But I didn’t and would never judge her. Nor would I ever tell a soul. She and I had grown up in the same neighborhood and had gone to the same elementary and high school. Therefore, I knew her struggles and would never forget the obstacles that had been against us from birth. Plus, Mia was single, while I was married to a husband who was paying the bills where I laid my head.
“I won’t get caught, I promise.” Mia smiled as she threw the strap of her YSL purse over her shoulder. “And I’ll stop soon.”
I nodded with a half-smile as Mia and I climbed out of the booth at the Soul Food Cafe. Standing at the table, I looked up at Mia since she was quite a few inches taller than me because of the heels she was wearing that day.
I smiled as I softly bumped her with my elbow. “You know I’m never judging you, right?”
The corners of her lips touched her ears. “I know.”
“Trust me. I know the feeling of desperately needing and wanting more.”
Mia pouted while searching my weary, longing gaze. “Are you worried about getting hired for that new position?”
I’d applied for the property manager position at Dream Realty. I would manage all of their properties across the city. Most importantly, there was a significant salary increase. Though my husband, Damar, took care of our bills, I wanted more for myself. I had always wanted to be a certified registered nurse anesthetist. It had always been a passion of mine to follow in my mother’s footsteps. But Damar didn’t want me away from him and the home as much as clinicals and studying would take me. And he was now ready for us to have a baby. Earlier in our marriage, Damar’s son, Jeremy, was still young, so Damar wasn’t ready for a baby. But now that Jeremy was older, Damar had been insisting that we finally grow our family.
“Yeah. But I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“I heard that the twins will be making a decision soon.”
I half-smiled. “Oh, okay. Good.”
We traveled through the maze of tables toward the exit. The warm-brown walls were decorated with vintage posters. The aroma of savory spices swallowed us as the chatter of other diners blended with the clinking of silverware and soulful R&B music.
Stepping outside of the restaurant, the May sun bathed us in summer warmth. It felt so good to feel the city finally defrosting.
“You’re going to Enchant tonight, right?”
I lightly groaned, rolling my eyes as I walked alongside Mia through the parking lot. “I guess.”
She eyed my irritation suspiciously. “What’s the problem?”
Frowning, I asked, “Why can’t we go somewhere else? We’re always there.”
“Because our best friend owns it, and we drink and eat for free. Why would we go anywhere else?”
I groaned in response because she knew exactly why.
A taunting grin reached Mia’s ears. “Oh, because it’s entirely too stressful for you to be in the same space with your husbandandthe love of your life,” she mocked me with a laugh as she answered her own question.
I rolled my eyes with exaggeration. “Whatever, Mia.”
She giggled while popping the locks of her SUV. “Mm-humph.I better see you tonight.”
The breeze downtown was so warm. It was the kind of evening that made you forget winter had ever existed. Damar had insisted we take advantage of it being too nice outside to be inside, so after work, he’d met me at home, then I’d jumped in his car, and he’d brought us downtown.
We walked slowly along the Magnificent Mile with our fingers interlocked. Damar pulled me toward a boutique with a glass storefront showcasing designer handbags.
“Let’s go in here,” he told me, not giving me an option.
I followed him, and the chime of the doorbell welcomed us as we stepped inside.
Damar and I strolled past displays of luxury handbags that cost more than some people’s rent. He kept me close with his arm sliding around my waist. He constantly tugged me against him like he wanted everybody in the store to know I was his.
“Oooh. Try that one on,” he said, pointing to a sleek black tote with gold hardware. “That one look like money.”
I slipped it off the display and threw it over my shoulder, then I stepped in front of the mirror. Damar stood behind me, admiring me with a cocky and proud smirk. “Damn. Look at my wife. You look expensive as hell with that bag on your arm, like a basketball wife.”
I laughed, blushing.
