Chapter 2
The sun had long since fallen from the sky, and yet I was still sitting in my office going over contracts. It was my life. I had let the thought of me being married, or even in a loving relationship, go. It wasn’t that my heart was closed to the idea. I just never seemed to be in the right place or time to find love. So, my family and my best friend Chyna took up all the space my heart could handle. At least that was what I told myself.
My phone buzzed against my desk, pulling me from my laser focus on the computer screen. The picture of my best friend and I popped up on the screen with the time shining bright in the corner.
“Shit!” I yelled.
I grabbed my phone, answering and locking my computer screen at the same time.
“I am on the way.”
“You’re just now leaving the office, aren’t you?” she asked.
The dip in her voice alerted me to the fact that I indeed was holding everyone up.
“It was an accident, Chy. Just start the dinner without me. I promise to make this up to you.”
“Hurry up. I don’t want to order the main course without you,” she responded before ending the call.
I quickly stuffed my phone into my purse, then grabbed my jacket to my suit from the back of the chair. I was the only person left in the office, but it was usually that way on most nights. I was the CEO of the biggest fashion magazines in the world. I was the kind of person who needed to make sure everything had been looked over by me before I felt comfortable enough to let it go to print.
My family and Chyna complained that I pushed myself to be this invested in my business so I could avoid love, but let’s be real. I’d never told a man not to approach me or that I didn’t want to date. I just simply didn’t have the time, so why try? Especially when every relationship I seemed to get into ended in heartbreak.
Once I made sure everything was locked up, I quickly made my way over to the restaurant. Traffic wasn’t as bad as it usually was downtown. I said a silent prayer as I pulled in front of the restaurant, then gave my keys to valet. I could see through the window to see Chyna laughing and smiling as she drank what I was sure was a martini. It was all she ever wanted when we went to places this fancy. According to her, it made her feel extra rich and like a boss ass bitch.
I laughed at the thought and stepped inside. The hostess walked over to me and pointed in their direction. The hostess smiled and led me to the table. Chyna glanced up at me with a wide smile as I mouthed the word sorry and then gave her a hug before taking the open seat next to her. I handed her the envelope with her birthday card and a few gift cards inside.
“Happy birthday! I didn’t have much time to get a big thing, but the card is super special,” I announced with a smile.
Chyna shook it and tilted her head to the side as if she was trying to guess what was inside, giving everyone else a laugh as she peeled open the envelope to reveal the five thousand dollar gift card I had given her.
“I need friends like you!” One of Chyna’s cousins spoke up.
I laughed as Chyna leaned over to give me a hug. “She is more than just my friend. This is my sister! We couldn’t be more close if we tried.”
Chyna then sat back down as the server came over to the table to take everyone’s orders. It seemed as if the dinner went by extremely fast, and everyone was asking for their check when Chyna’s boyfriend, Ryan, stood and got the servers attention, letting him know he could give him the check for the table. Chyna looked up with wide eyes, practically swooning over his kindness.
I loved that my friend was being loved properly. It only made me want love even more for myself. Ryan continued to stand as if he couldn’t find his next footing to sit his ass back down. My stomach tightened as his eyes scanned everyone in the restaurant before pushing the chair he was once sitting on to the side. Then he turned Chyna’s chair to face him.
No words needed to be said as he kneeled down on one knee and took her hand into his own. Chyna’s free hand immediately went up to her mouth as her eyes watered. The feeling in my gut twisted as Ryan professed his love for her.
I watched as he reached into his back pocket for a velvet ring box. The entire restaurant was staring. Some people were even recording the moment, myself included, because I wanted my friend to have this moment saved forever.
“Chyna, you’re everything to me, and you know I’m not a man of many words, but I couldn’t let another day or year go by with you as my girlfriend. You deserve way more than that. The only title that’s acceptable for an amazing woman like you is wife. I say all that to say…will you marry me?”
Chyna’s face was covered in tears as she nodded erratically before he slid the ring onto her finger and pulled her in for a kiss. The entire restaurant went up in applause, myself included. A few lone tears slid down my cheek as I smiled at my best friend getting her happily ever after. I wish I could say that my tears were just for her happiness. Most of my tears were for her, but a few drops were for my hope. Those few pieces of hope in my heart that I kept close to my chest for keeping finally broke. In the witness of a love I hoped to feel of my own, but a dreaded feeling reminded me that I wasn’t like Chyna, and I would never be worthy.
I wiped away the tears on my face and pushed my feelings to the back. My friend deserved all of me and all of my happiness for her. It wasn’t about me. I walked over to Chyna as her eyes met mine and a soft smile came across her face as she walked slowly in my direction.
“Let me see that ring,” I told her as she lifted her hand up.
“He did good, didn’t he?” she asked with pride shining in her eyes. I nodded and looked over her shoulder in his direction with a smile before returning my attention to her. I pulled her in tightly for a hug, and she whispered in my ear. “This is only the beginning, and our friendship will not change.”
I hated that on a day that had nothing to do with me that my friend was consistently worried about me. It made me feel even worse, but I did my best not to show it. The night seemed to almost fly by after the proposal. I wanted to be home and by myself. So when everyone finished talking, I took that as my out and headed to the valet stand.
Once my car finally pulled up, I gave Chyna and Ryan another hug, then headed home. After pulling into the driveway, I walked into my modern two-story home and turned off my alarm, then locked the door behind myself. I kicked off my heels and made a beeline for the stairs to get into the shower. I needed to regroup and get my head back on straight for tomorrow.
Sunday Dinner
I had just left the office not too long ago. My family insisted that we needed to see each other every Sunday. I hated to sound ungrateful, especially when there were people who didn’t have family at all. But mine could smother a damn bear. Sometimes their overbearing behavior got to me, and most times I loved every second I had with them.
Aside from the segment in the day where it was all about me and how they need to figure out how to find me a man. One who could deal with my quirks of overworking or my behavior of just wanting to be left alone most days. I didn’t think it was weird one bit that I enjoyed moments with myself.
If you asked me, one day they were going to be asking me for advice when they felt as if they lost themselves in their relationships. I knew how to give myself space to breathe and I felt that was a good thing.
Once I pulled up to the high iron gates that guarded my parents’ home. I took a deep breath in as I spoke to Marcellus, the gate attendant, before he allowed me through. Someone might have sworn my parents were the president and the first lady by the way they had this place guarded. My parents worked for the government to help with security, so it was only right that they took their own methods and advice for their own place.
I drove up the long driveway until I noticed my siblings’ cars parked around the large fountain in the center of the roundabout driveway. I parked, then pulled the visor down to check out my makeup. I brushed my brownish-red curls from my face. I decided to let my loose wave curls drop around my shoulders today. With my makeup, I decided on a brown lip to cover my full heart-shaped lips; I refreshed it before grabbing the two bottles of wine from the passenger seat.
I left the jacket to my suit in the car, since I planned to relax as much as I possibly could. Before I could ring the doorbell, the door was snatched open with my sister smiling big on the other side. She quickly stepped out and closed the door behind her. I rolled my eyes because I knew they had to be starting their bullshit already.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes briefly before looking back up at my sister. “What is going on, Reign?” I asked.
Her large hazel eyes widened more than I thought they could as she smiled big, showing all thirty-two of her teeth, only further irritating me.
“What makes you think something is going on?” I turned to go back down the stairs when she reached out to stop me. “Please, Skye, don’t go. Wait, give me a chance to explain,” she pleaded.
“What exactly is there to explain? I am going to assume y’all have someone in there who thinks they’re getting ready to meet me in hopes of dating? Am I correct?” I rattled off question after question.
Reign bit her lower lip and wrung her hands together. I knew my assumptions were correct because she only did that when she was nervous. I wasn’t in the mood for this shit. I just wanted to come here, get a meal that I didn’t have to cook, maybe hear a little about their lives, and be around family. I didn’t plan to be set up by folks I didn’t ask to set me up, especially when they all thought they knew what I liked, but honestly, they were picking people they liked. It never had anything to do with me. I groaned aloud at the thought.
“Maybe, but it didn’t happen the way you think it did. David knew him when they were serving overseas together in the Navy. Jim came into town, and we offered him a home cooked meal here because he hadn’t had one in a while. Then we slightly mentioned your name, but you don’t have to treat this as a date. It’s just a meal. You just might connect with this man more than you’re thinking, Skye. Just give it a chance. For me,” she begged with her lip poked out.
I wanted to snatch all her hair from her head, but I reframed and waved my hand in front of myself to tell her to lead the way. I had a game plan in mind; I was going to eat my dinner and enjoy my wine. Then be the first one out of this house. I wasn’t remotely going to entertain the idea of this mess, especially not anyone David knew.
The moment we stepped into the house, I could hear laughter in the distance and the clanking of dishes. I rolled my eyes and released a breath, then smiled. The moment we stepped into the room, the chatter almost ceased. It made me feel like I had a stain on my shirt or as if I had walked in on them talking about me, but I wasn’t going to put too much thought into it.
Everyone was already seated and, of course, they left the seat next to the strange man for me. He wasn’t bad looking. He had supple mahogany colored skin, a bald head, but a neatly groomed goatee mustache. I could tell he had a sense of style because of his attire.
I walked over to the empty chair, and he stood, pulling out my chair for me. Another point, but I wasn’t going to tell him or my family that. I was pissed at them for putting me on the spot as it was. Reign cleared her throat as my brother, Hunter, and his wife, Janine, spoke, then my parents, Barbera and Richard, spoke.
“Jim, this is my baby sister, Skye. Skye, this is a friend of David’s, Jim,” she announced like she hadn’t given me all these details outside.
I smiled and shook his outreached hand. “Nice to meet you,” I told him.
“Likewise. You’re very beautiful,” he said.
I smiled tightly and gave another thanks before looking at the food in front of me. I grabbed my plate and started piling the chicken, greens, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes on my plate. I went to grab the corn when my mother cleared her throat. I looked in her direction, and she signaled with her head for me to put them down.
I ignored her and placed some corn on my plate, too. I came here hungry. I didn’t give a damn that they thought it was a good idea to set me up on a blind date. That had nothing to do with me. I was going to eat whether he was here or not. As soon as everyone’s plates were filled, my mother spoke up. “Alright, let’s hold hands so we can say grace,” she announced.
I looked over at her then laughed lightly, because they were laying it on thick tonight. We usually said grace, but we didn’t need to hold hands to do it.
“Uhm, Skye. Is there a problem, honey? Would you like to do the honors of saying grace?” she asked smartly.
“Oh me? Of course not. I’m not familiar with this new way you’re doing it. I would hate to slow you down on teaching us something new,” I responded.
I didn’t give a damn that we supposedly had company. The facts just were what they were. They were putting on because this man was here and it wasn’t necessary. If he did become my man, he would notice all the shit they did tonight wasn’t normal, so it didn’t bother me one way or another if they wanted to look crazy. To each its own.
“Lord, thank you for our daily bread. We appreciate all the things you have given us and the people you have brought into our lives. As our family grows, we only can give you more thanks, especially what you continue to do for each of my children. My son Hunter and his wife as the start their family, my daughter Reign and her husband David whose marriage is beyond anything I could hope for my children, and my baby Skye who is a boss with her own and such a big heart ready to be love?—”
Before she could finish, I cleared my throat and tapped the table.
“God bless our food and the hands that prepared it. Thank you! Amen!” I intercepted. I opened my eyes to see the look of amusement in my brother’s and his wife’s eyes. Reign’s and my mother’s eyes were wide because they were one side of the same damn coin. Meddlers. My father chuckled and then proceeded to eat his food as if nothing had happened.
I picked up my fork and ate as well because I was not about to entertain these folks. The rest of the dinner went along fairly smoothly, at least whenever my mom or sister weren’t trying to upsell my ass to Jim. I knew he could tell because every now and again he would chuckle and give me apologetic eyes.
At least he was a good sport about all of this was all I could tell myself. Once I had finished a plate and a half, that mother was blowing steam about, I grabbed my keys and stood in the middle of conversations.
“As much of a good time as this was, I am going to head out. Y’all have a good night, and Jim, it was very nice to meet you,” I told him as I pushed my seat away from the table.
My mom quickly stood and frantically looked around. I knew she was trying to find any reason to either pull me to the side or to get me to stay, but I was not having it. I wanted to be home with no stress and this night was very far from that.
“Uh, Jim, you mind walking her out? You know, just to make sure she makes it to her car safely?” my mother asked him.
Now, I couldn’t help to laugh because she pulling out all the stops. I looked down at Jim and returned the same apologetic smile he had been giving me all night.
“You really don’t have to. These folks built this house like a fortress, with all types of security around. It’s not necessary.”
Jim pushed his chair out and waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind. Let me grab my coat out of the living room really quick,” he announced as he stepped around me.
The moment he was out of earshot, my mother lit into me. “What in the world are you doing? You can be so damn ungrateful sometimes. Did you have to sit down there and eat like you hadn’t had a meal in weeks, Skye?” my mother asked in a hushed tone.
“What did you want me to do? Be desperate? You shouldn’t have made my favorite meal if you didn’t want me to eat it.”
Hunter was practically in tears at this point. Before my mother could respond, Jim was standing in the open doorway with his jacket on. If I were him, I would get the hell out of here and away from these crazy ass people.
“David, I’m going to head out, too. It was nice seeing you again, and thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, for hosting such an amazing dinner. It was nice meeting everyone, and hopefully I can get another invite,” he said.
I shook my head as I followed him outside. He walked me to my car and stuffed his hands into his pocket.
“So is this how it is all the time?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I said sarcastically.
He laughed and shook his head. “Well, it was nice meeting you, and if I wasn’t gay, I would definitely ask you on a date, but if you ever want to go to a bar with me to window shop, we can definitely get together. You seem like my kind of people,” he said with a feminine wave of his hand.
We both laughed, and I nodded, then gave him my number.
“It’s a date. I love a good window-shopping type of situation. These days, that’s all men are good for. No offense,” I added.
“Trust me, I get it. You get home safe, Skye. We will definitely set something up,” he said, then gave me a hug before heading to his car.
I shook my head with a smile, then looked over to see my family in the window, but they tried to scramble away the moment I noticed them. I swore these folks were going to be the death of me.
I laughed and slipped into my car. My soft bed was calling my name after a night like this.