“So, what are you, Richard, and Kayla doing for the holiday?” he asked Janet, trying to forget about Carmen and the fact that she wouldn’t stop bothering him.
“We’re eating at my parents’. They do a huge cookout every Memorial Day, and all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins usually attend. What about you and Alicia?”
“We’re going to my in-laws’. Alicia’s mom and stepdad.”
“Oh, okay. Will there be a lot of people there?”
“No, I think just the four of us, and to be honest, I’m really looking forward to not having to mingle with a whole lot of people. It’ll be nice just to hang out and enjoy a day of peace.”
“I don’t blame you,” she said, looking at the wooden clock on JT’s wall. “Gosh, I didn’t realize it was so late. So, if that’s all you have, then I’m going to head out to meet Richard for lunch.”
“Yep, I think that’s it for now.”
“Sounds good, and just let me know if you want to add something else to the package.”
“I will,” he said. “Also, if you don’t mind, can you shut the door behind you?”
“Sure.”
When Janet was gone, JT picked up his cell and dialed into his voice mail system. There was only one message, obviously from Carmen, and he dreaded listening to it. Still, he pressed 1 to play it.
“Hi, baby. I didn’t want anything but was hoping to speak to you for a few minutes. Anyway, I’ll see you in a few hours, okay? I love you.”
JT rolled his eyes toward the ceiling in disgust and pressed 7 to delete. This woman literally made him sick. She irritated the heck out of him, but sadly he had to go along with the program for now and there was no sense in complaining.
Next, JT scrolled through his BlackBerry until he saw an entry for Victor Scott-the name he’d typed in when he’d entered Veda’s phone numbers, just in case Alicia ever saw reason to snoop through his contact listing. He’d given each of his women male first names, David Redding for Diana Redding and Carl Wilson for Carmen Wilson. This method had always worked in the past, even when he’d been married to Michelle, so he hadn’t seen a reason to discontinue using it now. He’d also asked Verizon years ago to stop sending itemized pages listing all of his incoming and outgoing calls, so he never had to worry about Alicia questioning any particular phone numbers. He never had to worry about her suspecting anything out of the ordinary when it came to the women he communicated with.
He selected Veda’s cell number and dialed it.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey, pretty lady. How are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
“Wonderful.”
“So, are you at the airport?”
“Yes. It sounds like we’ll be boarding in just a few minutes, though.”
“That’s what I figured, because I remember you said your flight was leaving around noon.”
JT waited for her to say something but when she didn’t, he said, “I know this is going to sound strange, especially since we barely know each other, but I’m already missing you.”
“Yeah, right,” she said, slightly chuckling.
“I’m serious. I mean, I really like you a lot, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get over the fact that you remind me so much of my former wife.”
“So, is that the only reason you wanted to be with me?”
“Well, I do have to be honest. Your resemblance to her is what initially attracted me to you, but now after being with you last night, I’m attracted to you as a person. There’s just something very special about you.”
“You think so, huh?”
“I do.”
“And I’m what, maybe the hundredth person you’ve told that line to in the last week?”
They both laughed and JT said, “Come on now. You’re not being fair.”
“I’m just saying.”
“I won’t lie to you, I meet lots of attractive women, but you can’t deny that there’s some pretty noticeable chemistry between you and me. Am I right?”
“I guess.”
“Well, I don’t guess. I know this for sure because it’s very unusual for me to feel like this so quickly.”
She didn’t respond again, so JT said, “I do have one question for you, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Actually, I’m married. Unhappily. But still very married.”
“So am I, but I’m sure you already figured that out.”
“Yeah, I did. I saw the wedding ring on your finger, remember?”
“True. But on the other hand, I didn’t see one on yours.”
“Stopped wearing it a long time ago.”
“Then you’re on your way out, I take it.”
“Eventually. I have an eighteen-year-old who’s graduating next Friday, so once he’s off to college this fall, I’m planning to file for a divorce.”
“So, it’s that bad?” he asked, wondering how old she was, because she definitely didn’t look old enough to have a child who was about to finish high school. Not that it mattered to him one way or the other, though.
“I’m miserable.”
“I’m really sorry to hear that, but if it’s any consolation to you, I’d certainly like to see you again.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I would. So, when are you going to be back in the area?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know when I have another visit planned. My company sends me here at least a couple of times per month, so chances are I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
JT heard what sounded like the gate representative preparing to begin the boarding process.
“Hey, they’re calling first-class, so I have to get going.”
“That’s fine, but, Veda, I really want to see you again, and soon.”
“Just call or e-mail me, and we’ll talk about it.”
“I will, and you have a safe flight, okay?”
“I will, and you take care.”
JT ended the call, laid his phone on his desk, and looked at the picture-perfect five-by-seven wedding photo of him and Alicia. He wasn’t sure why she simply wasn’t enough. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t resist being with other women. He honestly didn’t want to hurt Alicia, but he also couldn’t control his sexual desires or impulsive feelings. He couldn’t help doing a lot of the terrible things he did, and he wished there was something he could do to modify his way of thinking. He wished he could be a better man and stop lusting over this woman he’d just hung up with. But he knew that was never going to happen. He knew JT was going to be JT and that there wasn’t a thing he could do to change that.
Chapter 18
Thank you so much for treating me to lunch,” Carmen said to Alicia, and then leaned against her little red Nissan. The two of them were standing in the parking lot of a popular Asian restaurant located a few blocks down from the office where Carmen worked, and Alicia was glad they’d had a chance to get together.
“You’re welcome, and I’m really glad we could do this.”
“And thank you, too, for bringing me the manuscript,” she said, holding the brown envelope close to her body. “I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to read it.”
“Well, I just hope you like it.”
“I know I will, and I’ll be calling you as soon as I finish it. I also can’t wait for the actual book to be released, because then I’ll be able to tell everyone that I’m close friends with a published author.”
“You’re funny,” Alicia said, smiling.
“I’m serious. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.”
Alicia leaned against the side of Carmen’s vehicle but closer to the front of it. “Well, I’m just happy you made the decision to look me up online and then e-mail me, because if you hadn’t, we might not have ever connected with each other again.”