“Aren’t you just the cutest little thing? God you are adorable baby girl,” I said admiring Essence even more. “I could really just take her home with me, and I’d be satisfied.”
“Good luck. Her father don’t play about her, not even a lil’ bit. He will tear the city up behind his kids, especially that one. I can only imagine how unbalanced he’ll become with the one I’m carrying.”
“You’re pregnant? God, with how flat your stomach is, I would’ve never guessed it.”
“Yeah, I don’t start to show until I’m like four months and it’s like a sudden flip from flat to pudge to full blown Ms. Piggy. Give it a little time. Are you sure there’s nothing else for me to fill out?”
“Deena will get the packets ready for you. There’s a lot of questionnaires so please answer them to your best ability. Once you’re done, just drop them back off at the office to my receptionist Halona, and she’ll pass it along. Usually, it takes me around a month to find them bookings, but in the meantime, you can schedule them some photoshoots. Get them an official portfolio started. We have plenty of themes we can cook up and brands to utilize.” I was sure about her babies making it big. They were too cute not to.
“Sounds like a plan. I guess we’ll get going then. Thank you for taking us on,” Klarity voiced with a smile on her face. She extended her hand in my direction, and I honored her request.
I squeezed on Essence in a hug before handing her off to her mother. CJ and I exchanged high fives before he clung to her leg. They were really her shadows, and I loved that for her. Her babies looked to her for security and protection. If that day ever found me, I’d be more than filled with satisfaction.
“Call at any time if you have questions. Deena will give you my card that has my personal number on it.”
“Thank you, Ms. Afor.”
“Cheyonne. Call me Cheyonne. We’ll be spending quite some time together,” I quickly corrected her.
“Thank you, Cheyonne,” she said with her cheeks still hiked. They exited the office as I stood there watching. She was truly blessed. LOL was about to have some new agency faces and I was more than excited.
Shopping,manicures, or getting my hair done was the purest form of therapy for me. I was more content and stress free when I put myself first. I loved me in ways others didn’t seem to care about and that was enough for me. I mean, having Nesh here to swipe her card was nice too.
“Jesus, did you have to go crazy just now? I’ve never seen you walk out with so much from Chanel. You need to slow down, bestie.”
I rolled my eyes as Toneshia lectured me about my spending habit. She was fussing but had two purses in tow from that exact store. She also had nothing to say when I treated her. Sometimes she got on my nerves with the money managing bullshit. We both deserved to splurge a bit. She just bagged a new client and scored them a hell of a deal with Calvin Klein. A celebration was in order.
“No best friend, you need to catch up. Let’s hit LV right quick and then we can go. I promised myself I wasn’t leaving without the new clutch that just dropped,” I said, not letting her get me out my good mood.
“Che-Che, are you serious right now?”
“Very. Come on!” I squealed.
Grabbing her by the wrist, I pulled her into the Louis store. She shook her head with a smirk plastered on her face. Nesh talked a lot of mess, but her main thing was keeping me happy. She’d rather see me smiling and feeling good than complaining and in pain. She was like a damn big sister that worried more than a mother.
“Which clutch is it, Cheyonne? It’s my treat,” she chimed.
Grabbing onto her arm, I sang, “That oonnee!” I pointed to the item on the glass counter that sat on a podium.
“Is that all you want out of here?” Nodding wildly, that kid feeling was beginning to wash over me.
Being spoiled always felt good and who was better to do it than my best friend. She was my better half and my man until I found one. This was her responsibility until further notice. Simple. Plus, she wasn’t cheap with her spending. She might’ve wanted me to watch how many items I purchased in a day but the price on a tag never bothered her.
“How was your vacation with Derrek? Did you make another baby?” I taunted.
“Girl, we damn sure tried. I’ll know the results sooner or later. You know he asked when you planned on having one. I told him to set you up with one of his office buddies, so somebody should be calling soon.”
“Nesh, don’t even set that nigga up for disappointment. You and Derrek both know I don’t do that blind dating shit. If I meet a man, it’ll be on my time. Don’t go setting me up with nobody when I didn’t ask. Niggas nowadays are so jealous of women. I’m not even up for the headache, bestie.”
My mind was made up on relationships. I’d engage when it presented itself. I wouldn’t search or take handouts. I was a grown ass woman who could manage a business and a man if that ever occurred. Right now, I was going with the flow of life.
“Give him a chance. Jeremiah’s the cute one, and he’s red how you like them. I think the least you can do is give him a little conversation. I ain’t saying fuck him but just talk to him. Start small,” she suggested.
“Toneshia, you and your husband need to find something better to do than worry about me and a damn man. Oh, I meant to tell you about the Atkins family. They are so beautiful, best friend, it don’t make no sense. I mean, I know I’m a work of artbut them damn Atkins are on another level. Baby girl is surreal, and I ain’t even exaggerating.”
“Did you do your research on Royce?” she inquired before pointing to a pair of glasses on the wall for the clerk to assist her with.
I did and Sage Spring is theirs. There is no other way to put it.
