CHAPTER SEVEN

Friday night, Cherish fussed with her hair, waiting for Darius to arrive. It had been two days since she’d seen him last and she was acting as if it had been several weeks. The ringing of her doorbell brought an end to her preparations.

She checked herself in her mirror. The peach-colored dress showed off both her cleavage and her family lineage of trim, almost boyish hips. Very nice, Cherish, she smiled to herself and wondered if Darius would even notice. After putting on her peach-colored stilettos, she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs.

She opened the door and hello tumbled out of her mouth at the beautiful sight of Darius Crawford. He stood before her dressed in a black suit, a white silk shirt, and a coordinating tie. Cherish sucked in a breath. That man was some kind of eye candy. She inhaled his cologne. Sexy. His short hair was freshly cut and his smile melted her heart.

“Hello, Cherish. You look lovely.” He leaned down and kissed her.

“Thank you, Darius. You look very handsome as well. Shall we?” As Cherish pulled the front door closed behind her, Darius held out his hand for her keys. He locked her door and handed the keys back to her.

Showing his Southern manners, he bent his elbow so she’d take his arm, allowing him to escort her to his truck. After she took her seat, he planted a soft kiss on her lips before closing the door. Cherish watched him as he walked around to his side of the truck, licking her lips as she did.

As he drove through the busy downtown Fort Worth area, Cherish admired the scene. When they passed the Jazz Club, the line was quite long.

Fortunately Darius had made reservations at the restaurant. He held her hand as they were led to their table. Cherish marveled at the romantic atmosphere of the restaurant. Soft jazz music played in the background, and candle lights lent ambience. As Cherish opened her menu, she noted that it had no prices; she smiled.

“Would you like an appetizer?”

“Sure, if you would.”

“How about calamari?”

Squid! Yuck! Cherish turned her nose up in disgust. She didn’t want to be sick on their first official date. “How about crab cakes?”

The waiter appeared, as if on cue, to take their order. Darius also ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon. “1978, if you have it.”

Cherish looked at Darius in shock. Darbi had already informed her that he didn’t date much, so he might go overboard and she obviously hadn’t been kidding. He’d just ordered a three hundred dollar bottle of champagne. Cherish sighed, wondering how Curry and Darbi were making out. She smiled at her own pun.

Darius smiled at her expression. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, just thinking.”

* * *

Once at the jazz club, they walked up to the Will Call desk and Darius gave Curry’s name. An usher immediately appeared and escorted them to their seats. Darius was always amazed at the connections Curry had. Tonight was no exception. They had front row seats. Any closer and they would have been on stage.

His mind floated to his sister. He knew she and Curry had a date tonight as well. He worried if the two people he cared for the most were making a horrible mistake.

Curry was such a free spirit, and Darbi was still trying to find herself after a disastrous marriage. Darius hoped the oil and water cliché didn’t apply. Or did he?

“Darius, what are you thinking about?” Cherish asked as the waiter repeated his question to Darius.

“Nothing,” he lied.

After their drink order was taken, Darius watched Cherish. She was the prettiest woman in there and he felt like the luckiest man in the world. He hoped this date would be a springboard to many more. “Well, what do you think?”

Cherish glanced around the crowded room. “How did you get front row seats at the last minute? I happen to know this concert has been sold out for months.”

“Curry.” Darius smiled. “He always knows somebody who has front row tickets to something. I think it’s that whole luck of the Irish saying. He can usually get anything he sets his mind to.” Darius hoped that didn’t include his sister.

* * *

Saturday morning, Darius knocked on his father’s bedroom door and waited for him to answer. After hearing his father’s greeting, he entered the room. His father was sitting in bed, reading Golf Digest. He smiled at his son.

“Darius, I didn’t think I’d ever see you relax.” Otis looked at Darius’s attire of beltless blue jeans and a t-shirt. “Something is very different here.” Darius sat in the chair nearest the bed.

“Yes, it is. I was thinking of having a cookout later this evening. There won’t be any strangers. It’ll just be Darbi, Cherish, Curry, you, Mrs. Collins, and me. How’s that sound to you?”

Otis sighed. “Darius, this your house. You don’t have to consult with me if you want to have people over. I appreciate it, though. It makes me feel that you still respect me as the man who gave you life. I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself.”

Darius smiled at his father. He hoped he would have his strength when he got older. “Dad, I will always respect you. You’re very important to my life and me. I don’t want you feeling uncomfortable here. This is your home, too.”

“You need to start taking things easy.”

“I’m trying, Dad. Old habits die hard.” Darius stood and walked toward the door. “I’ll let you know about what time we’ll eat.” After his father nodded, Darius walked out of the room.

* * *

Darbi looked around Omar’s dining area for Cherish. They were meeting for their weekly lunch. The popular sidewalk café was always crowded. Finally she saw her wave; Cherish was already seated at a table. Darbi quickly walked over to her.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Darbi bubbled with excitement.

Cherish looked at Darbi’s flushed face. “What happened to you?”

Darbi sat down and began talking immediately. “I was leaving the gym this morning and this guy asked for my phone number!”

Both women yelled in excitement at the same time. “Ahhh!”

“That’s great, Darbi. What about Curry?”

Darbi waited until the waiter left the table before she answered. “He said he just wanted a casual friendship,” Darbi said matter-of-factly. “You know, something with no strings attached. What happened on your date with Darius?”

“It was very romantic. We even had Dom Perignon with dinner,” Cherish said. “He can be charming.”

“Any action?”

Cherish took a deep breath and hoped this would not return to haunt her later. “He seems overly cautious.”

Darbi nodded. “Cherish, if you’re ready for the next step, you may have to give Darius a little nudge. He hasn’t had a lot of practice.”

“Unlike Curry,” Cherish guessed. “What has Darius been doing for the last twenty-five or so years?”

“Working his way up to vice-president. He’s always been work focused. Personal life is secondary to him.”

Cherish was beginning to believe that. “How did your date with Curry go?”

“Well, it wasn’t anything like yours. We went to Putt-Putt Golf and then to Vino’s Pizzeria. After that we went back to my place to talk about Monday. We decided to be friends, just friends. Then we started making out and I sent him home.”

“Are you going to Darius’s tonight?”

“Yes, after a nap. I’ll go over early to see if he needs any help.”

* * *

When Cherish arrived at Darius’s house, Curry’s black BMW was already parked in front. In North Texas, a November day like this was cool enough for a sweater, but not too cool for a cookout. North Texas was known for its unusually warm winters.

Mrs. Collins led Cherish through the house to the pool, where Darius and Curry were sitting and drinking beer. Mr. Crawford was outside as well, but no Darbi.

“Hi, Cherish.” Darius walked to her and greeted her with a kiss in front of Curry and Otis. “Want something to drink?”

“Hi, Darius, Mr. Crawford, Curry. I’ll pass on the drink for now.” Suddenly, she noticed Darius was dressed in t-shirt and blue jeans. Darius Crawford had on blue jeans. Curry was his usual casually dressed self in a Dallas Stars hockey sweatshirt and jeans. Even Mr. Crawford was wearing jeans. Cherish was glad she’d taken Darbi’s advice and dressed casually. “Where’s Darbi?”

Darius looked Cherish over as he answered her question. He admired the way her jeans molded her hips. “I guess she’s running late. I thought she was coming earlier to help.” He stopped talking as he heard Mrs. Collins greet someone.

Darius looked at his sister as she arrived poolside and plopped down in the patio chair. She let out an exhausted breath.

“Sorry I’m late,” she finally managed. “I had an unexpected phone call just as I getting ready to leave and we stayed on the phone for hours.”

Darius feared it was someone from Amos’s family who had finally tracked her down. He braced himself for the worst. “Who was it?”

“DeMarcus Jameson. We met at aerobics. He seemed nice.”

The name sounded familiar. Darius remembered hearing it somewhere. But where? All at once it hit him. Darius exhaled sharply and stared at his sister in amazement. “The linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys?”

Darbi shrugged. “Maybe. He said he was in sports and worked in Irving. I thought he meant he taught high school athletics or something. Come to think of it, when we were chatting at the gym this morning, there were a lot of people who kept coming around. One woman even had the nerve to give him her phone number with me standing right there.” She shook her head. “Some women.”

Darius and Curry exchanged glances. He saw the disappointment in Curry’s eyes as he chugged his beer, staring at Darbi. He looked like a broken man. But this was Curry. Nothing like Darbi having a date with another man should have rattled him. Darius listened as his sister continued talking.

“I have a date with him tomorrow,” Darbi said as casually as she could.

Cherish gasped. “You’re kidding.”

“No, we’re going to dinner.” The women laughed excitedly.

Darius smiled. Curry frowned. Otis laughed out loud.

“Cherish, could you come over tomorrow and help me pick out something to wear? I’d like to make a good impression,” Darbi said, not looking in Curry’s direction.

“Sure, Darbi. No problem.” Cherish darted a glance in Curry’s direction.

Darbi finally faced her brother. “Darius, do you need me to do anything?”

“Why don’t you start the salad? I’ll show you what to use.” Darius started toward the inside of the house.

Astutely, Darbi followed, knowing Darius wanted to speak with her privately. She waited until Mrs. Collins vacated the kitchen before she spoke. “Okay, Darius, what’s wrong?” She reached for the large salad bowl.

“Darbi, what about this thing with you and Curry?” Darius leaned against the counter, staring at his sister. He watched as she averted his stare and pretended great concentration in making the salad.

“Darius, he said he just wanted to be friends. You know, hang out. Aren’t you always saying that I should have a back-up plan?”

Darius continued watching Darbi as she worked on the salad. “Did you see the expression on his face when you mentioned you had a date?”

“No, I didn’t. But Darius, weren’t you the same person telling me what a philanderer he was and to watch my step? I thought you’d be happy that DeMarcus asked me out.”

Darius stared at his sister. Yes, he was happy someone else found his sister attractive, but he also felt Curry’s pain. “This isn’t about me. This is about you. What makes Darbi Ariane Crawford happy? I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, but I think it’s already too late for that.” Darius walked out of the kitchen.

Darbi sighed and started chopping up tomatoes, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, and peppers. She looked into the refrigerator for salad dressing as she heard the door open again. Why was the kitchen so busy today?

“Got a minute?” Curry’s deep baritone voice penetrated her thoughts.

Darbi turned and faced him, determined not to run into his arms and start kissing him. “Sure, what’s up?”

“What happened to us?” Curry walked around the table and stood next to her. “What about what happened between us the other night?”

Darbi gently placed the knife on the table, trying not to remember how good she’d felt in his arms. “Curry, I believe you said we should be just friends. DeMarcus and I are just friends as well.” She resumed cutting the vegetables for the salad.

“Will you be having sex with him as well?”

Darbi stared at him, not dignifying his comment with an answer.

“When can I see you?” He moved closer to her.

Darbi reached for the salad bowls on the shelf in the oak cabinet.

After she set the bowls on the counter, from behind he slowly wrapped her in a bear hug and kissed her on the neck.

“H-How about Tuesday night?” She tipped her neck to give him better access. Curry took full advantage and nibbled on her neck as his hands traveled to her waist and stopped. He turned her around to face him and kissed her longingly. Darbi could hardly breathe when the kiss finally ended.

“Okay, Tuesday night,” he said, his lips just centimeters from hers. “I’ll pick you up around seven. Call me after your date with Mr. Football.” He was out of the kitchen in a flash.

During the course of the meal, Mr. Crawford quizzed his daughter about her upcoming date. Cherish had the feeling the elder Crawford knew of his daughter’s fling with Curry. Each time he asked Darbi something about DeMarcus, he looked in Curry’s direction for a reaction. Nothing. After he laughed at Curry, he tried to give his daughter some tips.

“Now you need to know some football terms. You know, honey, like quarterback, linebacker. Who carries the ball? How old is this boy anyway?”

“He’s 28, Dad.”

Curry coughed loudly. “He’s ten years younger than you. What could you possibly have in common with a 28-year-old?”

Darbi stared at Curry. “Aerobics,” she said defensively.

Darius and Cherish both laughed.

Cherish noticed the hurt look in Curry’s eyes. He’d made the rules, Cherish thought, and now he was paying the price. Served him right! She tried to redirect the conversation. “Darbi, do you still need me to help you with your paper this week?”

Darbi cut her steak as she discreetly watched Curry. “No, since next week is Thanksgiving, I don’t have class Wednesday. I’m taking a breather until after the holidays.”

Cherish looked at Darius, who was watching Curry as well. Except for that one outburst, Curry had been otherwise quiet. “Darius, what are your plans for Monday night?”

Darius set his bottle of beer down, gazing at Cherish. “No plans.”

“How about dinner? You could look at my drawings.” Cherish had never asked a man out on a date in front of his entire family before. She hoped he didn’t think she was too forward.

Otis laughed. “Is that anything like come and see my etchings?”