Always Broken (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 6: She's My Wife

It was now a normal routine for Brad to pick out my clothes every day from my undergarments, dresses, and nightclothes. I was still getting used to letting go of how I used to dress so nevertheless, I stood up straight, staring at a yellow, beautiful dress. It was very good on the eyes at least. Brad would never let me wear it, but I did not care for once, and I put the dress on anyway.

I giggled once I was in the dress. It was very cute with my olive skin, and it went well with my eye color.

Brad was not here so I could sneak and wear it. There would be no harm in that, would it?

Jackie, you are going to regret this later.

My conscience chastised me, but the dress looked so good and before you knew it, I was walking out the house to go meet Olivia at the coffee shop.

Olivia and I had planned a whole day to have fun with our other friend, Josh. Josh was a very tall guy who loved basketball and unlike the both of us, he was not rich. His family was of a middle-class status, and he was proud to say that.

Our whole friend group was pretty awesome, to be honest, and interracial. Sometimes, we got funny looks wherever we went because Olivia was Mexican, I was mixed, and Josh was Caucasian.

A lot of people thought I was Puerto Rican because of my olive skin, but I was mixed. My mother is white, and my father is black. Back in Kenya, they both were set up for an arranged marriage by both of their parents. My mom tells the story of how it was hard not to be looked down on because they were of a different skin color. But eventually, my parents got used to the funny looks they received, and they learned to stick together.

Pulling myself out of my reverie, I searched the coffee shop for my two friends, and I found them sitting at a small table in the middle of the cafe.

"Hey, Baby Girl," Josh greeted me and I rolled my eyes. The stupid name he developed for me was a mockery. In kindergarten, I was a full out crybaby. I cried over everything, and it did not even have to be over something enormous. Josh, who was in my class at the time, got so annoyed at my crying that he called me a 'baby girl.' 

"Shut up," I groaned, and I took my seat across from Josh and Olivia.

"So, I heard you're married. What's the big deal? When I mentioned his name, Olivia turned into Incredible Hulk or something," he said, with a very confused look on his face. I chuckled vaguely.

"She doesn't like him," I shrugged my shoulders while rummaging through my bag to find some lipstick to put on.

"The prick controls her. If I ever meet that son of a-"

I interrupted her as I said, "Watch your language."

"Jackie, if I were you, that jerk would have a black eye. You've been waiting too long. Oh, I'm just imagining strangling that piece of dirt with my bare hands," Olivia conveyed, sighing. I know how much my best friend hates Brad. I try to keep them from crossing paths because I know that it will only add fuel to Olivia's already burning fire. "Not only that, but what's the deal with your clothes lately? I mean, they still rock, but you changed your style."

"Brad thinks my clothes are too revealing. So, he forbids me from wearing anything he doesn't approve of," I remarked in a monotone voice. I was not shocked anymore, and I had just come to the conclusion that Brad was just really possessive. I was angry about the whole situation, but I just learned to accept things. Life was too short to be angry all the time. I would come up with a conclusion eventually. But I knew Olivia thought differently.

"That man picks your clothes? You are a grown woman, girl. You can pick your own garments to wear, and yet he forbids you to do so?" I heard her question in disbelief, and her eyes immediately darkened. At that moment, I knew she was thinking about all the ways to kill Brad.