Dreams Do Come True (3 page)

She watched Nico sleep for a few minutes, telling herself that the man was beautiful. Turning the television off, she gently shook him.

“Guess we fell asleep watching the movie. My phone just went off. It was my wake up call. You have to be at the radio station in an hour, so you might want to go get ready,” she informed him, standing up.

“Will do,” he told her. 

She watched his movements and tried not to stare. She started to clean up, and he reached down to assist.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, I will take care of it. I’ll see you in the suite in forty-five minutes.” 

He nodded and headed toward the door. He stopped and came back to where she was standing.

“Thanks for giving me one of the best nights I have had in a long time.” He kissed her cheek and hugged her. He quickly walked out the room, and Shontell touched her cheek where he had kissed her. Her face felt flush from her blushing. She snapped out of her reverie. She cleaned up the sitting area and headed to the shower. She kept shaking her head to make sure that she wasn’t dreaming. It was nothing new for Shontell to be around celebrities or even date them for that matter. Nico made her very nervous for some reason…very nervous.

Nico grinned at his thoughts of Shontell. He was proud of himself for taking this chance; it usually wasn’t in his nature to really go after a woman. Shontell was like a breath of fresh air. He didn’t have to worry about her only being interested in him for what he had in his bank account. Her personality showed that she was her own woman. She liked him for who he was, and she was easy to talk to…unlike his ex, Tina.

He thought she was different until she proved him wrong. She had only wanted him for the lifestyle he had and not for what they shared. Tina loved to shop when she traveled with them. Yet she rarely interacted with him on more personal levels outside of the bedroom. He always felt like she was just fulfilling her end of the relationship. Did he love her? Yes. When the relationship ended, it hit him hard. It took him some time to realize that she loved his stardom, not him. His mother taught him to never let one bad experience keep him from trying again. Nico kept her words in his mind. However, Nico backed away from love, put it in a box, and threw away the key. It led him to work on his music, like he always had. Maybe that would change now. Nico had almost hit his door when his thoughts were interrupted.

“Um, bro, what are you doing coming out of
her
room at this hour?” Nico heard someone say behind him. He silently cursed himself for being caught. When he turned around, he saw that it was Dennis who was looking at him with one eyebrow raised. He could tell that his friend was waiting for him to answer. Dennis was like the mother hen of the group. He had been burned by a few groupies. He was always making sure they stayed on the straight and narrow, or his version of it anyway. 

“Well, if you must know, I went by last night. We talked and watched a movie. She is a very nice lady,” Nico told him, trying not to get irritated by the sudden interrogation. He squinted his eyes at Dennis.

“Mmm hmm, guess that is why you didn’t come to the casino with us. Well, I hope you know what you are doing,” Dennis said with a frown.

“What? Making a friend? Didn’t know there was a law against that. You know at some point you will need to get over the things that happened to you. You just seem to keep picking the wrong ones,” he told his friend as he headed into his room. He left him standing there. Nico stood in his foyer, shaking his head. He didn’t know why he always let Dennis get to him. He grabbed his suitcase. Taking his clothes out for the day, he prepared to get dressed. He needed to make some calls before he went downstairs. He put his phone on speaker as he brushed his teeth and handled his calls. When he finished, he smiled at the mere idea of what he just did. It was done, and he was happy about it. He only hoped Shontell would feel the same way.

Dennis knew he was right. He just wanted to look out for them. David was the only married one in the group, so he had to make sure John, Nico, and himself were cautious. He had very bad experiences with women, but he wasn’t sure what it was about Shontell that bothered him. She looked familiar, and he really couldn’t place where he had seen her. He let that thought go as he thought about what Nico had said to him. It took him a long time to get over some of the things that the women who he messed around with did. It wasn’t like he had low self-esteem, but he just didn’t pick them right. He had never been in love or even smitten by a woman. Did that make him strange? When David found Felecia and he saw the love he had for her, he was jealous and envious. Why couldn’t he have that kind of love? Now Nico? It just wasn’t fair. Maybe it was time he changed his outlook on women and his life.

Dennis started walking back to his room when his cell phone buzzed. Retrieving the text, he saw it was Jesse asking him what was up for tonight. Dennis stopped in his tracks.

“Oh, snap! That’s why she looks familiar,” Dennis spoke out loud. One day when he was visiting Jesse, he had seen a picture of them together on his fireplace mantel. She had lost some weight and cut her hair, but he was pretty sure that it was her. They must not be together anymore. He replied to Jesse’s text and headed out of his room. David greeted him in the hallway. 

“Hey man, what’s with that look?” Dennis started to tell him but decided against it. He wasn’t sure if it was his place to say anything. If he did, would it even matter? He didn’t have any proof it was her. He was just going off a hunch. So he just told him, "Nothing." He was interested in hearing David’s response to Nico being in Shontell’s room, though. “So I ran into Nico coming out of Shontell’s room this morning,” he told him.

“Really? Was he dressed?” David inquired, smiling in anticipation of the answer. 

“Yes, he was dressed. You’re silly. But I did ask him what he was doing, and he just said he was just getting to know her.” 

“Wow, you asked him that? Why does it matter to you anyway?” David quizzed him.

“I guess it doesn’t. I was just asking him. I mean, you know how these women can be sometimes. He has already been hurt once. I guess we can’t all be like you. You just lucked out with a good one.”

“Yeah, I did. But that almost didn’t happen, if you recall. You almost made me lose her. But anyway, how do you know that Shontell isn’t a good one?” 

Before Dennis could answer, the elevator door opened and the rest of the group was standing there waiting for them. He gave David a look but still didn’t answer his question. He chided himself. He needed to learn to keep his mouth closed. He followed the rest of the group to the waiting limo, where Shontell was already seated. She was giving directions to the driver. He stared at her, trying to recall the picture to determine if it was her. When she smiled at Nico, who was sitting next to him, it was confirmed. Her smile verified her identity. Now he wondered if he should mention it to Nico. For now, he would just sit back and be quiet. 

It was nearly one in the afternoon, with all the radio promotions done. It was time to eat. She was starving. She hadn’t been able to eat anything that morning but some fruit. She had just been served her food when a group of six women walked up to the table and asked the group for autographs and pictures. The group obliged. One woman stood off to the side and waited until the others got what they came for. She had seen the woman earlier that morning as they were getting into the limo. She had been watching them, but she didn’t seem like she was a typical fan, like the others. She stood out, just by the way she was sharply dressed. She was wearing a black dress that snugly fitted her body, and her makeup was flawless. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought she was a model. Once the others left, she walked over to Nico and spoke softly. She could feel the air in the room change at that moment. The woman looked up and addressed everyone at the table but her; the woman made sure not to even turn her way. They all seemed uncomfortable…especially Nico.

Shontell suddenly had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. He must have sensed that she was looking at them and turned toward her. She quickly turned her head. She was glad that her cell phone rang at that moment. It served as a distraction for her as she excused herself to take the call. When she returned a few moments later, Nico wasn’t at the table. She excused herself and told Martin she had to take care of some last minute loose ends for the group. She assured him that she would meet them in the hotel hospitality suite in the evening for dinner. As she was walking through the lobby, she saw Nico and the woman in deep conversation. Neither of them looked happy. She tried not to let it bother her as she proceeded through the lobby to the elevator.

Once she reached her room, she called her assistant. She had her fax over the final contract and bus company details for Martin and the group. She stood near the balcony door, allowing the warm air to come into her room. A part of her was mad at herself for reacting the way she had. She wasn’t a jealous person. The woman’s presence just threw her, as well as the way Nico and the others responded to her. Something was up with that, but she wouldn’t ask…that’s for sure.

She rubbed the back of her neck as she felt that old tension creep up into her body. She didn’t know what to think about them, but what she didn’t want to do was assume. She needed to do something. Getting up, she picked up a file and walked over to the balcony. Shontell had just opened the file when her phone buzzed, scaring the mess out of her. She laughed at herself and peeked at the screen. It was her partner, Ebony, texting her with a question about a client. She sent her a reply and then set the phone down on the table. After everything that had transpired, it would be impossible for her to concentrate on work. She closed the file after making one small note for later. Then she stood up and leaned over the railing, letting her mind wander. What was she thinking to even imagine that Nico saw her as anything other than the event planner? Still, if that were the case, he wouldn’t have been in her room this morning. She shook her head and was getting mad at herself for putting herself down. That was something she worked hard on. She beat up on herself so much after Jesse. She had wondered why she wasn’t good enough for him, when the truth was that
he
wasn’t good enough for himself. She didn’t have anything to do with his cheating. She was a good woman. Jesse had messed up; not her.

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms and felt the goosebumps on her skin.

She also knew that she still struggled with trust. Why did she have to trust him now, anyways? It was too soon. She didn’t want to repeat her past mistakes, that was for sure. Having to trust Jesse, so early in their relationship, is how she got her heart broken. She wouldn’t do that this time. She was going to hold on to some good feelings about Nico until she felt or saw otherwise, but Nico was going to have to earn her trust. 

Nico couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell was Tina doing here? She leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. He felt nothing. He could feel everybody watching them. When he turned around and saw Shontell watching them, he gave her a side smile. He needed to get Tina away from this table and see what she wanted. 

“Let’s walk,” he told her, as he took her away from the table. The surprised and uncomfortable looks that were present at the table increased his uneasiness. Tina noticed it, but she still needed to make her presence known. She had cut her hair and was wearing a bob cut. Her makeup and clothes were flawless as always. He wondered who the sucker of the month was now. Then he quickly thought about how much he didn’t even care. 

“Ouch, do you have to be so rough?” she scolded as she pulled away from the hold he had on her arm. She stood still, and then her face transformed. She smiled and touched his shirt collar. He stopped her hand as it was heading toward his face. He stood there waiting on her to tell him why she even spoke. 

“So what’s up, Tina? What are you doing here?”

“Last I heard, this is a hotel. Why do you think I’m here?”

“I don’t know, and I couldn’t really care less.” He saw Shontell walking their way. She glanced in their direction, but kept going. The look of confusion on her face almost made him run after her. Tina noticed him watching her.

She guffawed, “So that’s your squeeze now?”

Nico glared at her with a look that was meant to send daggers. He decided it was best to just diffuse this and walk away. Tina was someone else’s problem now. He needed some air. He started to walk away when Tina touched his arm.

“Nico, wait for a second please,” she said to him, as she leaned against the wall and blocked his path.

“What is it, Tina? I am not in the mood for this. I have nothing against you and we said all we needed to say. You told me you were leaving me for someone else with more money than I have.”

“Is that what I said?” she asked, him giving him a look of shock.

“You sure you want to put me in that place, Tina?”

“Wow, I…I didn’t realize you had so much anger towards me,” she said sincerely for the first time since they began talking. She looked like she had been hit with some revelation. Regaining herself, she looked at Nico and saw what she had destroyed with him. He was the only man who had treated her like a woman and not an arm piece.

“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. You deserved better than me.”

Nico’s eyes almost bucked out in complete surprise by her statement. He put his finger into his ear to make sure he heard her correctly. He looked her up and down. He needed to make sure he was standing in front of the same shallow person he used to be in love with.

Finally, he spoke to her, smirking. “Really? Is that what you wanted to say to me? You’re sorry?”

“Yes, I mean, I saw you this morning. I was pretty shocked. I know that we don’t run in the same circles. Detroit was not a place I thought we would cross paths.”

Nico half listened to her. He knew she had something else up her sleeve. He just didn’t feel up to entertaining it. He was ready to end this conversation. He knew the fellows were all watching them without even turning around. Tina had him sprung back in the day. She was what every man wanted: smart, sexy, and beautiful. By the time he saw who she really was, it was too late. He had already fallen in love with her. Her cheating and leaving him was something he didn’t expect. In the end, he knew he was better off. She was selfish and self-centered but, most of all, just money hungry.  Right now, he knew she couldn’t hold a candle to Shontell.

“Tina, if it makes you happy, I forgave you a long time ago. It was nice seeing you, but I have to go.”

“You’re going after your friend, I am sure. Thank you for taking time to hear my apology. I will see you later…I mean on the anniversary cruise.” Glaring at him, she strolled away before he could say anything. Nico stood there watching her walk away. He knew the extra sway in her hips was for him. She was one of a kind and at that moment he wasn’t impressed.

Instantly his thoughts went back to Shontell. When he looked around and didn’t see her, he thought that she must have headed to the elevators. She was probably going up to her room. He headed back over to the table to get his things. The guys all watched him; they were waiting for him to say something. When he didn’t, Martin cleared his throat. He looked up and saw Martin and his brothers with expectant looks on their faces.

“Son, are you okay?”

“Oh, um…yes, I am okay. She claimed she saw us this morning and wanted to catch up and talk.”

“And why would she think you would even want to talk to her?” David asked, getting mad. He didn’t like her then, and he liked her even less now. He didn’t want Nico to go backwards with her. He twisted his face, waiting for Nico to finish.

“Beats me, man. Get this…she actually apologized for the way things ended with us.”

“What?!” all three men chorused in unison. They were completely shocked by what he just told them. He almost laughed. That is all he could do anyways since he didn’t want to put much thought into it. He picked up his phone and told them he would be back in a few minutes. He started in the direction of the hallway and was stopped in mid-stride by his name being called by Dennis. He exhaled hard and tried to keep a straight face because he didn’t want to start this conversation with him again.  He waited for what he already knew was coming next.

“Nico, do you really think that you should be going to her room? I mean your ex just walked in here after four years, and you act like it’s not bothering you. Maybe you should just let this thing with Shontell go,” he told him as he gripped his arm.

Nico looked at where he had just touched him. He took a few steps in his original direction but then stopped in his tracks and looked at Dennis, realizing what he said to him a few seconds ago.

“Excuse me? What do you mean let her go?  Why in the hell should I care about seeing Tina? We have been over for several years now. That’s not a road I would ever travel again. So I’m going to ask you again; why am I letting her go?”

Dennis saw the look on his face. At that moment, he regretted saying anything. He had never seen him give him that look before. He cleared his throat and then began to explain. “I am just saying…I may be out of line…but don’t you think it’s too much of a coincidence that she just happened to be in the same hotel where we are staying? Maybe it’s a sign you are moving too fast with Shontell. I think you are doing too much already when it comes to her. You don’t even know her, man.”

Nico stood there for a minute trying to understand Dennis’ comments before he addressed him. “Doing too much? I am curious about what you think I am doing. I thought our conversation was clear earlier. Stop confusing my wanting a friendship with Shontell with the women you have come across. This doesn’t even come close…and if we have to discuss this again, I won’t be as nice,” Nico told him. He began to walk away once again. He didn’t even bother to turn around when he heard Dennis calling after him. He stared Dennis down as the doors closed. Nico wondered why Dennis cared so much about him talking to Shontell. Dennis was being a little extra intense, and even with his crazy ways, it was out of his character. He needed to find out what was going on. But for the moment, his immediate concern was with Shontell. Walking down the long hallway, he reached her door and knocked.