Voyage to Atlantis

Chapter 14

Lacey pushed through the next week on auto pilot. At first, she figured Carson just needed time to adjust to her feelings, but he had made no attempts to speak with her about their issues. As the days went on, Lacey felt disgustingly alone. Three years and he couldn't even wait for her. So, she wasn't even sure if she'd ever be ready for marriage, but he hadn't even given her time to warm up to the idea. It wasn't that simple to just up and say, "Yes, I'm ready to get married at 23." She wasn't even sure why he was so pressed about it. Carson was only 25.

She wouldn't worry about that, because Whitney was back in town and it was her day off.

"What up, love!" Whitney said, coming through the front door. Lacey laughed while they hugged. "It's cold."

"Oh hush don't act like you haven't lived here," Lacey said. Whitney smiled.

"I miss it a little," she said. "Trying to convince my boo thang to move up here with me if I come back."

"First of all, you need to come back," Lacey said. Whitney laughed. "Second of all, boo thang?"

"Yes girl," Whitney said. "But we won't get into my happiness, what was up with your Facebook status the other day?"

Lacey told Whitney about the last time she saw Carson and how he walked out on her. She had to admit that the more she thought about it or discussed it, the more her heart hurt.

"That is so low," Whitney said. Lacey nodded, but she wasn't sure anymore. Was Carson right in walking away? "He hasn't even called?"

"No."

"You want to talk to him?"

"I think so."

"Well call him Lacole," Whitney said. "Y'all were together too long for this type of nonsense."

"He wants to get married though and I'm not ready for that."

"Well, engagements can be long," Whitney joked.

"Am I ready to get engaged?" Lacey asked. Whitney sucked her teeth.

"Girl please. Carson is a good dude, of course you are."

"Whitney, you don't get it."

"The only thing I get is there has to be a reason you feeling the way you feeling. So figure that out before you try and get a man back that you don't know if you really want back."

Lacey opened her mouth to speak, but closed it instead.

"What's going on, love?" Whitney asked. Lacey shook her head, full of confusion.

"Whitney, I don't even know."

"Just chill then and think about it," she said. "But I want ice cream now."

Lacey laughed.

"Let me go get my shoes."

That night, Lacey took Whitney to meet up at a club with Marcus and one of his friends. Lacey was excited. She hadn't hung out with her cousin since the night of her graduation. Now that she was assuming she was single, she was ready to have fun.

"Don't get loose tonight," Whitney joked. Lacey smiled, modeling her outfit in the mirror. She was fly; one of the perks of being a fashion journalist. Lacey was into leopard print at the moment, so she paired a three-quarter sleeve red, body con dress with leopard print wedges and a clutch to match. Her necklace was a leopard print-patterned star with rhinestones covering it. Lacey hadn't wanted to deal with her hair, so she left it up in a bun but made it a little neater than she wore on a daily basis.

"You came up, boo," Whitney said. Lacey laughed and thanked her.

"I learned a little something," Lacey said, applying her lip gloss. Whitney nodded and looked over her dark blue romper and nude heels in the mirror.