“I mean…hecouldbe okay, or he could be busy celebrating with somebody else,” Brent fanned the flames of doubt running through her head.
Tia threw a coaster at his forehead. “Stop instigating. Damn.”
Meadow glared at Brent. “Why are you even still here?”
“My brother,” he shrugged, “and you’re fun to watch when you’re stressed.”
“Boy, go-”
“Hey!” Tia shouted. “No fighting in my rich house.”
Meadow dropped onto the couch, pulling the plush throw blanket around her shoulders. “This is stupid. I’m acting stupid.”
Tia sat next to her. “You’re acting like somebody who cares about somebody.”
“That’s worse.”
Tia laughed. “Not really.”
Meadow stared at her phone again. The worry twisted her stomach into knots.
Why wasn’t he answering?
He always answered her.
Even if he was in the shower…even if he was on the green…even if he was supposed to be asleep.
Tia nudged her. “Breathe, babe.”
“I am breathing.” Meadow’s brows set in a straight line.
“No, you’re not.”
“Okay but I’m trying.”
Blain walked by. “Want a shot?”
“No…yes…” she groaned. “Lord, I’m embarrassing myself.”
Tia grinned. “It’s adorable.”
Brent muttered, “It’s chaotic.”
Meadow threw a pillow at his head. “Shut up!”
Tia placed a hand on Meadow’s knee, grounding her. “He’ll call.”
“How you know?”
“Because he’s Zaire…and I believe he loves you.”
Meadow pressed her lips tight, eyes stinging.
Tia tried to pull the group into other conversations, even tried to lighten the mood by playing music knowing her girl loved to get up and dance. But not tonight, Meadow had allowed a man to consume so much of her that she didn’t even want to do the things that made her happy. That reality gutted her to the point of her needing to go lay down.
Meadow didn’t even realize how tired she was, until her head hit the pillow in the guest room.
It wasdark when Zaire stepped out of the SUV.
