Page 12 of Keeping Busy
That shocked me, and I don’t know why.
“I hope you lovepayingfor formal gowns, expensive designer shoes, hair appointments...and nail appointments.” She teased.
“Uh, not necessarily, but it is what it is. I got you. Just tell me what you need.”
“I need for you to finance my fly, so I can help you look like you got Ainsley Neuberg outta your system. Duh.”
Mecca
Maddox’s team moved fast. Thursday morning, by the time I had showered, dressed, done my skin care regimen and pulled my hair up into a neat ponytail, I had a text message from Maddox’s younger brother and attorney, Brandon. He let me know that the non-disclosure agreement and contract that I needed to sign were in my email inbox. I texted him back.
Me:What’s up, Brandon? I’ll have my attorney look over the documents. If he thinks they’re good, I’ll sign them and get them right back to you.
The thing about Brandon Mayhew, was that I considered him a friend. Although Maddox had made it his business to ignore the Watson women while we were growing up, the same couldn’t be said for Brandon, or their youngest brother, Xavier. I didn't know if Miss Vera relaxed her rules after Maddox, or if Brandon and Xavier were just rebellious enough to ignore them. Whatever, they were cool with all of the Watson girls. At one point, Xavier was in a serious relationship with one of my younger cousins.
Brandon:Mecca baby, I can’t believe you’re even doing this for Busy’s ass.
Me:Me either, but Auntie Bo…
Brandon:Yeah, he told me. Lucky ass.
Me:Stop flirting.
Brandon:Nope. You’re too pretty not to flirt with.
Me:If that’s the case, why’d you spend all your time sniffing up behind Indigo when we were kids? You were enamored with the light-skin.
Brandon:What? You’re light skinned.
Me:I’m caramel colored, Sweetheart. Indigo is high yellow. That’s what you like.
I teased him, because it was true.
Brandon:Doesn’t matter now. She’s hemmed up with dude. So, let me shoot my shot with you.
Me:Leave me alone, Brandon.
I knew he wasn’t serious. That was how we related to each other, with teasing and fake flirting.
Brandon:So, who all are you telling about the arrangement with Busy? I would hate to have to sue your pretty ass...but I will.
I laughed out loud at that.
Me:Immediate family only. I have to tell my parents, and you know I can’t keep nothing from British. She already knows.
Brandon:You gonna be able to keep it from the rest of the pretty committee?
The pretty committee was how Brandon and Xavier Mayhew liked to refer to the Watson girls.
Me:Yeah. His secret is safe with me, but you might want to draw up an NDA for British. You know she has a mouth on her.
Brandon:You’re right. I’m about to text her right now.
I took British with me when I went shopping for a formal gown. We went to an obscure little boutique in the Gold Coast area called,Saturated, that my mom liked to frequent when she had an event that she needed todressfor. The owner, Georgette Luckett was a ground-breaking, barrier busting black model in the 1970s. She knew fashion and had an eye for all things beautiful. When she retired, her daughter, Greer had taken the helm, and she was just as impressive as her mother. When I told Greer that I was going to a benefit with Maddox Mayhew, NFL free-safety, she pulled about twelve gowns for me.
“So,” British said, pawing through the gowns on the rack that Greer set aside for me. “I get that Auntie Bo asked you to do this, and I know how you are about old people.”
I chuckled. British teased me constantly about all of the time I spent hanging out with Miss Vera and Auntie Bo.
