Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of friends. But finding Aunt Vicki had opened up a world of true friendship in the form of my cousins. They were younger, but wise beyond their years. And I was blessed to have them in my life.
Another tear escaped. “I don’t have any regrets about the divorce, Blake.”
“Good because I was about to say …”
“Be quiet, Sissy,” Bliss ordered her twin. “You’re not at work, and Laiya is not your client. She ended the relationship. Now, it’s up to me.” While they were both relationship experts, Blake helped women break up with their significant others and Bliss was the matchmaker. “When you’re ready to date again, call me.”
Dallas rolled her eyes. “In the meantime, no one died and?—”
“Technically, her relationship died,” Demi argued.
“Again, no one died.” Dallas tugged at my dress. “Is this wool?”
“Cashmere,” I corrected.
“Can you say hot as hell?” Blake fanned herself. “Shit, just looking at you is making me sweat.”
“Girl, you’re pregnant,” Demi mused.
My mouth fell open. “Blake, are you having a baby?”
Blake glared at me. “That would be a hell nah. My vagina is not ready to have a big head baby. Right now, it’s enjoying Lennox’s dick.”
I shoved her away playfully. “You’re so stupid.”
“Anyway,” Bliss shook her head at her sister, “don’t listen to her. She’ll be pregnant before the year is out.”
“In your dreams,” Blake muttered. “If anyone is going to be pregnant by the end of the year, it’s going to be Demi’s ass.”
I spun around to face Demi. “Are you and Duke trying? Why do I feel like I’m so out of the loop?”
Demi fell in love with my Aunt Vicki’s son, Duke. Which came as a surprise to no one except them.
“We know how to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Demi assured.
Dallas scoffed. “You just had a scare last month.”
Demi thumped Dallas on her ear.
“Ouch.” Dallas frowned. “That shit hurt.”
“Don’t tell my business,” Demi grumbled through clenched teeth. “’Cause I can tell yours.”
“But we won’t do that.” Dallas plastered a grin on her face. “Today is about Laiya.”
“No, it’s about Sloan and Maddox,” I insisted. “We’re celebrating their pending nuptials, not my divorce.
My cousin, Sloane, had shocked the hell out of all of us when she finally agreed to marry the love of her life, Maddox. The two had been dating for a while, but she’d been adamant that marriage wasn’t in their cards. Until it was. Even more surprising was the fact that they were doing everything the traditional way. Engagement party, bridal shower, bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and everything else that went with it.
Walking over to the mirror, I assessed my appearance. As much as I hated to admit it, they were right. This wasn’t a somber occasion, it was an engagement party. And I’d bathed in grey. The sweater dress worked for the office, for when I was showing houses, or…
A memorial service.
My hair … yeah, the sleek ponytail would work for the club or…
A funeral.
And the knee-length tweed coat I bought would’ve paired well at a church convention or…
