Page 166 of Curvy Girl Summer

Like last night.

I shut my eyes and pushed the thought out of my mind.

I was about to be surrounded by my closest friends and family—plus Liz and Marcus. I was going to be celebrating the fact that I made it to thirty. I was about to be celebrating my new lease on life. I was about to be celebrating my newfound peace. I refused to let Ahmad infiltrate my thoughts and disrupt my peace.

“Today is about me,” I reminded myself quietly as I heard my mom call my name.

It was six o’clock.

Showtime.

My four-inch crocodile-skin peep-toe stilettos weren’t just the sexiest shoes I’d ever owned, they made my legs and ass lookincredible. Unfortunately, they rubbed my heel. I just had to make it downstairs, pose, and then I’d be seated at the head of the table. But my heel felt rubbed raw by the time I hit the stairs.

Well, damn.

Mustering a smile, I made it down the staircase and to the landing. The applause I received momentarily made me forget that I’d lost my Achilles heel back on the third or fourth step.

“You look so good!”

“That dress is fire!”

“Okay, hair!”

“I see you!”

“Yassssssss, body!”

“You better show them how to do it!”

“Them shoes are it!”

“You better wear that dress!”

With laughter, I blew kisses and did a cute little curtsy. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

I was swarmed by my family and friends. They were hugging me three and four people at a time. I couldn’t stop smiling as I absorbed the quick hugs and abundance of love. I was being bombarded, so it caught me off guard when I turned around and saw him.

“We meet again,” Marcus greeted me, pulling me into a tight hug. “You look beautiful, Aaliyah. Happy birthday.”

“Marcus! Hi! Thank you,” I replied. “Thank you for being here.” I brushed his shoulder off. “You clean up nice.”

He chuckled and then swept his hands down his light blue shirt. “I do what I can do. I appreciate you inviting me.” He looked over to his mother, who was talking to mine. “I appreciate you allowing me to come even though our mothers have conspired for me to be here.”

I snickered behind my hand. “Well, I hope you enjoy yourself, and I’m glad you could make it. That means I’m not the only one with my mom here.”

He laughed. “True. And I’m not the only one with a mom who meddles.”

“Facts! That’s an absolute fact.”

Someone walked by and grabbed my arm to tell me happy birthday. I thanked them, and when I turned back to Marcus, he was staring at me.

I smiled.

“Okay, so…” he started. “When we met a couple months ago, you were single. If that’s still the case, I’d love to give you my number.”

“Dinner service will begin in five minutes,” the caterer announced. “Aaliyah, please report to the kitchen.”

Everyone had scattered to different bathrooms to wash their hands before taking a seat at the elegantly set table.

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