Save Myself

Chapter 2

"What?" Natalie laughed, "No!"

"You totally do!" Kiara teased, as the entire table erupted in laughter.

"Shut up!" Natalie giggled.

"How the hell did we miss this?" Malik laughed, "It's so obvious!"

"No," Natalie laughed, trying to contain her giggled, "I mean yeah, I mean no."

"What!" Amir chuckled.

"Okay so I kinda do." She admitted, "But you can't say anything, okay, seriously. It's dumb. It's temporary. I'm trying to get over it."

"Fine." They all stated, seriously for a moment.

"It must be killing you, my poor baby." Kiara realized, frowning.

"Stop," Natalie said seriously, "I'm gonna be fine."

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"As per usual," Amir said, at the groups usual Sunday morning brunch, "No Jimmy." He shrugged, as it was usual when Taya and Jimmy were on again for him to skip out on them a lot.

"Yeah." Kiara nodded, "So, Natalie."

"Can you not talk that loud, though." Natalie frowned, covering her eyes, "Also, I thought we promised not to talk about this anymore?"

"You're right." Kiara nodded, "I just want to help you, we want to help you."

"I'll be fine." She assured.

"I mean I'm DTF, if that'll help." Malik joked, raising his eyebrows.

"Funny." Natalie rolled her eyes, "But no."

"Just brainstorming." Malik shrugged.

"Okay, um," Kiara said, "Well I was gonna say maybe you should try to find someone else."

"Yeah," Natalie sighed, "I don't know, I'll think about it."

"Nat," Amir shook his head, "You deserve better."

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"Hey, Momma!" Natalie said into the phone, "What's up?"

"I have a meeting set up for you tonight at 8, you free?" She said, getting straight to the point.

"A meeting?" Natalie questioned, "For what?"

"Work." Her mom assured, as they were in the same line of work, "He's a really successful contractor, I think he'd be very helpful."

"Fine." She agreed, she needed more contacts anyways, "Where?"

Getting the remaining details, Natalie went back over to her desk to see Kiara waiting for her.

"Hey, are you coming with us to J's game tonight?" Kiara asked, as they were about to leave work for the day.

"Oh, no." She shook her head, "I have this business meeting at 8, but I'll come out for drinks after."

"Meeting?" Kiara laughed, "What time?"

"8." She shrugged.

"8 pm for a 'business' meeting?" Kiara questioned, "So weird."

"Whatever," Natalie shrugged, "I'll see you at the bar after, so relax."

"Even if Jimmy's gonna be there?"

"Kiara," Natalie rolled her eyes, "I'm fine. I'll get it over it." She assured.

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"Hey, you Natalie?" A youngish guy asked, as Natalie was waiting at the bar in the restaurant entrance.