AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Judy asked if I wanted to go for a girls’ night out, but I declined. Camila offered to watch LJ so I could go out, but I declined, not wanting to leave LJ more than I had to. She also refused the money I offered to watch him while I work.
A guy enters the diner with light-brown hair and eyes the color of green emeralds and takes a seat across from Bradley.
“Is there anything else you need?” I ask and place the plate in front of Bradley.
He looks at the plate of hot food, then looks up with a smirk. “You forgot to give me your number.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”
He raises his eyebrows. His friend chuckles. I’m sure Bradley is not used to girls turning them down. Bradley has dirty-blond hair and blue eyes with a Ralph Lauren polo knit sweater fitted over his broad frame.
I glance at his friend, who is now openly laughing at him. Bradley looks embarrassed, but I’m honestly not interested.
I feel bad for Bradley.
“I have a son, and he is all I’m interested in right now.”
His friend stops laughing. They both stare at me with surprised expressions. I’m sure they didn’t expect me to be a single mom. It should scare Bradley off. I turn to leave the table to take the next customer’s order.
“Is that the only reason?”
I turn back around. “Excuse me?”
“Is that the only reason you won’t give me your number? Because you have a son? I know you don’t have a husband or boyfriend. No guy in their right mind will ever let a girl as pretty as you work at a diner.” I look down my retro pink uniform. “I wouldn’t.”
I look up and catch Judy’s smile in the next booth serving other customers. Kalum’s last words come flooding back. “I prefer experienced girls. You’re pretty but plain.”
Lane said I wasprettyall the time. Even in bed, he said my pussy was pretty. I thought I loved when he said it, but now, I hate being called pretty. It makes me feel like I’m this delicate flower that could easily break. Weak. Fragile. Plain. It’s like calling a guy cute all the time. Lane didn’t like me working in a diner, but here I am, and I’m tired of being called pretty. And maybe I am plain and not good enough to be called beautiful, but I’m not weak.
I raise my chin. “You’re right, my husband wouldn’t want me working in a diner. Not much he can do about it since he’s dead.”
Bradley looks down like I kicked his pet turtle. It’s not how I wanted this conversation to go but it hit home. At least Bradley will have some sense and back off.
“Mommy!” LJ runs toward me as I enter the house.
“Hi, sweetie. How was your day?”
“Super-duper fun. Camila and I made cupcakes.”
“That is awesome,” I tell him, ruffling his straight black hair.
Camila sits on the living room couch. The TV is on theEntertainment and Gossip Show. The flash of paparazzi is on the screen, and cameras are flashing in front of a fancy club in New York. A black Rolls pulls up, the back passenger door opens, and Kalum exits with a tall statuesque woman on his arm.
My stomach clenches, but I push it down. The woman is wearing a cream-colored gown with a daringVin the front that looks gorgeous against her deep-red hair.
The headline reads,St. Claire is still a month strong with the heiress. They look great together. He is tall and handsome in his tailored designer suit, and she is voluptuous and beautiful. Her red hair is rich, matching her lipstick.
Camila looks at me warily and then back at the TV.
“They look great together,” I tell her.
Camila frowns. “She is awful.”
“Really? Then why would he still be with her?” He places his hand on her lower back possessively when they step forward. She stops and looks left and right, posing for the cameras with Kalum at her side.
His words about his taste in women repeating in my head like a mantra.“You’re not my type. Pretty but plain.”The woman he is with is none of those things. I can see why he wouldbe with her. The same way he was with a girl like Sarah. I never stood a chance. We both moved on, and I’m happy for him.
“I have no idea,” she explains. “She is rude and annoying. I don’t like her, and I think he should dump her.”
