Page 88 of Devanté
It had been a couple of months since I saw her but she still looked the same. Tall, in perfect shape, long cascading hair, and flawless skin.
Shoulders back.
Posture straight.
Muscle memory set in before I even spoke to her. Miss Liza came out next and rushed over to us with outstretched arms.
“Oh, sweetheart, I would hug you but I just got back from the spa and my pores are open. You and Devanté have been sitting outside and…just no.” What else would I expect from my mother?
“Hey, Mom. Hi, Miss Liza. You look pretty today.” I smiled at Devanté’s mother and she returned the gesture with warmth and another hug.
“Look at you, Blake. Oh my goodness. It’s been too long since I’ve laid my hands on you and gave you a big hug. I’m glad you finally came to your senses and stopped being mad at this boy. He was lost without you.”
Came to my senses. That’s exactly what happened. I loved how kind Miss Liza was without being harsh. She knew damn well I was in the wrong but she didn’t make me feel bad for it.
“Yes, yes. I’m so glad you and Devanté are friends again. It’ll be like old times.” Mom looked at Devanté and a genuine smile overtook her face. “Armani from head to toe. You are just…so handsome. You know, I have every magazine you’ve ever been in, Devanté? I’m so proud of you I could pop.” She tossed herself against his strong chest and hugged him tight.
My heart slipped a little but I tried to keep my smile in place. The corners of my mouth twitched with a frown that needed to be heard. I locked it away. Now wasn’t the time.
“Thank you, Miss Yelinda,” Devanté said with a humble nod. “You look beautiful as always. I’m glad to be back at the Remington house. I thought I was banned forever.”
“You’re dramatic, Jodeci.”
“Call it what you want but you were going hard when you were pissed at me.” He glanced at me and I wished I could have flipped him off. Even though I was grown, I still didn’t put my middle finger up around my mother. And definitely not around Devanté’s mother.
“You’re still calling my son Jodeci, Blake?”
“I am. Sorry. Old habits die hard.”
“She can call me whatever she wants to at this point.”
Oh my god. Did he have to look at me like that when our mothers were standing right there? The fire that smoldered behind his deep, dark irises made me want to drag him to my old bedroom and pin him down.
“Um, son?” Miss Liza snapped her fingers at Devanté and he blinked away the lust.
“Oh, sorry about that, Ladies.” He chuckled then pulled me closer. My mother’s scrutinizing eyes honed in but she remained quiet.
“Listen, there’s nothing wrong with being named after a member in the best nineties R&B group to ever do it. I’ll still sit front row at a Jodeci concert right now,” Miss Liza said.
“I know you would,” Mom muttered. “You need to come into the twenty-first century, Liza.”
“Oh, I’m here. I still appreciate the classics though. Plus, Devanté Swing was fine as hell. I already knew my baby would be a heartbreaker.”
“See, remember I used to tell you that you were born to be a pretty boy, Jodeci?” I bumped him with my hips and we all shared a warm laugh.
“Let’s go inside before I melt out here in the heat.” Mom took Devanté’s hand and led him to the kitchen. I grabbed bottles of water for everyone and we all sat around the table minus dad. He left because he felt like Devanté’s dad was all alone. I knew he just wanted to steer clear of Mom and Miss Liza.
“So, tell me Devanté, what’s been going on? We haven’t had a chance to sit and talk for so long. You’re still at Imperial, I trust.”
“I am. Although, I’m about to strike out on my own. I’m thinking about getting an independent agent and hiring a marketing firm, long-term so I don’t have to be tied down to Imperial anymore.”
Miss Liza looked pleased but my mother looked like she was going to pass out. She pressed her hand to her chest like the drama queen she is and made a noise.
“Devanté, Imperial is the biggest agency in California. You can’t up and walk away from that. They helped to get you to supermodel status.”
“I know, Miss Yelinda. People grow and change though. I’m ready to move forward without having to model all the time. I have so many businesses in LA and here in the Bay. I want to focus on those.”
“You still want to get into acting?” I asked curiously.
