“Let me guess again, by yourself because you still haven’t hired any employees?”
“Did you only call to lecture me?”
“It’s not the only reason I called. The last thing I’m going to say is that I don’t enjoy seeing my only sister working and stressing herself out because she has too much pride to ask for help.”
I rolled my eyes. “I am not prideful. I’m merely…”
“Oh, you’re right! I meant, my only sister has too big a trust issue to hire anybody because she thinks history will repeat itself. If I were you, I’d let go of the past. I understand keeping your guard up and setting boundaries, but you can’t go on believing that everyone will treat you like your ex.”
“Wait a damn minute! I’m the oldest. How are you going to be giving me advice?”
“Technically, Leonard is the eldest, but who’s splitting hairs here? Besides, you know I am right.”
I stood up from my chair and began my routine to close the store for the night. I loved my little brother, but I didn’t want to hear what he was saying right now. Yeah, he was telling me nothing but the truth, but I wasn’t ready. I started up my business all by myself, and while I didn’t currently have a boyfriend, who’s to say I won’t get one in the future? Then, what if I hired somebody to help me in the store, and they started fooling around? Was it a reach? Maybe, but it has literally happened to me before. There wasn’t anything wrong with being cautious.
“Well, excuse me, Mr. College Graduate in a Few Days,” I said, grabbing the broom.
Ricky chuckled. “That’s why I was calling you, my favorite sister. You’re not going to miss it, right?”
“Of course, I’m not going to miss it! I know you like to give me a hard time about working too much, but when it comes to y'all, I’d drop everything to be there with my support.”
Ricky playfully gasped. “You’d be there for Leonard, too?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Yes, Leonard, too. Even though he clearly only likes his little brother and pretends he doesn’t have a sister.”
“Nah, that’s not true. I mean, yeah, sure, you two are complete opposites, but y'all have one thing in common.”
“What’s that?”
“Me! So don’t be cheap when it comes to my graduation present.”
“Boy! Get off my phone.” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Wait! Y'all have to go out to the club with me afterwards, too.”
“Yeah, yeah, now go away.”
“Fine! You're lucky I still got to get ready for this party my roommate and I are about to hit up. I’ll see you in a few days. I love you, waterhead.”
“I love you too, cockroach.”
With that, I hung up the phone. Ricky and I were eight years apart, but thick as thieves. He was my best friend growing up, especially since our older brother, Leonard, wasn’t around much. He was five years older than me and thirteen years than Ricky. While Ricky and I were still playing with toys, Leonard was in high school, getting ready to graduate. I don’t hold any animosity towards my older brother; I simply don’t know him. He barely paid any attention to me while I was growing up, but I had Ricky. He was younger than me but had no problem stepping up to be my ‘big’ little brother when anybody tried to mess with me.
I had to admit that when Leonard would come home from college and hang out with Ricky more than me, it hurt. I reallythought that he didn’t like me. Ricky tried to tell me it was all in my head and that Leonard loved us both, but his actions told another story. After a while, I stopped caring whether or not he liked me. I only had to talk to him during our monthly family dinners, and then we’d go our separate ways.
Besides, I had Ricky to talk to. When shit hit the fan between Lawrence and me, he was the first person I called. My little brother was always there for me with open arms and listening ears without judgment. Yes, he’s been pestering me to tell my parents the truth, but at the end of the day, I know that he’ll support me no matter what.
After I finished closing down my store, I walked into my office to grab my belongings. I glimpsed myself in the full-length mirror I kept in my office and smiled. My nutmeg-brown skin was finally getting its luscious natural glow back. Not to mention, my energy levels were back up after getting back to working out three times a week. After my breakup with Lawrence, I had to admit that I fell off with my skincare routine, and my eating habits were unhealthy. I couldn’t count how many empty tubs of ice cream and boxes of tissues I went through. Depression made me not care too much about anything.
Thankfully, after spending my mornings walking and talking with God, talking to my therapist, and my best friends Mya and Amanda, I finally got back to my old self. I stopped chasing after what could have been and accepted the truth. I had to remind myself that it was okay to grieve, but I needed to dust myself off and keep it pushing. Lawrence wasn’t losing a wink of sleep after what he did to me, so why should I? Plus, why would I want to get back with somebody who had no qualms about disrespecting me? Besides, I dodged a bullet not marrying his cheating ass.
I ran my hands down my curvy size sixteen body before turning around and looking over my shoulder.
“Damn, Nat!” I shouted, bending over to twerk. “Those workouts are doing the job.”
I slapped my ass while sticking my tongue out. As much as I didn’t really like the club scene, I was ready to dance. This was the main reason I told my little brother I’d go out with him after his graduation. I haven’t been out dancing in a while. Lawrence didn’t like, in his words, for me to be bending over for other niggas and shaking my ass. I scoffed and shook my head. He was worried about me, and the whole time he was bending our damn assistant over.
Shaking off my annoyance, I walked over to the content and marketing calendar I had hanging on the wall and tilted my head. Outside looking in, I was doing great, but behind the scenes, I had to admit that I could use a little help. I had survived the major rush, but I was still overwhelmed. If I don’t focus now, then my orders are going to get further behind. I sighed and grabbed my keys.
