THIS DEVELOPING STORY MAY CONTAIN SOME STRONG LANGUAGE, SCENES OF INTIMACY, ETC. 28 year-old Charmaine Hawthorn is finally reaching success as an image consultant. She's earned it. After 7 years of hard work, sleepless nights, and those "it's-eit...
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"That lady is like every mama, grandma, or auntie you'd ever want to have," Donovan says. They walk back to her car, carrying two boxes of shea butter. "Be sure to use the one she gave you. It'll change your life."
"It smells heavenly. I hope it makes sleep come faster." They hop into Donovan's Lexus RX after loading up and roll off into the Dallas traffic, both excited to indulge into their new purchases.
Charmaine begins to think about Mrs. Parker's comment. She feels a pinch of sadness in her words, like she's suggesting to take a breather more often. To live life like there isn't a tomorrow or a plan B. The problem is, Charmaine isn't good with that. Like a bull, she is set in her way of thinking. Plus she likes nice things, and sticks to what works for her. She promised her younger self she wouldn't return to where she began.
"Are you okay over there?" Donovan asks as they sit in Dallas traffic. She notices Charmaine staring into space. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. Just thinking about a few things I have to do tomorrow."
"You and me both." Donovan swerves into the middle lane. "I plan to leave here early tomorrow, around 4am. I can get a head start and clear my head before I see my babies."
"Yeah, no one would be on the road with tomorrow being a Sunday. You'll have your alone time for sure." Charmaine's response was of concern and sadness. She hates when they have to return to their adult lives.
Charmaine gazes at her friend, observing her facial expressions as she begins to speak about politics with a mix of road rage. Beautiful brown skin, semi-beat face with bronzer and full lips painted a dark brow, high cheekbones and chiseled chin. Charmaine has always had to keep herself from comparing to her friends, but it was so hard to do with Donovan. The girl's had it going on since they were kids. Thankfully, she's had a good heart to go along with her looks, so the friendship is still going strong because of that alone. They loved each other when they felt no one else did. They were there for each other throughout puberty, college all-nighters, and boyfriends- especially when it came to Quincy.
He was that one relationship that almost broke everything they've built together. That was a dark time- they never saw each other when Charmaine was with him, and it hurt Donovan to her core. They've never fought before him, so for the first time they saw the nasty part of each other. Charmaine wishes she could dismiss that argument from her memory forever...
The Shaky Friendship That Stabilized
"This is the 15th time you've cancelled plans last minute with me, Charmaine, and I'm sick of it!" They were in their dorm room during Junior year of undergrad.
"You need to chill, Don! I promise we'll get to go to another concert together next month. And you know I don't really know the artist you were trying to see anyway. I told you that!"
"Then why did you agree to go with me if you didn't want to? Now I'm stuck with a ticket that I have to sell or get someone else to go with me. You owe me $60!"
