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  “Just give me one second and I’ll send Ms. Morgan out,” I told her before firmly adding a, “Thank you .”

  She glared at me one more time before shutting the door behind her. I turned back to Tabitha and laughed at the whole ordeal .

  “Sorry about that, Mary can get a little snarky .”

  “Don’t worry about it, I’ve had woman like her looking down their plastic noses at me my whole life,” she said casually. “They all think I care about what they think, but don’t have two brain cells to rub together between the lot of them .”

  I laughed, “You are something else, Tabitha Morgan .”

  “Thanks,” she said, her cheeks blushing. “I think .”

  I glanced back at the door. “Well, I guess I will see you next week then ?”

  “Yes,” she said quickly before heading for the exit. “See you then .”

  I watched her walk away, my heart sinking into my stomach. I wasn’t bashful about not wanting her to do the surgery, but if she didn’t come back in, would I ever see her again? The idea filled me with dread. I didn’t want to wait another week to see her, how could I go forever ?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tabitha

  “A re you going to tell me where you’ve been all week or do I have to force it out of you?” Selina asked me as she chewed a celery stick .

  “You sound like a horse,” I told her. “And you look like one too. Don’t you ever chew with your mouth closed ?”

  “And miss out on a lecture from you?” she asked, loudly smacking her lips together as she ripped off another piece .

  I rolled my eyes and shoved her playfully. “I don’t know, there isn’t much to tell .”

  She looked at me silently and I couldn’t help but smile. She returned the shove. “You lie !”

  I laughed, but said nothing. I felt giddy and happy, like things were finally starting to work out in my life. It was such a new feeling for me as an adult that I was scared to share it with anyone. Some part of me thought that if I told Selina about how things were going it would break the spell and my luck would go back to crap. Still, she was my sister. I wanted to share the joy I’d found with her .

  “Things are just going good right now. I met with the career advisor and I feel really good about my interview on Monday. I don’t know, I just feel like things are finally starting to turn around for me .”

  “Well,” she said, sounding disappointed. “I guess that is good news .”

  “What’s wrong ?”

  Selina shrugged. “I was kind of hoping that you’d met someone. You just have that glow about you. I mean, I think it’s great that you are feeling better about the future, but you know…” She slouched again and let her sentence die off .

  I sighed. “Well, I did meet someone .”

  Instantly her eyes lit up. “I knew it! I just knew it! I want to know everything about him !”

  This was it, I had to tell her or I was going to explode. “You actually already know him .”

  “What?” she stammered. “Who is it? Don’t tell me it’s that guy who hit on you at the bar last week .”

  “Someone hit on me? I just remember Earl .”

  Her head turned toward me so fast the bun of hair on her head bounced. “Earl? I didn’t think you even remembered meeting him .”

  “Of course I do, I told you he was going to do my surgery .”

  “Yeah, but that’s the good doctor, not ‘Earl.’ That sounds a little personal .”

  I smiled at her. Her eyes grew wide again and she squealed so loud I thought the neighbors were going to wake up. She dove across my bed where we’d been watching television and tackled me. I couldn’t help but laugh at how happy she was for me. It was a blessing to have her as a sister. I wasn’t insecure about my decision to tell her anymore. Her joy was more than enough reaffirmation .

  “Oh my god!” she said breathlessly. “I can’t believe this. I want all of the details .”

  With a joyful laugh, I told her about how we’d first met and everything that happened at the dinner with our mother. It was the week after my appointment that really changed things .

  “He was the one who suggested I go to the career advisor. Afterwards, I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “I felt like things were totally different. I had a new perspective on things. My confidence was back and I knew what I needed to change to really land a job. So, I asked him out to dinner as a ‘thank you’ for pushing me in the right direction .”

  “Wait,” she interrupted. “Does this mean that you aren’t going to do the surgery next week ?”

  “Heck with that!” I scoffed. “I still think that a new set of breasts is going to be the difference between a job and living on the streets .”

  Selina rolled her eyes. “You know that I would never let that happen to you .”

  “Anyways,” I interjected. “Do you want to know the details or not ?”

  She sat back and ran her fingers across her lips like she was zipping them closed. Seeing her like that brought back so many memories of us as kids. We used to stay up all night together just laughing and playing under the sheets. I missed those days, but it was good to still have her in my life. Some things would never change .

  “After dinner, one thing led to another,” I said with a smile as I thought back. “The next night we didn’t have plans though and he showed up at my door. It was so romantic .”

  My thoughts drifted to that evening and suddenly I was back in that moment .

  * * *

  H is eyes danced as he handed me a dozen roses from behind his back. I looked like a hot mess though. I’d just gotten off work and I smelled like a stale bar. It didn’t seem to faze him though as he leaned forward and kissed me .

  “I hope it’s okay that I stopped by like this,” he said when we finally broke apart .

  I nodded, my heart racing. “Oh yeah, I wasn’t doing much. Except maybe a shower .”

  Earl laughed. “Listen, I wanted to thank you again for dinner yesterday .”

  I bit my lip. “Well after I get a shower, I can think of a few ways you can thank me .”

  “I like the sound of that,” he growled. “But I really did come over here to talk to you .”

  “Oh,” I whispered. “Is everything okay ?”

  “Everything is fine, perfect actually. I know that we’ve both said we just want to keep this thing between us causal, but last night I realized that I don’t want casual anymore. I’ve already had that in my life .”

  “Okay?” I choked out. Now I could barely breathe. I didn’t know which way the conversation was going. I wasn’t the kind of girl that men like him dated .

  “I want to see more of you,” he said .

  “You’ve seen me naked and in a few days, you’ll be cutting me open. Not sure how much more there is to see,” I said jokingly .

  He laughed and pulled me to him as he sat back on the arm of my couch. I stood between his legs, wondering how the beer smell didn’t overpower the romantic moment he was trying to create .

  “I love that you have a great sense of humor and a lot of sarcasm. You aren’t like anyone else in my life. I am being serious though, Tabitha. I’d like to really give this a try .”

  “You mean a relationship?” I stammered .

  Earl nodded. “Yeah, well,” he faltered. “I would like to, but obviously I need to know what you think about it. After all, it would be both of us in it .”

  “So dating,” I said again. “Exclusively ?”

  His eyes grew wide, one brow arching in an unspoken question. “Is that a problem? I didn’t think that you were seeing anyone else .”

  “Well I’m not,” I said defensively. “It just seems strange that you would want something like that. Let’s face it, you are a catch. Why not try dating someone more your level ?”

  “Because ‘my level’ girls are empty. I would like to be raised up to yours .”

  I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “You are so c
heesy sometimes .”

  “You’re the one dragging yourself down. I won’t stand for that. You are,” he shook his head, at a loss for words, “just amazing .”

  “I don’t know what you see in me .”

  “Beauty, compassion, determination? I could go on all night. Why are you always so hard on yourself, though? Don’t you realize what an amazing woman you are? The things that you’ve had to endure not only with your mother, but with your father passing away too is brutal for a young girl .”

  “I don’t need anyone’s charity .”

  “And I’m not offering it,” he said defensively. “If you don’t want to give this a shot then just say so, but I thought there was real chemistry between us .”

  “There is,” I said to him as I looked up into his eyes. “I’m just in shock .”

  Earl smiled and wrapped his arms around me. “Don’t be, we deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else .”

  “So, this is really happening?” I asked him .

  He nodded and pulled me down onto the couch. I didn’t care about the stale beer smell anymore .

  * * *

  I let out a satisfied sigh as I finished telling Selina all about the week I’d spent with Earl. When I looked her way I saw the same dreamy look on her face that I knew was on mine. She sat up and shook her head, blinking several times before turning her attention back to me. Not once had she stopped smiling since I told her about Earl and myself. Her joy continued to inspire me .

  “This has to be like the greatest love story ever, a modern-day Cinderella .”

  I laughed, “You realize you just called Mom an evil stepmother and you one of those bratty stepsisters .”

  She scoffed, “You know what I mean. You, down on your luck and all sad are swept off your feet by a knight in shining armor .”

  “Whoa,” I said, raising both my hands. “Take it easy there, girl. We’ve gone on four dates .”

  “In as many nights,” she interjected .

  “We are just seeing how things go, okay? I like having my freedom and whatnot. I’m just getting on my feet so I don’t need anyone sweeping them out from underneath me again, thank you very much .”

  “Oh come on, where is the romance in that?” she pouted .

  “Life isn’t always a fairy tale okay? I am really happy with how things are going right now so let’s just leave it at that. There are no wedding bells or babies in the making .”

  “Yet,” she whispered .

  I glared at her, but couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Her body tensed and she knew what was coming as I lunged for her. I tackled her onto the bed and tickled her ribs as she giggled frantically. My sister was ticklish to the extreme, a fact that I used at every advantage .

  “Mercy!” she screamed out through the laughter .

  I rolled back on the bed, tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard. “You are a pain in my ass .”

  “But what would you do without me ?”

  I shook my head. “I really don’t know .”

  “Hey Tabby?” she said .

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m really happy for you and Earl. I think you guys make a good couple .”

  “Thanks,” I said .

  “And don’t let Mom ruin this for you okay?” she said quickly. “You deserve to be happy more than anyone I know, especially her .”

  Her words surprised me. She wasn’t one to speak out against my mom. I wanted to press the subject, but it didn’t feel like the right time. When she was ready to tell me what was going on I knew that she would. Pushing her now would only drive her away. My sister was a wonderful person, but all too often she let people take advantage of her. It took a lot to get on her bad side where my mother was apparently at now .

  “Anything you want to talk about?” I asked her, trying to sound casual .

  She shook her head and rolled over onto her stomach. “No, but this food is for the birds. What do you say we go shopping, courtesy of mother’s credit card ?”

  “She would cut you off if she knew you were getting me stuff with her money .”

  “Screw her,” she said vehemently. “I say we go out and have a good time. Let the pieces fall where they may .”

  “Alright.” I shrugged. “I owe her a little payback for the dinner disaster anyways and I can always use a new pair of shoes .”

  Selina jumped off the bed. “To the car!” she yelled out in a military voice .

  I laughed and jumped up, following suit. “To the car!” I exclaimed .

  Like little girls again, we giggled and ran from the apartment, carefree and loving life .

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tabitha

  “I think this is my favorite part of the night,” he said as he curled his body around mine. “What do you think ?”

  I sighed, there were no words to express how happy I was. Earl was everything that I could hope for in a boyfriend. He didn’t push me to spend time at his place, knowing the lavishness of it made me uncomfortable. Some would say that we were moving too fast, but everything with him felt right. This was the third night he’d spent in my apartment. Even though it added time to his morning commute he never once complained about it. Somehow, I had hit the jackpot with Earl .

  “I have no complaints,” I told him honestly .

  “Good.” He nuzzled against my neck. “I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow .”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “I thought since you were the boss you could pick your own hours. I’d love to get you alone for a whole day and night .”

  “Oh yeah?” he said .

  His boner pressed against me and I giggled. His sexual appetite was just as ferocious as my own. If we could have stayed in bed all the time, it would have been perfect. The real world though loved to get in the way. If his assistant wasn’t calling with one appointment or another then it was my sister looking for support in her fight against family drama .

  “Have you talked to Selina at all?” he asked me .

  “Not since this afternoon. I don’t know what is going on between her and Mom, but it’s getting ugly. She said that your dad and Opal were fighting a lot .”

  “Well,” Earl said. “I think that the best thing we can do is stay out of it. Be there for Selina as support, but don’t get sucked in .”

  “I agree,” I told him as I butted my rear up against him. “My mother and her problems can stay far away from us .”

  He reached around and pinched my nipple, I squealed with delight. Just as I turned around to give him more access, someone pounded at my door .

  I bolted up in bed. “I wonder who that is .”

  “Do you want me to answer it ?”

  I shook my head and pulled my dress back over my body. “No, my neighbor likes her boyfriends. They sometimes get the room numbers mixed up. If I had to guess, it’s probably some poor sap looking for a good time .”

  “That doesn’t make me feel much better .”

  I chuckled. “Don’t worry, they are mostly harmless .”

  “Mostly?” he called after me .

  I laughed again and went around the corner to the front door. Peeking out the security hole my heart started to race. Suddenly, I wished it had been a drunken boyfriend of my neighbors. I took a deep breath and undid the chain holding the door closed .

  “What do you want?” I hissed at my mother .

  She stepped past me, not bothering to ask first before barging in. Her eyes were bloodshot, she’d been drinking again .

  “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” she asked me, her voice slurred. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to set this god damn marriage up ?”

  “Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about ?”

  “You think a whore doesn’t know another whore? Whatever con you’ve got running on that boy of his I want you out of it now!” she boomed .

  “You are drunk,” I said pointedly. “And I don’t have to answer to you. My life with Earl is none of you
r business .”

  “The hell it isn’t! I spent three god damn years buttering up that old man. Do you know how long it takes to get an old man’s dick hard? Three years! I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose out on my money because of a new, younger toy .”

  “Oh my god,” I said. “You’ve lost your damn mind !”

  She took a step forward, her finger raised up and pointing at me though it wavered in her current state. I was blown away by her accusations that I was using Earl or that I was like her in any way at all. She was the last person on Earth that I had anything in common with. I knew that she was playing Gary, but he was no fool. I doubted if anything really slipped past him. Earl had told me a few nights ago that most of the time his father just pretended to drown people out to get out of conversations .

  “You,” she slurred again. As she stepped forward, she lost her balance and grabbed ahold of the table. “That old fart doesn’t do a damn thing and now all the sudden he’s got meetings at night? I know when a new cunt is trying to get her piece .”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you seriously accusing me of sleeping with your husband ?”

  “Nope!” she said in a fit of rage. “You are fucking his son !”

  “Again,” I said through clenched teeth. “What I do with my life is none of your business. I’ve tried to stay out of yours .”

  “Bullshit,” she blurted out .

  There was nothing I could do to reason with her. She wanted to believe that I was stealing her meal ticket and no one’s opinion was going to change that. I heard shuffling and looked up. To my horror, I saw Earl standing in the hallway, slowly tucking in his shirt. I could tell from the horrified look on his face that he had heard everything .

  “Earl,” I whispered .

  He ignored me and went to my mother. “You bitch. You’re using my father .”

  She stumbled backwards and gasped, having just realized that Earl was standing in front of her. She looked from him to me and her eyes narrowed into a hateful glare that I knew all too well. The flush of her cheeks wasn’t just from the wine anymore, now it was rage that made her look like a man in drag .