Trust Me [Book 2]

Chapter 5: Choices

Chapter 5 - [August 15th]

"I've been with his ass for over a decade. At this point, I deserve two damn engagement rings," Sparkle fussed. I pulled the blue fuzzy blanket higher on my shoulders. She always kept the AC was on full blast.

It was ladies' night in Sparkle's condo. We all sat cuddled together on her living room floor, snacking on our favorite junk food. We came together monthly to rant, share and hang out.

"He gets high quality suckington on the regular plus a tight co-"

"Please do not finish that sentence," I begged.

Sparkle laughed. "All I'm saying is Force is real comfortable. Too comfortable. I give him the good life. He needs to give me the wife life." I filled my mouth full of mini-M&M's while listening.

"A healthy relationship needs no label," Tay said. She tried to pass me her bag of kale chips but I declined. They tasted like fresh cut grass to me.

"Nope nope I'm not hearing that." Sparkle wagged her finger back and forth. "You and Force can go somewhere with that mess. Being a 'girlfriend' is not cute in your thirties especially after dating someone forever." I reached for a pack of sour patch kids after emptying the M&M's.

"Marriage is a social construct imposed on us," Tay informed. I was too busy licking the sugar off the gummy candy to listen to her. "Connection is more important than a certificate."

"Says the engaged woman. You're only backing Force 'cause you're putting Darryl through the same shit. When's your wedding Ms. Social Construct?"

Perking up, I waited for her answer. This was the question of the century.

"A soul ceremony­-"

"Cannot be rush," Sparkle and I finished.

Taylor smiled and nodded. "Precisely."

"You one frustrating ass female-"

"Woman," Tay corrected.

Sparkle sighed, stretching out on the carpet. She took her hair out of a top bun, letting it rest freely around her head. I could tell the marriage issue was bugging her but being married wasn't as magical as the movies made it seem.

Meanwhile Tay sipped on her Naked juice casually, without a care in the world. "Darryl is pondering a warm wedding," she mentioned.

"It's warm right now. Are you hinting that your wedding is soon?" I asked.

Tay's dimples appeared as she beamed. "Soon is never near." She happily drank some more of her juice. "Soon is a measure of patience not time."

I loved Taylor like family and had known her most of my life. But, even after two decades of friendship I still had no clue what she was ever saying.

"I can't with her," Sparkle mumbled. "What's up with you girly?" she reached over to lightly tap my thigh.

Shrugging, I answered, "Nothing new."

"Why'd you say it like that?"

"Because" I groaned, kicking my legs in frustration. "I'm so freaking broke. I want to make this school thing happen but it's not looking so good."

"Love, don't abandon your desires." Tay patted my back.

"There's always options," Sparkle added.

"I know. I just feel like I'm running out of time. Classes start in two weeks. I thought about opening another credit card to charge it but I don't want to pay a crazy interest rate for $1500."