Chapter 3
A MONTH LATER…
I sat on the terrace of the bistro that Chyna and I frequented. It was our weekly meet up, and I couldn’t wait to tell her ass what my parents and Reign had pulled. It still made me laugh to think about it. If I didn’t find the comedy in the situation, it would send me into a state of depression and that was not what I wanted for myself.
It wasn’t my damn fault that even the folks around me were just as bad at picking men for me. I was sure Jim would have been great if he hadn’t been interested in men and had no desire to be with my ass.
But since that dinner, he had really become a cool person to get up with. We shared a lot of similarities, even in the men we liked. I guess that was why I wasn’t too upset either. All they had done was get me another friend, and I was no closer to finding a husband. I’d mentally decided that trying to find a husband would no longer be my main concern. I would live life and my good thing would find me.
The server came back over to the table to see if I was ready to at least order a drink. I had sent her away a few times, wanting to grab my drink at the same time as Chyna, but at this point, she was running later than she usually did. I didn’t complain because usually it was me who didn’t do right.
“Ma’am, are you sure you don’t want to at least put a drink in?” she asked.
I picked up the menu again. “Yeah, I guess I might as well get started. My friend is running a little bit more behind than usual.”
Although that was a slight lie. Since she had gotten engaged, sis had been almost nonexistent. Most of my texts went unanswered for days or meet ups like today just didn’t happen. I hoped today was not one of those days.
“I’ll have a strawberry margarita with an extra shot. Thank you,” I told her.
She smiled, then walked off toward the bar. I picked up my phone at the unanswered text I had sent to Chyna when the picture of her and I popped up on my screen to alert me of her call. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I wasn’t going to like what she had to say, but I tried to push that thought away as I answered.
“Hey, girl! Where you at? I tried to hold off on the drink, but I can order yours if you’re close when she comes back by—” I started when Chyna interrupted me.
“Skye, slow down. I hate to say this, but uh, I was getting ready to head out, and I couldn’t find my phone, right?”
“Right,” I responded, already knowing where this conversation was getting ready to go.
“Anyway, I was yelling all throughout the house trying to find Ryan to ask him about my phone, and there’s a trail of rose petals leading to the garage, so I follow the petals and my driver side door is open. Anyway, there’s a note inside, almost like a scavenger hunt. On the note, it says something about I have your phone but place this address in your car GPS.”
I wanted to roll my fucking eyes. Not because I wasn’t happy for my girl that she was being treated the way she should, but that she felt the need to give me this whole spiel to tell me she wasn’t fucking coming. I had been sitting out here for over an hour.
I didn’t mean to be rude, but I was slightly pissed. I knew this waiter thought I had been stood up or forgotten, and her ass would be right. Although it wasn’t Chyna’s fault, Ryan had been around long enough to know when we had our weekly brunch. But I guess that shit didn’t matter, but again, this was the kind of shit that happened when someone was in love, I guess.
“So, I follow the GPS and it takes me to an airstrip. Girl, he is flying me to Hawaii. The plane is getting ready to take off, but I’m going to pay for your lunch. Sorry. I’ll make it up to you—” she said between giggles.
Clearly, I could tell Ryan’s ass was over there doing something to her. I had to appreciate the fact she called before the plane took off.
“Enjoy your vacation, girl. I’ll see you when you get back,” I told her.
I really wanted to curse her ass out, but I knew it was my feeling of being left behind that was running havoc on my emotions. When the server returned with my drink, I finished it and placed an order for me to do a to-go lunch. In no way was I going to sit here another minute longer. I was already embarrassed that this mysterious person that I told her was coming never showed.
It wasn’t long before the server returned with the tab and my to-go order. I paid and gave her a good tip. She had given me my drink for free, I was sure out of pity that I had essentially been stood up.
The moment I got back into my car, I made a call to my office, letting them know I was taking the rest of the day off. I could hear the concern in my assistant’s voice. I was sure it was because I never took any time for myself, for the most part, and that was a problem.
I drove to the nearest grocery store to grab a bottle of wine and a tub of my favorite ice cream. I had declared to myself that I would pamper my damn self. It was time I started appreciating myself, anyway. I parked my car and went into the store to grab just two things, but by the time I got to the register, I remembered I needed about ten other things.
I stood behind a woman whose cart was more packed than mine had been. I glanced over to my right, and a travel magazine was on the rack with the tagline promoting the best places for vacation. Intrigued, I picked up and copy then placed it into my cart. It seemed as if the time I took to do that it was my turn to check out.
By the time I left the store, my backseat was filled with things I was certain I didn’t need but didn’t care because I wanted them. The drive home was short. I parked in the garage, then unloaded the many bags I had acquired.
After removing everything from the bags, I set up my self-proclaimed pamper section in the living room. I had a foot spa I didn’t know a damn thing about using. I decided at that moment that company just might not be a bad thing, so I picked up my phone and called Jim.
“Hey, Skye, what’s up?” he answered.
“Please tell me you are plans-free tonight?” I asked. I tried to keep to the hope from my tone but I couldn’t help it.
“What we doing?” he answered.
I squealed into the phone and did a little dance, causing him to chuckle on the other end.
“Come comfortable! It’s a pamper me kind of day. I have wine and good ratchet TV. Do I need to say more?” I asked.
“Hell nah! I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
We said our goodbyes and continued to set the house up for company. I turned on How to Lose A Guy in Ten Dates . I loved this movie, mainly because I loved me some Matthew McConaughey. I grabbed two wine glasses and a bowl to pour chips into, then set up both of the foot spas I purchased because I wasn’t sure which one was better. I guess my indecisiveness worked in my favor this time.
I checked my watch, and I knew I didn’t have too much time before Jim got here. I had learned he was very anal about being on time, so I knew he would be here at the time he said he would. I appreciated that about him. I jogged up my floating staircase in my modern scheme home. It was the feature that made me buy this house to begin with.
I grabbed my orange silk shorts pajama set, then rushed back downstairs at the sound of my doorbell ringing. I pulled the ponytail holder from my hair as I made my way to the door. Then shook my hair loose from the confines of the tight ass ponytail I had it in.
Jim stood on the other side in his all black silk pajamas with a bag of takeout and a bottle of wine in the other hand. I smiled as I pulled the door open wider to let him in.
“Oh, you got it smelling good in here? What’s that?” he asked as he walked around me.
“It’s just a vanilla candle from Target—nothing fancy. I’ve been meaning to try essential oils, though; everyone says they make your house smell amazing.”
He nodded in agreement with a smile as he placed the food on the countertop, but before I could say another word, he turned to face me with his hand on his hip.
“Now tell me what the need for the big pamper day is. I’m all for taking care of yourself and having me time, but I’ve come to learn you, and you don’t do random. You usually have a reason you do the things you do. So, what happened?” he asked.
I released a sigh, then told him about the events from earlier with Chyna and how this wasn’t the first time. He never interrupted me, just pulled out a seat and got comfortable. Once I finally took a breath, he lifted his brow to check to see if I was done, so I nodded.
“I’m gone keep it real with you, if that’s cool.”
“Please. I definitely didn’t invite you over here to pacify me.”
He smiled. “I think it’s cool to have friends and folks you can count on, but essentially, if she is getting ready to marry this man, she can’t be all you have. That’s too much pressure. I’m not saying some consideration can be taken for things y’all have planned, but you have to be ready not to be number one in her life anymore. I think it’s time you find that space in yourself that feels secure by yourself.”
I nodded and leaned against the counter before I stepped away to grab our wine glasses. I didn’t say a word as I poured my favorite wine from the King Dynasty line. Those folks surely knew how to make some wine on top of running some of the best resorts in the world. I filled both our glasses, then took a sip before I responded.
“I know, which is why I hated to even recount how today made me feel. I knew some of what I feel is valid, but a lot of it has to do with my dependency on her. Ugh, how the hell do you get out of that?” I asked.
Jim took a sip of his wine and then threw this head back with a laugh.
“Girl, how the hell am I supposed to know? I don’t have the answer for that shit. Maybe take a solo trip. All the single girlies are doing it!” he suggested.
That was when I remembered the travel magazine I had picked up was on the counter behind me. I walked over and picked it up, then handed it over to Jim.
“Let’s pick somewhere out of here. I’m overdue for a vacation! I need all the time I can get.”
Jim looked down at the magazine, then lifted a brow, then shrugged his shoulders. I guess he figured he would entertain my delusions further. I had never been on any trips without either my family or Chyna. I didn’t even know if I truly had the courage to go out of the country by myself.
He flipped open the magazine, and I stood beside him, pointing out all the unique places in the magazine that I had of course heard of but always figured they were places to travel to with a significant other. Or even on a girls’ trip. Not once did I think it was an option for a solo trip.
“Oh, wait, what about Fiji?” I said, stopping him from flipping past the beautiful red flowers adorning the borders of the page titled Fiji Escape.
“Let’s see—” he trailed off.
He flipped the page back so I could take a look at the list of things to do. The more I read, the better I felt about taking this trip, to where it had already taken over my thoughts. I walked away and picked up my phone to do a little research myself. I immediately went looking for a resort and knew I wouldn’t hold back any expenses when it came down to this trip.
“I can already see the wheels turning in your mind. I guess Fiji it is?” he asked.
I looked up from my phone with a smile and a nod. “Fiji it is.”
Jim pulled his phone from his back pocket, then looked back up at me.
“I have an amazing travel agent that can get you all the deals and include your flight. Let me at least do that for you. To be honest, he might be up now,” Jim said while calling whoever he was suggesting on speaker.
It was already late, so I highly doubted he would answer, but I was wrong as the sound of music blasting in the background came through and loud and clear. I didn’t need to guess that whoever was on the other line was at a nightclub and having the time of their lives.
“Jim, baby, tell me you’re calling me to give me another chance,” the man said in a sultry tone.
I lifted a brow and smirked in his direction.
“Harlet, you’re on speaker, and no, you know what you did. I’m here to fatten your pockets a little bit. I have someone who is trying to book a big trip to Fiji, and when I say big, I do mean big. Flights, cabanas, transportation, activities,” he told him.
I smiled as Jim boasted about a trip that we had just came up with a few minutes prior to the call. I could tell his friend Harlet had excused themselves into another space.
“Now, you have my undivided attention. Is this person you’re speaking of ready to seal the deal as we speak?” he asked in more of a professional tone.
I cleared my throat and stepped forward. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Now, when would you like to take this trip?” he asked.
The clacking of a keyboard could be heard clearly. I could tell he was no longer in whatever section of noise he had been in earlier.
“Uhm, I haven’t decided?—”
“ASAP,” Jim interrupted.
My eyes widened as I looked up at him, and I was certain my expression revealed everything. He placed his friend on mute for a moment.
“If you wait, you will talk yourself out of it, and you need the time to yourself, so take it.”
I huffed out a breath, then rolled my eyes. “Okay, if he can even set up an instant trip of luxury, I’ll do it. I’ll just have to find someone to fill in at my office and watch over everything while I’m gone.”
Jim waved me off, then turned the mute off. “Yes, so we’re solid on her taking this solo trip immediately. Also, we’re thinking top of the line. Luxury. Oh, and she is a single woman, so keep that in mind. She is trying to have a good time. Maybe a little one-night stand?—”
I slapped his shoulder, causing him to giggle.
“Please ignore him, but heavy on the single woman, so I would like some safety in place.”
“I gotcha, honey! I have the perfect resort. I’ve only heard good things about this place. They have all the activities you would need. If you’re down, I can get you booked for a flight and soon as two days from now.”
I looked at Jim and did the one thing I didn’t usually do. I let go.
“Book it.”