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

future issues, advertising revenues, or personnel issues?”
    â€œThat’s it. Now it’s Raymond and Zola.”
    â€œSo I’ll ask again. What do you want to know about me? My family? My friends? What I do for fun or have I been involved in covert activities?” I teased.
    â€œTell me what you want me to know. Did you pledge while you were in college?” Raymond asked.
    â€œNo, I didn’t.” A surprised look crossed Raymond’s face. “I just knew you were greek,” Raymond said.
    â€œI started to, but I couldn’t decide. At first I wanted to pledge Delta, but their lines were always so long. I didn’t want to be a small fish in a big sea. Then I was stuck on pledging AKA and really liked the girls on the yard, but they were a large group as well. The fish theory again. I had this professor who I just loved and she was a Zeta, and I decided that’s what I wanted to be. Just when I thought I had made up my mind, I became really close with a Sigma, Lorraine, who was majoring in journalism. That sista was bad. She was one of the smartest girls at Tennessee State and could dress her butt off. In the fall, girls couldn’t wait to see what Lorraine was wearing the first few weeks of school,” I said. I couldn’t believe I was sitting there, chatting easily with Raymond, but there was a warm quality about him that made me feel comfortable and safe. Nothing like being around Davis. With him I always felt I had to think about everything I said before it left my mouth.
    â€œI guess I can understand your not being able to make a choice. They’re all great organizations. I also know a lot of it depends on what school or part of the country you’re in,” Raymond said.
    I took a bite of the rib, which was so good that the meat was falling off the bones. I poured a little of the barbecue sauce and dipped the meat in it like I was eating chicken wings. Raymond was using the black and gold china with the official McClinton Enterprises
crest that Veronica, the wife, had insisted that Davis purchase for the few formal dinners we held at the office.
    â€œDid you pledge?” I asked Raymond after I had finished one rib and dipped my hands into the box for another one.
    â€œI’m a member of KAQ,” Raymond said calmly.
    â€œWhy am I not surprised?”
    â€œWhy do you ask that?” Raymond asked.
    â€œTwo words. Pretty boy,” I said. I noticed Raymond blushing and thought maybe I had crossed the line, but I still thought it was wonderful to know my new boss was bashful and seemingly not conceited.
    â€œThat’s not true,” Raymond protested.
    â€œRaymond, this is one thing you need to know about me. I am brutally honest. I call them as I see them. I’m sure your wife or girlfriend would agree with me.”
    â€œI’m not married and I don’t have a girlfriend,” Raymond said matter-of-factly. I stopped eating my food and gazed at him for a moment.
    â€œZola, is there something you want to ask me?”
    â€œIs there something you want to tell me?”
    â€œI just broke up with my partner of several years,” Raymond said.
    I was thinking he didn’t have to hit me over the head with a rib bone. My new boss was gay, which certainly didn’t bother me. Still, I didn’t think I should tell him I knew just yet in case Raymond wasn’t comfortable talking about his sexuality. If he was, then it would be quite refreshing if he was open and honest and not trying to trick a sister by living his life on the d.l., which I called the d.l.d.—dirty low down.
    I wondered for a moment if Raymond would be somebody Hayden might be interested in but quickly remembered my friend was interested only in the low down.
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that. Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m a big boy. I’ll be fine,” Raymond said.
    â€œBreakups can be a bitch,” I said.
    â€œYeah, they