Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Really? You’re going to go through with this? What about your mom? What about Aaron?”
“Erica, the last thing I want to do is make this more complicated than it already is. Mom will understand. I’ll figure everything else out.”
She sighs and stands. “I think I should tell you something before we leave.”
A nervous look comes to her face. I know my friend too well to think anything about to come from her mouth right now is going to make any of this better.
“If it’s not going to better my mood, I don’t want to know. Save it for after tomorrow.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and I almost tell her to spill it. However, a glance at the clock tells me we need to go. My childhood friend will just have to hold whatever it is in. I’m grateful to Erica for all her support.
Over the years, she’s had my back even in times she probably shouldn’t have. I love her like my own sister. I have love for the entire Coswell family.
I try not to feel guilty as that thought crosses my mind. There’s so much I’ve been trying to keep from them. The lies have been adding up. Gilbert has been doing me as big a favor as I have been doing for him.
Erica pulls me into a tight hug. When she releases me, she cups my face in her palms. Tears are brimming in her eyes.
“Whatever happens tonight, promise me you will follow your heart and do what’s best for you, not everyone else,” she says.
“I promise.”
“Good, I’m holding you to that. I love you, best.”
“I love you too. Stop it before you make me cry,” I choke out.
My phone begins to ring. I groan and go to pull it from my purse. Looking at the screen, I see it’s Gilbert. I chew on my lip. I was sure he would have called this all off before now. He’s spent so much money on this wedding.
From the lavish engagement party to this rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself. It’s been a never-ending fountain of money being poured into a wedding that shouldn’t be happening. I sigh and answer the call before it turns over to voicemail.
“Hello.”
“Hey, gorgeous. Grandma is concerned about you. Where are you? Are you on your way?”
“Yes, I’m on my way right now. No need to be concerned. But Gilbert, we should talk before the night is over.”
“I told you. Everything will be fine. I’ll see you when you get here.”
“See you,” I murmur and hang up.
CHAPTER 2
Not the Same
Bentley
“Are you sure you want to do this, man? This is Zah. All I want is to see her happy, bro. I don’t know what all happened between you two, but she’s family.
“Haven’t we all been through enough? Gilbert can give her a nice life and stability. Why come back and get in the way of that now?” Eddy says as he pulls up to the reception hall and parks.
“I love you, Eddy, but shut the fuck up and mind your business. You’re right about one thing. You don’t know what happened and you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” I grumble.
“Bro, what I do know is this is crazy. It’s her wedding rehearsal dinner.”
“What’s your point, Eddy?”
“It’s always about you, Bentley. All my life, it’s been about you. I’m asking you to stop and think about her.
“Think about how this affects everyone else around you. I don’t want to lose her too. Zah is important to me. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
As the youngest, he thinks everything has always been about me. My family did a lot to support my dream. Heck, our entire community has.
I feel for him, but he’s wrong. It’s never been all about me. This dream was my father’s first. He ingrained it in me, and I did all I could to see it through. Then life called an audible.
“I’m not here to hurt her. I’ve done enough of that,” I bellow. “I’m fucking tired, bro. I’m tired of fucking up. I’m tired of saying the wrong thing. I’m tired of being without her.
“Yes, I’m going to do this because nothing makes sense without Zahirah in my life. Nothing.”
I shake my head with my last words. I didn’t come all this way to turn back now. Call me selfish, but I need to do this.
I have to hear from her lips that she doesn’t want me. If she looks me in my eyes today and tells me I’m too late, then I’ll walk away. Then and then only.
“Well, there she is. If you’re really going to do this. Here’s your chance. Don’t fuck this up, bro. Don’t cost us all her light.”
I tighten my jaw and close my eyes. I’m not here to take her away from my family. I know how much she means to everyone.