Page 103 of Shâhzâdeh

“Speaking of, are we looking at white dresses today?”

I was light, but I didn’t think I was light enough to limit what color dress I wore. “I have no clue, why do you ask?” Because there was a reason for the question and I was seventy-six percent sure I was going to hate it.

“You’re divorced. I mean I don’t buy into that bullshit but you’re all Mormony or whatever—”

“Former Mormon.” Frankie plopped down on the other side of me kissing my cheek. She’d been helping Ms. Babette pull gowns for me to try on. Because of the quick turnaround, we would be going with a more simple dress and customizing it. I was sure something off the rack would be fine, since I’d never had a wedding dress at all. However, the four women that had gathered together to help me weren’t letting me settle. Apparently, the thing Navi had to do later on was getting this appointment confirmed.

“Thank you for clarification. But I’m shocked you want to jump back into this. I mean the first one didn’t work out but you moving quick with Xerxes. These men know how to work their magic. A year ago you were going to run him through with his scimitar.” Jada again was laughing and Frankie had the nerve to be chuckling.

“People can change. Besides, the time you’ve known people doesn’t mean shit. My ex and I grew up together. I saw him day in and day out for decades and there was no indication I would’ve ended up with him the way I did.”

Jada’s head tilted like a bloodhound who’d caught a scent and wasn’t about to let it go. She was dressed in a light blue gauzy off the shoulder peasant style blouse and flowy pants. She looked like a goddess of spring. “How did you meet your ex? You talk about him the strangest way. “

“What do you mean? How do I talk about him?” I looked at Frankie trying to understand what I’d said.

“I don’t know. Like familiarly.” Her eyes narrowed, and her tone was of someone trying to discover information.

Now I was confused because her comment didn’t make sense. “I was married to him. That makes you familiar with people.”

“That’s true. I guess when you talk about him as a kid—”

“I mean I knew him my whole life.”

“Oh, so like a boy next door boys gone wrong thing.” She was nodding and then I realized what was causing her confusion.

“No, we lived in the same house.” I sighed at the way she was fluttering her eyelashes really fast as though she was making the connections of what I meant.

She scratched the side of her head, shifted and I felt Frankie tense up at the same time I did. “Like your people helped him out or…”

“No.” I prayed she would stop asking questions but Jesus was not currently on the mainline.

“You’re dancing around saying the thing and you should really just say the thing because it’s clear I’m going to keep asking.”

“He was my brother before he was my husband.”

“He was your BRUSBAND?!” Jada scrambled back like I said I had some incurable disease and I just sat there stunned at her reaction.

“JADA WHAT THE FUCK?” Frankie jumped up because Jada looked like she was about to run away and warn Xerxes about what I’d done.

I couldn’t have her spreading this incorrect information so I jumped up to stop her. “What? Wait—”

“Wait hell,Pippi.” She was pointing her finger at me and scrunching up her nose like I belonged on a TV show calledBrother Fuckers.

“Stop calling me that.” That was exactly why I didn’t want to let my guard down with her. She’d turned on me without knowing all the facts.

“I told you I wouldn’t because it was a sign that I liked you but now I gotta rethink that shit because of the incest. I mean you’re really over here marrying your brother and shit?” Her face was completely frowned up in disgust. The look was so intense I’d started to feel bad about myself.

“Jada—”

“Ewww! I love JJ but ain’t no way in hell I’d be tippin’ on him like that.” She started to fake gag, or shit maybe it was real by the way her skin looked damp.”

“Jada—”

“Does Xerxes know this?” Her head snaked with full on attitude and now I was pissed.

“Jada, does anyone ever tell you that you can be incredibly insufferable?”

Her annoyance went down slightly but she was still giving me a sideye. “Often, but I ignore them like I do all negativity. I don’t have time for that in my life. But back to you though brusband fucker, what is all that about?”

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