Page 116 of Meet Me on Greenwood

Gema didn't know I’d arrived, and I was content to have this moment to gaze at her, without turning away, without having to mask my true feelings, which apparently, I was terrible at anyway.

Then she looked up.

I don't know what made her do it. Some instinct. Some pull of attention. Her eyes rose from the floor to the balcony, finding mine with unerring accuracy.

Gema held my gaze for a moment, and I felt the charge in the air between us.

Then the music changed, and the usher appeared at my elbow.

"Sir, Mamie has finished. You may go in now."

I straightened my jacket and walked downstairs.

43

Gema

A Solemn Farewell

I’d already connected the ORI to two of the generators. I should have already left, but I couldn’t bring myself to go until I laid eyes on Houston once more. I continued to search, but he hadn’t arrived yet. Perhaps, Paul was having a difficult time. I was disappointed, of course, but I wouldn’t blame him if he couldn’t make it.

Living with Houston for the last few weeks had been some of the happiest in my life, and the thought of ripping myself away from him felt unbearable. The thought of never getting to feel his arms around me again, crippled me to the point that I wanted to abandon my plan altogether. Then, as I made small talk with Rita’s friends, I happened to glance up at the balcony and my eyes connected with his, like I’d summoned him. Houston met my gaze with an intensity that left me breathless, and I didn’t even hear the announcement on stage.

As Houston disappeared from view, everyone around me began moving in a worried manner. I whispered to Rita as we got caught in the shuffle. "What’s going on?"

"Stradford just announced its mixed couples only for the first dance, and the first three to take the floor will receive $1000."

"How did I miss that?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Where’s Houston when you need him?" she giggled.

Where was he, indeed? Nearby, a few white men approached Black women who had come without dates, but none would take up the offer.

"I’m surprised to see you here," a familiar male voice called. I inhaled sharply at the sight of Gray Sterling. The beautiful Sarah Page stood behind him, looking me up and down like I was gum on the bottom of her shoe. "I wouldn’t think Dr. Whitaker’s assistant could look like this." The way he said assistant as his eyes slid up my body made me sick.

"I should be going," I said. These were the last two people I wanted to be around.

Gray caught my arm. "You are always in such a hurry to leave. I hoped you would want to dance. We can split the prize money down the middle."

"Gray, you wouldn’t!" Sarah said indignantly. "You are here with me."

"That doesn’t mean we can’t have a bit of fun," he said over his shoulder.

People shifted around us, watching the exchange uncomfortably.

"Are you okay, Miss," a black gentleman asked me. There was hesitation in his voice. He knew something was wrong, but he also knew that if he got involved, it could have repercussions for everyone. Still, he stayed, his eyes pinned on Gray as he began to reach into his jacket. Did he have a knife? Gray caught the gesture too, his nostrils flaring.

I shoved my fear away for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I promised the first dance to another," I said trying to break the tension. "He wouldn’t appreciate me dancing with someone else."

Gray laughed, looking around. "Where is this mysterious man? I want to meet him."

"I’m right here."

I turned and gasped as Houston stepped around Gray, dressed in a white suit that set off his eyes even more.

Houston put himself in between me and Gray. "Do we have a problem?" he asked, standing tall.

Sarah looked at him with disgust. "You wouldn’t," she said through bared teeth. "Don’t you dare Houston Whitaker."