F*ck! What’s the matter with me? This girl has me all out of sorts.
“Sir, your four o’clock appointment is calling to cancel?” my secretary stated from my office door, pulling me from my thoughts.
“That’s fine. I actually have an emergency that has come up, and I need to go home. See if you can get them to reschedule for me.”
“Of course, sir. Do you need anything else?”
My eyes met hers briefly, but my lips spoke not a word. It was enough for her to understand I was being serious and close the door, giving me time to think through what I was about to do.
“Paul,” I said into the receiver of my phone as I called my driver, “bring the car around.”
It was time to head home and see how the girls were doing. After all, what kind of responsible adult would I be if I didn’t?
Becca.
The warm Miami heat toasted my skin as I lay on a white lounge chair by the pool. As much as I wished I had this kind of comfort back in Savannah, I didn’t. It was more humid there than enjoyable, and Miami weather was much different.
It was one thing I enjoyed about this place.
This was the one comfort I took from years of hard work for my future. While I was here in Miami, I could be anyone and do anything my heart desired.
Because no one knew who I was, and after a lifetime of having to be someone in particular-well, it was welcoming.
Tally had insisted on having a bunch of people over for a pool party, and as they milled around in the cool water laughing and drinking, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed by them.
They seemed so carefree with their upscale lifestyles, able to come and go as they wanted. Never really having to work for anything, and having their parents hand them money whenever they wanted.
That wasn’t something I was accustomed to. My parents had worked hard all their lives to give me the best they could, and even now, I worked hard too. Because I planned on taking care of my father one day. My mom had passed away a few years ago.
Dad had given up so much for me, and unlike the rest of these people who expected to have whatever they wanted-I wouldn’t take my parents for granted.
“Are you just going to lie there all day or come join us?” Tally asked as her shadowed form peered down at me, blocking out the sunlight I had been enjoying.
“I am joining you, but just from this chair. The sun feels amazing, and I don’t feel like swimming,” I told her with honesty as I relaxed further into my seat.
“At least you’re drinking,” she smirked.
Holding up my margarita, I let the corner of my lips rise. “That I am. Tequila and sunshine.”
“With hot guys?”
“Uh-no,” I laughed. “I can satisfy myself. Haven’t you heard it’s the twenty-first century? Women don’t need men. We have each other and toys for our entertainment purposes.”
“Well, that needs to change. I want you to meet someone,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
My lips met tightly as I shook my head. “No, Tally. I told you before. I’m not ready.”
“Oh, my god. It’s literally been almost a month, Becca. You’re wasting your time being no fun at all because Chad was f*cking someone else.”
What the f*ck?
Taken aback by her forward response, I looked at her in shock. “Wow. Thanks for that.”
She may be my best friend, but she was a f*cking bitch sometimes.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, she sat down next to me, placing her chin in her hand. “You know what I mean. I-I just want you to be happy again.”
“Well, then maybe my boyfriend shouldn’t have been f*cking someone behind my back. Second of all, I am happy.”
Groaning with frustration, she rolled her eyes again. “Let it go already. He isn’t worth it.”
“Oh, I am well aware of that,” I scoffed. “Now, leave me alone. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. I don’t know why you keep lying to yourself,” she replied, causing me to shake my head. She had no idea what she was talking about.
“Why don’t you stop worrying about trying to play matchmaker and find yourself someone to play with?” I urged her with a smile as I closed my eyes behind dark sunglasses and tried to get back to relaxing.
“I am really happy you came, Becca,” Tally said after a moment of silence. “There is no telling where we will be next year, and I have missed spending my summers with you over the last few years.”
Peaking open one of my eyes, I watched the sincere expression cross her face. She was being honest, but there was something about the way she acted lately that told me otherwise.
It was as if she was happy, but then also hiding something. Deciding not to press further, I let a smile crest my lips. “I’m glad I came too. But I’m still not letting you play matchmaker.”
“No fun.” She laughed hysterically. “Fine… do what you want.”
“Oh, I will. Now, hurry and get back to that sexy redhead. He has been watching you with f*ck-me eyes since the moment you left the pool and came over here.”
Turning her head, she peered at him, pushing down her glasses slightly before giving him a small wave. “He is cute, huh?”
“Yeah, he is,” I replied. “But he is more your type, so you have fun. I will catch another man some other time. I am content for right now.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.