What He's Been Missing Read Online Free Page B

rest of the guys by the wall window that let all the twinkling lights from midtown Atlanta traffic into the room, had walked over to my corner.
    â€œYes,” I said, putting the flute down on the little wooden table beside me.
    â€œI’m Jennifer. Scarlet told me Ian was friends with you. Amazing. I saw you on the Wendy Williams Show in December.”
    â€œNovember.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe show aired in November,” I pointed out over a cackle coming from Scarlet across the room. Ian’s hand fell to her waist.
    â€œOh. OK.” Jennifer took a sip from her flute as if that was all she had to say. Or maybe that was the point in the conversation where I was supposed to ask her something, but I didn’t because I knew what was coming next. She turned to look longingly at her boyfriend standing in the huddle like he was a football field away. “You here by yourself?” she asked. “No date?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “I’m a friend of Ian’s. And I’m here with you guys.”
    â€œNo . . .” Jennifer laughed a little. “You know what I mean. Like ‘alone.’ Like with no date.”
    â€œYou got me! No date tonight!” I picked up my flute and sipped the last little bit of champagne left so I’d have an excuse to walk away.
    â€œHow brave of you, sister! I remember those days. Being single and just out there. Living life out loud!” She turned back to stare into the huddle. “But then I found my man and everything in my life changed.” Her voice sank way too deep for a cocktail party conversation. “I just love him so much.”
    â€œYay for love.” I pumped my fist and sounded decidedly obnoxious. “You’re so lucky. How long have you two been together.”
    â€œThree months! But it feels like three lifetimes.” She waved at him like he was going to try to escape if she forgot to keep an eye on him. “You know, they say the true way to build a strong black nation is to get married. Have a family.”
    â€œReally? Where’d you hear that?”
    â€œA class I’m taking . . . grad school.”
    Ian’s hand had retreated to his pocket. Scarlet slipped away and was taking pictures with her girlfriends again.
    â€œDon’t worry. Your ship is coming in for sure. Your life is all about love. You breathe it every day.” Jennifer leaned into me. “It must be hard seeing all those people in love when you’re not.”
    Ian turned around in my gaze and gave me a weak smile before shrugging his shoulders.
    â€œI mean, you do want love, right?” Jennifer asked. “You’re not like . . . you know . . . a—”
    â€œYes, I want love,” I said. “But something real. Not just someone I can take to cocktail parties and pose in pictures with.”
    â€œOh yeah,” Jennifer said distantly and just then I realized she wasn’t listening to a word I was saying. “Hey, can you hold my purse?” She turned and handed me her little hot pink clutch before rushing over to grab her boyfriend’s hand and dragging him into one of the pictures that had claimed Ian as well.
    From where I was standing behind them, I could see Ian reach into his back pocket and finger his book. His head tilted away from Scarlet, he pulled the book up a bit, then pushed it back down when she laced her arm around his waist.
    â€œMy sister!” Scarlet came to me with her arms outstretched after dispersing from the photo op. “So glad you could make it out to my little surprise birthday party!” She hugged me so tightly it felt like a chiropractic back adjustment. Ian nearly had to pull us apart.
    â€œOh, Ian was so excited. I wanted to support him. To support both of you,” I said, watching Ian. The confidence he’d grown in his eyes was wavering. I saw bungee cords in his pupils.
    â€œYeah, this beautiful black man!” Scarlet