Eye Candy by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

version with a storyline. I was the scorned lover who he didn’t appreciate until I was gone. It was exhausting work, but I had so much fun.
    By the time the crew started wrapping up, I was still hyped. J. Love met me in my dressing room. “So, how was it?” he asked.
    â€œIt was everything!” I replied, slipping my Louboutins off.
    â€œYeah, it can be grueling doing the same thing over and over, but I love it,” J. replied. “And wait till you see the end results. Hype is no joke,” he said, referring to the director.
    â€œI can tell,” I replied.
    â€œGuess what, though?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHype loves you and wants to talk to you about casting you in this new movie that he’s directing and I’m starring in.”
    â€œMovie?”
    â€œYeah, I told you. Stick with me and we’ll conquer the world!”
    I laughed. “I would love to do a movie, so I’d definitely have to talk with him about that later.” I held up my shoes. “Hey, so what do you want me to do with the shoes?”
    â€œThey’re yours.”
    â€œOh, wow, I get to keep them?”
    â€œGirl, don’t nobody want to walk after you,” he joked.
    â€œWhatever. My toes are cute.” I wiggled my foot.
    â€œThey sure are.” He looked at me all sexy for a minute, then relaxed and said, “We’re all going out to celebrate. So, let’s go.”
    I glanced down at my phone and saw two texts from Alvin. It was late, but I’d promised him that I would swing by his place after the shoot.
    â€œI, um, kinda have plans,” I stammered.
    J. looked at me like I was crazy. “Plans? Girl, we just wrapped an award-winning video shoot in one day. That’s cause for celebration. We got to go have some fun.”
    Before I could reply, my phone rang. I looked down and saw Alvin’s number. “This is my boyfriend.”
    J. didn’t seem fazed. “Okay, and? Tell him you’re still at work. Tell him the shoot is running long if you don’t want to tell him you’re going out.”
    â€œI don’t like lying.”
    â€œOh, come on, Maya. Really?”
    J. Love was right. I was ready to relax, let my hair down and have a good time. I could hang out with Alvin any time.
    I sighed and answered on the last ring before it went to voice mail. “Hey,” I said.
    â€œHey, you. How are things going?” Alvin asked.
    â€œIt’s going well.”
    â€œI was wondering if you were wrapping up. I was hoping we could still meet up. I can come there and we can go grab a late dinner or something.”
    I eyed J. Love, who was standing there like he had no plans to move. I turned my back to him and lowered my voice. “Yeah, um, I think it’s going to take us a lot longer than I expected. We’re nowhere near finished.” I actually felt awful lying to Alvin, but “Hey, I’m going to party with my ex and his crew” didn’t sound like it would fly.
    Alvin was quiet. “Oh, okay.”
    â€œSo, I’ll just catch up with you tomorrow,” I said. “Okay?”
    More silence. “All right. Good night,” he finally said. “I love you.”
    I looked back over my shoulder at J. Love. “Me, too,” I responded.
    I hung up the phone and turned back to J. He was standing there with a stupid grin on his face.
    â€œYou might not like lying, but you sure are good at it.”
    My mouth dropped open. But before I could say anything else, he said, “Girl, chill, I’m just messing with you. Come on, let’s go have a great time!” He grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door.

Chapter 21
    â€œG o, Maya, it’s your birthday! You gonna party like it’s your birthday!”
    The crowd chanted while I did something I never in a million years thought I’d be caught dead doing—twerking. And not just regular twerking, I’m talking