Chapter 6 #2
Instead of responding, I edited her contact.
She would no longer be able to send pesky texts because she’d been blocked.
I found it amusing that she’d even found the time to send such a distasteful message because whenever I needed her to get the girls for a few, she claimed to be too busy.
She hadn’t helped with them once since they were born, so her input on the situation was irrelevant in my eyes.
I moved on to the more lighthearted and anticipated message of the thread. It was from Cedric. He was a frequent communicator. I liked that about him. His message had come right on time and was enough to help me forget the one I’d read prior.
Thinking of you.
His short, straight to the point message made my cheeks redden and rise. Not feeling the need for words, I simply sent a smiling emoji. I watched as the gray bubble appeared and then disappeared. He didn’t have anything to say either. Sometimes, it was like that. Words weren’t needed. Just feels.
I stood from the bed for the second time and stretched for what seemed like the hundredth time. The nap had really done a number on my body. I felt well rested and ready to conquer the world – or Luca in my case.
Just the thought of seeing him again had me bright-eyed and jittery.
I bounced toward the restroom where I planned to take care of my hygiene for the night out.
I wanted to brush my teeth again and slather deodorant under my arms and in between the creases of my thighs where I tended to sweat a bit too much.
The smile that reached my eyes at the thought of the knight in near sandy hair and brown eyes, startled me as I walked past the mirror.
Taking a few steps back, I centered myself.
My reflection was as flawless as I remembered it being but there were so many scars within that, I could hardly recognize myself three weeks ago when I stood in front of the same mirror. Now I could see exactly who I was.
“Okaaaaay!” I hyped, snapping my neck until my head tilted to the far right.
My brown hair and hazel eyes glistened as if they’d gotten a refresh simultaneously.
The dark circles that had formed underneath my eyes from stress and worry had disappeared.
The bruises from Dewayne’s physical assault were no longer visible on my chest, arms, and neck areas.
Aside from the few pounds I’d gained during my pregnancies, I resembled the old me – the Ever I was before I allowed a man to destroy me. That, for me, was a victory.
I examined my wrinkly skin as I sat in the tub.
I’d warmed the water three times and still wasn’t quite ready to get out.
The mound of candles around me as Sade’s music serenaded my alone time had me wanting to soak the rest of the night.
I couldn’t though. Lyric was expecting me at the door before the clock struck eight.
Leaning forward, I pulled the stopper up to allow the water to drain. My bubbles had dispersed and popped for the most part. They’d added a nice touch to the soak, leaving me feeling as rich as they were when my bath started.
I stepped out and grabbed the fluffy drying towel that had been hanging from the hook on the wall. It was my second bath of the day, but it didn’t threaten to put me under like the last. It woke me right up. The grogginess that lingered after such a long nap had disappeared.
Mascara.
Gloss.
Bronzer.
Ponytail with bun.
I ran down the plan for my look. I’d yet to go into my bag, but Lyric had mentioned a black dress and that was enough information for me.
I wanted to make things as simple as possible and that started with a simplified look.
What I had in mind wouldn’t take a full thirty minutes.
I had forty to spare. The other ten would be spent on body moisturizer and pouring a glass of wine from Lyric’s impeccable stash.
When I reached my bedroom, I noticed the MK bag that I’d left in the back of Lyric’s truck on my bed. I’d forgotten it was out there until it was in my face. That could only mean that Lyric had been nice enough to grab it for me.
“Thank you!” I screamed, hoping she was close enough to hear me.
Her room was downstairs, but she somehow managed to hear me every once in a while. When I didn’t get a response, I figured she hadn’t. She knew my heart, so I wasn’t going to sweat it. I’d just be sure to tell her when we met downstairs.
I dug through the bag and found two more pieces.
One was a black dress, just as Lyric had mentioned.
The other was a black romper that was a soft cotton material.
I laid them both on the bed trying to figure out which would match my vibe.
It didn’t take long for me to choose the romper that was short-sleeved with a fitted pant.
The top of it was perfect, obviously designed to reveal a little side boob which I’d always found sexy.
I’d never worn a piece that offered that bit of detail, but I’d admired women who I’d seen in one.
To have one of my own, finally, had me doing a bit of a victory dance as I tucked the dress in a nearby drawer.
I used a body oil and lotion mix to coat my brown skin.
From my forehead to the bottom of my feet, I moisturized every inch of visible skin.
Even my freshly Naired vagina was part of the action.
Once I was satisfied with my sleekness, I pulled on the seamless thong and bra to match.
I had always been a sucker for a good panty and bra set.
Half of my suitcase was filled with my favorites.
I refused to leave them behind. Good bras had cost me anywhere from seventy to one-hundred dollars.
I simply couldn’t let them go. Not yet, anyway.
I wanted my skin to soak up the moisture, so I gave it time while I ran over my curls with the flat iron and pulled my hair into a high ponytail.
My goal wasn’t to get it bone straight, so I worked in huge sections to get through the thickness in twenty minutes.
I parted my sides, leaving a piece of hair on each to frame my face and slightly mask the large, dangling set of earrings I’d chosen.
I was usually a stud or small gold hoop kind of girl, but I couldn’t find any of my favorites, and with the simplicity of the romper, I needed my accessories to pop.
Minutes after applying three coats of mascara and bronzer to my cheeks and the tip of my nose, I was sliding into my romper. It fit like a glove, cinching my waistline and giving me the perfect amount of support for my breasts. I didn’t even consider a bra because it had my girls sitting perfectly.
I slid into the sandals that Lyric had gotten me for our trip.
The thick strap across the top was clear and the heel was a chunky black one – a really nice addition.
It was gorgeous. I slid on the gold watch that I had no idea was still in my suitcase before I packed for Channing.
I’d discovered it while unpacking after we’d gotten to Lyric’s place. It was perfect for the night.
Just after seven thirty-five, I was descending the stairs and headed for the kitchen.
I could hear the handling of glassware in the distance, which only meant one thing.
Lyric had already beat me to her stash. When I stepped into the kitchen where she was, she was holding a glass out for me to grab.
“Let’s go. I made us a little something, something for the road.”
“Thanks. I was on my way to grab something myself.”
“You went with the romper. Good fucking decision, friend. Wow.”
Lyric circled me as she sipped the crimson colored concoction from her glass.
She was stunning herself, dressed in black as well.
She was wearing a pair of black denim with a black top to match, showing off her curves even though she’d probably tried to conceal them.
Her brown skin was flawless with the full face, natural glam she’d applied.
“Yeah. I thought it fit my mood a bit more than the dress tonight. I’m feeling really chill.”
“Well, you look really fucking hot, so I wouldn’t say that much.”
“Shut up,” I sniggered.
“Stand back a little,” Lyric instructed as she held her phone up to snap a picture.
Putting on my poker face, I straightened my posture and positioned my drink so that my body wasn’t blocked in the shots.
I’d disabled my Facebook and Instagram accounts, but Lyric’s impromptu shoot had me wanting to create a new Instagram page that I’d make private from the beginning so that I could screen everyone who requested a follow.
“You have to post this one,” Lyric squealed, rushing to show me the pictures she’d taken.
“I don’t have my Instagram account anymore, but I’m thinking about creating a new one tonight. One that doesn’t use my actual name, but something fun and witty.”
“Do that and make sure it’s private.”
“I love this one. Send them all to me.”
“I will.”
“You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Keys right here.”
Lyric dug into her small Chanel crossbody and presented her keys.
She was the most stylish person I knew. Everything about her wardrobe, I obsessed over.
From the designer threads to the basics, she could pull off anything.
She doubled as an accountant and a real estate agent.
Her jobs paid well but after meeting her brothers, I understood that they probably paid better.
There didn’t seem to be a thing that Lyric could ever want that they wouldn’t make possible.
After we were both out of the house, Lyric locked up, and we headed for the truck.
I climbed in first with her sliding in right after.
When I noticed the top was off, I thanked God for the bun that I’d decided on.
It was only a ten-minute drive according to Lyric, but any other style, except my natural curls, wouldn’t have survived the wind.
“I’m happy you decided on a ponytail. I meant to tell you I took the top off when I got our bags out of the back.”