Love After War by Cheris Hodges

loved him fiercely. They Rollerbladed together, hung out on the beach, discovered tofu and found out that it wasn’t for them. His childhood friends thought he had the coolest mother ever, but they didn’t see how lonely she was. When they’d get that weekly package from New York, Pamela would cry, all the while trying to hide her sadness and tears from Adrian. But he’d seen them and never knew why.
    To hell with changing his mind; he wanted someone else to feel that pain.
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    Dana and Imani walked out of the spa feeling and looking spectacular. With her locks curled and retwisted, Dana was tempted not to ride her motorcycle to the movie premiere. Tempted, but not totally swayed. She loved that bike after just a few hours of owning it.
    â€œI have to get fitted for my dress,” Imani said, then turned to Dana. “Promise me two things.”
    â€œI’ll think about it.”
    â€œNo riding until after the premiere, and please, no more late-night visits with Adrian.”
    â€œTrust me, I’m done with him. And I’ll think about the riding part. Where’s Raymond?”
    Imani smiled. “My wonderful husband is getting fitted for a tuxedo and hating every minute of it. He wanted to know why he couldn’t just wear jeans and his favorite Hendrix T-shirt. Although he’d look very sexy in it, I told him this is the first time he’s hitting the red carpet with me as the headliner in a movie.”
    â€œStill not used to the life of a movie star’s husband ?”
    Imani nodded. “But he’s always a good sport about it and that’s why when we get back to New York, I’m going to talk to Broadway Cares about doing a fund-raiser for the clinic. I’ll even do Alexander Roman’s show and give my salary to Raymond and Keith. They work so hard with so little.”
    â€œLet me know. Hopefully I’ll be done with this book and I can shoot the event for you guys.”
    Imani reached out and hugged her friend tightly. “You’re wonderful and you deserve to be happy. I hope Ian is the man to make you happy.”
    â€œI’m not sad, Mani. I’ve gotten my head together and I know what I need. It’s not Adrian.”
    â€œHallelujah!”
    Dana headed up to her room to pick out her outfit for the premiere. As she walked toward the elevator, she felt her phone vibrate, indicating that she missed a call. She pulled the phone from her pocket and saw the number. Even without having his name saved in her cell, she knew it was Adrian. Pressing the UP button on the elevator, she deleted the missed call. She wasn’t going to call him—ever. If Adrian wanted to deal with his mess alone, she’d let him. He’d done it before and he could do it again. As the elevator reached her floor, she found herself wondering if she should return his call, though. What if he needed her and this was a call for help?
    â€œNo,” she whispered as she unlocked her room door. “Adrian wants you because he thinks you want Ian. He is playing a game that I don’t want to be a participant in.”
    Perching on the edge of her bed, Dana ran her hand across the bedspread and memories of her night with Adrian flooded back. God, how she craved that man. Needed him as she needed the oxygen in her lungs. But he didn’t trust her enough to let her into whatever was clouding his . . . Why do I care? she thought as she pounded the bed. Dana rose to her feet and crossed over to the closet to retrieve her outfit.
    Dana had originally planned to wear a blue pantsuit with a pink tunic and silver strappy heels. Sucking her teeth, she glanced at the jumpsuit she’d packed on a whim. The black bandeau suit was a skin-hugging throwback to Foxy Brown, and Dana had always been too afraid to wear it while shooting pictures. The last thing she needed was a Janet Jacksonesque wardrobe malfunction.
    But she wasn’t taking pictures