Page 42 of Made to Love Ya

My jaw clenched as he took her by the hand and led her away from everyone else. They sat in a couple of lounge chairs on the other side of the pool, and he handed her a soda. Izael said something that caused the girl to lean in closer. She laughed and touched his knee flirtatiously.

I wanted to beat her ass, but there was little that I could say or do. After all, I was the one who told Izael that I didn’t want to bring it out here in front of everyone else. I stood and removed my T-shirt and cut-off denim shorts.

Stepping out of my flip-flops, I looked at my cousin and my friends and stated, “I’m hot.”

“Girl, I’m not about to mess this hair up,” Paulette replied.

“I mean, I guess I can get my belly and feet wet,” Kedra chimed in. She stood and removed her wrap from around her waist.

“I’ve been in the pool already. One of them niggas got one time to splash my hair, and I’m going off. I just spent four hundred on my hair yesterday, and I ain’t got time for no foolishness,” Sharmise stated.

“You getting in, Eve?” I asked my best friend.

“Nah. I’ma chill here with Pauley and Shar,” Eve answered.

“All right,” I replied and walked off with Kedra.

“Girl, I’ll be glad when I drop this baby and get my shape back.”

“Why? You got a man,” I pointed out.

“Honey, there’s nothing wrong with a man looking at and appreciating my curves. It keeps Montez appreciating me more,” Kedra responded as we walked to the pool.

I knew exactly what she meant, and I was hoping for the same. I wore a yellow bikini that showed off all my curves and highlighted all my assets. The way it drew the eyes to my breasts and hips, it didn’t matter that I had no ass. The rest of me looked good as hell, and I knew it.

I had gotten my hair braided the day before, so I wasn’t worried about messing up my hair in the water like my friends and cousin were.

I felt eyes on me as we made our way to the pool, and it only boosted my confidence. I heard a couple of my brothers’ and my male cousins’ friends release a low whistle along with some of the neighbors who had been invited.

“Damn, baby girl ain’t no baby no more,” I heard behind me.

I turned around and smirked over my shoulder at my brother’s old friend Drexel. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years.

“Hey, Drex,” I greeted and smiled flirtatiously at him as he walked up to me.

“Girl, that nigga’s fine. Gon’ get ya back blown out tonight,” Kedra suggested with a cackle as she slipped into the pool.

I sat down on the edge beside Kedra and swung my feet back and forth in the water. I had the perfect view of Izael and Miss Thang just like I knew he could see me too. The way that I saw it, two could play this game.

“Where’ve you been? I heard you were back in town, but I hadn’t seen you,” Drexel said as he kneeled beside me.

“Working and trying to put my life back together.”

“You look like you got everything in perfect working condition,” he stated with a smile as he eyed my titties.

Where a lot of girls had a big butt that drew men in, I knew that I was lacking in that area. So, I often played up my other assets like my cute baby face and these big-ass girls up under my neck.

This morning before I left, I applied a lotion that had a sheen of glitter in it, and I knew that I sparkled in the afternoon sun. My bikini top was low cut, and the beautiful yellow color contrasted nicely against my coppery skin.

“I’m trying. What’ve you been up to?” I asked.

“Just opened my second auto repair shop. Trying to grow some things, but other than that, looking for that special lady to come into my life,” he answered as he reached out and touched my shoulder before slowly dragging his fingers down my arm.

“You’ve been saying that since I have known you,” I replied and hit him on the arm flirtatiously.

His arms were large and muscular, and his bright skin shone beautifully underneath the sun. Unlike Izael, Drexel had no tattoos. He was always a pretty boy, the one we expected to go into modeling, but his attitude was far from that of a pretty boy.

“I’m serious. I’m trying to find someone who wants to be my wife, the mother of my children, and stand beside me while I grow my empire.” He winked at me.

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