He gave her a smile that didn’t feel nearly as warm as the heat blowing out of her vents. Cyren felt bad, but she held her ground. In the end, she knew he’d appreciate where she was coming from. It was a place of love... the kind Heavy was yearning to give her, if only she’d let him.
14
“Y’all need a refill?” the waitress asked, doing her round to check on her tables.
Cyren glanced down at hers, noticing her ice melting. “Yes, I’ll take one.”
“Same,” Bre said, sliding her cup forward without hesitation.
The waitress nodded, filling Cyren’s with strawberry lemonade and Bre’s with water. She had a Patron margarita next to it. Chili’s and their drinks of the month would always get her money. She took a generous sip and leaned back in her seat.
“What’s wrong?” Cyren asked, lightly laughing. Bre was giving her that look.
“I’m really sad that you’re leaving,” she said, in a softer tone than Cyren had ever heard her use.
She looked up from her plate. “Girl…”
“I’m serious,” Bre pressed, sitting up. “Who am I supposed to gossip with now? You’re really about to leave me in there with those boring ass people?”
Laughing, Cyren shook her head. “You’re so dramatic.”
“I’m not!” Bre insisted. “You know we be in there having a good time. Everybody else is so serious and just wants to work.”
Cyren smirked. “That’s what y’all are supposed to be doing.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bre said, waving her off. “But really. I’m happy we became friends.”
“I am, too. You’re the little sister I never had.”
“That’s funny, ‘cause I am the youngest out of my siblings.”
Cyren could see that. Bre was very persistent, such a free spirit, and a bit rebellious at times. She got her way more often than not.
“And they have you spoiled rotten,” Cyren acknowledged, taking the last bite of her honey chipotle chicken crisper. She planned to eat the rest later.
“Of course.” Bre grinned. “Are you all packed?”
“Girl, no.” She laughed. “I don’t have a lot to pack, though. I shipped some stuff off already, and I’m donating a few things.”
“That’s nice. I know they’ll love that.”
Cyren was sure that whoever received the items would love them, too. She’d learned the art of letting go through her grief, and it showed up in every crevice of her life. All those clothes she’d been holding onto for years were not being hauled to her new place.
While she packed away the rest of her food, Bre was on her phone, watching Instagram stories. She had the volume slightlylouder than it should’ve been in public, and Cyren would’ve told her to turn it down, but she didn’t. The place was already loud enough as it was.
“Girl, my cousin is in Cabo having a blast.” Bre beamed, eyes glued to her screen.
Cyren’s movements paused. She didn’t want to be that person and assume things, but something in her gut didn’t feel right. Of all the places Bre’s cousin could’ve been, she was in Cabo? Cyren found that odd.
“Yeah? A trip does sound nice,” she said, trying to keep her breathing steady.
“Girl! Look at this water.” Bre practically shoved the phone in Cyren’s face, giving her no choice but to grab it.
Cyren knew she shouldn’t have, but she did anyway. Her heart dropped at the view. It was as if she were on FaceTime with Heavy all over again. Whomever Bre’s cousin was, she was capturing the same magazine-worthy view he’d shown her. Blue skies, clear waters, and that gorgeous orange tree you couldn’t find or see anywhere else but in Mexico. Cyren kept watching despite the bile rising in her throat.
“Tish! Look at this tree. It’s so pretty!” Bre’s cousin squealed.
Had Cyren been nosey and tapped to the next story, she would’ve missed the confirmation and Heavy’s lies. Cyren wasn’t aware, but the split second he frowned while they were on FaceTime was the exact moment Tish tried making her way over to him. It was nothing but fate that she was seeing this right now.
