Free A Love of My Own by E. Lynn Harris Page A

were mutual. He’s so cocksure, and he routinely turns the heads of both men and women.
    The moment I’d gotten to the city I had thought about calling Basil, but I decided I should get my bearings in my new position before I brought any John Basil Henderson confusion into my life. Besides, I figured there was nothing like a good-looking man to make me forget about my troubles. The last time I had seen or spoken to Basil, he’d been in a great deal of trouble, but I suspected he had somehow made it through since I hadn’t heard from him in a while.
    I grabbed my PalmPilot and located Basil’s numbers, but I didn’t know if I should call his office or apartment. I really just wanted to leave a message and let him contact me.
    Basil answered after two rings.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked.
    â€œRaymond Tyler, what are you doing in New York? Looking for me?” Basil asked.
    â€œHow did you know I was in New York?” I asked.
    â€œNow, you know a brotha like me gonna have caller ID. It’s good hearing your voice,” Basil said.
    â€œSo that’s why you call me all the time?” I joked.
    â€œI’ve been meaning to call you,” Basil said.
    â€œSure, sure. I bet you tell that to all the boys and girls,” I said. Basil was terribly confused when it came to his sexuality, or maybe he was truly bisexual.
    â€œSo we got a lot to catch up on. A lot has changed since we last spoke. How long are you here for?”
    â€œA while. I’ve taken a job here,” I said.
    â€œWhat? Man, that’s great. When’s your boy getting here?”
    â€œI’m not certain,” I said quickly. “What’s going on with you?”
    â€œI’m in love again, and this time it’s the real thing. I can’t wait for you to meet her,” Basil said. There was an excitement in his voice I had never heard, so I was thinking that maybe he had finally met the woman who could tame his wild ways.
    â€œThat’s great. What happened to Rosa? More important, whatever happened with that Yancey lady?”
    â€œI don’t know if I should tell you this over the phone or in person,” Basil said.
    â€œYou must have big news if you don’t want to talk about it over the phone. What’s going on with the firm?” The last time I had spoken with Basil, he was trying to decide whether he was going to leave the sports management company he co-owned.
    â€œIt’s big, and things couldn’t be better at the firm. We’ve signed some of the top talent coming out this year and we got rid of that asshole Nico,” Basil said.
    â€œNico. I think I remember you talking about him. Was he one of the partners?”
    â€œYeah, that’s the niggah who thought he was going to get me to leave the firm. I did some checking on his dealings with some of our clients’ finances and, well, let’s just say it was either leave the firm or spend some time in jail,” Basil said.
    â€œDude, what’s going on with your brother’s agent? The guy in Florida is getting ready to go on trial. I guess I won’t be so judgmental the next time I see some black athlete signed with a white agent.”
    â€œI hear you. But I don’t want to talk about that mofo. I can’t wait for you to meet Talley Henderson,” Basil said.
    I was wondering if I had heard Basil correctly. Did he say the new lady in his life shared his last name? Was Basil married?
    â€œTalley Henderson,” I said nervously. I didn’t know why it even mattered who his new lady was. I always assumed Basil would end up with some beautiful lady and keep an equally good-looking man on the side.
    â€œYes, Talley, and she is beautiful,” Basil boasted.
    â€œI can’t wait to meet her,” I said weakly.
    â€œWhat are you doing this evening?”
    â€œI’ve got to meet with my new boss. You might know him, or maybe you’ve