Was it Good for You Too? Read online

  “Cool,” Damaris replied. “Robin’s near that area, and I’m on my way. I’ll call Ron Spoon. He’s been trying to take me out to dinner since we left college. I’ll owe him one, and you’ll owe me one.”

  “Done! Make it happen, Captain!”

  Fifteen minutes later, Tailan was back on the bus with the authors and her team. She needed to think fast and act even faster. These authors deserved a chance to shine, and she would give it to them.

  The Vets took a long, hard look at Tailan, then one by one looked out to the men who had given Tailan a hard time and shook their heads. Several fans that were standing near the entrance were pointing in the bus’ direction and were stunned speechless by the abrupt departure of the authors. Tailan was losing valuable time to turn this around.

  Her mind was awhirl with thoughts. Shotguns. Media coverage would not be enough. She closed her eyes and stilled her mind, and an answer became clear. She whipped out her cell again. This time she dialed the police.

  Tailan waved her hand to order the bus to quiet down as she said, “We have several celebrities on site, and the crowd’s getting out of control,” she told the dispatcher. “Can you send over some escorts right away?” She gave the location and ended the call, then turned to find Delvin standing right behind her.

  “What’s the plan, baby?” he said, sweeping a glance towards the angry men in front of the entrance. “I know you have one. Let me know what you need.”

  Her heart swelled at the vote of confidence. “Give me a minute. I’ll need to clue everyone in at the same time.”

  Tailan snagged the attention of her key people by yelling, “Support team—to me, now!” Within ten seconds, her staff was huddled up in a semi-circle surrounding her at the front of the bus. “All of you have your iPads, right?”

  “Right,” they chorused.

  “Download the credit card processing software.” They whipped out their equipment and Tailan gave them the login and password to use, then slid an American Express card to Derek and a company Visa card to Elona. “I need you,” she said, pointing to Derek and Michelle, “to go back to the Woodland on Wade Drive and buy every copy of our authors’ books they have in stock.”

  “Done!” Derek said.

  “You three,” she said, gesturing to Elona, Terry, and Karyn. “hit the Woodland near Route 30 right off the expressway. If there’s any problem, just tell them we’ll restock everything by tomorrow.”

  “Cool,” Karyn replied with a quick few keystrokes on the iPad. “We’ll call the stores and have the books waiting for pickup at customer service so we don’t have to wait.”

  Tailan grinned. “Good thinking.”

  Derek nodded, letting her know that he would do the same.

  “I need you all back here in twenty minutes.”

  Derek looked at everyone and said, “Time to make it rain, people.”

  The five of them sprang into action. Michelle skirted around Tailan and was right on Derek’s heels. Their cars peeled out in record time.

  The second their cars cleared the parking lot, Tailan turned to the authors.

  “Can I have your attention please?” She started and all eyes locked on her. “I want—”

  “Why did we have to leave? What’s going on?” The authors were jumpy, and a flurry of questions shot her way. Soon roars of excited voices volleyed back and forth, making it impossible for her to answer. All were in an uproar except The Vets, who were leaned into each other in a private conference.

  Tailan held up her hand to silence them. Voices trickled to a halt.

  “I apologize for the inconvenience,” she said, making eye contact with as many authors as possible. “But things here weren’t set up quite right.”

  “Bullshit!” Shannon shot back, causing a few murmurs of agreement from the other divas.

  Nona rocked her neck. “The books were there.”

  “The tables were there,” Chanel added, mimicking Nona’s movements. “So what’s really up, chick?”

  “Yeah, what’s really going on?” Shannon asked, slapping Nona some skin. “You throwing shade in the game?”

  Brenda tugged Tailan’s sleeve and said, “Tell them the truth, baby.”

  Tailan looked to Beverly, Brenda, and Joyce, then to Les and Fran. They saw it too—they understood.

  She turned and stared into everyone’s eyes. Once all attention was on her again, she revealed, “The manager doesn’t want us here. He made it ugly clear that, in his words, ‘our kind’ aren’t welcome in his store.” Tailan moved up the aisle and stopped in the middle of the bus. “I didn’t anticipate this on a tour in the heart of America. But that sicko manager out there was more than willing to remind me that right now we are ‘red-neck’ deep in Klan Country.”

  “Are you saying they didn’t want us up in there ‘cause we’re Black?” Pam asked.

  The gasps that followed that question were expected.

  “Yes. I had to get you all out,” Tailan replied. “Your safety will always be my first concern.”

  The silence was heartbreaking. Tailan looked out of the window. “All hope is not lost. I want everyone to look outside. See those people out there?”

  All gazes focused on the right side of the bus.

  “That crowd is here for you. People, mostly White people, came to buy your books, and we’re not going to disappoint your new fans.”

  Soon everyone’s attention was back on Tailan.

  “But what choice do we have?” Lorna asked, her caramel face peppered with concern.

  Tailan blew out a long, slow breath. “I say we take a page from the late great E. Lynn Harris and pop the trunk.”

  Understanding instantly dawned in The Vets’ eyes.

  A few smiles spread on the faces of M-LAS authors, who were familiar with the man’s success and the way he had gone from self-published author to New York Times bestseller.

  J. L., the youngest of the group, perked up, grinning from ear-to-ear. “So we’re gonna sell the books right off the bus?”

  “Damn straight,” Tailan said, smiling at the fact that the youngster had peeped the plan too. She winked at him, and he practically beamed.

  “Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” he said, giving Lorna, Susan, Tanishia, and Pam a high five before traveling up the aisle to do the same with The Vets, Candy, Valarie, Janice, Martha, D. J., and even the most quiet member of the tour, Malcolm.

  Excited chatter and murmurs meant everyone was feeling Tailan’s Plan B.

  Well, almost everyone.

  “I ain’t selling my books like I’m some bootleg chick,” Nona snapped.

  Shannon scowled and added, “Naw, ain’t happenin’.”

  “Nope,” Chanel joined in, settling back into the seat and folding her arms across her bosom. Traci nodded and mimicked her friend’s action.

  “Then stay your raggedy butts on the bus,” Tailan shot back. “Either way works for me.”

  Beverly Jenkins stood, faced Nona and her crew, pushed the glasses up on her nose, and said, “I wasn’t going to say anything, but …”

  Chapter 9

  Delvin was jonesing for some popcorn right about now. This was about to get gooood. The Vets were all business. All had paid their dues with years of literary challenges and triumphs. He looked over to Tailan, whose grip on the edge of the seat meant she was bracing herself for what the spicy Vet would have to say.

  His eyes darted to Beverly Jenkins and all he could think was, uh oh.

  Delvin knew that look. His mother would give him one of those from time to time when he had the nerve to try her. Didn’t work for him then, and it looked like The Divas were about to feel the wrath that lingered behind that look.

  Beverly squared her shoulders, leveled a furious glare at Nona and went for the jugular. “This woman has been putting up with your bullshit for the past two days. And I, for one, am damn tired of it!”

  The veteran authors all nodded. “That’s right,” and “Amen,” followed fr
om several others.

  She wagged a finger at the four of them. “Now the time has come for you to be as hardcore as you’re always bragging you are, and suddenly y’all acting like pampered punks.”

  Brenda stood beside her long-time friend. “You four need to think about the bigger picture, ladies.”

  “Sit y’all’s old asses down!” Nona snapped, dismissing them with a wave of her taloned hand. “Nobody’s talking to you.”

  Delvin nearly leapt from his seat to take the woman head-on for being so blatantly foul. But Malcolm, a street-lit author who hadn’t had more than two words to say the entire trip, shot to his feet.

  “Have you lost your mind?” he thundered at Nona. “That’s mad disrespect! Coming at The Vets like that.” His gaze shifted to the rest of the crew. “You broads better backtrack trying to come across as some hood rats. Y’all know better than that.” He did a respectful bow to The Vets, then turned heated eyes back to Nona and her ignorant crew. “Cut all the madness and know what’s what. It’s ‘cause of them that we’re even on this bus. Before your head gets all swol’ and your draws supersize …” he pointed to the elder authors and finished with pride. “They paved the way for us. Y’all better recognize.”

  Delvin felt the swell of pride filter through to nearly everyone on the bus. Applause thundered. The Vets nodded in unison at the end of Malcolm’s diatribe as if to say, “And that’s that.”

  He hadn’t put much stock in this dysfunctional circus of authors, but Delvin had to admit the brown-skinned, Kangol-wearing young man had said a mouthful in that one rhyme.

  Tailan didn’t waste another second taking it from there. She got directly in Nona’s face. “He’s right. It’s because of gifted authors like these that you are able to write the kinds of books you want. They, along with several author pioneers, said no when publishers wanted them to change their characters to White. Now White people are reading the books they’ve written about women of color.” Tailan scanned the bus for the other divas. “They kicked the door open, and you want to disrespect them?” She leaned forward, and Delvin held his breath. Tailan was going there. “Unacceptable,” she sneered. “You won’t be signing any books today.”

  Nona shot back with a response so profane, everyone gasped.

  “Whoa,” Delvin said, coming behind Tailan. “Dial that low-grade action back.”

  Nona sneered as she flicked her eyes his way. “You would stick up for her.”

  “Yeah, probably ‘cause he’s been sticking it in her all night,” Shannon taunted.

  The four divas cackled with laughter. A shocked silence fell over the bus.

  Delvin did not miss Tailan’s flinch or the frowns of displeasure on the faces of nearby authors. Beverly slowly gave her bosom a few warning pats, and he recognized the habit. There was no telling what that Vet kept up there.

  Delvin readied to let Shannon and Nona have it, but Tailan got there first.

  “You two are off the tour. Right now!” she said through her teeth. “I will not let you bring the rest of us down.”

  The bus became pin-drop quiet.

  Delvin wanted to drag Tailan off the bus and ravage her. Just like that, she had shot his lust off the meter. He adored her. When she was pissed, sweet heavens, she was a force of nature—a swirling wind of unstoppable purpose. Pure passion.

  “When my team returns, they’ll put you on the first thing smoking, whether that’s on wheels or four freaking legs.” Tailan pinned Chanel and Traci with a vicious glare. “Would you ladies care to join them?”

  Both looked at each other, then back to Tailan, then emphatically shook their heads.

  “Riiiight,” Tailan drawled with a lopsided grin at their lack of loyalty. “Love is love, blood is red, and money is green.” Something in the way she slowly straightened to her full height let Delvin know that she wasn’t done. With a quick shake of her head she blurted, “On second thought—no.” Tailan stared at Traci and Chanel. “I’ve had enough of you too. Stick with your homegirls.”

  She glanced to Delvin then immediately gave her attention to the rest of the authors. “I appreciate you backing me up on this. The police are on their way. I told them we need escorts for our celebrities.”

  When everyone looked toward Delvin, Tailan added, “Not him.”

  The authors laughed.

  “Well him too. But for all of you.” She fanned her hand over the group. “You are literary superstars, and don’t you forget it!”

  A roar of approval went up on the bus, and Delvin nearly burst with pride. In the excited commotion he took her hand and gave it a quick peck, then held it up like the winner of a boxing match.

  Joyce stood and faced the group and began to croon her take on an old gospel song. “I don’t know what you come to do, but I come to sell some books.”

  “Some books!” the rest of The Vets chimed in, rocking in their seats.

  “I come to sell some books.”

  “Some books,” the rest of the authors chorused.

  “I come to get sold out.”

  “Sold out!”

  While Joyce and The Vets continued to bring the spirit in through song, and the four problem children huffed, a news van pulled up, and the camera crew piled out behind the reporter.

  Tailan tossed back her head and laughed as she clasped her hand in his.

  * * *

  Time was a precious commodity for Tailan. For her plan to work, all the pieces had to fall into place without a hitch. Showtime!

  Tailan nudged Delvin in his side. “Get out there and do your thing.”

  With a caress of her shoulder and a whisper of, “I’ve got this, baby,” in her ear, he was down the steps and walking toward the female reporters.

  Tailan moved to the driver. When he looked up she ordered, “Ray, move the bus near that crowd of people.” She pointed over to the steadily growing group in front of the store’s main entrance.

  The driver pulled about one hundred feet forward and opened the door.

  At that moment, The Nelson Entertainment Group team wheeled around the corner, tires squealing in protest as they stopped in front of the bus. Authors piled out and swiftly went to unload the books out of the cars.

  “Teamwork makes the dream work,” Tailan whispered. “Hallelujah!”

  The authors’ enthusiastic rushing about caught the attention of their fans. Stampede style, the excited book buyers hurried from the store and created a cul-de-sac around the bus. The authors were lined up, side by side with their books neatly stacked on the ground before them. Tailan wanted to kiss every single one of them.

  Still no police. Their presence would ease her fears immensely. She turned to the four authors on punishment. “You’ll have to wait until this signing’s over to go back to the hotel. I need all of my team with me right now.”

  “What can we do to help?” Nona asked in the softest tone she had used—ever.

  Tailan pursed her lips and absently massaged her temple. “Seriously?” she questioned. “Now you want to act like you’ve got some sense?”

  “Yeah,” Nona started. “I was being difficult—”

  Tailan nearly choked on her response.

  “Okay, a bitch, and I know it,” Nona admitted. “Apologies for what I said to you and The Vets.” She cleared her throat twice; apparently, the humble pie was lodged in it. “I didn’t mean to disrespect them like that.”

  Decision time. Tailan blew out a frustrated breath. The crowd was building. She looked out the window to where her team was trying to direct traffic. Some people were scrambling out of their cars, others were craning their necks, probably trying to see the four hood stooges she had on lock down on the bus.

  “Shoot,” she muttered, then focused on the anxious four. “You need to make sure you say it to them,” Tailan said, nodding toward The Vets stationed at the middle of the line.

  Nona nodded. And so did the other three.

  “And in front of everyone when we get back on board.”r />
  Silence ticked by for a few spells.

  “Fine!” Shannon shouted.

  “Watch your tone, Shannon!” Tailan was in no mood to play.

  An involuntary tick started just above Shannon’s eye. She took a moment. “Sorry.” Her inflection was controlled and steady. “I will.”

  Traci said, “Okay.”

  “Yes Ma’am!” Chanel groaned.

  Tailan had an epiphany. A little street cred on the ground out there with the others couldn’t hurt if something jumped off. Two of them looked like they could throw down and be the last one standing when it was over. They needed to be on either side of The Vets, and they’d better live up to their hard core image.

  But first …

  Nona moved barely an inch. Tailan took her nose-to-nose—eye to eye. “And the next time you feel like putting my bizness in da street, I’ma whup yo’ ass. You ain’t the only one wit’ a li’l street in ‘em. Southside—Chi-town, baby. Jeffrey Manor—ride or die. Remember dat.”

  Nona blinked, flinched, then gasped at Tailan’s slip into hood-speak.

  Tailan pointed to the front of the bus. “Now get out there and sell some damn books.”

  She didn’t have to say it twice. They almost carried her with them as they ran out.

  The moment Tailan stepped onto the pavement, the general manager came running over, his burly entourage in tow. “You can’t be here!” he screeched. “Get that bus off the lot! Get those people back on the bus!”

  Tailan ignored him and went to Delvin’s side. She extended her hand to the wavy-haired newswoman with the angular face and wide smile. “This is”—Tailan looked at the badge clipped onto the pair of his baggy jeans—”Bill. He’s the general manager of this store.” Tailan clapped a hand on the man’s back and pulled him in close like they were old buddies. “And I’d like him to tell you the reason the authors are signing outside in the parking lot rather than inside at the tables that Woodland has all set for them.” Tailan blinked her eyes innocently and relished the fire flashing in Bill’s baby blues. “Bill, the floor’s all yours,” she said with a flourish of her hand. “Tell them what you told me.”