Hailey laughed. Her laugh was like a drug to him. She responded. "You're so silly. I actually like seeing this side of you. Show it more often." She winked.

Trevon was taping him on his shoulder before he could respond. He said, "We'll be right back. Behave."

Hailey held up her drink as if doing a toast. "Tre."

"Hailey," he responded, before leading Garrett away from the crowded room.

"Man, why did you bring her here?" Trevon blurted out as soon as they were outside in the corridor.

"When I got my invitation to this shindig, it said, it was an invitation for two."

"Out of all of the women that you know, you couldn't find someone else to bring with you?"

"Tre. If you're serious about getting married, you need to get used to seeing Hailey out in social settings. Remember, we are friends. Just because things didn't work out with you two; doesn't mean her and I will stop being friends."

"You two don't even like each other. You just hung out because of me. So come on. This was her idea wasn't it?"

"There you are. I was wondering where you two went off too," Shareeka said, as she reached for Trevon's hand.

"We were discussing some best man duties," Trevon lied.

"I've left my date long enough, so I'll leave you two love birds out here to do what you do," Garrett said, as he excused himself.

Hailey signed autographs while waiting on Garrett to return. She noticed Shareeka in the corner and that prompted her to turn up the charm. She flashed her million dollar smile and laughed at some of the not so funny jokes as people kept making a beeline to her table. She felt a slight victory when she watched Shareeka storm off.

She knows and now she knows I know she knows.

"Folks, this will be the last autograph. We're here to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my friend and I don't want to steal the spotlight from the bride to be."

She heard a few disappointed grunts. Garrett showed back up at the table as she signed the last napkin.

"Can't leave you anywhere without a crowd forming," Garrett teased.

"It happens." Hailey motioned for the waiter to bring her another glass of champagne.

Garrett intervened and took the glass away from Hailey and placed it on the table. "I think you need to slow down on those."

"Last time I checked you weren't my daddy."

He held up the glass. "Go ahead. Bottoms up."

Trevon and Shareeka stood in front of the room before Hailey could respond. She ignored the drink and turned her attention on the couple. The band stopped playing music. The band leader handed a microphone to Trevon. The noise level around them died down.

"I want to thank you all for coming tonight to share with us as we celebrate our upcoming nupitials."

Hailey wanted to puke as Shareeka smiled and seemed to hold on to Trevon's arm a little too tight.

Shareeka took the microphone from him. "We know that this last minute engagement party is coming a little late with the wedding not far off, but we just wanted to show our appreciation for you all."

Cheers were heard around the room. Hailey took the glass that was sitting in front of Garrett and gulped down the contents. She ignored his concerned look.

"The food is ready, so eat up and let's party," Trevon said.

"I'm not having buffet style at my party," Hailey stated as Garrett helped her stand up.

Her head was feeling a little woozy. Maybe she should have listened to Garrett and not drank that last glass. She leaned on the chair for a few seconds to catch her balance.

"Are you okay?" Garrett asked.

"Oh, I'm fine."

She smiled and spoke to people as they made their way to the buffet line. She did her best to stand up straight and not wobble. Garrett's hand on her back seemed to hold her up.

Garrett said, "Why don't you go back to the table and I'll bring you a plate?"

"I'm better." Something tugged at her heart when she heard the concern in his voice.

After piling some of everything on their plates, they returned to their table. Hailey wasn't too thrilled to see Trevon and Shareeka sitting at their table. Every time she took a bite, she felt eyes on her.

Garrett's gesture of feeding her seemed to turn things up a notch. She took the opportunity to feed Garrett too. They giggled and wiped each other's mouths with one another's napkins as if feeding each other was a normal thing.

She could feel the tension at the table. If it wasn't Shareeka looking at them; Trevon was sneaking a peek. It seemed they were so concerned about her and Garrett, that neither one of them barely touched a thing on their plates.

Garrett said, "I have to hand it to you, the food is good."

"Thanks," the couple said in unison.

Hailey added, "Yes. I didn't realize how hungry I was."

"I didn't think models ate real food," Shareeka commented.

"Well this model does," Hailey responded.

"You are a little beefy," Shareeka said, while placing her hand on top of Trevon's arm.

Hailey rolled her eyes. "I've been blessed with good genes. I've been told I could afford to gain a few more pounds."

Shareeka grunted. "I thought models had to be no bigger than a hundred pounds."

Garrett intervened. "She gets finer and finer every time I see her." He kissed her on the cheek.

"Just like my sweetie," Trevon said.

Shareeka looked disappointed when Trevon didn't show any other type of emotional gesture.

Hailey smiled. "If you were a little taller, you could have been a model."

"She's my model. Isn't that right baby?" Trevon said.

Hailey added, "I mean with a few cosmetic changes. I could see you gracing a few covers."

Garrett placed his arm around Hailey's chair. "You both are beautiful just the way you are."

"Exactly. Let's talk about something else," Trevon said, as he squeezed Shareeka's hand.

Hailey looked at Garrett and before she could lose her nerve, she planted a kiss on his smooth chocolate lips.

~ 13 ~.

Garrett was caught by surprise as he felt a jolt run through his body when Hailey's lips connected with his. He was no longer pretending. Hailey was getting to him in more ways than one. He had to get a grip on his hormones. This was no longer a game to him. He wanted Hailey and he wanted her badly. His friendship with Trevon was the farthest thing from his mind.

Trevon cleared his throat several times. "Excuse us, but there are more people at the table than you two."

Hailey used her fingers to wipe the red lipstick from his lips. Tasty was what he thought of her. "Sorry Tre. Garrett's just tasty."

Garrett twinged. It was like Hailey was reading his mind.

Shareeka said, "Tre, why didn't you tell me Garrett and Hailey were dating?"

Tre stuttered, "Maybe because I didn't know."

"And he's supposed to be your best man. Looks like I would get another friend if I were you." She winked at Garrett.

Garrett ignored her. He stood up and extended his hand out to Hailey. "May I have this dance?"

"I don't see what Tre sees in her," Hailey said, as they twirled around the dance floor to a rendition of Luther Vandross "Superstar."

"She's not as bad as she seems."

Hailey pulled back from him for a minute. "Come on now. This is me. Tell me the truth."

He pulled her back closer to him and whispered in her ear as they danced. "I think they deserve each other."

"Well I think he deserves better."

Garrett pretended like he didn't hear her. From the outside, it appeared as if they were a happy couple. He was confused about his feelings. It had been ages since he wanted to feel connected with someone outside of the bedroom. When it came to Hailey, he was becoming protective of her and not just because they were friends.

Her scent invaded his nostrils. Although Hailey was tall, he was still a few inches taller than her. His chin could rest on the top of her head comfortably. As he held her in his arms and they danced to several slow jams, he blocked out the other people on the dance floor.

"I hate to end our dance, but I need to go to the ladies room," Hailey whined.

He walked her off the dance floor. "I'll wait right here," he said, as he watched her walk away.

He was entranced by watching Hailey walk away, that Shareeka's hand touching him startled him. "Dance with me. We need to talk."

"What about your fiance?"

"He's somewhere mingling."

She led him on the dance floor. He made sure their bodies kept a safe distance from one another as they slow danced.

"Don't you think it's time for you two to be making your exit?" Shareeka asked.

"It was your bright idea for me to invite her."

"Well, I don't want her here anymore."

"Too bad. You should have thought about it before." Garrett twirled her and then released her hand and walked away leaving her on the dance floor.

She was oblivious to others and ran up behind him. He took a seat at the table and she plopped down in the chair next to him. "You didn't tell me you two had something going on."

Garrett leaned closer so no one else could over hear. "Look. What I do in my personal life is no concern of yours."

"I'm just saying."

"Batting your eyes won't work with me."

"First Tre. Now you."

"Jealousy doesn't become you."

Shareeka laughed. "Please. I have no reason to be jealous."

"Then act like it."

"So when were you going to tell me?"

"You're a joke."

"You owe me at least that."

"The day I decided not to tell Tre about your appetite for dessert on the side, that's when our debt was paid in full."

"You can be so difficult," she snapped.

"Women like you made me the way I am."

A waiter came by the table and offered drinks. Garrett took two. Handed one to Shareeka and kept one for himself. He toasted. "To the happy couple." He clicked her glass. He drank his champagne as Shareeka looked on.

"Might as well drink up. You're supposed to be celebrating remember," Garrett stated.

Shareeka placed the glass down. "I have other people to mingle with."

"Peace," he said, as he held up his glass and watched her walk to another table.