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After they loved on each other and Carina repeatedly expressed her gratitude, she requested something that would get everyone back in a turnt-up mood. The DJ played “Wipe Me Down” by Boosie, which had everyone, including me, on our feet dancing and rapping along.
With both of our dates gone, Amelia and I made our way to each other. A series of line dancing songs played, and we danced to every one. When “All My Life” started to fill the room, Amelia hesitantly looked at me as she cupped her hands in the center of her.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked, taking her hand and pulling her into me.
With a wide smile and a nod, she wrapped her arms around my neck while I wrapped mine around her waist.
“You look beautiful tonight, Milli. I hope Darron took every chance he could to tell you that.”
“He might’ve told me once or twice, but it always sounds better coming from you.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, and my voice had unintentionally dropped an octave.
She bit down on her bottom lip and searched the room, avoiding my eyes briefly.
“You’re my person. Everything, every word, every compliment… it’s always better coming from you.”
I felt the strongest urge to kiss her, and I wasn’t sure why. Pulling away from her, I decided it was best to put some space between us. At no point in our friendship had I ever looked at Amelia romantically or sexually, and it wasn’t because she wasn’t beautiful. What I felt tonight was confusing the hell out of me, and I needed to get it together before I said or did something to make things weird between us.
“Let’s grab a drink,” I suggested.
We walked over to the bar area, and my hand instinctively went to the small of her back. She looked up at me curiously with a smile.
“What?” I asked, smiling down at her.
“Nothing. You okay?”
“Why do you ask?”
Milli shrugged. “I don’t know. You seem… different.”
“Good different or bad different?”
Licking her lips, she looked straight ahead before saying, “Good different.”
I didn’t want to question what it was that made me different. That was a conversation I didn’t think either of us wanted to have. For now, I was glad to finally be able to enjoy some time with my girl without any distractions.
Six
Amelia
As I got ready for the spa night I’d planned for me, Alisia, and Mama, I hoped Darron would honor his word and come to see me before he went to the airport. Things had been even more distant between us since dinner a little over a week ago. That night, he left for New York and didn’t come back until the following Sunday. I appreciated him taking the time to attend the surprise wedding with me, but the next morning, he was on his way back to New York. If we had still been talking, I wouldn’t have minded the distance between us, but days would pass before I’d hear his voice, and I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.
I hadn’t been able to ask him if he was serious about what he’d said to my father about being in love with me and marrying me—that’s how short our conversations had been. All I could do was hope he’d be in town long enough for us to spend some quality time together.
Trying to get him off my mind, I put my phone on the charger and headed to the living room. I loved living with my mother. Though I made more than enough money to have my own home for me and Alisia, Mama wanted me here until I was married. Not just to continue to be close to me and provide the comfort and security I’ve had since birth, but also because she loved being close to her granddaughter. She and Alisia were the best of friends. Between her and her sisters, I never had to worry about not being able to have a social life because Alisia’s father wasn’t in the picture. Mama had been there with me from the beginning, including being in the delivery room.
She did marry after Daddy, but my stepfather died of a heart attack when I was eight years old. I don’t have too many memories of him, but from the pictures of us, it looked like we used to have a great time together. I wished Mama would get out there again and date, but she was content with the love she had with my stepfather and had no desire to put her heart on the line again.
I looked over what I had set up in pride. We all had foot spas and massagers in our chairs. There was a spread of finger sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, and tea that Alisia would love. I had aromatherapy going with soft jazz music playing in the background. This would be the perfect distraction to get my mind off things with Darron and at work.
Jeremy had done what I suggested to keep both our clients out of prison, but he neglected to tell Gideon it was my idea. Gideon was so impressed he decided he wanted Jeremy to be his attorney, and because I had too much integrity to tell him Jeremy took credit for my idea, I took the loss. He would have to pay a new retainer, so I was okay with that since I would still get paid.
After checking to see if Darron had reached out one last time, I told my girls to come inside. They both were excited, but Alisia could barely contain herself. She was at an age where the simplest things pleased her, and that made me want to give her the world.
As we soaked our feet, we talked about our plans for the upcoming week. I gave them pedicures and manicures before Mama did the same for me. We were so relaxed by the time it was over, we all wanted to take a nap. Just when I was about to settle into bed, Darron called and told me he was outside. By the time I made it to the front door, he was making his way in front of it. I jumped into his arms and saturated his face with kisses.
He laughed as he held me close. “I missed you too, darling.”
