With Faith & Love

“Hey Keevia.”

“Wzup girl?”

“What are you doing,” Janese asked.

“Nothing. Why?”

“I’m coming over to pick you up. We’re gonna have a girls’ day out.”

“All right.”

“I’ll be over in an hour. Bye.”

“Peace.”

~*~*~*

“Girl, I can’t eat another thing,” Keevia said, rubbing her stomach. Janese dropped her fork in her plate and pushed it away.

“Now that we’re stuffed we can talk.”

“What’s on your mind girl? I Jett actin’ like a jackass again? I knew it! I gotta kick his ass!”

“No Keevia it’s nothing like that. We’re getting married at the end of June.”

“Oh.” Keevia relaxed herself and sipped her water.

“I’m having my dress made from scratch. I know how much you love designing clothes. Remember in the seventh grade and they didn’t have anymore Cinderella costumes so you made me one?

“Yea! Everybody was asking where you got it from.”

“I need you to help me out again.” Keevia stared with her jaw on the table.

“You want me to make your wedding dress?”

“Yup.” Keevia jumped up and threw her arms around Janese.

“Oh Janese! Girl, I’m gonna hook you up.”

“Jett said whatever you need just let him know.”

“Let me call him right now. What’s his number,” Keevia asked, pulling out her cell phone. Janese gave her the number and they had a very dramatic conversation.

~*~*~*

“Jett, would I do you wrong?”

“No, but I’m being very ful ful about who I let in trust in my life.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Don’t worry about it Don. What’s this guy you say can hook up a tux like you can never believe?”

“Jett, that man can hook it up. And he’s only twenty one.”

“Where does he get his talent?”

“Dad’s a tailor. Armani’s right hand man. So he knows his trade well.”

“What has he done before?”

“Nothing really. He’s trying to get his own business started. I told him that you were a nice guy and would give him a chance.”

“You speak for me now?”

“Come on.”

“What’s his name?’

“Daronto Bryant.”

“Do you have his number.”

“Yea.” Don wrote his number down and gave it to Jett. “You leaving?”

“Yea, I gotta meet Janese.”

“See ‘ya.”

~*~*~*

Keevia and Janese were sitting in front of Prada when Jett’s limo pulled up beside her car. He put the window down and stared at Janese.

“It’s too cold to be puttin’ windows down,” Janese said. She picked up the car phone and called him instead.

“Hey lady,” Jett answered.

“Hey.”

“Tell Keevia I said hi.”

“Hey Jett. Or should I start calling you cousin-in-law?”

“Keevia’s gonna design my dress,” Janese told him.

“That’s good. I got some guy named Daronto Bryant. We’re getting together for dinner tonight so we can go over some details.”

“Why tonight?”

“Sooner the better. Why? You got a date or something,” Jett asked.

“Mmm-hmmm. Me and Keevia saw this cute white boy in Gucci.”

“You better stop messin’ wit him like that,” Keevia laughed.

“You better listen to Keevia,” Jett warned.

“Why? What you gonna do if I don’t,” Janese asked, getting a little bold.

“Drop Keevia off and come find out.” Janese pulled off.

“I’ll meet you there. I ain’t never scared,” she said and hung up.

“Janese girl what did you get yourself into,” Keevia asked.

“I challenged him.”

“You know he’s gonna win.”

“I know. But this is one game that I enjoy losing,” Janese said in a sultry voice.

“Get it girl!”

“I’ll call you when we’re on our way.”

“All right girl. Go get some!”

~*~*~*

“Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bryant is here. Would you like me to show him to your table?”

“Yes please.” The waitert bat back to the front to get Daronto. When he came into view, Keevia slapped the mess out of Janese’s arm.

“Ouch! Keevia what is wrong with you?!”

“Girl he is fine! Do you see him? Look at the body! He is gorgeous!”

“She don’t see his fineness,” Jett answered for Janese.

“Shut up he’s here,” Keevia said. She did a quick hair and dress check.

“Here you are Mr. Bryant,” the waiter said.

“Thank you,” Daronto said, slipping him a hundred dollar bill.

“Thank you sir. Would you like anything else Mr. Jackson?”

“Baby, you want anything?”

“No, I’m fine. How about you Kee?”

“No.” She didn’t move her eyes off of Daronto.

“Mr. Bryant would you like anything? It’s on me,” Jett asked.

“No thanks. I had a little something before I came. I’m all ready for business.”

“All right then. Let’s get started. Daronto sat across from Keevia and they made eye contact. Daronto was doing everything to stay composed but Keevia knew she had him but she was staying discreet about it.


After about an hour of business talk Daronto, Keevia, Jett, and Janese were talking like they were all old buddies. Telling stories about their past and what they wanted out of life.

“I turn twenty one at the end of January and I haven’t found a woman that’s on the same page as me. I still can’t believe you two are only eighteen,” Daronto stated. Janese pecked Jett on his lips and tugged on his tie.

“I’m in love with him,” Janese said. Jett grinned like an idiot.

“Keevia, do you have a special soe ine in your life,” Daronto asked. She stirred her drink with her finger and looked at him.

“I don’t have a special someone. I have a passion for designing clothes. I plan on starting my own clothing line called KDP Glamour.”

“You sound sure of yourself.”

“Because I am.”

“And I’m gonna be her first customer,” Janese said.

“Excuse me,” Daronto said, throwing his hands up.

“You better leave the pink and yellow ranger alone,” Jett said. He and Daronto laughed. Keevia looked around and saw that they were the only ones there.

“Are they closed?”

“Yup,” Jett answered.

“Don’t you think we should leave too?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I have to work in the morning. I’ll see yall later.” Keevia stood and grabbed her things.

“Here, let me help you.” Daronto slid her coat sleeve on her arm. Jett and Janese just stared.

“Keevia, how much longer is your internship with Saks?”

“’Til then end of this year.” She turned to Daronto and thanked him and said goodnight.

“How old is she,” Daronto asked when she was gone.

“Nineteen.” He grinned and grabbed his coat. “They would make a cute couple.”

“Yea, they would,” Jett agreed. He leaned into Janese and they kissed.

“Take me home, Jett,” Janese whispered.

“Okay.”

Daronto and Keevia were holding their own little private conversation outside.

“Can I have the opportunity to get to know you better,” Daronto asked. Keevia opened her car door and threw her purse in.

“I don’t know. Right now I have some priorities I need to attend to and some goals.”

“I’m not one of those goals?”

“I don’t know. Dating department is closed for the moment.”

“Oh.” Daronto lowered his head and tapped his feet.

“Are you going to Jett and Janese’s wedding?”

“I don’t know. My father is opening a line in Italy and wants me to run it. But those plans can easily be changed.”

“I believe in destiny. If we see each other two more times, I’ll go out with you.”

“Are you serious?” Keevia climbed in her car and started the engine. She just nodded her head and started the car.

“We’ll see each other again.”

“You sound so sure of your self.”

“Because I am.” Keevia gave him one last smile before driving off.