Read Never Say Never for Free Online Page B

her head. “Not interested.”
    â€œPlease, Michellelee! I’m not asking you to marry Jamal. Just do this double date with me tonight and if you don’t like him, fine. I will never ever ask you to go out with another guy again in my life.”
    Michellelee closed the magazine and laid it flat on her lap. “So you’re saying that if I do this tonight, you’ll forever give up trying tohook me up?”
    Miriam laid her hand across her chest like she was saying the Pledge of Allegiance. “I give you my word.”
    â€œIf I were you, I’d get this in writing,” I said.
    Miriam glared at me, but when Michellelee said, “Okay, I’ll go,” Miriam clapped her hands with glee.
    â€œBut”—Michellelee stopped Miriam’s celebration with that one word—“I’ll only go if Emily goes, too.”
    â€œWhat?” I snapped my head toward her so fast I was sure that I’d have whiplash in the morning.
    â€œIf I don’t like this guy, I’ll have someone to talk to.”
    â€œNo, thank you,” I said.
    â€œCome on,” Michellelee said. “It’ll be like a triple date, only you’ll be alone.” She laughed.
    I tossed the pillow at her. “I refuse to be anyone’s fifth wheel. Plus, I already have plans. I’m going to sit here and wait for KCAL Breaking News and the announcement that Bill Clinton did have sex with that woman.”
    â€œMichellelee,” Miriam said, ignoring me and glancing at her watch, “we have to be ready in like an hour and a half.”
    â€œSo not only do I have to go on this date, but I have to look like a star in ninety minutes?”
    â€œYeah, but if anyone can do it, you can.”
    The obvious sucking up worked. Michellelee grinned. “Okay. I’ll find something fabulous to wear.”
    While Michellelee strolled up the stairs to her room, Miriam rushed into hers, which was right off the living room, and I didn’t move from the couch. Instead, I turned from channel to channel, watching and waiting for the news to come about the president. Just a bit more than an hour later, a knock on our door interrupted my viewing. I was annoyed; I didn’t feel like entertaining Chauncey and his friend until Miriam andMichellelee were ready, but I had to be the good roommate.
    Then, I opened the door, took one look outside, and stood straight at attention.
    â€œHey, Emily,” Chauncey said.
    â€œHello.” But I wasn’t looking at him. My glance went straight over his shoulder and I took in the most beautiful vision.
    Now, one thing you must know—I wasn’t one of those white girls who chased black men. Not that I was prejudiced; I just came from a long line of Mississippi Harringtons who preferred the pre–Civil War days. In my family, everyone stayed with their own kind. My grandmother had even told me that was biblical, and certainly, I was going to follow the Bible.
    But my grandmother had never seen a man who looked like this. This guy was hot!
    â€œSo . . . you gonna let us in?”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry.” I could feel the heat rise on my cheeks. I stepped aside, but I never took my eyes off Chauncey’s friend. Miriam had told us his name, hadn’t she?
    My eyes followed every step he took as he strolled past me. While Chauncey had on a fake leather coat over his suit, his friend wore a tailored overcoat that was buttoned up but still left a peek of his white-with-black-pinstripe shirt and black diamond patterned tie. My mother had taught me to love a well-dressed man.
    As I motioned for them to sit down, Chauncey finally introduced me. “This is my boy, Jamal.”
    Jamal!
    â€œNice to meet you,” I said, holding out my hand. Now, my friends often teased me about my proper Southern ways. But I wasn’t so uncool that I shook people’s hands. Right now, though, I had an ulterior motive—I wanted