CHAPTER NINETEEN
Roz took another sip from her tall, white coffee mug as she sat quietly inside a twenty-four-hour diner.
Kelly Cochran, who had gotten the call from Roz and rushed to pick her up from that shopping center parking lot, sat at the table across from her with his legs crossed, his arms folded, and his eyes trained on her.
For no other woman would he have gotten out of his nice, warm bed to come and rescue.
It was supposed to be an early night for him, but it wasn’t shaking out that way.
But he’d go anywhere and do anything for Roz.
“Sure you don’t want something to eat?” he asked her.
Roz shook her head as she sat over that mug like it was her lifeline. “I couldn’t eat even if I wanted to. Which I don’t.”
“You’re an African Queen, Roz. You deserve better than this.”
Roz wasn’t trying to even discuss that mess called Mick. “How did rehearsals go today?” she asked him.
Kelly smiled. “You never want to hear that, but it’s the truth. You’re the girl most likely to succeed in any man’s book. You’re it. How in the world did you get yourself hooked up with a thug like Mick Sinatra?”
Roz looked at him. “So he’s a thug now?”
“He’s always been a thug. You can do better than him, Roz. Hell, you can do better than me. But I’m better for you than him.”
Roz looked at Kelly. She always called him when she needed somebody to talk to who would give it to her straight.
She used to rely on the family. People like Trina, Gemma, and Grace, and even Teddy.
But they rarely knew what to tell her. They knew how Mick was and they knew he wasn’t going to change.
So their answers never changed either. Ah Roz, you know how Mick is, was always their go-to response. Which didn’t help shit.
But Kelly, on the other hand, had no qualms about calling Mick out on his shit. Even to his face. Mick didn’t like it, but Roz could tell Mick appreciated somebody willing to stand up for her even when he was the reason. But Roz also knew Mick was always the reason.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Kelly smiled again. “Rehearsals went fine. I could only stay a few minutes, but all looked well. They missed your presence of course.”
“I never work on my birthday. That’s in my contract.”
“Understood. How was your party after I left? I didn’t stay since you didn’t officially invite me to the party.”
Roz gave him a quick look. “Do you invite me to your parties?”
Kelly smiled. “If I invite you to any party of mine my lady friends may not understand our relationship. I don’t need the drama.”
Roz agreed. “And that’s the same reason why I didn’t invite you to mine.” She took another sip of her coffee.
“Roz, I’ve been a director on and off Broadway for damn near twenty years now.
I’ve seen stars born, and I’ve seen stars die after poor performances.
You’ve had more than your share of clunkers through the years, but you always come roaring back.
Because you’re a fighter. You fight the producers, you fight the directors, you stand up for yourself. Except when it comes to that one man.”
Roz leaned back in her chair. Her naturally long right eye lash was slightly downward and covered the tip of the corner of her right eye. She was sexy as sexy could get to Kelly. And the older she got, the sexier she looked. “Gonna tell me what’s going on?” he asked her.
There was a pause. Then she looked at her coffee mug. “He has a son, Kelly.”
Kelly couldn’t hide his surprise. “That bastard got a woman pregnant?”
“No. I mean not like that. His son is grown. He’s a grown man.”
“Oh. Then what’s the problem? Unless you’re just finding out about it.”
“That’s the problem.”
“What, he was hiding him?”
“He just found out about him a couple weeks ago.”
“That’s what he told you?”
Roz looked at him. “Mick’s no liar, alright?”
“He just doesn’t mention the truth.”
Roz wasn’t going to defend it. “Yes.”
“And therein lies the problem.”
Roz nodded. “Yes.” Then she sighed. “I’m just tired of his . . .”
“You’re tired of his what? Lies? Or dare I say lack of communication?”
“Of his inconsideration. He doesn’t consider how I would feel about all that shit he pulls.”
“He doesn’t love you.”
“Man bye!” Roz frowned. “I did not say that.”
“What else could it mean, Roz, if he’s always hiding crucial information from you? He has a son he’s known about for months and he doesn’t bother to tell you? Who does that?”
Roz didn’t answer that because she didn’t know the answer.
Kelly looked down her very desirable body. Then back into her beautiful face. “You know what I always say?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“I always say if you can’t beat’em, then join’em.”
Roz took another sip of her coffee and then stared at Kelly. Being with a man like him would have made her life so much easier. He had the look, he had the style, he had the heart, he had the money. He had it all. She would be a fool not to drop everything and go with Kelly.
But he also had his share of other women. “Joining’em has its risks too,” she said.
“How would you know?” Kelly fired back. “Mick knows. I’ll bet my 401K he knows. It’s high time, Roz, that you started knowing too.” Then he smiled. “And I’m just the man to give you that knowledge.”
“Mick will kick your ass you touch his woman.”
“He might try. But you know me from back in the day. I don’t play either. I’m no small-time mobster he can manhandle. I’m a rich bitch too. I have connections too. I dare him to try.”
Kelly wasn’t Kelly Cochran when he first hit the Broadway scene.
He was nicknamed Kelly Cocky. But Roz had phoned him of all people when she left her house because she needed to buy what he was selling.
With just his words, he always made her feel desirable again.
He made her feel special. He made her feel everything other than the pain and anguish and disappointment Mick and his antics made her feel.
Kelly Cocky made her feel better about herself in every way. And right now, at this time in her life, that small thing was huge to Roz.
She took another sip of her coffee, leaned back and folded her arms, and then returned his unwavering, concern-filled, lust-filled stare.