The Summer of Me: A Novel by Benson Angela

Author:Benson, Angela [Benson, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-04-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

STOP!’” DESTINY SANG ALONG WITH NATALIE AND BERTICE as they ended “Stop! In the Name of Love” by the Supremes, the last of the three karaoke songs they’d sung tonight.

The audience clamored for one more, but Destiny looked at her two friends standing on the karaoke stage and shook her head as they did. Three was their limit. “That’s it for us,” Natalie said, continuing her Diana Ross role and speaking for the group. “Thanks, everybody.”

The three women made it back to their table amid the applause from the gathering. Before they reached their seats, another would-be crooner took the stage. “Now that was fun,” Natalie said, once they were seated.

“It was,” Bertice said. “I had my doubts though. Karaoke was not exactly what I was thinking about for a ladies’ night out, but it was much better than our original plan to only have dinner.”

Destiny leaned into Bertice’s shoulder. “Admit it,” she said. “You were all over those songs.”

“Yeah,” Natalie said. “You sang ‘Survivor’ like you thought you were Beyoncé getting ready to leave Destiny’s Child.”

Destiny laughed. “Yeah, girl, you belted that one out.”

“You can’t talk about me,” Bertice said. “You thought you were T-Boz on ‘Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg.’”

“What can I say,” Natalie said, blowing on her fingers as though she were at a craps table in Vegas. “I got skills.”

All three women laughed.

“Gavin married you for your singing voice,” Bertice teased. “You know all first ladies have to be able to belt out a gospel tune at the drop of a hat.”

“Please,” Natalie said. “Gavin married me for more than my singing.”

“Tell it,” Destiny said.

“No, you didn’t go there,” Bertice said. “This first lady is coming out of her bag, or should I say, her pulpit.”

“Just telling it like it is,” Natalie said, not backing off.

“Excuse me, ladies.”

Destiny looked up to see the waitress standing at their table.

The young woman inclined her head toward the bar. “Those guys over there would like to buy your next round. What are you having?”

Destiny looked at her friends.

“I’m married,” Natalie said, lifting up her ring finger so the men could see it. “It’s up to you two.”

Destiny and Bertice shared a knowing look. “Tell them thanks, but we’re fine,” Bertice said. She lifted her glass toward the men and gave them a smile. Destiny did the same.

“Well, well,” Natalie said. “Destiny held true to form, but you surprised me, Bertice. You were supposed to take that free drink.”

“Didn’t want to give the guy false hope.”

Natalie leaned in. “Spill,” she said. “You’ve been holding out on us. You’re seeing somebody, aren’t you?”

After taking a sip from her soda, Bertice said, “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Don’t be coy, Bertice,” Natalie said. “It’s too out of character.”

“Give her a break, Natalie,” Destiny said, guessing Phil Harris was the man who had changed Bertice’s tune. She also guessed Bertice didn’t want to discuss him because it might lead to a discussion of their work at HR Solutions, which they still weren’t ready to tell Natalie about.

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