“I don’t want to meet him,” Cashmere said with a sneer.
Marcellus pinched her cheek, just like an annoying brother would do. “Looks like we both doin’ some shit we don’t want to do tonight.”
Cassydie hit him on the arm with her face screwed up. “We’re celebrating your birthday. End of story.”
Marcellus made a goofy face at Cashmere before he took a step back. “See you tonight.”
Cashmere waved and he closed her door. She watched as they got into their car before she pulled out of the parking lot. Like clockwork, the black SUVs followed her. Just because she didn’t have a head of security didn’t mean she didn’t have security, to her dismay. She knew she was in the big leagues now, but damn. Sometimes she missed the simplicity of being a normal ass person.
The ride to her house took thirty minutes. A smile spread across her face when she pulled up to her mini mansion. It was her normal reaction anytime she saw her home because she still couldn’t believe it was hers. Talk about rags to riches.
When she pulled into the garage, she left the door open so her security could come in and make sure she was safe.
“You’re good to go,” Levelle, one of her security guards, said as she stepped out of the car.
She simply nodded at him and tried not to show any attitude. It was ridiculous to her that she couldn’t even step into her house without the okay, even though there was security here already because Ivoree was home. It was all so dumb to her, but she constantly reminded herself that it came with the territory.
As soon as she was inside her home, she called out for her sister. “Vee! I’m home!”
“In here!”
Just as Cashmere suspected, Ivoree was in the sitting room with books and her laptop spread out on the large sectional around her.
Cashmere chuckled before she plopped down on the dark gray sectional, careful not to disturb Ivoree’s work.
“You been at it for hours,” Cashmere noted.
Ivoree stayed focused on something in a book. After she highlighted a few sentences, she sighed and gave Cashmere her attention.
“I know, but it’s midterms. I need to ace these tests.”
“When don’t you?” Cashmere admired her baby sister, who wasn’t really a baby anymore. At twenty-four years old, her sister was on the fast track to being the most successful person in their family. Cashmere never counted herself because what she did was illegal. Yes, she made more money than she knew how to spend, but she wouldn’t call that successful. Ivoree, on the other hand, worked hard as hell for what she wanted, and she deserved all the good that came to her. She was pre-med and working to become a surgeon. None of this would have even been possible if it wasn’t for Cashmere getting into the council. Because of that, a world of legal opportunity was open to Ivoree, and she took it and ran with it.
“True,” Ivoree said as she plopped back on the couch.
They sat in silence for a moment, and Cashmere looked around. Every time she sat in a room in her home, she had to convince herself that it was hers. This room was meant for maximum comfort. The couch was one people sank straight into. There were throw blankets and pillows scattered about, a fireplace, and a large TV mounted to the wall. Cashmere and Ivoree spent a lot of their time in this room.
“Don’t forget Cell’s party is tonight,” Cashmere reminded as she leaned her head on the back of the couch. She was exhausted, and the last thing she really wanted to do was go to a party on a yacht. She much preferred to work or be in the comfort of her own home.
“Why you think I’m doing all this right now? I have to start getting ready in exactly two hours.” Ivoree checked her Apple watch to confirm the time.
Cashmere shook her head. Ivoree had been excited about the party since it was mentioned months ago. She had socially come out of her shell since she started college, and Cashmere loved to see it. She wished she could pull some of her sister’s socialmeter and fill her own up because she pretty much disliked most people.
“Alright. I’ma leave you to it. I’m going to take a nap.” Cashmere stood and stretched.
“Do you know what you’re wearing tonight?” Before Cashmere could respond, Ivoree held her hand up and spoke. “Never mind. I’ll wake you up when it’s time and get you together.”
Cashmere shrugged and walked out of the room. Ivoree had become a fashionista since they’d come into money. She realized that her little sister had really been bogged down by their shitty upbringing, and a sense of pride filled her now that she was able to bring her up out of that. Ivoree’s wings had spread, but Cashmere couldn’t help but feel like she had pretty much stayed the same.
Years of being hardened by her parents and the streets made it tough for her to change. Her mind wandered to Cassydie and Marcellus as she pushed the door open to her massive room. Her friends were so happy together. They had their own family to love on. Though the two of them bickered like hell, love was always at their core.
Cashmere wondered what that felt like. She sighed as she stripped down to her panties. She fell into bed and prayed sleep could distract her from feelings she held deep down. Love and a family weren’t in her immediate future. It would take a special ass man to sit her down, and she didn’t believe he existed.
Sadness filled her as she slipped into a restless sleep.
Fresh air wassomething Savio Meekins would never take for granted again. He breathed in deeply with a smile on his face. Savio had never been a nigga to walk around with a positive attitude and smiling all the time. Ironically enough, prison changed that for him. Most niggas went in there and came out hardened. Savio went in cold to the world and came out thankful to be alive and ready to stay his ass on the free side of the world.
“Ol’ smilin’ ass nigga,” Twizz joked as he walked up on Savio.
