Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Totally.” She grins and I smile back even though it doesn’t feel real, then start up my game, forgetting all about Sharon, or mostly anyways.
Nalia
Standing in my closet, wrapped in my robe, I scan through my clothes looking for something to wear tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve been downtown, but I still know that most women will be wearing cute country girl dresses that fit into the Nashville aesthetic. The thing is, that isn’t really my style. Plus, I want to be comfortable; it’s going to be hot, and I’m sure we’re going to end up doing a lot of walking since parking is usually scarce. Taking a pair of my favorite light-washed distressed jeans off the hanger, I wrap them over my arm, then sift through my tanks, finding a white racerback one that still has the tags on it.
Walking back into my room, Zuri, who is lying on my bed with her iPad talking to Heather while the two of them play a game, looks at me over the top of it. Her eyes move to my hair that is still not done. “How long before we leave?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Cool.” She smiles, going back to her friend.
Walking into the bathroom, I take out the curlers that I’ve had in for a couple of hours and run my fingers through the bouncy waves. They won’t last long, once I’m outside for a few minutes or in a crowded bar, the humidity will dampen my hair enough to cause it to frizz and curl like it naturally wants to.
With my hair done I slip off my robe and get dressed in my jeans and tank then add a layer of necklaces and a few bracelets. As I study my reflection I start to have second thoughts about it, the outfit is so casual that I wonder if I’ll be underdressed but I’m down to the wire and don’t have time to spend an hour on the phone with my sisters and cousins going over my outfit choices.
Picking up my gloss, I lean towards the mirror above the sink and add a thin coat to my lips, then shove it in the pocket of my jeans before I turn and open the bathroom door. When I step out, Zuri lifts her head to look at me and smiles.
“You look pretty.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“I want to see her,” Heather shouts through the iPad, and Zuri turns the screen around.
“You look pretty, Zuri’s mom.”
“Thanks, Heather.” I offer her a smile that she probably doesn’t see because Zuri turns her iPad back around and I walk back into my closet. I still haven’t spoken to Zuri about why she is telling her friends that I’m her mom, and even though I know I should be the adult and just confront the topic head-on, every time I think about bringing it up, I chicken out.
Grabbing my Vans, since the idea of walking downtown for a few hours in heels sounds like torture, I put them on then grab one of my nicer cross body bags and carry it with me out of the bedroom, hearing Zuri following behind me. I quickly change out the stuff in my purse then grab my cell from the kitchen where it’s been charging and find a message from Logan waiting for me.
Logan
Hey babe, Mom is taking the kids to get Sonic when you girls get here, just a heads up they will probably get ice cream afterwards while they are out.
It’s not the first message he’s sent me today, it’s actually the fourth. The first one was him just telling me good morning, the next was him letting me know that they had won their game, and the third was him letting me know that his friend Hanson, whom he works with but I haven’t met, was going to be driving the group of us tonight. Each time I sent him a message back, feeling a little awkward because I’m not used to anyone but my family really messaging me with random texts on a regular basis.
I message him back that I’ll give her some money for Zuri, then add that we are leaving the house in just a few minutes to head over to him. Before I can even put my cell in my bag after pressing send on that text he messages back.
Logan
Good luck trying to give Mom money, baby. See you soon.
I don’t reply, instead I head back down the hall to my room and make sure all the lights are off then walk into the living room where Zuri is now lying on the couch.
“Is your watch charged?” Back when she was living with Sharon, I wanted her to have a way to get in touch with me, even if she didn’t have internet for her iPad, so I got her a watch that she could use to call me and a few other numbers that I programmed into it. It’s been awesome, especially since I think having a phone is way too much responsibility at her age.