Page 14 of Love At Close Range

I busted out laughing because her crazy ass looked serious as hell.

“See, this is why I’on tell your ass shit,” I said as I shook my head.

“She’ll have us sitting outside that man’s house in a rental car with binoculars,” Mona joked as she looked over at Taryn.

“And snacks,” Taryn added with a smirk.

“You two are fucking ridiculous,” I laughed as I looked between them.

As crazy as they were, I loved having them in my corner. Mona had been there through damn near everything with me, and Taryn had earned her place right beside her. They could get on my last nerve, but I never had to question whether either one of them had my best interests at heart.

By the time we walked out of The Gloss House, almost three hours had passed. My nails and toes were fresh, everything that needed waxing was smooth, and between the drinks we had inside, I was starving, so we decided on Rhythm & Brunch.

The place was packed when we arrived, but Mona had already made reservations. The DJ was playing some old school R&B, giving the place a 90s feel.

“This is what the fuck I’m talking about,” Taryn announced as she danced to the music while following the hostess.

“Your drunk ass,” I laughed as I slid into the booth.

“I’m not drunk,” Taryn argued as she slid in beside me. “I’m slightly elevated.”

“You mean inebriated,” Mona countered.

“Mhm… that too,” Taryn responded as she opened her menu, making me and Mona cackle at her drunk ass.

Everything sounded good, which was probably the champagne talking, but I eventually settled on the shrimp and grits with breakfast potatoes. Mona ordered French toast with eggs and turkey sausage, while Taryn went with chicken and waffles.

Once our food arrived, I immediately started questioning my decision because Mona’s French toast looked better than anything on my plate.

“Let me get a piece of that,” I requested as I pointed my fork toward her plate.

“No,” Mona answered as she blocked my hand.

“You’re a stingy little bitch,” I sneered.

“And you’re a greedy little bitch,” Mona shot back as she finally cut off a piece and put it on the edge of my plate.

“Thank you, cousin,” I responded sweetly before popping it into my mouth.

“You get on my gah damn nerves,” Mona grinned as she shook her head.

“So, back to Dorian,” Taryn announced as she wiped her mouth with her napkin.

“Why are we back to that nigga?” I asked with a frown.

“Because we still don’t know what this nigga on,” Taryn stated.

Mona took a sip of her mimosa before setting it down. “Do you think he’s cheating?”

I paused before answering because that was the obvious conclusion, but surprisingly, it wasn’t the one my mind kept going to. Maybe because I hadn’t seen anything that screamed another woman. Whatever Dorian was doing felt like something else.

“I’on know,” I answered as I shook my head. “And honestly, cheating isn’t even necessarily where my mind goes.”

“Then what is it?” Mona asked as she tilted her head.

“I’on fucking know,” I admitted as I sat back. “And that’s the problem. He always says it’s business, but the nigga is in real estate. What’s so secretive about that?”

“What if real estate isn’t his only business?” Taryn questioned as she reached for her drink.