Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“He didn’t mention that, only that you two were on the same page. He knows there’s a future between you guys, but never that. I’m sure he got a kick out of that. Could you imagine what he was internalizing on the inside when you said his wife and, in all actuality, it was his sister. Oh God, I needed that laugh.” I watch as Journey wipes the tears from her laughter away. I’m doing the same thing because this time, my gut isn’t sinking to my feet. It is kind of funny now that everything worked out in our favor.
“Well, I’m sure he might have been a tiny bit embarrassed.” I use my thumb and pointer finger together to show, putting her in another fit of laughter, then I realize what she’s thinking. “Journey, no. Oh my gosh, I’d never give you that kind of information even if it were the truth.” I’m almost mortified that she’d think that until she points at my face.
“That was gold. Oh my goodness. I know you wouldn’t talk about stuff like that. Wylder is a private person, not that I’m aware of anything that goes on beyond that. Double ick.” She does the gagging thing with her finger, pointing at her mouth. “Wait till the parents find out about this story. They’re going to die laughing. Leave it to Wylder to fuck up a situation by not introducing us right off the bat. Mom is going to smack him upside the head.”
“Well, maybe don’t let her smack him too hard. I’m pretty fond of his head.” We calm ourselves down.
“You ready for your facial?” If we don’t get back in the treatment room, we’ll end up talking the entire time through her appointment. It seems she likes to talk and, well, I’m not opposed to it either.
“More than ready. I’ve been looking forward to this for days.” She follows me through the spa, down the hallway. Every time I walk in, there’s a need to pinch myself, literally every single time. And while I don’t want to toot my own horn, the proof is in the pudding with how booked up everyone is even with Tyra taking the day off today and tomorrow. Two appointments, and then I’m going to see my best friend and her son with my own two eyes. It’s been too long since I’ve seen them; I’ll be changing that today.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Celeste
“Aunt Ce!” Von’s little voice resounds at the end of our workday. Melanie and Layla are gone. It’s just me and the spa. I was in the back when I heard the door chime alert me that someone was here. Truth be told, I thought it was Wylder. In fact, I kind of hoped it was, until I heard Von’s voice, which means he and Tyra are here. My day just got a whole lot better. Not that it was bad to begin with, but there’s something to be said about an excited toddler and his mom coming to visit you.
“Von, my man, how are you doing?” I squat down as he throws his little body into my arms.
“Can I have a snack?” he asks. Of course, Von does.
“Von, say hello first. Snacks second.” My eyes meet Tyra’s. She looks better than I thought she would be, seeing as how she took the day off since Mace was sick. Maybe she got lucky and didn’t get sick after all.
“Hey, doll, you look better than you sounded yesterday. Everything okay?” I pick Von up in my arms as I stand up, taking him with me, settling the best baby boy in the world on my hip.
“Yeah, I somehow managed not to get whatever virus Von and Mace had. I figured since I already rearranged my schedule for today not to come in. I am coming in tomorrow even if it is for a few walk-ins.” Tyra being cooped up for two days straight makes her antsy, so I’m imagining that’s the reason she’s ready to come back to work.
“As long as you’re sure. I’m always happy to have you. How’s Mace?” I ask the giant elephant in the room. She knows what I mean, too, not exactly asking about his sickness but in a roundabout way questioning all the things we couldn’t talk about earlier when she was clamming up on me.
“Mace is fine. Back to work. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot has changed. The only difference was him wanting more time with Von. At this point, he’s a lost cause. I need to get my heart on board with my head. Sadly, trying to tell myself that and actually believing it are two totally different things.” Ugh, I could kick Mace square in the balls for this shit. When Tyra got the call at the club, my own heart thought that maybe he’d gotten his head out of his own ass by calling her to make sure their son was getting the best care possible by calling Tyra. What she became was a certified babysitter for a thirty-five-year-old overgrown man child.