I walked Lu to her room while Avery waited in the living room.
Once Lu was in bed, I joined her on the couch. “There’s an explanation, right?” I said through gritted teeth. I could barely control my anger coursing through me; my hands balled into fists at my side.
She averted my gaze. “I’ve been stressed out with work, school, and Lu. We haven't been as intimate as we used to, so when I was approached at Katie’s birthday party I went to last week, I felt admired again.”
“That’s your explanation? That our life stresses you out, so the second someone makes you feel wanted, you stray?” I stood up and paced behind the couch.
“We’re still so young, but we were thrown this big responsibility that neither of us planned for…”
I put a hand up for her to stop. “You’re not about to blame Luna right now, are you? You were the one who stayed and helped Gram with Lu when I went to the university. You were the one who assured me that we could do it together for her. That was allyourdecision. Now you want to blame our situation as to why you’re cheating?” I tried not to yell, but I was in a state of shock. Avery was my everything. My person. The woman I wanted to marry. I bought a ring and planned to propose soon.
“It was a mistake!” she screamed. “It was the first time I had the house to myself without any responsibilities, and I wasn’tthinking. We didn’t get very far. I love our family, but I also still want to feel young. How can we do that?”
How could she do this? I wanted to fall to the floor and cry.
I sighed deeply and sat back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. I already lost Gram, and now I was losing the other important woman in my life. What the hell was I going to do without her? She was my lifeline during the hardest time of my life, but what she did was unforgivable. We were supposed to be each other's only; we promised.
Luna would be the one who'd suffer the most. She was supposed to have a happy home, and I couldn't even give her one.
THIRTY-FOUR
PRESENT
Ihesitantly agreed to a dinner party for my birthday because I knew my mom would find a way to be there.
The theme for the dinner was a masquerade since my birthday was so close to Halloween. I had a knee-length black dress with silver accents that sunk at the neckline. I found a matching mask with a black feather hanging from it. I paired the outfit with sparkly silver heels. I feltsexywhen I took a final look in the mirror. I hope Grant would think so, too.
I wanted our relationship to become more intimate, but I wanted to share my trauma with him first. I held onto so much shame and guilt for staying quiet for so long, but my therapist reminded me how I was not responsible for the adults’ actions in my life when I was a child.
I was done believing the false narrative that I was unworthy of love because I endured an unthinkable trauma. I was never appreciated until I met Grant, and I wanted to let him love me the way I know he could if I’d let him. The more I healed andforgave myself for staying in situations that didn’t serve me, the more I knew I was ready to accept Grant’s devotion. I was glad he agreed to come tonight because he could act as the pillar of joy when I became overwhelmed with my mom.
Grant
What time should we pick you ladies up?
Me
Does 7 work?
Grant
I’ll see you then and not a second sooner…or later. I am very prompt.
I instantly smiled. Grant had a way of always making the mood light. I was a bit anxious about who’d show up to dinner, but I’d also be with my two best friends, who would swoop in and save me from any unwarranted drama, especially with my mother. I told myself, ‘You got this,’ in the mirror before leaving my room to find Emma.
“Okay, hottie. Look at you,” Emma said, coming out of her room. She wore a strapless black dress that hugged her curves while also showing off her strength from hours in the gym. Her mask was dainty and silver with a handle she held in her right hand, a small black clutch in the other.
“Says you,” I said. “You are literally stunning.” She took a little bow.
“I’m going to finish my hair in your bathroom since you have the good hair spray.” She walked over to the table next to the front door and discarded her clutch and mask onto it before heading into the bathroom.
She took longer than I anticipated because the doorbell rang, indicating Grant and Gio were there. I looked at the time, and it was exactly seven on the dot.
“I’m almost ready,” Emma yelled from the bathroom.
I stood up from the couch to invite them in. I was not expecting what I saw when I opened the door. The two men were in three-piece suits with matching navy-blue velvet tux jackets. Their masks differed, where Grant's was more silver with black accents, and Gio’s was black with silver accents. “You two look very dapper. Come on in, Emma is finishing up her hair.”
They walked in, and we all made small talk while we waited for Emma. “So, who all is going to be there tonight?” Gio asked.
