That gets a lot more applause. Ian and Colin are in the back hooting and hollering, but Veronica just stares.
I ignore that.
“Alright, everyone, let’s eat! The DJ is gonna start in about twenty minutes.”
Yeah, I’m not gon’ be here that damn long. Raya should be home from class by the time I get home. I wanna meet her there and make sure she’s straight. There’s nobody here at this party that I wanna see that I can’t see tomorrow.
She's due in a few weeks.
Hugh queues up a slide show on the screen on the back wall, and we’re regaled with photos of the build at every stage from conception to completion. Rebar skeletons. Pour days. Cranes in the sky, word to Solange. I’m in a lot of them with my hardhat on, making sure shit is good.
I’m proud of myself. I’m really that nigga here at this shit. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I really believe that.
“Mr. Taylor.”
I roll my eyes before turning toward her. I know that annoying ass voice anywhere. “What’s up, Veronica?”
“Congratulations.”
“Yeah. Same to you.”
Her eyes move over me like a cat. “The work’s done. Contracts are signed. I probably won’t be back in this office for a while.”
I hold up my glass to that.
“We should get a drink sometime,” she finishes.
“Got one right here.”
She tilts her head. “Why are you playing dumb?”
I make a face. “You know I’m married, right?”
She shrugs. “That’s never stopped a man before. Not with me, at least.”
“Well, I’m honored that I get to be your first.”
Her lips purse tightly as she looks over me again. “Sometimes men just want something different, that’s all.”
“If you knew my wife, you’d know that’ll never be an issue for me.”
She smiles, and it actually looks genuine. “Well, I guess it’s nice to see somebody happily married.”
“I am,” I say, and I mean that shit. No qualification or equivocation.
When the fuck didthathappen?
“I figured it was worth a shot,” she says lightly. “Couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“Mmm…I don’t know. Depending on who you’re dealing with, sometimes itcanhurt to ask.”
Speaking of…
“By the way, I heard about what happened. I never got the details, but I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah. Thanks. It was a shooting. The police think it was mistaken identity.”
“Really?”
