Chapter 11 #2
“In the house. Staying out of the way. My ignorant choices led to my brother’s incarceration.
I had nothing to be happy about or outside for.
I did his time with him if you ask me,” Lyric answered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
She continued to wipe her palms on her pants and fix her top, though nothing was wrong with it.
I chuckled inside, knowing the motions she was going through all too well.
“I get it, but don’t beat yourself up about that. If he hadn’t ended that pussy’s shit then I’d be looking at him a little differently. He did what was supposed to be done. I’m just pissed the nigga got caught. He’s smarter than that.”
“He lost his shit, Ken. I’d never seen him like that. He was so beastly.” I cringed as I watched her blink for the hundredth time. Lyric was losing it inside, something I’d never seen her do.
“For good reason. I’m going to let you go. Y’all look like y’all in a rush or whatnot. Hit me up sometimes. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I don’t have your number, Ken.”
“Get it from one of your brothers,” he told her as he began stepping away.
“But you’re literally right here,” she whispered so low that I knew he couldn’t hear her.
When he disappeared, we both gave each other knowing glares that ended in laughter after nearly twenty seconds had passed. Lyric knew I’d called her bluff. My cheeks hurt from the smile that tore through my features as I nodded my head knowingly.
“Um. Hm,” I mocked.
“Shut up!” she whined, storming in the opposite direction.
“I ain’t said nothing.”
“But that look on your face.”
“I’ve been there. Just saying,” I explained.
We filed into Forever21 and before we could even split up, we discovered the prettiest, sleekest black bodysuit that dipped in the front and gave your boobs a nice lift.
I paired it with a black, curve-caressing skirt that stopped below the knees.
Together, they were flawless. I grabbed a pair of simple, black heels that were on sale to match.
I completed the look with Lyric’s help picking out a pair of earrings and a necklace.
“You’ll definitely have something a bit more icy before the week is out,” she proclaimed as I put the necklace up to my outfit.
“He already stole my watch. He thinks I don’t know.”
“He doesn’t care. Trust me.”
We headed to the register and checked out. It felt good not worrying about a dime. I swiped my card proudly and satisfied the seventy-dollar ticket. I was handed my bags, and we headed out of the store. Seven o’clock couldn’t come fast enough. I was feeling myself for once.
I raised up from the bubbly water and dried my hands before checking the time on my phone.
6:15 p.m . I’d given myself fifteen minutes to soak after stepping into the water at six.
We’d gone to the mall and made it back home in under an hour.
It was record time considering the fact that we were women and tended to drag out shopping trips.
Not this time, and I was thankful. That gave me plenty of wiggle room.
The water level changed drastically as I lifted my 152 pound, 5’4 frame from it. It swayed from one side to the other, the dramatics sounding like waves crashing. I stepped out and grabbed the drying towel from the rack on the wall next to the tub.
Lotion was first up. I sealed in the moisture with oil of the same fragrance.
I pulled the black thong that I’d never worn between my ass cheeks and situated the straps at my hips.
The black lace bra that I’d planned to wear wasn’t necessary.
The shirt laying on my bed waiting to be worn would be all the support that my breasts needed.
It was the main reason I’d chosen the top.
My hair was all over the place but luckily, it still held the heat I’d put on it the night before. With forty minutes to spare, I decided to part smaller sections to flatten and curl. The black that I would have on gave grown woman sexy, and I wanted to follow through from head to toe.
My hair swung past my shoulders when I released it from the ponytail it had to be in for work. I turned the temperature of my flat iron to 425 degrees and began parting my hair in anticipation of the beep that signaled its readiness.
Once the beeping began, I started with the first section I’d separated from the rest of them. In the same motion, I flattened and curled my hair slightly. I didn’t want extremely tight curls but neither did I want super loose ones. I wanted my curls to fit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.
I slid into the bodysuit and then the skirt after my hair was perfect and my lips were glossed. I hated to feel weighed down with makeup, so I opted for my natural skin, no matter the occasion. Some mascara, possibly eyeliner, golden bronzer sometimes, and clear lip gloss was enough.
One glance in the mirror, and I was utterly happy with the way everything had come together.
I’d been trying to chase the old me, the one I was prior to my relationship ruined me but as I stood in the mirror and took a good look at my reflection, I knew that I’d never get her back.
I didn’t want her back either. I was slowly becoming the best version of myself and wanted to continue on that track as I evolved and evolved some more.
Just when I was about to call for Lyric, I heard a knock at the door.
“It’s unlocked!” I yelled.
She stepped in, immediately snapping pictures with her phone. Lyric hadn’t even given me a chance to pose.
“Can I at least get a warning next time?”
“No. Off-guards are the best. That one picture looking lonely on your feed. We need to get you some decent content.”
“I made a video of my gifts that I plan to post before I leave.”
“Girl, you’ve got a good ten minutes to spare. What are you waiting for?”
“This look has me feeling really mature. Like I’m really the thirty-year-old of my dreams right now.”
“You look damn good, Ever. I can’t wait to hear all about your date tomorrow. Just leave out the parts about you sucking my brother’s dick and stuff. I really don’t want to hear that.”
“I’m not sucking dick tonight, Lyric. I’ll be back home in a few hours. You can wait up if you’d like.”
“Girl, I’d be up ’til morning if I waited on you. Trust me, you’re not coming back home. This is how it all starts right here.”
I grabbed my phone and opened my Instagram account.
The video that I’d taken of my new gifts, I uploaded and tagged the person who’d gifted them.
There were only five people following me so far, and they’d all know who was making me smile sooner than later.
Nothing was official but neither was it a secret.
Thanks, @NoIGLuca , I added to the picture.
Just as I shut down my phone, the doorbell rang. My heart stiffened and all sound evaporated in thin air. I could only hear the ringing of my ears and my heart as it galloped in my chest. The thickness of my throat threatened to choke me as I tried taking steady, even breaths.
“Sounds like your date is here,” Lyric announced.
“Can you get the door?” I asked, fanning my face as I stood from the bed to pace the floor.
“Ever, there’s nothing to be nervous about, OK? You’re going to have a great time.”
“I know. There’s no doubt about that I just…
I feel like what if I’m jumping into this too early?
What if I fall in love with him and fall back into the dependent role I’ve been in for years?
What if we crash and burn and I end up at your house again?
What about the girls? What if I get them involved and everything goes south?
” I was in full-blown panic mode, anxiety riding my back.
“You ever heard of life?”
“Of course.”
“It happens, Ever. Whether you like it or not. You had a traumatic experience and I get why you’re being so cautious, but let me tell you…
You can let your hair down with this one.
Before he disappoints you, he’ll leave. Laike is a whole other story, but this one…
Luca, he’s the real deal, Ever. I know you scared you’ll make the wrong choice again but this time you chose wisely.
I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother.
I’m saying that because I know the man who raised him and he’s everything that our father is, only better.
So, relax for once. You can let your guard down with him.
You deserve to. Let this man love on you because I can’t wait to watch. This has never happened for Luca.”
“Me neither,” I admitted.
“Then enjoy it together because I’m certain he will.”
“Please go grab the door before he thinks I’ve stood him up.”
“Okay but come right behind me.”
“I am. Just want to put on some perfume. I forgot.”
“Alright.”
I rushed to the vanity tray on the dresser and sprayed the Zara fragrance that I’d grabbed for my children the last time I’d gone to the mall with Lyric.
I didn’t have the courage to spend four hundred dollars on my favorite perfume yet, so I settled for their $12.
99 bottles. A mixture of two always got the job done.
When I stepped out into the hallway, I felt much better.
When I reached the foyer, there stood Luca in a black Amiri shirt with black jeans to match.
His chain glistened against the dark color and so did his smile.
It widened as I got closer. When I was near enough, he pulled me into his arms. For once, I felt like the princess in the story who’d met her prince charming.
The embrace ended long before I wanted it to. So wrapped up in the muskiness of his cologne, I wanted time to stop until I was ready to let him go. I stepped backward with the heel of my shoes making a loud, familiar clacking noise.