nodding her head at Shanell. “You are such a fashionista.”
Shanell grinned. “I’ve been called worse, so I’ll take it.”
Cynthia chuckled before transferring her attention to Tamia with obvious reluctance. “Hello, Tamia. Thanks for visiting today.”
“No thanks necessary. I enjoyed the service. In fact,” Tamia added almost as an afterthought, “I might even decide to join the church.”
A quick flash of anger narrowed Cynthia’s eyes before she recovered and plastered on a bright smile. “Really? That’s wonderful. We’re always happy to welcome new members.”
Tamia smiled just as sweetly. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Of course,” Cynthia continued, linking her arm possessively through Brandon’s, “if you change your mind and decide to attend church somewhere else—or not at all—no hard feelings.” She glanced at Brandon. “Right, baby?”
Lips quirking as he held Tamia’s gaze, Brandon murmured, “She won’t change her mind.”
Cynthia forced out a laugh. “How do you know?”
“She made a pact with God.”
Brandon and Tamia smiled at each other.
Cynthia frowned at being excluded from their private joke.
“Hey,” Shanell spoke up, trying to distract Cynthia. “We’re meeting one of Mark’s friends for lunch this afternoon. Why don’t you and Brandon join us?”
Cynthia made a face. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re having lunch at Opal’s Landing to celebrate my brother’s birthday.”
“Oooh, that fancy restaurant on the water? Girl, I’ve been dying to check out that place for months. Can we come, too?”
It was obvious that Shanell had only been joking, but Cynthia answered sharply, “No.”
Taken aback, Shanell exchanged glances with Tamia and Brandon. “Ohhhkay.”
Realizing that she’d spoken too harshly, Cynthia hastened to make amends. “Girl, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love for you guys to come, but the reservations were made weeks ago, and the celebration’s really only for family. You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Shanell said breezily. “It’s all good. And it’s probably best that you and Brandon have other plans anyway. Mark’s friend is really feeling Tamia, so I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate having her ex-boyfriend around.” She playfully nudged Brandon’s arm. “You know how it is.”
“Of course.” Brandon smiled lazily at Tamia. “Is that the same dude you had dinner with last night?”
Flustered, Tamia stammered, “Um, well—”
“Yup, that’s him,” Shanell intervened. “Gavin just got back from Afghanistan. Mark says he’s been asking about Tamia ever since they were introduced to each other at the club on Friday. After you left the party, Brandon, that brotha wouldn’t let Tamia out of his sight. He’s the one who suggested dinner on Saturday, then lunch this afternoon.” She grinned slyly. “After today, I’m sure he’ll want Tamia all to himself.”
Cynthia beamed with delight. “Sounds like a love connection,” she said gleefully.
Tamia glared at Shanell. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Shanell shrugged. “You never know what could happen. Anyway, we’d better go find Mark so we can get going. Definitely don’t want to keep Gavin waiting.” She smiled cheerfully at Cynthia and Brandon. “Have a good time at lunch.”
“You too.” Cynthia gave Tamia a knowing glance. “Especially you .”
“Thanks.” Tamia glanced at Brandon, who merely inclined his head.
As she and Shanell walked away, Tamia hissed, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Girl, watch your language. We’re in the Lord’s house, remember?”
Tamia ignored the rebuke. “Why the hell did you volunteer all that information about Gavin? I already told you I’m not feeling him like that. And I don’t want Brandon to think I’m interested in seeing another man. Another man is what broke us up!”
Shanell chuckled. “Don’t worry. I got this.”
“Got what? What are
Shanell grinned. “I’ve been called worse, so I’ll take it.”
Cynthia chuckled before transferring her attention to Tamia with obvious reluctance. “Hello, Tamia. Thanks for visiting today.”
“No thanks necessary. I enjoyed the service. In fact,” Tamia added almost as an afterthought, “I might even decide to join the church.”
A quick flash of anger narrowed Cynthia’s eyes before she recovered and plastered on a bright smile. “Really? That’s wonderful. We’re always happy to welcome new members.”
Tamia smiled just as sweetly. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Of course,” Cynthia continued, linking her arm possessively through Brandon’s, “if you change your mind and decide to attend church somewhere else—or not at all—no hard feelings.” She glanced at Brandon. “Right, baby?”
Lips quirking as he held Tamia’s gaze, Brandon murmured, “She won’t change her mind.”
Cynthia forced out a laugh. “How do you know?”
“She made a pact with God.”
Brandon and Tamia smiled at each other.
Cynthia frowned at being excluded from their private joke.
“Hey,” Shanell spoke up, trying to distract Cynthia. “We’re meeting one of Mark’s friends for lunch this afternoon. Why don’t you and Brandon join us?”
Cynthia made a face. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re having lunch at Opal’s Landing to celebrate my brother’s birthday.”
“Oooh, that fancy restaurant on the water? Girl, I’ve been dying to check out that place for months. Can we come, too?”
It was obvious that Shanell had only been joking, but Cynthia answered sharply, “No.”
Taken aback, Shanell exchanged glances with Tamia and Brandon. “Ohhhkay.”
Realizing that she’d spoken too harshly, Cynthia hastened to make amends. “Girl, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love for you guys to come, but the reservations were made weeks ago, and the celebration’s really only for family. You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Shanell said breezily. “It’s all good. And it’s probably best that you and Brandon have other plans anyway. Mark’s friend is really feeling Tamia, so I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate having her ex-boyfriend around.” She playfully nudged Brandon’s arm. “You know how it is.”
“Of course.” Brandon smiled lazily at Tamia. “Is that the same dude you had dinner with last night?”
Flustered, Tamia stammered, “Um, well—”
“Yup, that’s him,” Shanell intervened. “Gavin just got back from Afghanistan. Mark says he’s been asking about Tamia ever since they were introduced to each other at the club on Friday. After you left the party, Brandon, that brotha wouldn’t let Tamia out of his sight. He’s the one who suggested dinner on Saturday, then lunch this afternoon.” She grinned slyly. “After today, I’m sure he’ll want Tamia all to himself.”
Cynthia beamed with delight. “Sounds like a love connection,” she said gleefully.
Tamia glared at Shanell. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Shanell shrugged. “You never know what could happen. Anyway, we’d better go find Mark so we can get going. Definitely don’t want to keep Gavin waiting.” She smiled cheerfully at Cynthia and Brandon. “Have a good time at lunch.”
“You too.” Cynthia gave Tamia a knowing glance. “Especially you .”
“Thanks.” Tamia glanced at Brandon, who merely inclined his head.
As she and Shanell walked away, Tamia hissed, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Girl, watch your language. We’re in the Lord’s house, remember?”
Tamia ignored the rebuke. “Why the hell did you volunteer all that information about Gavin? I already told you I’m not feeling him like that. And I don’t want Brandon to think I’m interested in seeing another man. Another man is what broke us up!”
Shanell chuckled. “Don’t worry. I got this.”
“Got what? What are
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