I open her event schedule and take a closer look.
She goes to a lot of the same places every month and none of them are too far from each other. My mind starts creating a plan, but I need to think on it more.
For now, I’m going to show up and help where I can.
I set my phone down and look back at my sister with a smile.
Now, I’ve got two girls to show up for.
Chapter 18 Lily
It’s finally lunch time. Three mediations over pettiness have me running on empty, and Jacquetta’s been on me all day. I want some peace.
I have my blinds lowered and my lights off in my office. I look like a sad office worker in a movie. I am a sad office worker in a movie with a container of sad soup.
That cafe across the way had great salmon and tea. And great company. A lunch with Javonte sounds fantastic right now.
I frown.
No it doesn’t. We aren’t doing that. I’m not allowed to want to spend time with him. I open my container of soup. It has no taste. I roll my eyes.
Great, now life has no taste or color without him? What am I, a cartoon character?
Let me focus on something else, like my after work schedule. Tonight’s space is bigger. It’s a mommy and me class, which means double the tables and chairs. I need to try to get out of here earlier...
Unless I call Javonte and ask him to help me.
No. I’m not reaching out to him and stroking his ego by needing him. I cross my arms. It was so much easier when he was there.
I pick up my phone, then set it back down before unlocking it. I can do it by myself. I’ve been doing it by myself this whole time anyway. I don’t need him.
I look again at today’s sign-ups.
I quickly send a text asking if he’s available to help me today. The bubbles appear instantly.
Javonte: Yes.
I stare at his response, then click the video icon in the group chat. Charisse’s face pops up on my screen, and I smile. I miss her and Porsche.
Porsche answers a few seconds later, and everything is right again.
We’re reunited.
I’m smiling, and they both notice.
“Why do you look like that?” Porsche asks.
It’s too fast for me to come up with a lie, so I just stumble through it until I tell the truth.
“I’ve been hanging out with Javonte a little bit.”
Charisse lights up, and Porsche just eyeballs me through the camera.
“What does ‘hanging out’ mean?” Porsche asks.
“He’s taken me out a couple of times, and he’s been there help me load and unload my stuff. I texted him today and asked him to help me, and he said yes instantly. I just have a bigger event today. It’s a lot of tables and chairs, and I realized he’s really helpful when he comes.”
Porsche purses her lips. Charisse nods.
