Page 1 of Mark My Words

Chapter One

Augusta, Georgia

“Hand me the remote, please.”

Angelica Moore reached for the controller and sat it in Destiny St. Clair’s open palm but didn’t release it.

“If you promise to hold your head straight and stop angling it to the side, you can have it.”

Destiny pursed her lips and reared her head up to look back at her longtime friend of thirty-three years.

“I would love to if you wouldn’t braid my hair so tight. It feels like my scalp is about to detach from my head.”

Angelica sighed. “I always braid your hair this tight, and it comes out looking sublime,” she snapped her fingers, “every time.”

“Yeah, and I have to sleep with my head in the palm of my hand for the first forty-eight hours because of it.”

“You know all of this complaining is not giving me the motivation to finish.”

Destiny closed her lips and her fingers around the remote, then increased the volume on the flat screen TV.

For years, she and Angelica wore braids as a protective style to cover their natural hair. But while Destiny was sticking to that routine, Angelica had opted to press her thick afro. Destiny had a feeling it was because of the charity costume ball coming up. One where Angelica would be trying to impress a certain someone.

“You shouldn’t listen to that,” Angelica muttered, cutting through Destiny’s thoughts. The popular daytime talk show host, Tamara Daniels, gushed over her guest Stormi Livingston’s engagement ring.

“Malik Jernigan is the catch of all catches,” Tamara went on as her eyes scanned her audience. “If you’re not up to date on Malik, he’s from Augusta, Georgia, graduated top of his class from Morehouse before going back for his master’s degree, a former officer in the US Army, and one of the most sought-after bachelors in the state.” Her eyes traveled back to Stormi. “I knew I heard rumors about you two, but certainly, this ring that’s blinging on your finger solidifies what everyone already knew. When are you two getting married?”

A half-smile cruised up Stormi’s coconut-brown face. “We don’t have a date just yet, but be on the lookout.”

The crowd applauded as Tamara’s eyes twinkled.

“I knew it! Congratulations are in order; somebody bring us a glass of sparkling wine so we can celebrate!”

The audience continued to cheer, and servers handed out a glass to everyone in attendance. Tamara took her focus to the camera.

“Don’t worry, everyone at home—we’re celebrating with non-alcoholic beverages.”

The crowd laughed.

“Back to you,” Tamara went on.

The television cut off.

“Hey!” Destiny turned a sharp eye to Angelica’s mocha face as Angelica tossed the remote across the room. “I was still watching that.”

“And now you’re not. Now, turn your head around.”

“That is very rude.”

Angelica sighed. “Okay. You’re right. But I’m not going to stand here and watch you torture yourself over a man with who you’ve had no contact in years.”

“Then focus on braiding my hair, and you don’t have to.”

Angelica’s braiding fingers stilled, and she rolled her eyes.

“Look, I understand that Malik was your high school sweetheart, but seriously, how are you not over him by now?”

“We didn’t stop talking after he went off to the army.”

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