Her Good Thing. Vanessa Miller

Marshall said something that caused Kevin to stop in his tracks. “Say it ain’t so. Don’t tell me that Marshall Windham is getting ready to turn in his playa card?”

      “Nobody said anything about turning in my membership. I’m gon’ keep my man cave...just looking to hang out with a woman who has common sense.” Marshall would never tell Kevin about the woman he ran into at the business retreat, but her words had really gotten to him. Marshall looked into that beautiful woman’s eyes and saw how much he had hurt her. Truth be told, it bothered him to know that his actions had caused such pain to another human being.

      Kevin snapped his fingers. “You know who would be perfect for you?”

      Shaking his head, Marshall said, “I don’t need a hook-up. I can handle mine.”

      “Shut up, fool, I’m not trying to hook you up. I’m talking about Danetta.”

      Marshall stopped, stared at his friend. “Danetta who?”

      “Danetta Harris, your business partner...who do you think I’m talking about?”

      Marshall shook his head and started walking toward his SUV again.

      “What’s wrong with Danetta? You and her get along, you like the same things. Heck, she even roots for the same sorry sports teams that you do.”

      “That’s the exact problem. Other than you, Danetta is the best friend that I have. I can’t mess that up by getting into a relationship with her.”

      Kevin thought a moment. “You’re probably right. Most of your women do become disgruntled by the time they leave.”

      “What you talkin’ ’bout, man? I leave my women happy and satisfied,” Marshall said with a little extra swag in his walk.

      As they reached their cars in the parking lot, both Marshall and Kevin stood there for a moment looking as if their favorite dog had just been run over while they stood and watched it happen. Then as if Marshall’s head exploded, he began jumping up and down as he ran around his SUV. “She flattened three of my tires! Didn’t I tell you...didn’t I tell you, man? That woman is ten kinds of crazy.”

      “Dawg, naw!” Kevin put his hands over his mouth and kept staring at the destruction before him.

      Marshall flailed his arms back and forth. “What am I supposed to do now?”

      “This ain’t happy and satisfied, man.” Kevin shook his head. “It’s time for you to say something.”

      Lowering his head as if lowering his pride, Marshall asked, “Can you give me a ride to the police station?”

      * * *

      Heads swiveled and twirled around as Danetta strutted into work on Monday morning.

      “You look really nice today, Danetta. I love the haircut,” Monica, her assistant, said as she passed her in the hallway.

      “Thank you.” Danetta pulled her oversized Coach bag over her shoulder and continued toward her office like a woman on a mission.

      By the time Monday morning rolled around, she had grown comfortable with her look and knew she looked good. The hair and makeup were positive changes and Danetta owed Ryla big time for helping her with it. But she still wasn’t so sure about the new clothes. Danetta had a strict “no cleavage” policy when it came to the workplace. But she had listened to Ryla and ignored her best judgment; now she was being ogled and stared at like she was a work-on-your-back kind of girl. She rushed to her office and dialed Ryla’s number. As the phone rang, she noticed the single red rose in the crystal vase that had been placed on her desk. She shook her head as she frowned at the rose that Marshall sent to her. He gave her a single red rose every February 13th. Years ago, she had asked him to stop sending her that single red rose the day before Valentine’s Day because it only served to remind her that she didn’t have anyone special in her life. No one had ever sent her the full dozen on the most romantic day of the year. Marshall had assured her that someone would come along and outshine his single red rose, but until they did, he would continue letting her know that she was cherished.