Life Love Self

1

Welcome to life,love,self. I don't know how you got here but here you are.
I have nothing much to say except that I love this book and I hope you do too down the road.
Feel free to leave any comments for me or just a hi and when you are reading this.

All rights are reserved, and this book shall not be copied in anyway by non other than the author.
Enjoy lovelies,😍😍😍 (text felt too serious without any emoji,lol)

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"You're fine, stop whining." I glowered at the thirteen year old that was clearly a headache right now.

She rolled her eyes stomping off in the opposite direction with her pink bubble gown flying after her. You would think it was a wedding with how she was inspecting everything.

I sighed softly getting back to wiping away at the diner plates piled up at the sink trying to let her off as she was just a kid. My eyes moved through the window watching the fenced backyard that now was bursting with pink and purple.

Pink balloons and letter cushions of Happy birthday hanged on criss cross lines connected from the house to the wooden fence, with little lights on them that weren't doing much as it was just late afternoon with the sun still so high up in the sky.

Kids already running around the backyard, playing with all the toys availed with painted faces and big smiles. A long table covered in white linen piled with covered metallic dishes of food at the far end.
A photo booth of pink balloons and purple leaves and linens with bold Happy birthday Lucy were stuck to the fence bringing life to the backyard not forgetting the DJ box just outside the kitchen blasting Katy perry music. Not bad. I smiled softly at all I had helped create.

A pair of strong arms twined around my waist as a familiar scent of freshness hit my nostrils and the guy I loved leaned into my neck, his stubble grazing my bare neck softly and a warm breath hitting me causing my lips to curl up into a smile immediately. But then a panic ran through me on the spot and I wiggled away from him turning to face him.

"Lance is somewhere around, not forgetting we are in the kitchen." I stared blankly and he sighed.

"Stop being so paranoid, I looked around before coming in here." he defended.
My eyes flew to his hand that was holding out a small red wrapped box for me with a ribbon neatly tied around it and I couldn't help but smile taking it.

"I am not the birthday girl. Someone I know will not be pleased with not being prioritized."

He chuckled lightly and my heart fluttered as I stared softly at his dimples.
Seth was the definition of handsome, tall, light, firm body with shoulders a little broad through his T-shirt, you could tell he worked out. Short dreads that were always neatly sleeping back on his head, long face and strong jaws, bright eyes, long nose and full lips, then the new growing stubble that I secretly loved.

"Open it." his deepening voice arged and I went ahead to pull at the ribbon softly.
Call me petty but I never tore gifts out of their wrappers, always did it neatly so I could have several wrappers at my display for later, sue me.

I opened the small black velvet box to reveal a flashy gold necklace, with Seth's name hanging from the chain. I beamed, a farmiliar pang hitting my chest. Why was he doing all this for me?

"Is it beautiful?" he asked
"I love it, thanks."I said staring at him at which he softly kissed my cheek. I wouldn't let him on the lips even if he had tried, not with us being in an open place.

"Later, I was ...."
"Are the plates ready, Rosie." Jalia, my step mother walked into the kitchen, she was ready for the party dressed in a white Bubu dress with golden hems and soft make up, she looked good.

"Hey, Seth. Didn't see you there, how are you?" She greeted softly, smiling, beaming even. Yeah, she was that friendly.
"I am great, thanks for the invite." replied Seth with a soft smile.

"Nonsense, you're always welcome here." She smiled once again.
"I just came to get plates, I think we should serve the kids already." She said to me and I nodded turning back to the plates that were now in two equal piles, one wiped and the other not yet.

"Will bring the rest out soon," I said lifting up the wiped pile and handing it to her which she took immediately and started for the door.

The kitchen was big and modern, a large Breakfast bar at the center with high stools around it. Cabinets all around the walls hiding away the utensils behind their glass doors. A large sink at which we stood, electric cooker to the right of four plates with a gas cooker next to it of two plates, then a large fridge almost at the entrance from the living room with a trash can at the exit to the backyard.

"You were saying?" I asked from earlier.
"My man, there you are." beamed a farmiliar voice and I sighed softly irritated with all the interruptions.
My brother walked into the kitchen looking casual in sweats and a grey T-shirt and bro hugged Seth.

"Was asking Rosie for you, where have you been hiding." Beamed Seth not sparing me another glance.
"Now that you mention it." Laughed Lance " come on, I want to show you something."

Clapping Seth on the back, he wrapped a hand around his shoulders and whisked him away leaving me with a jolt of pain in my chest.
Right. The plates, I sighed for like the hundredth time and turned back to my familiar housework.

***
"You seem so far in thought." A voice dragged me from my head, I didn't even know what I had been thinking about.
I was seated by the steps of the back door looking out to the kids that were now playing with extra energy after the heavenly meal they had just had.

We had served everyone a few hours prior and the hired caterers were handling their dishes and plates now which had given me a moment to hide away from all the prying family members asking about school.

I could hear them laughing in the living room, it was like all the grown ups were in the living room drinking as all the kids played in the back yard. The sun was finally sinking so the lights were starting to make the place look beautiful.

"Did you need something, " I asked Jalia.
"Yeah, I was hoping you would be there talking to your family." She said with a knowing smile on her lips and I chuckled. We weren't strangers to hiding away from family members.

"Would rather watch the stars, is dad home yet?" I changed the topic

"Real funny, not yet." She said. "Thanks for helping out with organizing, you didn't have to." She said and I smiled.

"It's no problem, I am glad Lucy loved it, she has been happy all day except whining about her dress not being pink enough earlier." I said and we laughed at that.
"Reminds me that I haven't taken away her gifts from the living room."she said starting up the steps to get into the house
"You do that, will be out here if you need me." I called out as she left.

I had never really had a big issue with Jalia and definitely not with her daughter, Lucy. We weren't the best of friends but we didn't spend time wanting to gut each other like most stories I had heard about girls and their step mothers. We simply stayed out of each other's way and I liked it that way.

***
Hello, lovelies 😍
How was the first chapter? Do we like Rosie, she seems nice, doesn't she?