Page 92 of Happy Endings

“Keisha, I’m sorry,” Andre said weakly.

“Just because you’re my big brother doesn’t mean you’re wiser than I am.” Keisha grabbed her backpack from behind the bar. “I like change. It means we’re living in the present and not the past. I’m not coming home tonight. Don’t try to call me until tomorrow.”

Keisha threw open the door. Xavier stood in the doorway.

“You were supposed to keep him away!” she yelled.

“I left him alone for only ten minutes! What happened?” Xavier looked at Andre, who didn’t acknowledge his presence.

Furious, Keisha ran out the door. Andre fell into a chair anddropped his head onto the table. Trixie wanted to run after Keisha, but her feet were glued to the floor. Everything was happening so fast.

“Come on, Trixie.” Reina pulled her elbow. “Let’s go. You don’t need him. You have a store to open.”

“You signed the lease for the store in District Market?”

“Yes.” Trixie stood as tall as she could, daring him to belittle her decision.

“I should have asked for help,” Andre said to no one in particular. “Everything is ruined and it’s my fault.”

Trixie blinked away tears. She didn’t want to leave this way, but he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to talk.

“I’ll make sure he gets to bed,” said Xavier softly. “Go on home.”

“Come on. There’s no point in talking to him until he sobers up.” Reina grabbed Trixie’s bags and dragged her out the door.

Chapter 33

The emergency Bitchin’ Boss Babes meeting is called to order,” Reina declared as she topped off everyone’s wineglasses. “Now also known as the Andre Is an Asshole meeting.”

Trixie and Reina took turns recounting the evening’s events.

“That boy needs some sense knocked into him.” Josie was completely serious. “Say the word and I’ll do it. I can kick his ass and not even mess up my ’fro.”

“No, he feels bad enough already,” Trixie replied. “I shouldn’t have told him about the co-op the way I did.”

She should have talked to him about it sooner to warm him up to the idea. Instead she chose the worst way possible to tell him, so that he had a reason to let her go. If they couldn’t even communicate their feelings to each other, then they didn’t deserve to be together.

“What will you do now?” Zoe asked.

“First I’m going to drink more wine.” Trixie finished her glass and held it out for a refill. She had to try to forget about Andre. They’d given things another try, and it didn’t work out. “Then I’m going to become the best sex shop in all of DC—with your help.”

“Hell, yes!” Reina held out her glass for a toast.

“If you don’t mind staying up late, I could use your help writingout my business plan for my new store.” Time to move on. Trixie didn’t need him to be successful. He was holding her back.

“I’ll grab my laptop,” said Zoe.

“We’ll need more wine,” declared Reina. “Write drunk, edit sober.”

“Together, we Boss Babes can do anything.”

Josie was right. All she needed in life were people who supported her and cheered her on when things got tough. The Boss Babes would never let her down.

TRIXIE BLINKED.THEsunlight was too bright for late October. She’d fallen asleep on the couch. How much wine had they drunk while working on her new business plan? She squinted and counted at least six empty bottles.

“I made some coffee,” Zoe called from their kitchen.

“Thank God.” Trixie wrapped the throw around her and joined her friend.

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