Come Share My Love - By Carrie Macon Page 0,46
there to know? He should have said something. Take up for me just once, will you, Essence.”
“This isn’t about sides Shy.”
“I think it is. Why can’t I have Brennan as a friend? He’s a fun guy. And Braxton as well. I can talk to them.”
“But you came here with Zack.”
“Correction, I came here as Zack’s guest. He’s not trying to be with me. He’s been running around all day with that Halle damn Berry clone.”
“Her name is Connie and she is very nice.”
“So what.”
“So, you’ve been running around with Brennan.”
“No. I was sitting here alone after a couple of hours when Brennan came up and spoke to me. Besides, I can be myself with those guys. They’re fun and more like brothers. Brother’s I’ve never had. I can play with them because I’m not in love with either of them.” Shyla realized she may spoke too fast. Had she just made a slight confession?
“Come again.”
“Nothing.”
“You just said you were in love with Zackary.”
“That is not what I said. What I said was-”
Essence put her hands over her mouth so she would not finish the obvious lie.
“Sit down before a bolt of lightning come down and strike you for that lie you were about to release from your mouth.
They sat facing one another. She asked Shyla to look her in the eyes and tell her that she wasn’t in love with Zackary Trellis. But before she let her mouth go to hear her answer she threatened her. “And before you speak remember about the lightning bolts and the fact that I can read you like a book.” She released her mouth.
“Okay Ess. Here is the truth. I am not going to lie to you. I am not able to answer that question because, it may not be true.”
“May not?” Essence jumped from where she was seating.
“Okay, okay. That statement is not true and I am in love with Zackary.”
Essence sighed in relief. “How long have you felt this way?”
“I don’t know Ess.” She shrugged.
“Estimate.”
“Ess!”
“I’m waiting.” She was not going to have to drag it out of her. Not this time.
“Almost immediately.”
“Shyla! That’s almost two years.”
“Definitely before Jamaica.” She sighed in relief. It felt so good to finally have it out.
“How come you held it in and haven’t told him? Do you know what kind of a relationship the two of you could have had by now?”
“Yes but it’s not guaranteed.”
“Shy, he’s an exceptional man and you are an exceptional woman. Why pretend?”
“I’m scared Essence.”
“Why are you scared?”
“I don’t exactly know. You know I’m not good with men. They use and abuse. They take advantage and stomp all over your heart. I don’t want to deal with that.”
“Zackary is not like that.”
Shyla rolled her eyes. “All men are like that.”
“No,” she shook her head. “That’s not true.”
“I want to believe that, I really do, but how can I.”
“He was upset when you left with his brother.”
“Yeah right. You couldn’t prove that by the way he acted when we were all in the living room just now. Besides he was out there for over two hours with Connie and Lord only knows how long they had been in that damn corral.”
“Shy I’m serious. Zackary has it bad for you. He was pacing wondering what was taking you so long to get back, he called both of your cell phones but got no answer and was about to come look for you when Brennan’s truck pulled up. Oh my God, and when the two of you strolled in laughing he was too through. He wanted to clock Brennan and I wanted to clock you.”
“Why?”
“Shyla don’t you get it? That man out there is in love with you and you leave more than four hours ago with his brother. You don’t know that man.”
“Truth be told, Ess, I don’t know Zackary either.”
“But you know of him and way more than you know his brother. And whose fault is it that you don’t know Zack? He’s really upset. All he talked about was introducing you to his girls and his parents.”
“Well, I didn’t know that. And I met his mother.” she smiled and pulled Essence to sit with her. “Essence she is so nice. I thought that Sister and Mother Beacon from church were the nicest women I had every met but I was wrong. After just a few minutes with Mama V, I saw how special she was.”
“Zackary wanted to do it,” Essence said gloomily. “I guess because he wanted to see you come together