The boy chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I’ve heard the ‘Baby, this is nice, but it needs a little something more’ reaction to my work before. She definitely didn’t give me that this time around.”
Adam couldn’t help but enjoy the boy’s candor. The more time he spent in the presence of James, the more he became enamored with James’ good fortune to be a happy Black kid comfortably existing in his own skin. That was a remarkable feat as a teenager, one Adam had no doubt was only possible because of the love and support Janae showed her son.
“If you’re looking for my mom, she’s on the other end of the room helping the first set of models line up.”
“Thanks, man.” Adam put his hand on James’ shoulder andgave it a kind squeeze. “If I don’t get to see you before the show starts, break a leg.”
The young man offered Adam a wide grin whose warmth seemed to spread right through the center of Adam’s chest. The feeling caught him off guard for a second and Adam realized why. James wasn’t just any student. He was Janae’s son, and so much of her shone through him that it was difficult not to see her in him.
“Thanks, Dr. Henderson.” The boy looked down at his clipboard quickly before tossing a quick, “Enjoy the show,” over his shoulder.
James excused himself, heading in the opposite direction as he threw out more commands in the room. Adam took the opportunity to zero in on Janae, his breath stopping the moment he glanced at her.
She was dressed in a black strapless romper that had been paired with a crisp white button-down shirt tucked inside of the romper’s bodice.
Since she was carrying garment bags over her shoulder, he figured what she was wearing wasn’t for the stage. Hope crackled inside of him that maybe, just maybe, she’d thought a little bit about how much the sight of her curves on full display like that would make his absolute year.
Too excited by the sight of her to stand still, he easily closed the distance between them.
“Good evening, Janae.” He leaned in to speak to her so no one else could hear his words. “You look good enough to eat in that outfit.”
Janae offered him a gentle, almost bashful smile. “Bashful” certainly wasn’t a word he’d normally associate with her, but there was no other descriptor for the way her cheeks flushed underneath her smooth complexion.
“You’d better stop before Michael has to lock us both up for lewd behavior in a public place. Even though you’ve been gonea long time, you know we’d never survive a scandal like that in Monroe Hills.”
Adam couldn’t disagree with her. Subsequently, he also couldn’t find enough give a damn to be concerned either. “Please tell me you’ll make some time in your calendar for me to see you soon.”
Her smile grew bolder and Adam had to fight to keep his body from responding.
“If you leave me alone and stop distracting me, I’ll make time to see you tonight.”
Satisfied with her answer, he simply nodded. He was about to turn when he heard a familiar voice half singing, half speaking his name.
“Hi, Adam.” Cree stood waving her hand aggressively. Letting him know he could try to pretend the way he was focused on Janae was professional, but she knew better. When Adam glanced over to find Vanessa and Michael standing next to her with twin arched eyebrows, he knew they knew better too.
“Evening, Cree.” Adam leaned in and gave her a quick hug. “Where’s your better half?”
“I divorced him two years ago.”
It was Adam’s turn to raise a brow as he looked at her. “I wasn’t talking about Taylor. We both know he was never your better half.”
He should’ve been ashamed. If he were a better man, he wouldn’t be laughing at the slight discomfort he saw tugging at the muscles in Cree’s face. He loved Cree and didn’t usually find joy in annoying her. Tonight, however, he felt like giving as good as he got.
All eyes lingered on Cree until she swallowed and looked Adam in the eye again. “You’re not as funny as you think you are, Adam.”
If the way Michael and Vanessa were snickering next to her was any indication, Cree was wrong.
“Derrick is saving seats for all of us, unless”—she pointed her chin in Janae’s direction—“you’ve got official business back here with Janae.”
“I think Janae and I have concluded our official business for the evening. I’ll gladly sit with what I’m sure is going to be James’ fan club.”
He gave Janae a wink, hoping she realized they’d pick up their conversation later, extended his arm to Cree, and exited the room to head for the gym where the action would take place.
The gym had been reimagined and revamped into something dazzling. There was a large T-shaped elevated stage that extended into the middle of the room. Rows of chairs lined all three sides of the stage and the entrance where the models would enter was covered with silver curtains that lined the wall behind it.
A quick glance at the front of the stage, and Adam found Derrick, waving his hand, greeting the four of them with a big smile bright enough to light up the dim room.
“Glad y’all could finally bother to bring yourselves inside.”
