Page 16 of What She Wants

“Look at it this way, is she worth you being found unkempt in the afternoon?” Imala poses the question that shakes me out of my mood. Why would I give this troll the power to have me looking dusty?

I pat my hair as I study myself in my nearest mirror. “You’re right. Imma go beautify myself, and go to lunch with Sienna looking like a radiant, unbothered bitch.”

“That’s the spirit! We know those are lies. Go live your single best life,” Karessa cheers.

My phone starts ringing and while the number isn’t saved I know exactly who’s calling. My body tingles like I can feel his energy through his number being displayed. I must maintain my gangsta and not squeal like a high school girl. Instead, I roll my eyes for the hundredth time this morning like Marín calling me isn’t a big deal. Imala nosy ass peeks to see the display but jokes on her, she can’t know who’s calling with just the number.

“Are you not gonna answer that?” She probes.

I tilt up my head in a final show of defiance that tells them I’m about to be stubborn.

“No. Fuck him, he’s nosy.”

Imala laughs harder than necessary. I don’t get what’s funny until she talks.

“You and Berke sound more alike than you think,” she admits.

“He understands what it’s like to be the media screw up.”

“You are an independent successful woman. You are not a screw up,” Karessa insists.

More sound advice but there is a pest in my text messages. I sexy pest but that’s besides the point.

Unknown: Don’t ignore my calls, Chispa.

Me: I’m busy.

Unknown: Answer the next time I call.

Me: I don’t have to shit but be black and radiant.

“Is that the nosy guy?”

“Asks the nosy sister,” I volley and stick my tongue out at her.

I don’t have answers for them right now to even get into the Delgado debacle, one problem at a time. Imala squints her eyes like she can read my mind because she won’t leave something alone until she has answers. I need to buy her a pile of books to distract her.

“Okay, heifers, give me a hug and let me make myself presentable.”

“You hear that?” Karessa teases. “We drop everything and sneak out on our husbands just to be called heifers.”

“First of all, your twats need a break. Second, you showed up without my nephew.”

Karessa gets a call but Marín has stolen my attention yet again.

Unknown : I’ll spank that radiant ass. I’m not repeating myself.

Gah, his bossiness should not make me wet but it does. Maybe just maybe I should go see him for some stress relief. No, that’ll just make things worse. I’m still stuck on the things he said to me last night. I opt to hug my sister goodbye and not respond to him. He’s not the boss of me. I find myself thinking that a lot to no avail.

They’re halfway to their cars when my phone rings. I had a serious internal argument but the curious side won.

“What?”

“If you want to fuck just say so.”

I do.Damn him and that accent.

“You called me and you have some nerve after showing up last night…” I close the door harder than I anticipated. “On a date.”

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