Page 7 of Trust Issues
“Thank you,” I nodded, showing her to the couch. It was her first time to my place and she had no idea that I covered a head full of locs with a curly wig.
“Why the hell do you cover your hair? It’s your crown, Kyla. If I had hair like that, I’d let it out for everyone to see.” She walked in a full circle around me before sitting down.
“Have you forgotten that we work in a space where these,” I held a handful of my hair up. “Are not welcome?”
“Have you tried talking to Mr. Allen?”
“Hell no. Look, Cadence, I go with what I know and what I know is in a professional setting where me, you, and Marshall are the only black faces, I’m not going to step out on good faith that Mr. Allen will understand my choice to have locs.” I sat down on the couch since Cadence wouldn’t. Naima came out and offered wine along with cheese and grapes because she was fancy like that.
I would have been happy with tortilla chips and salsa.
I grabbed a pink Starburst from the bowl on the table and stroked Barkley’s head when he nudged my hand asking for his candy. Not a chance, pup.
“Cadence, this is Naima, my best friend. She might as well be my sister. She annoys me just the same.”
“Hey, nice to meet you,” Cadence chuckled before taking a glass of wine and popping a cheese cube in her mouth.
“See, I like this. I should have invited you over sooner. Now my work bestie and my home bestie can come together.” I made a grand gesture with my hands and both women eyed me incredulously.
“This is the first time you’ve invited Cadence over? How long have you worked at Allen and Allen?” Naima asked.
“Three damn years. I didn’t even know she wore a wig to work every day. I feel like I’m meeting a whole new Kyla Bradshaw.” Cadence glared at me over the top of her wine glass and I grinned at her.
“You’re meetingKyle. Kyla is the powerhouse, professional divorce attorney.Kyleis the alcoholic-pink Starburst-eating pain in the ass.”
“Love you too, Naima,” I blew kisses at her and she rolled her eyes. “Anyway. Enough about me and how amazing my hair is. Let’s get down to business.” I clapped my hands together and looked at Cadence. “Where are the snacks?”
“Oh my god. Is that the business you were talking about?” She laughed.
“Yes. What business is there more important than snacks? Oh, you thought I was talking about finding you a date? Girl, we’ll get to it. I need to know what kind of snacks you brought over because I don’t see a bag in your hand or anything.” I eyed Cadence from her perfectly styled hair to the tips of her Louboutin heels.
“It’s in my purse,” she muttered, grabbing her red bag. She pulled out a bag of chips and a bottle of Patron. She knew me well. I guess that came from countless lunch dates at the bar where I got too tipsy to go back to work. I went back to work anyway but I probably shouldn’t have.
I survived.
Also, still had a job.
I smiled and hugged Cadence. “Thank you! I’ll consider this payment for my services. Now, go download theLuxe Connectionsapp.” I opened the bag of chips and started munching.
“Luxe Connections.” She typed it in while I watched over her shoulder. “Kyla, this app costs ten damn dollars.”
“It does. It’s worth it though. It’s a one time fee.”
“I don’t know about paying ten dollars for an app though.”
“How are you this cheap? You have Louboutin shoes and a matching bag. Girl. Loosen up your wallet a little. It’s ten bucks,” I said.
“Kyle, you demanded to speak to the manager at McCormick and Schmick’s because you thought they overcharged you for the eight drinks you ordered when in reality you didn’t know you drank that much.”
“Naima, shut up. That was a ridiculous bill. This is ten dollars.”
“Okay, okay. I’m ordering the app.” Cadence frowned and tapped her screen with a grumble. She wasn’t happy about downloadingLuxe Connectionsbut it was about to be one of the best investments she ever made.
“Okay, tell me all about this app, Kyla,” Cadence slid back in her seat and kicked off her shoes.
“So Luxe Connections is my favorite app because it caters to particular people like me.”
“You’reparticular, Kyla? No. I would have never guessed.” Cadence’s sarcasm forced an involuntary eye-roll from me but Naima thought it was hilarious.
