Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
It would hurt her as much as it hurt him.
Rodney watched while a crowd gathered around the big wreck and smiled. He hoped the bastard suffered. He popped in a CD of the Police’s greatest hits, started his engine, and headed off to find Brandi. “Yes!” he exclaimed in glee as the lyrics played.
Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break… I’ll be watching you.
‘Why the hell do you look so damn happy and where did you go?” Lisa demanded. “You’ve had that big cheesy grin on your face since you came back.” as they stuffed the birthday goodie bags.
Brandi smiled at her sister. “Can’t a girl just be happy for no reason?”
“No. You look like you just got laid or something.”
“Be quiet. One of the kids might hear you.”
“They’re all in the yard. Now tell me where you’ve been.”
Brandi rolled her eyes. Why did her sister always think she had a right to know everything? “If you must know, I had to go see a friend.”
Lisa’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “A friend, huh? A certain man, I suppose?”
“And if it was? What’s it to you?”
“What’s it to me? Nothing, as long as you’re happy. Are you happy?”
Brandi couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Deliriously so. Oh, Lisa, I know it’s only been a little over two months, but when I’m with him, I feel like I’ve known him forever.”
“Hmm, would this new man happen to be that hunky Mason Collins you were trying so hard to avoid a few months back?”
Brandi could feel her face grow hot with embarrassment. “And if he is?”
“Ha! I knew it! He’s hot and loaded, lucky you. So have you two bumped uglies yet?”
“Lisa! That’s none of your damn business!”
“I know. Did you?”
“You’re impossible. Why should I tell you?”
“You did, didn’t you?” Lisa must have seen something it in her face because she exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Was it good? Is he hung? I’ve never been with a white boy before. What’s it like?”
Brandi was torn between strangling her sister and laughing hysterically, but she knew there was no getting around the barrage of questions unless she told her persistent sister something. “Let’s just say I had no complaints.”
“I knew it! My little sister has jungle fever!” Lisa chortled.
“Yuck. I hate that expression. We’re just two people.”
“Two people of different races.”
“So what?”
“So what, indeed. Hey, I’m not knocking it. As long as he treats you well, you have my support. I just wonder what Dad will say.”
“What can he say? I’m thirty-four and I don’t need my parents’ approval for who I love.”
“So you love him, do you?” Lisa was like a dog with a bone.
“Maybe I do.”
“You know I only want you to be happy, right?”
“I know, but do you have to be so damn nosy?”
“That’s what big sisters are for. There was something else I wanted to ask.”
“What?”
“Has Rodney been bothering you lately?”
Brandi frowned. She didn’t want to be reminded of him. She still couldn’t believe how crazy he had turned out and it seriously made her wonder how he fooled her and Damon for so long. It also made her wonder about the night she’d gotten engaged. Was it possible that she hadn’t accepted his proposal? She certainly couldn’t remember having done so. Until recently, Brandi hadn’t given it much thought because she never would have suspected that Rodney might have lied. Just thinking about him now sent a chill down her spine.
“No. I haven’t seen him since the day in the park.”
“You never did tell me exactly what happened.”
“I’d rather not get into it. I’m just glad to have him out of my life.”
“I’m glad, too. I had this nagging feeling about him, but I didn’t realize that he was nuts.”
“I know,” Brandi agreed uneasily. So many things that didn’t quite add up plagued her, but hopefully with the restraining order against him, he would leave her and the children alone.
Lisa stood up. “Well, I guess I should get the cake out. I hear the little savages getting restless.” She walked over to the counter where the cake sat. “Damn!”
“What?” Brandi asked.
“I forgot to buy the candles. I’ll have to get Ed to run to the store.”
“I’ll go. The 7-11 is just a few blocks down. I can be there and back in fifteen minutes. Can you hold the kids off for that long?”
“Of course, I can. You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not a problem. I could use the exercise, and it’s such a nice day.”
“Thanks, hon, you’re an angel.” Lisa gave her a brief hug.
Brandi looked out the kitchen window to see her children happily playing with the rest of the partygoers. Satisfied that they were okay, she grabbed her purse and walked out the door.
She hummed to herself, excited that things felt right in her life again. She was so madly in love with Mason, and Rodney was out of her life. There was no more guilt, no more uncertainty, and she felt free for the first time in over two long years.