A Good Man (32 page)

“And then you can say hallelujah,” John whispered. He relaxed his grip on her. “We better get going.”

She slowly slid her hands around his waist. “And you better win the next challenge. I don’t want to only go on church dates, man.”

“I’ll try.”

She fixed his tie. “Try harder.”

Sonya and Kim made a huge bowl of popcorn and had a mini–slumber party in their room while the men did promos around LA.

“Since Justin is immune, who are you going to dump?” Kim asked.

Sonya threw a piece of popcorn at her. “I don’t like the way you phrased that.”

“You caught that, huh?” Kim said.

“Yep. Justin is a nice man. Big, but nice. Gary, too.”

Kim took a sip of a Coke. “Gary is a brute.”

“Gary has soul,” Sonya said. “He just doesn’t express himself as smoothly as you’d like him to. I’d also keep Tony.”

“Yeah. He’s something.”

I think my baby might be sweet on Tony.

“That leaves Artie and His Heirness,” Kim said. “Try to let Artie down gently.”

She’s just trying to bait me. “John is staying. Aaron is going.”

“What? Because he wouldn’t go to church with you today?”

“That’s only part of it,” Sonya said. “But add it up. Aaron was a jerk on our date. Aaron drinks too much. Aaron told lies about what happened on our date. Aaron made the nasty chili. Aaron wrote the fakest poem.”

“But he’s eye candy, Sonya,” Kim said. “He’s why women are watching the show.”

“I’m not interested in eye candy,” Sonya said. “And the arrogant way he refused my invitation to church sealed the deal. I can’t abide arrogance.”

“I’ve refused to go to church with you, too,” Kim said.

“True, but you weren’t so … angry about it.” Hmm. She was once. Even threw a shoe. “Aaron showed me a hateful side today that was so ugly. He may be a very handsome man, but handsome is only skin deep.”

“And ugly is to the bone,” Kim said.

“Yep.” Sonya smiled. “I’m so glad you went to church today. You don’t know how happy that made me feel. What’d you think of the service?”

“It was loud.”

True. “I saw you dancing.”

“Hey, so I like to dance,” Kim said. “That music was bangin’.”

Sonya took a sip of her Sprite. “I saw you hugging on Tony, too.”

“The preacher told us to,” Kim said.

“In Christian love, Kim,” Sonya said.

“So I was feeling especially Christian today.” Kim stuck out her tongue. “You were practically grinding on Johnny Boy.”

Yeah, I was. I almost popped a button on my blouse. “I really like him. I hope you can accept that.”

“He doesn’t do anything for me,” Kim said.

“He’s not supposed to,” Sonya said. “He makes me feel warm, you know? And Aaron only makes me feel cold. That’s why he has to go.”

Kim rolled her eyes. “But dumping Aaron is stupid. Aaron is the basketball player. You two can play out in your driveway or something.”

“Tony is just as handsome, and Tony also has some sense,” Sonya said. “You’re assuming that everyone who watches the show is only interested in what they can see. Tony has substance. Tony has personality.”

Kim threw a few pieces of popcorn in the air and caught them in her mouth. “Well, he is kind of … hot.”

“And he can dance,” Sonya said. “You like to dance, right?”

Kim nodded. “I’ll bet Johnny Boy can’t dance.”

“I’m no dancer, Kim,” Sonya said. “And I’m sure he can slow dance, and at my age, that’s all I’d need for him to do.”

Kim sighed. “I can’t believe you’re going to keep a punk and dump a hunk.”

“John is not a punk.”

Kim squinted. “When’s the last time you went to an eye doctor?”

“John is a very handsome man,” Sonya said. And he has an amazing body for someone his age. Not an ounce of fat on him.

Kim rolled over. “You should do that Lasik surgery.”

She’ll never see what I see or feel what I feel. “Hush.”

“So Aaron’s really leaving us, huh?” Kim asked.

“Yes.”

Kim threw her pillow at Sonya. “This show is going to the dogs.”

Sonya fired the pillow back. “Aaron is a dog.”

Kim swung her pillow at Sonya. “A cute dog.”

Sonya smacked Kim hard. “Cute or not, he’s still a dog.”

“Ow,” Kim said. “What you got in your pillow, rocks?”

“It’s the same pillow as yours,” Sonya said. “I just have more muscles.”

Kim smiled. “No. Your pillow must be filled with your marbles, because you’ve definitely lost your marbles, old lady.”

Sonya laughed. “At least I have some marbles to lose.” She let Kim’s pillow bounce off her face. Lord, thank You for getting this child to at least act like my sister. “I’m about to go wet a towel.”

Kim jumped to her feet. “You can’t hit what you can’t catch, old lady.” She ran out of the room.

Sonya drifted to the window, peering out in the off chance that she’d see the limo returning with “her men.” Instead she saw Kim diving fully clothed into the pool. She stepped out on the balcony. “How’s the water?” she yelled.

“Cold!” Kim yelled. “Come on in!”

“Be down in a minute!”

She thought briefly about putting on her swimsuit. Nah. This is a slumber party. I’ll just go in with my SpongeBob pajamas. She froze. And if the guys come back while we’re in the pool, they’re going to see a whole lot of us.

She took her robe, just in case.

After breakfast the next morning, while the men were again doing promos, this time at Venice Beach, Bob Freeberg came to visit. While Kim swam in her transparent green bikini, Bob and Sonya sat at a poolside table.

“So, Jazz,” Bob said, “are you giving anyone the boot?”

Geez, I can see the entire dragon from here. I need to get Kim a black wool one-piece that comes down to her ankles. “You’ll find out tonight, Bob.”

“May I make a suggestion?” Bob asked.

“No.”

“Then I’ll just talk,” Bob said. “Assume I’m your executive producer and that you’re under contract and are supposed to listen to me.”

Oh, yeah. I signed a contract. Rules are rules. “I’m listening.”

“Fair enough,” Bob said. “Justin has immunity, but he should stick around. Justin is very funny. Older women find him as adorable as a teddy bear. Gary is a little rough, intimidating, um, scary, but you’ve proven that he’s also a soulful teddy bear.”

A soulful teddy bear? Bob is seriously tripping.

“Aaron is closest to who you are and what you’ve been,” Bob said. “Two athletes. In a poll we ran at the Hunk or Punk Web site, eighty percent think you’ll pick Aaron in the end. You two seem destined to be together. He’s from Houston, you played in Houston. You played in the WNBA, he almost played in the NBA. Get where I’m coming from?”

No. “Eighty percent out of how many?”

“One hundred and sixty thousand people participated in the survey,” Bob said.

Geez. That’s a lot of people. “Why should I care what anyone else thinks?”

“I’m just talking, okay?”

And I’m barely listening. “What about Tony?”

“Tony is a future film star,” Bob said. “Smashing good looks, and forgive me, he has skin light enough that he appeals to all races.”

How nice. Racism isn’t dead, especially if you can cash in on it. “Really?”

“This is a business, Miss Richardson. We have to take these things into account. More white people watch TV than any other race.” Bob tapped the table. “As for Arthur? I can’t say much about Arthur. One percent—just one percent—in that survey had you two together in the end.”

Good thing I took that survey last night.

“He tied for last in the obstacle course challenge,” Bob said. “He cooked you ordinary food that anyone could have made. He made you cry with his poem.”

“He massaged my aching feet,” Sonya said. “He taught me how to swim. Why wasn’t any of that in the show?”

“What I’m saying is—”

“Going in one ear and out the other, Bob,” Sonya interrupted. “Thanks for stopping by.”

Bob stood. “Do me one favor.”

“Maybe.”

“Please don’t dump anyone tonight,” Bob said.

“Why?”

“That will be another first for a show like this,” Bob said.

“And?”

“And the ratings, my dear,” Bob said. “The ratings.”

Oh, yes. The ratings. We must behave according to the ratings.

He pushed in his chair with a loud screech. “A full fifty-two percent think you’re going to dump all but Justin and Aaron tonight.”

Those people are high! “I’m not going to do that.”

“Good.”

After Bob left, Larry came from the kitchen to the pool.

“Y’all tag-teaming me, Larry?” Sonya asked.

“I am not here to kibbutz or kvetch,” Larry said.

“What?”

“I’m not here to meddle or complain,” Larry said. “That’s what Bob does. I only want to suggest that you build up the suspense tonight. With fewer, um, players, fifteen minutes is a bit harder to fill. I’m just suggesting that you talk more.”

A good suggestion. “I’ll try to build up the suspense. I plan to talk the last two to death.”

“Good,” Larry said. “Um, which two?”

“You’ll find out tonight.”

Larry nodded. “I feel the suspense already.”

“Quick question, Larry. Is Bob married?”

Larry nodded. “Why?”

“Does he have kids?” Sonya asked.

“Yes,” Larry said. “A cute little baby girl. Clare is her name, I believe. Why do you ask?”

“I was just wondering how a man with a wife and a daughter could be so cold and calculating about romance.”

Larry sighed. “It’s his business to be cold and calculating.”

“And what’s yours?”

“Keeping things less cold and less calculating.” He smiled. “And I have you to thank for making my job so much easier. Have a good show tonight.”

“Thanks.”

When Larry left, Kim slinked up out of the pool. “What’d they want?”

Geez, and she shaves down there, too. “Please put on a robe, a towel, something.”

Kim looked down. “Oh.” She wrapped herself in a towel. “So what’d they want?”

“They wanted a preview of tonight.”

Kim smiled. “And you didn’t give them one.”

“Nope.”

“Good.” Kim opened up the towel and looked down. “Man, I need to shave again.”

The first forty-five minutes of the show were hilarious. Watching men shop at Ralph’s was fairly dry until John started racing around the store.

“You are a trip, Arthur,” Sonya said. And I’d love to go race-shopping with you anytime.

When footage of Sonya zooming in on John’s butt appeared, Kim shouted, “Oh my God, Jazz! What were you doing?”

Oops. Sonya winced at John, and John mouthed, “Hallelujah?”

Sonya nodded several times.

After the first batch of commercials, Kim’s acidic cooking comments took center stage. Only Justin’s poem ran in its entirety, and all of Kim’s poetic criticisms ran.

They’re turning my daughter into a shrew, Sonya thought. How can we change that?

Sonya’s date with Justin took up only ten minutes, but they were a fun ten minutes with several close-ups of Justin “playing” with the baby rhino. The room quieted during the conversation at the restaurant.

Wow. They ran it all. That was nice of them. That scene will endear Justin completely to America.

“Two minutes, people!” Darius yelled. “Get to your marks.”

Here we go.

Sonya went to her mark, turned, and saw only Tony, John, and Gary with suitcases. Aaron has no suitcases? Why is that? He must think he’s safe. He didn’t even dress up, his chest and chains hanging out of an old wife beater, Nike sweats, and Nike slides on his feet. Wow. Pride goeth before a fall, Aaron, and it’s gonna be a hard fall for you tonight.

When the lights came up and Darius finished his countdown, Sonya took a deep breath.

“Since Justin won the date this week,” Graham said, “he has immunity. Justin, come join your princess.”

Justin came down and gave Sonya a peck on the cheek, standing to the right of Kim.

“Jazz,” Graham said, “who else is safe?”

Let’s rock this. “First of all, I want all of you to know that I enjoyed my time with you this week.”

“For the most part,” Kim said.

“Yes, for the most part,” Sonya said. “You fed me, and you read poetry to me. You filled my stomach, and you touched my heart. And I didn’t get heartsick or sick sick.”

“I did,” Kim said. “That chili was illy.”

That child has a future in TV for sure now! “I had a wonderful date with Justin at the Safari Park, and I didn’t get sunburned. I’m even thinking of adopting a baby rhino.” Deep breath. “I have thought long and hard about my decision. I’ve even prayed about my decision.”

Bob and Darius are shaking their heads. Good.

“My director and producer don’t want me to be ‘religious.’ I’m not religious. I’m a Christian, and I pray whenever I’m faced with a decision. After I prayed, the decision became easy.”

“Um, Jazz, Justin has immunity,” Graham said. “Who else is safe?”

“Don’t rush me, Graham,” Sonya said. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Oh, sorry,” Graham said. “But we’re kind of pressed for time, Jazz.”

Sonya rolled her eyes. “No, we’re not, Graham. Relax. As I was saying, I have peace that passes all understanding about this decision because I prayed about it. Okay, Graham. Now say your line.” For the third time.

“Justin has immunity,” Graham said. “Who else is safe?”

“Tony.”

Kim smiled.

Tony came down and gave both Sonya and Kim quick hugs.

“Tony, you are a hunk,” Graham said. “Jazz, who else is safe?”

“Gary.”

Kim rolled her eyes.

Gary came down and hugged only Sonya. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Gary, you are a hunk,” Graham said. “And that leaves only Aaron and Arthur.”

Sonya left her little X and walked up to John and Aaron. Time to build a little suspense and ruin more of Darius’s carefully planned-out angles and shots. She took John’s hands. “Arthur, you really know how to win a girl’s heart. You made me a home-cooked meal that truly reminded me of home. Your poem made me cry but in a good way. You wrote it from your heart to mine. I will never forget it. I am looking forward to getting to know you better.” She pulled him to her and hugged him. She stepped back and squeezed his hands again. “You’re safe.”