Page 165 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Oooooh,” I murmured excitedly, looking around as I pulled onto the Dowdy Lake grounds.

The picturesque landscape was breathtaking. The houses that lined one side of the lake were beautifully crafted. The one I’d rented was a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom waterfront property with a firepit and the space for a table that seated thirty-two guests.

When I pulled up and saw the outdoor dance floor that had been constructed, I felt like it was worth the money.

“Happy birthday to me,” I giggled to myself as I looked around.

I arrived early and placed all my belongings in the biggest bedroom located on the second floor. The two other bedrooms on the second floor were reserved for Nina and Jazz. I only needed three bedrooms, but I got one of the largest cabins for the number of bathrooms downstairs and the spacious living room and dining area. There were forty people who had RSVP’d for the dinner party and then about one hundred who said they were coming to the lake party at eight o’clock.

I hadn’t thrown a big party since my high school graduation—and that didn’t really count. That was more of a family reunion that happened to coincide with my graduation. But what was happening at Dowdy Lake was for me and about me. The decorator had turned the space into a shimmery black-and-green paradise. The caterer had the whole house smelling like my favorite foods. I looked at the clock impatiently.

Is it six o’clock yet?

“How many people are you expecting?” my dad joked as he walked through the door carrying bags at five o’clock.

“Well, if you and Mom hadn’t announced I was having a party, maybe I could’ve shaved off twenty people,” I retorted, grabbing a bag from his hand.

He laughed. “That was your mother.”

“Why are you throwing me under the bus?” Mom’s giggle followed as she teetered in, carrying a cake. “And I only invited six people—not twenty!”

“Are you guys sure you don’t want to stay after the dinner?” I asked, pointing at one of the downstairs bedrooms. “If so, you can choose the room you want and put your stuff in there.”

“No, no, no,” Mom responded. “We will be getting out of here after dinner so you can enjoy your friends. We’ll let you young folks do your thing. Your grandma wants you to come by the house tomorrow. Do you have plans when you leave here?”

“I can stop by for a few. How is she doing?”

“She still isn’t feeling well. Your uncle decided it would be best for him to stay at the house and watch over her while we’re here.”

I pursed my lips.That wasnothis idea.

“And he gave us something to give to you,” she continued. “I accidentally left the box at home. I called him and told him to bring it himself, but he insisted on keeping Mama company tonight.”

“Mm-hmm, I think it’s for the best,” I pointed out. “Uncle Al’s energy isn’t the energy I need at my birthday party. I’m trying to celebrate.”

“And celebrate we will.” Dad started doing a little swivel of his hips. “I took my nap, so I can hang all night.”

“We are leaving at a decent hour. I have to be at church very early tomorrow!” Mom protested. “If we’re out all night, how am I supposed to explain that?”

“Well, God will already know why we’re late.”

“Darryl!”

It was clear he was trying to rile Mom up, so all I could do was laugh.

“Your hair… I like it!” my dad commented while Mom wasstill huffing and puffing. He gave it a quizzical look and then smiled.

I touched the scarf covering the thick, long length of my natural hair in pin curls. My hair was going to give a lot of body once I removed the pins and styled it. But as it was, Dad couldn’t see the vision.

“Once I take the scarf off and take these pins out, it’ll look real good. But I appreciate the compliment, Dad.”

“Okay, I didn’t know what was going on,” he chuckled good-naturedly.

Right after I showed them where to get dressed, I went upstairs and got myself ready.

My hair looked incredible. The emerald minidress with the plunging neckline looked good on my mocha-colored skin. The cut of the dress was sexy, but the structure was elegant. The dress I was changing into for the party after dinner was the exact same color but had a completely different vibe.

I twisted my lips, as I’d bought both dresses with the hope and expectation that someone was going to be ripping them off me. But since that wasn’t the case, I needed the photographic evidence of how good I looked. I glanced from the dress that was on my body to the dress that was hanging on the door of the closet. Both dresses demanded for them to be pulled up or pulled off.

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