Page 45 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“Why not?”

Imani dropped her hands and gave Tracey a shocked look. “Because our parents are getting married.”

“And?” Tracey said as if that were no big deal. “If you would have met him first, kissed and hooked up, and then your parents met, would you break up with him because your parents fell in love?”

Imani frowned. “What?”

“Don’t make me repeat what I said when you heard me. Would you?”

“No... I mean. I don’t know what I’d do. This isn’t a normal situation. He’s going to be my stepbrother.”

Tracey shook her head. “No. If you two grew up in the same house and were raised together then he’s your stepbrother. This is just the son of the dude your mom is marrying.”

“Tracey, that’s the same thing.”

“No, it’s not. I think you should go for it. I like Cyril. He’s a good guy and you might as well get you some while you’re in town.”

“Nope I shouldn’t. What about after our parents get married? What if we start seeing other people and bring them around? Wouldn’t that be weird?”

Tracey huffed and waved away Imani’s words. “Worry about that when it happens. Right now, think about what you want.”

“I don’t know if I even want my mom to marry Mr. Preston. How can I then turn around and hook up with Cyril?”

Tracey settled back in the chair and gave Imani a serious look. “You don’t want your mom to marry him because of the stuff with your dad.”

“The stuff with my dad is serious.”

“I’m not trying to make light of it. What that woman did was horrible. But you have to admit you’re holding every man since then accountable for your dad’s mistake. You only want to see the bad in people which is why you’re seeing the bad in Mr. Preston.”

“I didn’t come here to be analyzed.” She pushed against Tracey and tried to get up.

Tracey pushed back and didn’t budge. “Oh no. You came here for me to tell you to go ahead and kiss Cyril again and you know it.”

“I did not!” She tried to get up again only for Tracey to press back harder.

“Yes you did. You always come to me when you want someone to tell you to do the thing that you really want to do but know you probably shouldn’t do. That’s why you ended up doing it with Rodney Turner.”

Imani sat up straight, narrowed her eyes and pointed at her friend. “We were not going to talk about Rodney anymore.”

Tracey gave her a fake innocent look. “Why not? You enjoyed it. I don’t know why you cut it off with him.”

“Because...he wasn’t the type of guy I should get caught up on.” Rodney was the guy she’d dated the summer between high school and college. They’d met at a summer 4-H program and the sparks had been immediate. She’d lost her virginity to him, but at the end of the summer she’d broken things off because college was more important than a summer romance.

“That’s what your mom and those people at church said. But you liked him and that’s why you came to me to talk about your conflicted feelings. You know I’m going to tell you to go with your gut just like you’re doing now.”

“Dang. Why you gotta know me so well,” Imani said with mock frustration. She had come here because she knew Tracey would tell her the truth even if she didn’t want to hear it.

“People don’t change very much. I know what you want. You want Cyril.”

She shook her head. “I can’t have him. I have to focus on my mom and figure out why she suddenly wants to get married after swearing off men for so long. Cyril will distract me from getting to the bottom of what’s up with her. I get it. Mr. Preston is a nice guy and everyone loves him. I even admit that he makes my mom happy and seems decent. But my mom has completely changed. I’ve got to get used to this and figure out if this is what she really wants or if it’s just because my dad decided to be an asshole and rub it in her face that he’s getting married again.”

“When you put it that way, I can’t really blame you.” Tracey’s cell rang. She frowned at the screen. “This is Bernard. Let me make sure he’s okay.”

“Then can you get up while you talk. We can’t fit.” Imani pushed on Tracey’s hip.

“We can fit,” Tracey said, but she hopped up and answered. After a few seconds the smile on her face vanished and a frown replaced it. “You have to go tonight?” Tracey said in an irritated voice. “You know I have to stay at the bed-and-breakfast. I thought you would stay here with me—” Tracey stopped talking and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t understand why you have to go. I thought we could... Fine, whatever, I’ll talk to you later.” She ended the call.

“Is everything okay?”

---