Getting sexy: Obsession / Getting Some / Getting Even

We pull apart. “Sure.”

“Start checking Charles’s clothes. Check his wallet, his car. Everything.”

“Sam—”

“I’m serious. See if that motherfucker’s got phone numbers hidden and a secret stash of condoms. Because a guy’s a guy. If he’s not fucking his wife, then he’s fucking someone else.”

Chapter Six

Lishelle

When Rhonda peeks her head into the hair and makeup room, I immediately cut my eyes at her. I’ve been avoiding her all week. She, too, has been avoiding me, I’m sure. As well she should be.

But obviously she’s decided that she’ll make the first move and speak to me today. Her timing is perfect—Joanie, the hairstylist, stepped out to get coffee.

Coincidence?

Rhonda’s eyes are downcast as she steps into the room and closes the door behind her. “Hey,” she says softly.

“Hey, yourself.”

“I just want to say—”

“Did you know?” I ask. “Did you know that your cousin is gay, or bisexual or whatever the hell he is?”

She doesn’t meet my eyes.

“You knew?” I stare at Rhonda in horror. “Rhonda, why?”

She finally looks directly at me. “Trevor said he feels bad about what happened. That he was having a great time with you before—”

“Before his boyfriend decided that he wanted him back?”

“Trevor really likes you.”

My eyes widen as I stare at her. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“I think you could be the one for him. I really do.”

“He’s gay, Rhonda. Or at least sexually confused.”

“Bisexual. Or so he says. But that relationship—it was just a phase.”

“Ah, now I feel better.”

“I’m serious. We had a heart-to-heart about it, and he said he’d gone straight, that he was looking to meet a nice woman and settle down.”

“And you set him up with me?”

“He’s really a nice guy. He was just confused for a while. You know.”

Oh my God. I can’t believe Rhonda. I can’t believe she’d set me up with a guy she knew was into men.

“I’m sorry. I thought it would work out.”

“Tell him I wish him luck working things out with his ex.”

“No, that’s over. Honestly. His ex is crazy, like some kind of stalker—”

I hold up a hand to stop Rhonda. “Rhonda, I don’t care if it’s over or not. I’m not into bisexual men. Your cousin or not.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t really get why you wanted to set me up with him.” It’s not like I whine at the station every day about wanting a man in my life. “First of all, a bisexual man is really a gay man and trying to front. Why would you want to subject me to that?”

“I am sorry.”

“No, really,” I persist. “What were you thinking? That I’m dying for a man or something? Is that what people say behind my back? Do I come off as desperate?”

“No, no, of course you don’t. This wasn’t about you. It was about him.” She blows out a frazzled breath. “I was kinda hoping…”

“Yes?” I prompt when she goes quiet.

“Well, hoping that by dating someone as fantastic as you, he’d realize that he’s really straight once and for all.”

Wow. Not at all the answer I expected.

Rhonda seems a bit upset over the whole thing, so I wrap an arm around her shoulder. “It’s all right. I ain’t mad atcha. Just please…no more trying to set me up.”

She cracks a smile, just as Joanie opens the door. Rhonda takes that as her cue to leave.

“I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Sure,” I say. As soon as she’s out the door, I shake my head.

“What was that about?” Joanie asks.

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

I’m back in my dressing room later, wiping the excess makeup off my face, when the phone rings. It’s late, after midnight, so I assume it’s got to be someone at the station when I pick it up.

“Hello?”

“You were great tonight.”

I pause. Wait a few beats. “Do I know you?”

“You could say that. Yeah, you definitely could.”