have I met your father?” John finally asked shifting in his seat and finishing off his beer as he noticed the drink he purchased for Evangeline was in front of Layla.
“Yes, I’m Clayton Williamson’s daughter.” Yvonne informed proudly. She didn’t always agree with her father, but she knew he loved them completely. He only wanted the best for them. He would move Heaven and earth for them.
“Uncle Clay.” John glanced at Evangeline. “I’m sure he won’t have a problem with me now that Evangeline and I aren’t together.”
Evangeline watched as Yvonne examined him.
“If you ladies will excuse me,” John stood. “I need to go to the restroom.”
Evangeline waited until John was out of ear range then spoke to Yvonne.
“Yvonne, I can’t believe you. I would expect something like that from Layla.” Evangeline waved her right hand. “But, you! You truly lived up to being your father’s daughter. How would you feel if one of Darius’s family members treated you like that?”
Yvonne watched as Evangeline stood and went in the opposite direction of the restrooms. She glanced at Layla who shrugged then started eating the olives from the dirty martini.
“Now you.” Yvonne rested her elbows on the table. “Why doesn’t Van trust your man?”
Layla glanced at Yvonne then over at the bar where Vincent was smiling back at her. “You know Vangie is over protective especially when it comes to us.”
“But, she didn’t even trust him delivering a message from her man.” Yvonne studied her baby cousin. “Come on Lay. Tell me what is going on.”
“Von, Vincent is good to me.” Layla whispered. “Evangeline is just being Evangeline.”
“And, you only call her Evangeline with me when you are hiding something.” Yvonne confronted but was interrupted when she heard Vincent.
“I have a Cosmo for my Sugar Bear.” Vincent placed the drink in front of Layla. “And, a ginger ale for your sister.”
He placed the drink on the table. “Where is Evangeline?”
“Little girl room.” Layla informed him, grabbed her drink, and finished it in on gulp. Hilary Duff’s Wake up started playing. “Let’s dance baby.”
Vincent placed his drink on the table and followed Layla who had already stood and headed to the dance floor. They passed by John who was returning to the table the same time Evangeline was.
“Is everything okay?” Darius asked his finance concerned as she watched Layla leave.
“Everything is fine.” Yvonne followed Layla’s action, finished her drink in one gulp, and stood. She didn’t have to tell her man that she wanted to dance. Without hesitation, he followed her to the dance floor.
Evangeline glanced at John then sat back down. She watched as he followed her actions. They sat quiet for a few minutes.
“Thank you.” John finally broke the silent.
“For what?” Evangeline asked as she watched him take a few sips from his beer.
“For standing up for me.” John whispered and looking at the table. “And, calling me your friend.”
“You are John.” Evangeline enlightened. “We talked about that in your office. I’m sorry for my cousin…”
“Please don’t apologize for your family standing up for you.” He cut her off and their eyes met. “We both know I deserved worst.”
They were quite until the next song started.
“They call this music?” John asked frowning as he listened to the DJ’s next selection, Kanye West “Golddigger”. A few guys on the floor started hollering lyrics and waving theirs hands.
Evangeline shrugged, smiled then ran her hand through her hair. She wouldn’t mind having a martini, but she hadn’t told Layla she wasn’t pregnant yet. If Layla saw her drinking, she would definitely cause a scene, and they already dodged one. Besides, Ultra Violet was not the place she wanted to tell her sister she wasn’t pregnant. Well, she told Cristian at the gym earlier, so she guessed a club wasn’t that bad after all. Anyway, with John beside her, she needed to have a clear head. She didn’t need alcohol clouding her judgment.
Her ringing cell phone captured her attention. “Excuse me.” She pulled her cell phone out of her purse then turned her attention to it.
John heard Cristian’s name and waved for one of the waitress. While he was ordering another beer for himself and replacement drinks for everyone else, he heard her ask her lover if he changed his mind about joining them. When she told him to get some rest, he knew he wouldn’t be seeing Vega tonight. He had Evangeline to himself even if it was only for tonight. He wanted her in his arms. He glanced at the DJ then tapped her arm to get her attention. He mouthed that he would be right back. She nodded and turned her attention back to her phone conversation.
“Was that Cris?” Layla walked over seeing her sister on the phone. She and Vincent sat down.
“Yes.” Evangeline closed her cell phone then informed them of what her ex did. “John ordered another round of drinks for everyone.”
“Did Vega change his mind?” Vincent asked not impressed by McBain generosity.
“No.” Evangeline answered short. When Layla glared at her, she added. “He’s exhaust as you said.”
Layla offered her big sister a smile as she glanced at her cousin and soon to be cousin-in-law on the dance floor. “I can’t believe she’s getting married.”
“Well, Sugar Bear, you just let me know what you want to get them for a wedding present, and it’s done.” Vincent welcomed Layla’s kiss. “And, don’t you worry about the cost.”
“Isn’t he wonderful.” Layla looked at her sister for approval. She frowned when Evangeline didn’t respond.
The waitress returned with their drink order when the DJ announced he was going to slow things down for the rest of the night. The first song was Boyz 2 Men I Miss You.
Evangeline was sipping from her glass while Layla and Vincent were having a conversation. John returned to the table. She glanced up when he didn’t sit down.
“You want to dance?”
Evangeline gasped as she looked at John’s extended hand and listened to the words of the song. She told herself to say no. She knew no good would come out of them dancing. She looked up and started to say no until her eyes locked with his. And, before she knew it, her hands were in his, and he was leading her to the dance floor.
She smiled weakly as he stared into her eyes as the song played. She refused to believe that he was saying the words playing to her. John didn’t miss her. He wasn’t praying for her to come back.
John wrapped his arms around her waist and moved side to side slowly. Feeling overwhelmed by his gaze, she placed her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her closer. As she rested against his body, she could feel his body heat.
Big mistake! The closeness connected them even more and confused her even more. She took in the scent of his cologne and realized how much she missed him. She once told him he was the man that could take her in his arm and make her forget about the rest of the world. It wasn’t enough for her to continue the relationship then, but it was enough for her to ignore that she was in a relationship with Cristian. And, her boyfriend’s manager was sitting at a table with her sister only a few feet away. She couldn’t believe how easily she was surrendering to John after he crushed her. It took her months to get over him and move on with Cristian. She started to push him away, but he held her tighter as their eyes met. His eyes revealed that he was feeling what Boyz 2 Men were saying. No way, John could have known this song was going to start playing. No way.
She relaxed again in his arms and acceded to him pulling her closer again. They both lost themselves in the following songs: John Legend’s Ordinary People, Joss Stone’s Understand, Keith Sweat’s I’ll Give All My Love to You, Monica’s Let’s Straighten It Out, and Boyz 2 Men’s On Bended Knee.
When “On Bended Knee” started playing, Evangeline lifted her head off John’s chest and stared up at him. She saw the emotions in his eyes and decided to distract herself by looking for her sister and cousin. She glanced over John’s shoulder and saw Vincent and Layla dancing and kissing behind them. She turned her head to look over her shoulder and didn’t see her cousin on the floor. When she stepped back slightly, she felt her dance partner hands tighten on her waist.
“She and Darius are at the table.” John offered not taking his eyes off her face. “You’re beautiful.”
Evangeline frowned and looked at him. “What did you say?”
“I said you’re beautiful.” His lips parted a little as he stared at hers.
His journal entry flooded her mind. “It’s funny to me I have been saying the words to her along but not saying the actual words. She doesn’t know, but every time I tell her she’s beautiful in my mind I’m saying I love you.”
“You said I’m beautiful.” She questioned again then found herself moving her head towards him.
“Okay, Gentlemen and Ladies, this is our last song for the night.”
Evangeline jumped out of John’s arms when she heard the DJ’s announcement. “We should…I should…It’s late.” She avoided his eyes. She couldn’t believe she was about to kiss him and in public. Was she crazy? She moved away from him still feeling his body heat.
“Layla, we’re going. Vincent can drop you off.” Evangeline ordered hastily as she walked over to their table. “Von, are you and Darius ready?”
“Yes.” Yvonne said grabbing her purse and standing. “And, it seems like you are too.”
Evangeline’s head snapped up and she looked flustered.
“We’re ready to leave here, but I’m not ready to go home.” John walked up, and Yvonne’s smile confused him as she continued. “John, can you take my big cousin home for me? We need to use her car to pick up Darius’s since he rode with you.”
“No!” Evangeline stated before he could answer. “Absolutely not, I’ll ride home with Layla and Vincent.”
John looked down at the floor while Yvonne glanced over at her other cousin in Vincent Jones’s arm.
“I don’t think Lay is going home tonight.” Yvonne studied Evangeline then decided the woman didn’t trust herself.
“I’ll take a cab then.” Evangeline glanced at John who happened to look up at her at that moment. “It’s not John’s job to take me home or anywhere.”
“Chill out Evangeline.” Yvonne said as Layla and Vincent approached. “It’s only a ride...It’s only a ride. Lay give Van your house keys. I got hers. Bye cuzs. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Evangeline stared at John as Layla said goodbye to her cousin then announced she’d be staying with Vincent tonight.
“See you later, babe.” Layla kissed her sister on the cheek and grabbed her purse. “Here are my keys to the apartment.”
Evangeline stared at John. She couldn’t let him take her home. She couldn’t.