Page 22 of Full Throttle

Gonzo pushed. “Why do you only use that excuse when it’s convenient? I’m tired too. But I’m going, and I’m bringing my girl. Get dressed and come party with us. We deserve a lil celebration.”

“Party? Did I hear the wordparty?”

Colby turned at the sound of the voice.

“Is that who I think it is?” Gonzo asked through the phone.

Colby’s cousin leaned over into Colby’s cell. “It’s me in the flesh! Hey Gonzo!!” She then wrapped her arms around Colby’s body. “Hey, girl!”

Colby returned her embrace. It might not have seemed like it, but Colby was happy to see her cousin. The woman always had energy to burn, and today was no different. Which was the absolute opposite of Colby, who was running on fumes. “I forgot you were coming in today.”

“Gonzo!” she yelled into Colby’s phone. “I’ll make sure this chick is there. It’s been a while since we’ve all partied together. I could use some good music, good food, and to see all of my old friends.”

“Promise?”

“Promise!”

“Okay. Cool. I’ll see you both there.”

Colby hung up the phone. She was trapped. No way was Lila going to let her crawl into bed. “When did you get in?” she asked.

“About an hour ago.” Lila inspected Colby as she ran her fingers through Colby’s hair. “It looks like I got here just in time too. You should let me tame that nest on your head. It’s all over the place. You can’t go to a party looking like that.”

“It’s not a real party.” Colby waved her hands away. She loved Lila, but the woman could sometimes be a tad bit too much.

Lila liked all things soft and pretty. She was a beautiful dark-skinned woman with incredibly smooth skin and super-model tall with a body to match. Whereas, Colby was curvier with rounded hips and a slim waist—and a pair of breasts that Colby would love to downsize. Lila liked to wear her dark hair bone straight with a part down the middle. Colby mostly wore her hair in a big curly natural afro. From time to time, she would flat-iron it straight. The biggest difference between them was the fact that Lila hated cars unless one of her rich boyfriends gifted her one. And unlike Colby, she wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of gym-shoes. It was heels or bust.

“It’s a work thing,” Colby said.

“Just change into an outfit that you would wear when you attended those fancy parties in Washington because I for sure know damn well you wouldn’t show up in,” Lila glanced down at Colby’s feet and wrinkled up her nose, “those.”

Colby smiled. Some things never changed. Even when Lila was little, she would play dress-up in her mother’s clothes and shoes. The girl always wanted to wear dresses and would absolutely never play in the dirt.

“I know how to clean up when necessary, thank you very much.” Colby pressed her lips together as if she were offended.

“I don’t know,” Lila said with laughter in her eyes. “You seem to forget how when you come home. If you spruce up a little, you might actually meet somebody not named Derrick.”

An image of Liam Lockwood flashed through her mind.Where did that come from?Colby was caught between laughing and choking. She pushed the thought away. “Girl, please! There are only about twenty guys in our entire little town that are close to our age. We grew up with all of them. I can’t imagine.”

Lila couldn’t deny that. “True. Still, a woman can hope. Have you been dating much?”

Dating was a really uncomfortable subject for Colby. “Not really. Work kept me pretty busy.”

“Kept?”

“Yep. I took a leave of absence. I plan to be home awhile.”

Lila’s brows raised in surprise. “I know you claim y’all broke up, but you left Derrick in Washington? By himself?”

“Yep.” Colby exaggerated thepat the end.

“So, you two are really finished for good?”

“I should have left his ass at MIT.” Colby’s face turned stone cold. “Please don’t ever mention that man’s name to me.”

“Okay, okay. I just . . . well.” Lila attempted to change the subject, at least a little. “You and I can’t stay single forever. We have too much going on for that nonsense.”

“I’m happy being single,” Colby lied.

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