Page 168 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Thank you,” Tiana Mason replied. “I don’t cater private events anymore, but I’d booked this before I got my dream job.”

I didn’t know her personally, but I was happy to hear that she got her dream job. I was even more thrilled to know that everyone was going to be talking about the food for the rest of the year.

Jazz and I left the kitchen.

“It won’t take me long to change,” I assured her.

She went back outside, and I headed upstairs. It took me way longer than it should have because my feet were killing me. I’d justmanaged to get to my room and step out of my heels when there was a knock at the door.

“Give me about five minutes so I can change!” I yelled in a singsong tone, suspecting it was Nina.

I stripped out of the dress I was wearing, grabbed the satiny dress from the hanger, and then slipped it on. Where the first dress was structured with heavier material, the second dress was light, sexy satin that caressed my skin. The dress was clingy in all the right places. It was short. It was backless. It required me to be without a bra.

I did a little turn in the mirror before sliding into my crocodile flats. While the heels were more of a look, I wasn’t going to be able to dance in them. I could barely walk in them. But I was willing to sacrifice for fashion. Stepping back into my heels, I grabbed the flats and carried them in my hand.

I’ll make my grand entrance to the party in the heels, and then I’ll change into the flats immediately after,I decided with a definitive nod.

Teetering down the steps, I rolled my shoulders back and held in my pain. I’d just dropped my flats next to the staircase when I heard a low whistle.

Glancing over my shoulder, I was surprised to see Marcus.

“You’re ruining my grand entrance,” I told him playfully as I let him catch up to me. “I thought everyone was outside.”

“I had to use the restroom, but let me assure you”—he looked me up and down—“nothing was ruined. You look incredible.”

He offered me his arm, and I took it.

“Thank you,” I said, basking in his compliment.

He reached for the door and opened it. “Allow me.”

Stepping back and smiling up at him, I held his gaze.Okay, Marcus!

“After you,” he said.

I broke eye contact and allowed him to usher me out into the waiting crowd. Everyone started singing “Happy Birthday” as I walked down the sidewalk. Not wanting to fall, I held on to Marcus’s arm tight as I approached the firepit. Looking around, I relished the celebration of me.

I let go of Marcus so I could stand alone and bask in the moment. He joined the crowd while Nina and Jazmyn carried the cake my mom had purchased with a big thirty candle.

“Make a wish,” they said in unison.

I closed my eyes tight and took a breath.

I wish for continued peace. And love. Continued peace and love.I blew out the candle.Amen.

Everyone clapped, and I opened my eyes.

Nina and Jazz placed the cake on the table and then hugged me tight.

“Now meet me on the dance floor so we can show the birthday girl some love!” The DJ’s directive caused a wave of movement. “Stand around the perimeter.”

My stomach plummeted.

I’d forgotten that I was supposed to dance to my favorite India Davis songwith my date.

Shit.

I stared at the dance floor while everyone got set. I felt the wave of panic as it dawned on me that I didn’t have a date. I didn’t have anyone to dance with, and I’d forgotten to tell the DJ to either cut that part completely or change the song to something upbeat so I could dance with my friends. My Cinderella moment where all eyes were on me in the middle of the dance floor with my prince was quickly turning into myBlack Swanmoment.

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