Chapter 17
It’s been two weeks since the fire at my shop.
I was exhausted from dealing with insurance adjusters, cleanup crews, and trying to pretend I wasn’t still hurting.
However, I managed to pull it together somehow.
The shop wasn’t a total lost. I was thanking God that the fire department got there when they did, or it would’ve been much worse.
I stopped all construction until I decided whether I wanted to move forward with fixing the fire damage.
It saddens me that I had to cancel my grand opening.
All the money I poured into promotion and marketing went down the drain.
The emails from vendors and the endless “We’re so sorry” messages only made it worse.
Everyone had sympathy, but nobody had solutions.
And while I appreciated the concern, what I really needed was a break.
I needed one day where everything didn’t feel like it was falling apart.
I took a deep breath, setting down the piping bag I’d been using, and flexed my sore wrist. I stood back to admire the cake I was finishing for Samir’s nieces’ birthday cake.
“Perfect,” I murmured to myself with a small smile. “She’s going to love this.”
I peeled off my gloves and took a slow breath as I looked over the finished cake.
A smile crept across my face because it had come out even better than I imagined.
The two-tiered cake was a soft blend of blush pink and lilac.
On top sat a sparkling gold castle topper surrounded by sugar pearls and lavender roses I’d piped by hand.
I added a few edible butterflies, painted in shimmery shades of pink and peach, that looked like they’d just landed mid-flight.
Around the base, I placed tiny princess figurines, such as Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, and Rapunzel. Their colorful gowns were bright against the pastel frosting. I carefully pressed the name “Joya” in neat white fondant letters, making sure it was centered perfectly.
After washing my hands, I boxed up the cake and had a few minutes to rest before I had to deliver it to the party, so I went to my office to check some emails.
Samir had invited me to attend the party, but I declined.
That would mean I’d officially meet his family, and I wasn’t ready for that.
We’d just agreed to be in a relationship, and I felt we needed more time for that.
Just as I finished answering my last email, I heard a knock on my office door before Nyala came strolling in, smiling like everything was all good in her world.
“Hey, boo!” she sang, dropping her purse onto the chair across from my desk, sitting in the chair next to it.
“Hey, yourself. You’re awfully chipper today.”
“Girl, I just left Ryan. That man is driving me crazy.” She shook her head, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide.
“What did he do?”
“So, we went to The Chamber last night. You know, our little freaky spot. My freaky ass let that man tie me up. And girlaa! When I tell you… I’ve never squirted so many times in one night! Ryan is the only man that I’ve been with that matches my freakiness.” She laughed.
“Girl, you are a trip.” I cackled. “So why are you giving him such a hard time about taking things to the next step?”
Nyala was what you’d call free-spirited, but that wasn’t always the case. There was a time she loved with her whole chest, believed in forever, and trusted a man who ended up doing a number on her heart. He broke something in her; something she didn’t think she’d ever get back.
Now she’s a different woman. Her motto was to live freely, love loosely, and never let anyone get close enough to hurt her again.
She flirts like it's a sport, laughs like she’s never cried, and moves through life with that soft-but-don’t-play-with-me kind of energy.
People see her confidence and think she doesn’t care.
Truth is, she just learned how to care about herself more than anyone else, besides me, of course.
“Ryan is cool, but we don’t want the same things.
He wants the whole marriage and kids, house with a picket fence, and shit.
Things I’m not interested in, friend. Not now, maybe not ever.
I tried that kind of love before, and all it did was leave me empty.
I like my freedom. I like knowing I can come and go as I please without having to explain myself.
Ryan’s a good man—too good, honestly. But I’d only end up hurting him.
And I’m not in the business of breaking hearts just because mine already has cracks. ”
“Nyala, you told me that I can’t let my past define my future when I came to you about my situation with Samir. I know it isn’t easy, trust me, I know. I’m living proof of that. But—”
She cut me off. “Nova, you can’t compare me to your situation with Jerome.
Yes, it was just as bad, but… You know what, I don’t even want to discuss it.
” She stood, grabbing her purse off my desk.
“I’ll call you later. I have a meeting to go to.
Love you, boo.” She blew me a kiss and left my office as if someone had yelled, “Fire!”
I just sat there, staring at the door she’d disappeared through, her perfume still hanging in the air.
Typical Nyala, running when things got too close to the truth.
I wasn’t even trying to judge my friend.
I understand why she feels the way she feels.
I also believe she deserves to be loved properly.
With a sigh, I pushed myself up and started getting ready to deliver this cake. My whole body felt heavy, and I was tired like nobody’s business. All I could think about was getting home, taking a long, hot shower, and curling up with Londyn Lenz’s new book, Possession of an Alpha.
That woman knows how to write an alpha man. Her character visuals were out of this world. Especially Phoenix! Whew, Lord! That man could ruin my life, and I’d thank him for it.
I carefully placed the cake in the back of my truck, making sure it was snug before closing the tailgate. The last thing I needed was to show up with a disaster on my hands.
On the drive over, I got a call from Seraphina.
I started not to answer since the last time we spoke was three months ago, after my divorce was finalized.
What I couldn’t understand was why she thought I should’ve stayed with a man who not only cheated on me countless times but had a whole baby on me.
“Hello?” I answered dryly.
“Wow. Don’t answer with so much happiness, cousin,” she said, sarcastically. “I know you are not still mad at me…” She tried to sound sad.
“’Phina, what can I help you with?”
She was quiet for a beat before she spoke again. “I was just calling to, um… to apologize. I was wrong for how I spoke to you the last time we talked.” She sounded sincere.
“There’s no need to apologize, Phina. I don’t expect you to understand. Look, I have to go. I’m driving. I’ll call you later.” I was getting ready to hang up when she stopped me with her words.
“Wait! Please don’t hang up!” She sighed. “Nova, I am really sorry. Can we do brunch next Saturday? I really miss talking to you.”
I thought about it, and I wanted to decline, but I did miss hanging out and talking with Seraphina. She wasn’t always this bougie. It wasn’t until she got with her husband that she began to change.
“Sure. Just text me the place and time.”
“Perfect! Will do! Love you, Nova bear,” she said, calling me by the nickname she’d given me when we were kids.
I responded with the same and hung up just as I pulled up to the venue.
Cars were lined along the curb with balloons tied to the gate.
Music drifted faintly from inside, mixed with laughter and the sound of kids running around.
The party was in full swing. Jamila had requested the cake be delivered an hour after the party had started.
I didn’t see any harm since it was my only big order of the day.
I parked near the entrance and grabbed my phone, scrolling until I found Samir’s name. “Come on… Pick up,” I muttered, as it rang before it went straight to voicemail. I rolled my eyes. “Of course. Between the music and the loud kids, I’m sure he can’t hear his phone.”
For a second, I debated waiting outside, but the sun was too hot and the buttercream on that cake wasn’t about to start melting on my watch.
Sliding out of the truck, I popped the back open and pulled out the folding rolling cart.
After opening it and securing the latches in place, I carefully lifted the cake box into my arms and set it on the cart.
I locked my truck and rolled the cart up to the entrance of the venue, making sure not to bump the cake.
Lord knows I put my all into this thing, and Jamila—well, Samir—paid a lot of money for this beautiful cake.
I adjusted my grip on the cart and pushed through the double doors.
The cool blast of air-conditioning hit me first, followed by the sound of upbeat music and chatter.
I scanned the room for Samir or Jamila, coming up short.
Before I could ask some random lady standing by the table, holding a cute little boy, who looked to be three, I heard my name being called over the music.
I shifted my eyes and saw Jamila heading my way, smiling from ear to ear.
“Hey, Zanova! I thought Samir was supposed to come and help you with the cake?”
“He was. I tried calling his phone, but he didn’t pick up.”
“Oh, okay,” she said and looked around the venue. “I could have sworn he told me he was going outside to meet you. Well, I can help you set the cake on the table. You sure you don’t want to stay?”
“No, thanks. Besides, I’m not properly dressed for the occasion.” I chuckled nervously, trying to hurry up and get out of here before her mother or grandmother saw me. Last time I met them, I was half naked and freshly fucked.