Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“You be good this weekend, okay?”
“I will!” Kaylee kissed him back, right on the cheek, hugged and kissed her mother, then took her father’s hand. Desiree and Jacob spoke of a few details, such as confirmation of arrival times and what not, and then, she opened the door to let them out.
“Bye, Mama!”
“Bye, baby! Call me a lot, okay? I want to hear about the swimming pool, and everything!”
“Okay! I love you!”
“I love you, too!” she and Legend said at the same time.
When they were gone, she closed and locked the door. She shook her head, then turned to him, smiling.
“I think I’m having a harder time than she is. She loves her daddy, no matter how many promises he’s broken. All he has to do is keep one or two, out of hundreds that were ignored, and she’s wrapped around his finger.” She sucked her teeth and made her way to the kitchen. Legend followed. Standing close, he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“He ain’t the best father, but he’s tryin’ harder, baby. Sometimes, we mean well when we make certain promises, but it takes something soul crushing every now and again to remind us why they’re so important to keep in the first place…”
Chapter Nineteen
Seviche A Latin Restaurant was a posh, sophisticated spot on Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. English, Axel, Melanie, and a host of other friends gathered around for a well-deserved get-together. A nice evening of food and fellowship.
Desiree had gone for a taupe wrap dress as the outfit for this evening, and had decided to have her hair flat ironed and layered—something she hadn’t treated herself to in months. She sat between Legend and his sister, laughing her behind off as they sipped wines, imported beers, and listened to hoity-toity music versus the ‘Lemonade,’ song by Gucci Mane her man had blasted at high volume in his truck on their way over to the eatery.
“I like the vibe in here,” she whispered in Legend’s ear. “This is niiiice!”
“Yeah, baby,” he said, then continued talking to Axel, who was sitting across the table with his lovely wife, English.
Legend was dripping in diamonds and white attire. White diamond earrings. White diamond necklace. White diamond pinky ring. White jacket. White tie. White button-down shirt. White dress slacks. White Yates Oxfords. Something about it looked amazing on him, and he smelled so damn good, she could just gobble him up.
He snapped his fingers, and another bottle of wine was brought to the table. Just as it was being poured, English and Axel announced English would not be drinking that night. She’d just found out that she was pregnant with her second child.
A toast was made on behalf of the new baby coming into the world, and for some reason, Desiree felt so excited about the announcement, as if she were the one with child. Their group became rowdy with laughing and carrying on in the sophisticated restaurant, but thankfully they were in their own little remote section in the back, and they’d ordered enough wine, appetizers, and entrées to keep the owner happy.
Desiree was the new girl on the block. She’d met Axel and English a couple of times before, but hadn’t spent a lot of time with them. She felt out of the loop at times when the men spoke about things that happened when they were younger, in places she’d never heard of. This gave her time to scope everyone out.
English was so pretty, well-spoken and poised. She was one of those brainy chicks who looked like she should be on a mystery sitcom as the lead detective. Axel looked like a rocker with his long, dark blond hair and black leather attire. Like Legend, he was sexy without trying, and had a ruggedness about him that probably appealed to many. He appeared down-to-earth, despite the fact he now owned several properties, and ran a thriving bioremediation cleaning business.
Then there was Caspian, a journalist for some big news outlet, who’d flown into town from Georgia to join his friends. He was a cutie, handsome indeed, and looked like the proverbial boy next door. He had extraordinary light blue eyes with pupils that appeared a bit dilated, and was definitely the quietest of the three friends.
Regardless of his inobtrusive demeanor, though, something about him got under her skin. He came off as a bit secretive, perhaps even peculiar, and she’d caught him several times looking around the table at everyone—more in observation mode, than a sharing one. His voice was rich and low, and he’d nursed a glass of bourbon for most of the night. He also sat alone. No girlfriend, boyfriend, or wife in sight.
Axel picked up his glass and bumped his fork against it, pulling her from her thoughts.
“I wanna propose another toast. I just landed a big ass contract from an insurance company! Woohoo!!!” Everyone began to clap, and the wine started flowing once again.