Page 40 of Fever

Chapter Eleven

“Nothing to tell us, huh?”

I peeped over the rim of my glass at Selena.

“You’ve been back here all of five minutes, and you just couldn’t wait to get that out, could you?”

I took my glance over to Josiah who stood talking to another acquaintance that had entered the club. The new set of men, three of them, quickly glided to the VIP and shouted for Josiah to let them in.

“Seriously, Santana,” Octavia said. “What’s the word?”

I didn’t want to hold anything back from them, but I couldn’t tell them the truth. That we were pretending to be a couple so he could appease his father. First, it sounded conniving, and I didn’t want to think of it that way. Secondly, Josiah and I never talked about what we would tell others. Those closest to us. Should we reveal that this was the plan or make them think it was real so it would seem more genuine?

“Look, when I know, I’ll let you girls know.”

It was all I had to offer at the time. I was planning to ask Josiah what he wanted to do: reveal our scheme or not.

“You don’t know?” Carla said. “Girl, the way that man just hauled you off.” Carla ran a hand down her body and shuddered. “I wish a brother would steal me like that.”

“Mmhmm,” Selena seconded. “Snatched you up real quick, too. If his intentions were to let Hunter know you were taken, I’d say he did a job well done.”

“Sure did,” Octavia added. “We were all sitting there with our mouths on the floor. I don’t think Hunter appreciated it either.”

I frowned. “Why do you say that?”

“Girl, he didn’t say another word to us. He just walked off,” Selena said.

“The frown on his face said it all.”

“We are talking about Hunter Valentine. I don’t think competition has ever been a problem for him,” Carla said.

“Then I guess he’s never met a Rose before,” I responded.

“So, you’re admitting it then,” Selena said.

“Admitting what?”

“Hunter does have competition. You and Josiah are an item.”

I held my hands up. “Whoa, I didn’t say any of that. And first of all, I don’t know Hunter. This was the first time I’ve seen him in person.”

“Honey, I’ve got the feeling those two have been rivals long before Santana entered the picture the way they glared at each other,” Octavia said.

We all agreed.

“Why didn’t one of you try and get with him? I know y’all heffas wanted to.”

“Sure did,” Carla spoke up, “but he didn’t want any of us. That was evident by the way he marched off after Josiah swept you away.”

“Damn that was sexy,” Selena stated.

“I’ll tell you this much,” Octavia added, “if Jonathon ever sweeps me away like that, there’s no denying we’d have something going on.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re just saying that because it hasn’t happened. But trust me, there will still be some reservations if and when it happens.”

“Reservations like what?” Octavia asked.

I cast a glanced over at Josiah to find him watching me. For what felt like minutes but was probably seconds, we gazed at one another. Then he winked and took a sip of his liquor and continued to engage in the conversation he held.

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