“So I was wondering,” Malik continued, staring directly at her and ignoring her attempt to sidetrack him. Even in the darkness, she could feel the intensity in his eyes. “Would you like to go out with me sometime next week?”
Ugh! Why did he have to ask me out? “Listen,” Mya said as she tried to think about the best way to decline and not come off as rude. “I appreciate the offer, but I have to pass. I can’t go out with you.”
“Okay,” he said, turning back to the ocean. “May I ask why?”
I wish you wouldn’t. “I just have a lot going on and I don’t have time to date.”
She could feel the tension in the air and knew he still had more questions.
“I understand,” he said, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck. “But one date couldn’t hurt.”
I really don’t have time for this. Mya actually did like Malik, but she didn’t want to date him or any other man right now. She had way too much going on in her personal life and dating Malik, a man who knew all her friends, meant that he was too close to her life. If things didn’t work out, where would that leave them? Mya knew the deal. One date would turn into two dates, and then three dates. Next thing they knew, everyone would be celebrating their wedding and proclaiming what a cute couple they were. It had happened to Imani, Cyd and recently engaged Lex.
She laughed aloud at the direction of her thoughts. The man had asked her on one date and she was already predicting how badly it could end. Nonetheless, she knew her decision was a solid no.
“How about we just stick to seeing each other at friendly gatherings,” Mya finally replied.
Malik gave her a sly smile. “For now,” he added before he began walking back to the deck. Mya turned around to watch him walk away until he faded into the darkness.
Malik was sweet, nice and definitely not equipped to understand her complicated life. He would never be able to handle me,’she thought, turning back to the ocean.
Two months later...
There was nothing cuter than an adorable little guy with smooth creamy brown skin, piercing round honey eyes and a head full of curly brown hair.
“It’s official, I think I’m in love,” Mya Winters said softly as she placed a hand over her heart and gazed down at the face of her newest addiction.
“He’s such a ladies’ man,” said Mya’s friend and Elite Events cofounder, Imani Rayne-Barker. “I think he has a crush on you.”
“I think he does too,” Mya replied as her heart swelled with pride. “Hey, little guy,” she cooed while touching the hands of the smallest human she’d ever held. “It’s Auntie Mya and I’ve been thinking about another promise I want to make to you. I promise to always give you cookies and teach you all the things your mom doesn’t want me to teach you.”
“Really, Mya,” Imani said, her voice filled with laughter. Imani and her husband, Daman Barker, were the proud parents of Daman Stanley Barker Jr., who everyone affectionately called DJ.
“You are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” she exclaimed as she rocked DJ in her arms. He laughed in a way that proved he agreed with her statement. He caught ahold of her pinkie finger and gently tugged, rewarded by a large smile from Mya.
“He’s only five weeks old and you already spoil him way too much,” Imani said as she walked around her living room picking up an array of shopping bags filled with clothes and toys for DJ that Mya had lugged through the door earlier.
“I can’t help it,” Mya said as she made funny faces at DJ. “He deserves the best.”
Imani opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by her husband, Daman.
“The rest of the clan is here,” Daman announced as he walked into the room followed by Cyd and Lex.
Imani stood to hug them, but the two women went straight to Mya who was still making funny faces at DJ.
“I’m next,” Cyd said taking DJ out of Mya’s arms after promising Mya that she would give him back soon. “How’s my handsome nephew doing?” She brushed noses with DJ who raised his little hands to cup her face.
“I love it when he does that,” Lex said observing the exchange between Cyd and DJ before she placed more shopping bags in the corner of the living room where Imani had neatly stacked the bags from Mya.
“No love for me?” Imani said reaching out her arms. Lex walked over and gave her a quick hug.
“Sorry, sis,” Cyd said, making no attempt to move. “I’ve been waiting all day to hold DJ.”
“I can’t wait until you guys have kids so that y’all can see how it feels to be ignored.” Mya laughed at her friend’s comment. Imani was the most motherly of the group so Mya knew she loved the attention DJ was getting. Happiness was reflected in her eyes every time she looked at DJ.
Mya wasn’t the mushy or sentimental type, but being around DJ brought out feelings in her that she hadn’t ever felt before. Not having a family of her own meant she missed normal family milestones like graduations, birthday parties, first births of the family and the overall feeling of belonging.
“How about I take my son with me to the next room while you ladies get started on business,” Daman announced to the room. He reached his arms out to a reluctant Lex who had just tugged DJ from Cyd. After giving the infant a small peck, Lex handed DJ over to his father.
“Okay, since I called this meeting, I’ll start,” Mya said as she slipped a few sheets of paper out of her bag. Ever since Imani had given birth to DJ, there had been more meetings hosted at Imani and Daman’s estate with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan, than the Elite Events office in downtown Chicago. Choosing Imani’s home to host their weekly Monday meetings gave Mya, Cyd and Lex a chance to see DJ who had quickly become the main reason any of them went shopping anymore.
“As I discussed a few months ago, there is a huge problem with the two after-school programs that we sponsor in conjunction with Chicago Public Schools.” Mya handed each of the women a sheet of paper. “A few days ago, the advisory board informed me that the programs would be shutting down in a couple months. Our efforts to save the programs didn’t help.”
“How is that possible?” Imani asked as she scanned over the notes on the paper. “We received more investments over the past couple months for this school year than ever before.”
“I know,” Mya said in irritation as she thought about her meeting with the board. “Apparently, since so many CPS schools closed last year and even more the year before, enrollment in the after-school programs was extremely low. The money we received from investors wasn’t enough to cover all the costs.”
“Sounds like BS to me,” Cyd stated as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Enrollment is never that expensive, so the money they would have gotten would have been minimal anyway. Seems suspicious.”
“Don’t even get me started,” Mya said as she waved her hands in the air. “I’ve already raised hell, but it’s not doing any good. There are plenty of CPS teachers and employees still upset about the direction of our schools and after-school programs. Most of our voices are going unheard. It’s getting better, but there’s still a long journey ahead.”
Overseeing programs Elite Events sponsored was always something that Mya enjoyed. Especially managing the after-school programs. If Mya hadn’t started Elite Events Inc. with her partners, she would have definitely been a public school teacher. Through the after-school programs, she still put her love for education to good use despite the obstacles she was currently faced with.
“I