Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Hey you two, what’s up?” I answer.
“Did we get you at a bad time?” Lakia asks nervously.
“No, I have a minute. Is everything all right?”
I almost lost my shit that night her ex broke into her place. I hated that I was too far away to help her. Parker will forever have my respect for handling that shit.
I owe him one for taking care of my girl. He loves her and that’s all I want for my friend. She’s been through enough.
“Yes, I just wanted to ask you guys something.”
“Girl, spit it out. You have me clenching my ass cheeks and ready to fuck someone up,” I reply.
“You can calm down. I wanted to ask you two to be bridesmaids in my wedding.”
“Well, shit. Why all the dramatics?”
“She didn’t think you would want to because you’re single while we’re planning weddings. I’m not asking either of you. You both already know to be ready,” Kaye says.
“Nah, I’m busy that day. Find someone else to do it,” I say to Kaye. “Lakia, girl, of course. Then again. You trying to act like I can’t get a man. You find someone else too. Old bucket head asses. This one demanding I do shit and the other trying to call me an old maid.”
I try not to burst into laughter as their smiles fall and they begin to pout. I lose the battle as LaKia’s mouth flaps open and closed like a fish.
“I will be in both your weddings, stop tripping. Just tell me where and when and what all you need me to do. I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Maybe I can talk Felix into getting Uncle Ronan to walk the aisle with you. You two would make such a cute couple and the babies would be so pretty.”
Her words are like a punch in the gut. Ronan has never mentioned wanting children of his own and I’m still not too sure I want them either—even after all my mother has talked me into just in case. Hiding who I am from my man is one thing.
Hiding it from my children and hiding my children from the world I’m in is another.
However, I can’t keep my mind from going there and imagining a family with the man I’m falling for. I got my natural red hair from my father. I’m pretty sure our kids would end up with it. Although I’m still not sure where my dad got it from.
“Hey, I have something I need to get back to. I’ll call you guys later.”
“Love you guys. Talk later,” Lakia sings.
“Love you both. Kiss Isaac for me. Later, Dean,” Kaye says.
I hang up and move to the floor-length mirror in the closet. As I look my hourglass figure over, I have to ask myself what I’m doing? In the beginning, I promised I would tell Ronan the truth, but here we are eight months later and I haven’t come close to telling him an ounce of the truth.
Ronan doesn’t strike me as one to tolerate lies and bullshit. If I want to keep him, I need to take a moment to think about what I want and what I’m doing.
I’m thirty-two. Do I want to be a mother? Do I want a husband like my friends? Is any of that possible in this life?
“Can Danika Peoples and Dean Foxx coexist?” I murmur to myself.
I shake my thoughts off and grab my calf-high boots. As I’m zipping them up, my phone rings again. I roll my eyes.
When I see it’s my mom for the second time today, I pick up quickly. She’s been doing well with her treatments and has remained in remission with no flares so far. I clench my chest, holding my breath as I answer.
“Hello, Mom, is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. You didn’t sound like yourself earlier. I wanted to call back and check on you.”
I sigh in relief. I guess I did sound off this morning. I woke up cold and grumpy because Ronan wasn’t in bed with me. I thought I was hiding it, but I guess I wasn’t.
“Mom, you shouldn’t be worried about me. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
“But you haven’t said that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Nothing is wrong.”
“Have you finished the book?”
“No. I have some other things on my plate at the moment.”
“Then maybe it’s time. I spent the day packing after having lunch with Dayton and Byron. I think we should head to Vegas.
“After seeing them together, I want you and I to bond some. While we’re there, you can finish the book and maybe you’ll find someone who can put a smile on your face.”
Hearing the worry and concern in her voice keeps me from denying her request. I don’t want her to worry about me. If I’m with my mom in Vegas, then I can’t be here moping about Ronan.