Chapter 2 Mango-flavored Miracle
MANGO-FLAVORED MIRACLE
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry.” Lakelyn’s tears fall fast, but all I feel is disgust. “Baby, please don’t leave me.”
Christmas is tomorrow, and I just caught the love of my life in bed with her trainer. What’s funny? He bolted the second he saw me coming up the stairs to her apartment.
Now she’s begging me to stay.
“Lakelyn, get out of my face.” I try to step around her, but she blocks the door.
“Heaven, please. Let me explain.” Her hands tremble in front of me.
At five-foot ten, I tower over her petite frame. I could push her out of the way if I wanted. I’m giving her a chance to move before I do it for her.
I should’ve known something was off when she asked me to pick her up thirty minutes after ten, later than usual. She’s never late. Ever. We’ve been on so many trips where I showed up early just to help her pack. But tonight? She wanted me to wait.
I should’ve known.
This trip was supposed to be special. I finally planned to ask her parents for their blessing, to propose during the holidays. I thought I was doing something right for once. Turns out, I was just in time to see her tongue-deep kissing her trainer goodbye.
I feel like an idiot.
“Heaven, please look at me.” She’s crying harder now. “Baby, he didn’t mean anything. I was lonely.”
“Lonely? Ke, are you crazy?” I scoff. “When was the last time you checked a dictionary? You haven’t been alone since the day we met. How could you throw away two years like it’s nothing?”
She shakes her head. “You’ve been distant… disconnected.”
“So it’s my fault you can’t communicate your feelings?” I click my tongue.
“So what about our vacation to Bali next year?” she blurts out. “We already paid for everything. I don’t want that to go to waste.”
I laugh low. “You think I give a damn about a trip right now? Fuck you. I paid for that trip. You didn’t have a dime to your name when I met you, and you sure as hell won’t after this. You ruined this. You fucked up.”
I’m done talking. I push past her, heading for the door.
“Heaven, this isn’t all my fault. I love—”
“No, you don’t,” I cut her off without turning around. “If you did, we wouldn’t be here.”
I twist the knob and walk out before I change my mind.
Outside, the cold hits me like the truth. I’m done.
I have no interest in celebrating Christmas this year. Nothing and no one is changing that.
I’ve been driving for what feels like an hour. When I finally pull into the nearest gas station, I park and just sit. The tears come before I can stop them.
I’m so tired. I really thought I’d found the one, someone to spend my life with.
Lakelyn and I had been joined at the hip since college.
We were suitemates, then best friends. When I dropped out sophomore year to help my brother with his real estate business, she never lost touch.
Somewhere along the way, friendship turned into love.
At least, I thought it did.
People who cheat should automatically go straight to hell.
I climb out of the car and head inside, deciding to grab a few snacks before the long drive home. The bell above the gas station door jingles as I step in. I head straight for the back aisle, my comfort snacks calling my name.
Pickles. Hot Cheetos. Mango-flavored Arizona tea.
By the time I get to the counter, an older man with a snowflake-patterned eye patch greets me.
“Alright, your total is nine fifty-seven. Want to round up for Santa’s elves? Help a kid in need,” he says, tapping a snow globe with a faded sign.
“Sure, man.” I hand him a ten.
“Not too cheerful tonight, I see,” he teases, sliding me my change. “You have yourself a merry Christmas, now.”
I don’t respond. I just grab my bag and head back to the car. The faster I get home, the faster I can pretend this day never happened.
Back on the interstate, I press the phone button on my steering wheel. “Call brother.”
“Calling your brother’s cell,” Siri chirps.
I lean back in my seat, waiting. After a few rings, it goes to voicemail.
“You’ve reached Ezra Oakley. I’m on vacation with my beautiful wife—” I hear my sister-in-law, Iris, giggle in the background. “I’m not sorry I missed your call, but leave a message. I’ll call you next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”
Typical Ezra. He updates his voicemail like it’s a social media post.
I hang up, shaking my head. Then it hits me, it’s their anniversary. Christmas Day. Great. The last thing I need right now is to hear about their love fest.
It’s been hell living with them these past two months while my house gets fixed after the flood. I could’ve found a hotel or apartment, but Ezra insisted on sibling bonding. I blame our childhood trauma for his overbearing tendencies.
At a stop sign, I grab my phone and text him:
Change of plans. Staying home for the holidays.
Enjoy your vacation, bro.
Turning down our street, I spot a Honda Civic getting towed, its front bumper crumpled. And that’s when I notice him.
A man standing at the top of my brother’s driveway, holding three grocery bags. He doesn’t look lost at all, in fact, he’s smiling like he owns the place.
What the hell? Maybe he’s at the wrong house.
No way Ezra could’ve ordered anything that fast unless he’s stalking my location again.
I pull into the driveway and watch as the guy sets the bags at the door, knocks once, and takes pictures. Then, without hesitation, he jogs back to his car.
What is he doing?
“Hey!” I wave through the windshield. He doesn’t see me. The tinted windows are too dark.
“Hey!” I shout again, jumping out of my car and flagging him down.
He honks as he drives away, like it’s a friendly goodbye.
“What the fuck, man?” I throw my hands in the air. I do not need this right now.
Sighing, I grab my bags and suitcase from the trunk, trudging toward the house. Two Walmart bags, one from the diner down the street. Maybe this is the Christmas miracle people keep talking about.
I fish out my keys and open the door. The scent of peppermint and cocoa hits me instantly.
“Damn,” I mumble. “Whatever plug-in Iris bought smells good as hell.”
I step into the foyer, warmth wrapping around me, and that’s when I hear it.
“How did you get in here?”
The voice comes from behind me. I spin around—
And everything goes black.