Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [65]
Desmond released a hearty laugh as he slapped his knee. “Yancey … come on, now! You’re an actress. I know you can think of a better way to ask me if I’m married or serious about someone!”
I smiled at Desmond, even though I was a little embarrassed that I’d been caught. I drank the rest of my champagne before responding.
“So are you dating anyone?”
“Not now.”
“So you like being alone?”
“Alone doesn’t always mean lonely,” Desmond said as he stood, stretching, as if he was about to leave. But before he did, I needed answers to a few important questions.
“There is no polite way to ask you this, so I’ll just spit it out. Have you ever slept with a man?”
Desmond didn’t hesitate and said firmly, “Of course I have.”
I felt a twinge of sadness and disappointment bubble up within me, but I was glad that Desmond was honest. When I looked over at him, there was an amused expression on his face. We were both silent for a moment, and then he broke into a wide smile.
“Yancey, come on, girl. Relax. When I say I’ve slept with a man, I mean my bloodline. My brothers. There were four of us, and we shared a room growing up. Why didn’t you just ask me if I was gay or bisexual?”
“I didn’t want to offend you,” I said softly.
“I wouldn’t be offended. And the answer to that question is no. Ain’t nothing wrong with it, but the person I intend to have as my life’s heartbeat will be a woman,” Desmond said.
“So you’re just messing with me. You’ve got a sick sense of humor,” I said with a grin.
“So I guess the rumors are true,” Desmond said.
“What rumors?”
“That the song ‘Any Way’ is about you and some dude you used to be tight with.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“People talk. I mean, I’ve heard a couple of DJs talking about it after they play the song. Controversy is good for a product.”
“Let people talk,” I said. I didn’t like the fact people were talking about my past. Besides, if they were going to talk about me, I preferred that they gossiped with my version of events.
“So is it true?”
“No,” I said calmly.
“So what other questions do you have for me?”
I was thinking about what else I needed to know before I allowed the little surge of excitement I had been feeling to return. The phone rang.
“Excuse me,” I said as I gently touched the top of Desmond’s hand. I went into the kitchen and picked up the cordless phone. “Hello.”
“Yancey, have you seen the paper today?”
“Hello, Ava. No, I haven’t.” Perfect timing, as always, Mother.
“Then you need to tell me why you’re protecting that asshole Basil.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Read it! It’s right there in ‘Lines from LaVonya.’ Let me read it to you. ‘What pop star is getting revenge with her music and why won’t she talk about it?’” Ava said.
“Look, Ava, I don’t know if that’s about me. I didn’t tell that LaVonya lady anything. I don’t know if any of my friends read her anyway,” I said.
“Oh, I guess you’re too big-time now. I guess you only read Liz Smith and Cindy Adams,” Ava said in that I’m-going-to-drive-you-crazy-until-I-make-my-point voice I had heard too many times.
“Look, I’ve got a guest. How long are you going to be in town?”
“I don’t know. Maybe until you realize you need me to help your career. Any good manager would tell you that you can use this little tidbit to your advantage. Might help that little record of yours.”
“My single is doing just fine. Thank you very much,” I said quickly.
“I’ll thank you when you pay me my money back. That’s the only thank you I’ll give out. And I’m not talking about my commission for managing you.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I already have a manager?”
“Then tell me, who?”
I started to name one of the big firms like ICM or tell Ava that I had gone back to my former agent, Lois Drew. But I suddenly thought of the one person who would mess with Ava’s mind and I said, “Basil represents me now.”
“What!” Ava screamed. “Now I know you’ve lost your mind! What does he know about the business? Why are you even talking to him after what he did to you?”
“Ava,