Thirty-One Teagan
Thirty-One
Teagan
“Y ou look beautiful, Teagan,” Lyric tells me as I prance this way and that in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom. I’m wearing a flowy off-the-shoulder red organza gown with a V-cut.
“Thank you,” I say. She and the Gems came in yesterday before the awards dinner tonight so we could catch up. Since it was a slow day at the office with no showings, I was able to take off early after doing some administrative work.
“Is everything all right?” Lyric asks. “You don’t seem yourself. I noticed yesterday, but we were so busy gabbing that I didn’t push.”
“I’m fine,” I reply, adding glitzy chandelier earrings to my earlobes.
“You know saying that word means the exact opposite,” she responds.
I glance in her direction and she makes me smile. Lyric looks lovely in a silver-gray dress with a voluminous skirt covered in layers of bedazzled petal flaps. Her auburn hair is parted in the middle and hangs in a long curtain down her slender back. Her look is very 1950s chic. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you, but don’t try changing the subject,” Lyric replies, smoothing her hands down her skirt. “You’re not getting away without telling me what’s going on.”
“Okay, okay.” I know she’s not going to give up. “I’m a bit perturbed with Dominic.”
“Oh, really, what did he do?”
“He wiped the floor with me last week when we were playing.” When Lyric starts to speak, I hold my hand up to halt her. “It’s not that he beat me. I expect that. He’s a champion. It’s the reason he did it, as if to punish me for some perceived offense.”
“Is that what he said?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t have to. I felt his anger and animosity. It’s like he wanted to teach me a lesson and I don’t know why.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No. I decided to give him some space.”
“The entirety of your issues with Dominic stem from lack of communication. You both have to stop being so stubborn and proud and start speaking your truth.”
“She’s right,” Egypt states, unceremoniously barging into my bedroom without knocking. She is radiant in a black satin strapless corset gown with a dramatic leg slit. The gown emphasizes her plus-size curves while her hair is swept to one side in soft waves to her shoulder. She looks every bit a strong Black woman. “You and he have had too many misunderstandings. You could easily squash this, Teagan. So why aren’t you?”
A soft sigh escapes my lips because they’re right. I’m hiding behind what happened because I don’t want to address the elephant in the room—the newly recognized feelings I have for Dominic. Or rather, the love I have for him that never went away despite the test of time.
“You’re right, there’s more to it.”
“How much more?” Egypt quizzes.
I don’t get to answer because Wynter, Shay and Asia sweep into the bedroom and there’s oohs and aahs over hair, dresses and makeup. Wynter is in an elegant, body-hugging black dress with a back-tie halter and a flowing cape. You can’t even tell she’s pregnant. Her hair is in loose curls and she appears effortless and classic. Meanwhile Shay’s killer athletic figure is on full display in a beautiful pink sequin gown. Her makeup is fresh with just a pop of blush and pink lipstick. Asia’s petite frame is draped in a gold satin-belted gown with a ruched bodice and asymmetrical strap. A messy bun sits atop her head and she has a smoky eye and mauve lips.
The Gems come to stand beside me in the full-length mirror. I have to say we’re a good-looking bunch.
“Are you ready to go collect your second statue?” Asia asks.
“I am.”
Egypt eyes me in the mirror. She’s not done quizzing me, but is giving me a reprieve for now.
“Good, because the limo has arrived to take us to the ball,” Wynter states with a flourish. “Are we ready?”
There’s a chorus of yeses and the six of us leave my bedroom and strut out the door like we’re fashion models on the runway. It makes me realize just how lucky I am to have friends like these women, my sistas , who drop their respective lives to come and support me.
Once inside the limo, Asia reaches for the bottle of bubbly in the ice bucket and pretty soon champagne is flowing, except for Wynter, who opts for water. There are toasts and cheers and the vibe is everything I need, especially when I’m unsure of where I stand with Dominic. His behavior last Saturday grated on my nerves and it made me wonder if being with me is about his competitive spirit. Am I just another point on his scoreboard?
The drive to the Kimpton Palomar Hotel is short. When we arrive, I walk arm in arm with the Gems up one flight of stairs until we come to the mezzanine. There’s a small red carpet and a photographer with a backdrop is taking photos of guests and recipients. We stop for multiple rounds of pictures until a masculine voice states, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the infamous Gems.”
My face burns hot when I see the owner is indeed the man I’ve been ignoring the past week. “Dominic?” I ask incredulously, disentangling myself from the Gems and walking toward him.
The other women notice my demeanor and instead of coming forward, Lyric holds them back with her hand.
“Surprise, surprise.” He grins and despite my shock at seeing him, his beauty reaches all the way to my toes. He looks resplendent in a navy blue tuxedo with a crisp white shirt. His ebony eyes gleam and his goatee is trim and shapely. His gaze travels appreciatively up and down my figure, assessing me in my gown.
“What are you doing here?”
His face darkens at my curt tone, and he clenches his jaw. “I was hoping you’d be happy to see me, but I can see I misread the room.”
“I—I’m just surprised.”
“Why is that, Teagan? Could it be because you didn’t tell me about your award?” Dominic asks. “Instead, I had to overhear you talking about it with Charity.”
That’s how he knows. I wasn’t sure if he’d heard our conversation and hoped he hadn’t. I’ll have to bluff this out. “I’m sorry. It’s really not that big a deal.”
Dominic glares at me. “Really? Is that where you want to go with this? It is very much a big deal because the Gems—” he points to the women behind me “—are here. They wouldn’t be if this award wasn’t important. Silly me, I thought because we were sleeping together, I might rank a bit higher on the list, that you would inform me, but I guess I’m delusional.”
“Why are you so upset, Dominic?” I whisper hotly, moving him away from the crowd to a quiet corner. “We said this was casual. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
From the angry look that crosses his expression, I sense I’ve crossed the line. “Yeah, I guess we were just fucking so what does it matter?”
“Don’t put this back on me and act like I’m in the wrong. You set the boundaries from day one. Hell, we both did.”
“I’m well aware,” Dominic says with a sigh. “Go back to the Gems. I’ll get out of here.” He’s walking away when several people realize who he is and a crowd surrounds him.
“Dominic, can I get an autograph?”
“Dominic, can I get a selfie?”
I watch as the momentum of the evening shifts from me to him. Even tonight, when it should be all about my accomplishments and how hard I’ve worked to build myself up after the downfall of my tennis career, once again Dominic is stealing the show.
Suddenly, I feel a pair of warm hands on my shoulders. I turn and see it’s Lyric. “Hey, you okay?”
I incline my head to the crowd around Dominic. “Would you be? This night is supposed to be about me, but it’s turning into being about him.”
“Is that really what you think?” Lyric asks. “I get the impression he was trying to surprise you and be here for your big moment.”
I turn sideways to stare at her. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am.” Lyric sighs in frustration and puts her hands on her hips. “But when you’re wrong, I’m going to point it out, Teagan. I’m not your yes-woman.”
The rest of the Gems come over and Wynter asks, “What’s wrong?” She looks back and forth between me and Lyric.
“Teagan seems to think the whole world is against her tonight, including Dominic.”
Egypt glances behind me to stare openly at Dominic. “Girl, that man came tonight for you. He has eyes for no one but you.”
I don’t dare look at him because I’m afraid to. I can feel his dark eyes on me even though I’m facing the Gems. Did I get it wrong? Am I overreacting?
“You don’t understand. I’ve had to live in Dominic’s shadow the last twelve years. I’ve watched him accomplish all the things I wanted but that were taken away from me. Do you know how hard that was? I’ve tried to make my peace with the loss, but I am envious of the career he has. I’ve built a new life for myself, a new career as a real estate broker. One so successful I’ve been named Real Estate Broker of the Year for the second year in a row. It’s a big accomplishment, and I—” I slam my palm against my chest “—I did that. Not him.” I point in Dominic’s direction. “And I know it’s irrational, but right now it feels as if he’s stealing my thunder.”
A tear leaks down my cheek. “Come here.” Wynter rushes to me and pulls me into her arms. “We can’t have your makeup failing before your event. Let’s go to the restroom and freshen up.” She pulls me toward the bathroom and the Gems follow. I don’t bother looking behind me because I can’t.
I can’t see how much I’ve hurt Dominic with my words. Or feel the pain and envy of having his spotlight shine brighter than mine.