Chapter 6
“AND YOU’D ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT.”
T here was something so peaceful about being in the comfort of her home while it rained.
Orielle had checked the forecast earlier this morning, and it showed no signs of the downpour happening outside.
She wasn’t complaining, though. As long as it stopped before she had to leave the house, it could rain all it wanted to.
She sat with her legs stretched out in a cream recliner chair in the corner of her home office.
The blinds were drawn upward, and a candle from Simply Scents flickered on her coffee table.
The refreshing scent of lemons wafted through the air as her most recently updated R just a mutual understanding that this was going nowhere.
He wasn’t for her, and that was okay. Not every person she met deserved to take up space in her life without adding value to it.
Needing to stretch, Orielle removed her lap desk and lowered the footrest. Just as she extended her torso, extending her arms in the air, and lowering into a toe touch, her phone rang again. Her eyes shot open.
“Oh my gosh. Did I not block him? This is why I keep my phone on do not disturb,” she fussed, snatching it off the chair.
When she saw it was Cheyla and Zoey calling on FaceTime, her mood shifted. Had it been CJ, she wasn’t going to answer.
“What do y’all want?” she asked playfully.
Cheyla yawned and adjusted the scarf wrapped around her head. “Obviously, some attention. What you doing?”
“Hey, boo,” Zoey greeted.
“Hey. And of course, y’all do. I’m at home relaxing. It looks like you are, too,” Orielle said, watching Cheyla adjust on her couch.
“Girl, yes. This rain has me exhausted.”
Zoey glanced at the screen, pushing her AirPod more into her ear so it wouldn’t fall out. “I got caught in it, and I’m pissed. Do y’all see my hair?”
Her once straight hair was now pulled into a messy puffball. As soon as any moisture touched her strands, they converted to its naturally curly texture.
“You look like a teenager.” Orielle grinned. “Where you at?”
“At Carter’s with my sister. They’re having a sale, and you know I have to get TT’s baby some stuff.”
Zoey’s two-year-old niece was so adorable and was spoiled by them all.
“Like she doesn’t have a closet full of clothes with tags still on them,” Cheyla said.
“Right,” Zoey’s sister chimed. “Hey, y’all.”
They greeted her, and Orielle went to her kitchen for a quick bite to eat.
“Thankfully, it stopped. I have a meeting in an hour,” Orielle said.
“With who?” Cheyla asked.
Forgetting that she hadn’t told them about the conversation she had with Ashley, Orielle caught them up to speed. It wasn’t that she intentionally didn’t tell them, but she was a firm believer in keeping some things to herself until all the details were set in stone.
“We’re just doing a walkthrough of the shelter and she’s introducing me to some of the staff,” she explained.
Early on in her career, Ashley learned that forming long-lasting connections within the community was more beneficial than brief interactions.
She didn’t want the first time meeting Orielle to be on the day of the gala, so she was bringing her in today for a tour and introduction.
She knew the ladies, including the residents, would be excited to see her.
“That’s so nice. Send me the name of the shelter. I have so many clothes I need to get rid of,” Zoey said.
“Send it to me, too. Lord knows I need to give up on trying to squeeze my ass in stuff from three years ago.” Cheyla groaned. Do we have to have a ticket for the gala?”
“I believe so, but I’ll double-check.”
“Okay. Have you talked to Najee?”
Cheyla’s question caught Orielle so off guard, she choked on the orange slice she’d just popped into her mouth. Coughing, she cleared her throat.
“What? Where did that come from?”
“I mean, he’s single now. You can shoot that shot from back in the day again,” Cheyla suggested.
Orielle shook her head. “No. I’m good. I don’t think it’s the right time in my life to get distracted, especially not by him.”
“Plus, he’s going through a heartbreak,” Zoey added.
“Which is the perfect time to be there for him,” Cheyla claimed.
They looked at her like she was crazy, before they all laughed.
“What? It is. You act like I said, settle down with the man and give him babies. I mean, he’d probably give you some since ol’ girl didn’t want to. You did say you always wanted kids, Ori.”
Zoey sputtered a laugh. “You really have no sense.”
“None at all,” Orielle agreed, chuckling. “How’d we go from shooting my shot to having his kids?”
“It was just a thought. Ol’ girl gave her lil’ baby wings, and it wasn’t even ready to fly. Didn’t even give the man an opportunity to play stepdaddy,” she said with a shake of her head.
Orielle and Zoey had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard.
“Cheyla... please shut the hell up. That’s not funny,” Orielle said.
“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just saying. For real, though... Najee had more restraint than a lot of men would have.”
“Mhm,” Orielle and Zoey hummed, agreeing.