Page 7 of Stay Awhile
“Hey, Skye, what’s up?” he answered.
“Please tell me you are plans-free tonight?” I asked. I tried to keep to the hope from my tone but I couldn’t help it.
“What we doing?” he answered.
I squealed into the phone and did a little dance, causing him to chuckle on the other end.
“Come comfortable! It’s a pamper me kind of day. I have wine and good ratchet TV. Do I need to say more?” I asked.
“Hell nah! I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
We said our goodbyes and continued to set the house up for company. I turned onHow to Lose A Guy in Ten Dates. I loved this movie, mainly because I loved me some Matthew McConaughey. I grabbed two wine glasses and a bowl to pour chips into, then set up both of the foot spas I purchased because I wasn’t sure which one was better. I guess my indecisiveness worked in my favor this time.
I checked my watch, and I knew I didn’t have too much time before Jim got here. I had learned he was very anal about being on time, so I knew he would be here at the time he said he would. I appreciated that about him. I jogged up my floating staircase in my modern scheme home. It was the feature that made me buy this house to begin with.
I grabbed my orange silk shorts pajama set, then rushed back downstairs at the sound of my doorbell ringing. I pulled the ponytail holder from my hair as I made my way to the door. Then shook my hair loose from the confines of the tight ass ponytail I had it in.
Jim stood on the other side in his all black silk pajamas with a bag of takeout and a bottle of wine in the other hand. I smiled as I pulled the door open wider to let him in.
“Oh, you got it smelling good in here? What’s that?” he asked as he walked around me.
“It’s just a vanilla candle from Target—nothing fancy. I’ve been meaning to try essential oils, though; everyone says they make your house smell amazing.”
He nodded in agreement with a smile as he placed the food on the countertop, but before I could say another word, he turned to face me with his hand on his hip.
“Now tell me what the need for the big pamper day is. I’m all for taking care of yourself and having me time, but I’ve come to learn you, and you don’t do random. You usually have a reason you do the things you do. So, what happened?” he asked.
I released a sigh, then told him about the events from earlier with Chyna and how this wasn’t the first time. He never interrupted me, just pulled out a seat and got comfortable. Once I finally took a breath, he lifted his brow to check to see if I was done, so I nodded.
“I’m gone keep it real with you, if that’s cool.”
“Please. I definitely didn’t invite you over here to pacify me.”
He smiled. “I think it’s cool to have friends and folks you can count on, but essentially, if she is getting ready to marry this man, she can’t be all you have. That’s too much pressure. I’m not saying some consideration can be taken for things y’all have planned, but you have to be ready not to be number one in her life anymore. I think it’s time you find that space in yourself that feels secure by yourself.”
I nodded and leaned against the counter before I stepped away to grab our wine glasses. I didn’t say a word as I poured my favorite wine from the King Dynasty line. Those folks surely knew how to make some wine on top of running some of the best resorts in the world. I filled both our glasses, then took a sip before I responded.
“I know, which is why I hated to even recount how today made me feel. I knew some of what I feel is valid, but a lot of it has to do with my dependency on her. Ugh, how the hell do you get out of that?” I asked.
Jim took a sip of his wine and then threw this head back with a laugh.
“Girl, how the hell am I supposed to know? I don’t have the answer for that shit. Maybe take a solo trip. All the single girlies are doing it!” he suggested.
That was when I remembered the travel magazine I had picked up was on the counter behind me. I walked over and picked it up, then handed it over to Jim.
“Let’s pick somewhere out of here. I’m overdue for a vacation! I need all the time I can get.”
Jim looked down at the magazine, then lifted a brow, then shrugged his shoulders. I guess he figured he would entertain my delusions further. I had never been on any trips without either my family or Chyna. I didn’t even know if I truly had the courage to go out of the country by myself.
He flipped open the magazine, and I stood beside him, pointing out all the unique places in the magazine that I had of course heard of but always figured they were places to travel to with a significant other. Or even on a girls’ trip. Not once did I think it was an option for a solo trip.
“Oh, wait, what about Fiji?” I said, stopping him from flipping past the beautiful red flowers adorning the borders of the page titled Fiji Escape.
“Let’s see—” he trailed off.
He flipped the page back so I could take a look at the list of things to do. The more I read, the better I felt about taking this trip, to where it had already taken over my thoughts. I walked away and picked up my phone to do a little research myself. I immediately went looking for a resort and knew I wouldn’t hold back any expenses when it came down to this trip.
“I can already see the wheels turning in your mind. I guess Fiji it is?” he asked.
