Page 34 of Hired By My Rich Baby Daddy 2

Right in the middle of it, my phone started ringing on the counter. I glanced down and saw Veronica’s name flashing.

I wiped under my eyes, laughter still present in my voice, before I answered on speaker, saying, “Hey, girl.”

“Bitch, what are you doing? I tried calling Noree but didn’t get a response. It’s my birthday!”

I set the phone down between me and Noree so she could hear too.

“My bad, girl. I didn’t see it,” Noree responded, and truthfully, her mind was scrambled like them burnt eggs I’d made earlier.

“It’s cool, boo. I’m going to the strip club tonight,” Veronica said. “I know, I know, it’s a little different from what we usually do. But I ain’t gonna lie, I done seen a lot of dicks in my life, had my fair share too, but my love life is in shambles. So maybe it’s time I check out the other side.”

I busted out laughing. “Girl, you are not gay.”

“I know I ain’t gay, boo. But for the right girl, I might do a little something strange for a little piece of change.” She was cackling on her end too. “Me and like three other girls going tonight. Please do not turn me down.”

I looked over at Noree, who still had puffy eyes and was dabbing under them with a napkin.

“I don’t know if Noree is up to it tonight,” I said into the phone.

“Girl, what’s wrong?”

Noree sighed. “I have some personal stuff going on,” Noree said, leaning toward the phone. “But I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Okay, good, ’cause I need my girls there tonight!” Veronica’s voice picked up energy.

I did a little shimmy on my bar stool. “Ooh, I love a good party!”

“Yay,” Noree said, flat, no energy behind it whatsoever. I gave her a look, but she didn’t care.

Me and Veronica both laughed at her, and we wrapped the call up not too long after, promising to check the group chat for the details.

We paid our tab and headed out toward Noree’s car, and once we got in, she looked over at me.

“I’ma call Mama one last time before we head out.”

“Go ahead, girl.” I laughed, already reaching for my seatbelt. “I knew this was coming.”

She pulled her phone out and FaceTimed our mama, and she picked up on the third ring, already knowing exactly why Noree was calling before she even said a word. Mama just turned that camera straight to Oaklynn without even a hello, and Noree’s whole face melted looking at that screen.

I turned my attention to my phone while she was doing that. Checked for a text from Carl. Nothing.

Then I saw a message pop up from a number I ain’t have saved yet, but I knew exactly who it was the second I read it.

UNKNOWN: What’s up, how you doing beautiful?

I sat there staring at that screen for a good little while, my thumb hovering right over the keyboard. But I didn’t type anything. Just kept reading it over and over, feeling a little smile creep up on the corner of my mouth.

“Okay, love you. Bye, Mama.” Noree ended the call and tossed her phone in the cupholder, letting out a big breath. “Okay. I feel like I need a nap after all this. These shots and all this crying got me feeling some kind of way.”

“Mm-hmm. I definitely think your ass needs one.”

“Shut the hell up,” Noree kidded. Then she glanced over at me and caught me still looking down at my phone, smirking.

“What?” She squinted at me. “Why you looking like that?”

I turned my phone around and showed her the screen.

“Girl, why did PB just text me? Asking me what’s up?” I looked at her. “Should I even respond?”