I sit with my head in my hands, sobbing as we ride to the hospital. Once we arrive, Mom is rushed to a room and examined while I pace and wait.
It doesn’t take long before I’m led back to her room. Denzel, Bentley’s sister Lauren’s fiancé, is the attending doctor. I’m so glad to see him. He gives my shoulder a squeeze as I enter the room.
“She’s going to be fine,” he says before he walks out.
I take a seat by her bed and drop my head into my hands like on the ride here. I’m so confused and lost right now. My mother is a healthy woman, this is so out of the blue.
A hand on my shoulder causes me to lift my head. My mother is smiling at me with her soft-brown eyes.
“Now that I have your attention and that boy isn’t around to cut my questions off, I’d like you to explain to me what’s going on. Why are you hell-bent on marrying someone you don’t love?”
I scoff. “Aw, hell nah. Mom, did you just fake all this?”
“I’m a mother, I did what I needed to do to protect my baby. Now start talking, Zah. I know you’ve been hiding things since you came back home.
“I think Gilbert has been playing on your secrets and has been trying to trap you into a marriage he doesn’t intend to end.”
“Wait, you know?”
“That this entire wedding is bullpoopy? Girl, you think I’m one big fool, don’t you? You’re lucky I haven’t bopped you upside your head. You’re dragging a lot of good people into this mess, and most of all, you have Aaron smack in the middle.”
She shakes her head and purses her lips. Guilt begins to rise in my chest. I’m not even sure how I got here anymore.
“I can see you’re lost, baby. It’s written all over your face. Maybe if you talk it out with me, you will hear your answers for yourself,” my mother coaxes.
I look back at her as she searches my face. I try to think of where to start. I’ve wanted to tell her so much over the years, but the secrets started a long time ago.
“Start from the beginning, child. I’m here to listen.”
I take a deep breath and blow it back out. I open my mouth and the words begin to spill. It’s like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
I go all the way back to the beginning. I was so young and naive back then. If I could do it all over, I would. There’s so much I would take back and change.
“It all started with my first day of college.”
CHAPTER 3
Cold Greetings
Zahirah
I did it.I got the full-ride scholarship to the same university Bentley Coswell has been attending for the last two years. I can’t wait to surprise him. Bentley is my best friend’s older brother.
I’ve had a crush on him for years. When Erica told me she was thinking about going to the same school as her big brother, I worked my ass off to be able to get in too. I didn’t change my mind even after Erica did.
My parents aren’t too happy about it, but they’re not paying for it, so it’s my choice. I earned that scholarship and here I am. I can’t stop smiling and my face is starting to hurt.
So far, so good. I like my roommate and my dorm room is cute. I’ve spent the morning setting up my space and getting to know Arlene.
“What do you say, girlie? Want to head to the student center and have a peek around? I’m starving,” she says as I place away the last of my clothes.
My stomach gurgles in answer for me. “Need I say more?” I laugh.
She’s sitting on my bed, looking through my high school yearbook. My senior year was a blast, but I’ll admit, I spent most of it thinking about Bentley and his reaction once I got here. I’ve missed him the last two summers.
If I wanted to get here on a track scholarship, I had to train my butt off. Unfortunately, that meant missing out on time with Bentley during his summer visits, as he would be off heading back to school for summer football camp by the time I returned from my camp.
“Come on. This room will be here when we get back. I need a nice, juicy burger and fries. If I can get a milkshake with that, I’ll be a happy roomie.”
