In Between

Oh Happy Day

What time is it? T sticks her head from under her blanket lying on the couch. Its six thirty girl and I'm making breakfast. I can smell that, that's what woke me up. Girl why Dro was blowing my phone up last night. I knew it! you are telling me to mess with him when you had him already T you so nasty I start laughing. Raina, I know you wasn't going to that's why I was joking, and then you gave me that look, I was looking at you like bitch I'm guilty. See you be playing T and who was that dude I seen coming out your spot last night? Oh, girl he was just being polite don't worry about that he cool. Okay he cool, come over here and eat and get the orange juice out the frig. In the back of my mind I know she up to some and that dude just look familiar to me. I was in a very good mood this morning and surprised that I'm up this early due to what time I fell asleep. That man James is everything, we talked about our past relationships, our come up to starting a business, and most of all he made me laugh. I am a goofy person and I love it when a man has a sense of humor. He had me rolling around in the bed until one o'clock and I enjoyed every minute of it. I made me and Taylor some homemade waffles with strawberries and cut up some peaches on top. I cooked Taylor her favorite, sausage links. After we ate, we both showered and got dressed, headed out the door at eight because the store opens at nine, I want to make sure things are in order. Raina I'm riding with you, okay cool, have you looked at the video footage over the weekend, girl that garbage been a mess. That's one of the first things I must do is check that out because we pay them on time every month. Well I make sure every bill is mailed off Raina and you know we document all receipts; I will double check soon as we get there. Pulling up at work I am happy to see Hailey has opened the Starbucks side already. Mila is usually late at times but not so much I need to let her go, fairly I can understand she has a one-year old daughter and we all grew our relationship like family, our personalities just clicked so I'm not complaining that's life. Besides, if you're not taking my kindness for weakness its all smiles with me. I forgot she texted me over the weekend so it's all good. I thought it was a clever idea to add the Starbucks by the way. It's like I have two buildings with the joined doors on the inside. Hailey is twenty years old and Mila is twenty-one. Hailey is studying catering at University of Southern Mississippi in Gulfport and Mila is studying phlebotomy. They both go to school together at night and live not too far from one another. Hailey lives on campus while Mila lives home with her parents. It wasn't two full days since I had the hiring sign on the door and both of them came in super amped with great sense of humors, so I gave them both a chance. Why not, I've always felt any college student needs some financial help and I have cameras so they can try and play me if they want to. Hailey is a small little red head green eyed young lady. Very polite and jolly, just all about her boyfriend, the normal college lifestyle I'll say. Mila on the other hand she's a year older than Hailey and seems as if she carries on more responsibility. She's average height around five six with jet black long hair that reaches down to her butt and some hazel eyes. Mila is from Haiti and she has a strong personality, she reminds me of me, someone who is determined and working hard on having something of their own one day. She told me she wants her own phlebotomy clinic and I said I'm supporting her one hundred percent. Good morning Hailey, how are you? I decide to walk in through the Starbucks side while Taylor unlocks the door to the bookstore. Hey Ms. Raina, you alright this morning? You are looking all cute. Thanks girl I woke up feeling pretty good, knowing James has me in all smiles this morning. I'll let you get back to work, have you spoken to Mila yet? Yes, she is on her way, today was my day to open actually she forgot to tell you that when she mentioned she couldn't this morning. She's on the schedule for nine today. Did you two go over the stock sheet I left on the cooler Friday? That's all been taken care of, they said our shipment will be here tomorrow before noon. Do we have much of the caramel syrup left? What about the tops for the large cups? We good for today, that's what I was going to tell you, noon isn't that great, that's our lunch rush. You're right about that, I'll give them a call when I get to my desk. Let me know if you and Mila need anything and you guys come up with a good idea for lunch today its my treat. Sure! Hailey gave me a big smile and greets the next customer in line. I go through the middle door a jointing the buildings and see T at the windows opening the curtains and blinds. I grab the mail off the front desk she had waiting for me and I take a seat. Satellite bill, book invoice for the month of May, pre-qualified for a loan, I immediately throw that away. That's all we have for mail T? yes girl that's what I said, that's good and you know no mail is always good. After I look through the mail my phone vibrates and it's a text from James: GOOD MORNING BABY, HAD YOU ON MY MIND WHEN I WOKE UP, GIVE ME A CALL ON YOUR LUNCH, HAVE A GOOD DAY. Why you over there giggling Raina, which one is it? Taylor! Don't say it like that oh my goodness, make me feel so bad. Girl boo, you weren't feeling bad when Jacob was in between them legs T starts laughing out loud. You know what, I don't have time for your shenanigans this morning. I text him back: (KISS EMOJI) HAVE A GOOD DAY AS WELL JAMES. My phone rings and its him, what the hell. Hello, oh so we giving kisses now? Is that a problem? It was just a little peck. No problem at all, I had to hear your voice after that text, but I won't hold you up, you're at the store? Yes, me and T are getting started. Okay well baby I'll check on you around lunch, I have a meeting with a company about a blueprint for a restaurant at ten, so you be good. Alright James I'll be waiting, bye. Look I see it now you on the phone all day smiling, twirling your damn ponytail and what ever else, are you going to help me at all today? I give a little attitude, Nope! Not at all and start laughing. T throws her hand at me shaking her head. I just love my job atmosphere; we all get alone, and we laugh and cry together if we have to. Me and Taylor are the big sisters and Hailey and Mila are our little sisters. Here you go T; I hand her the envelope with the list of new books coming in for May and the ones that will be moved to clearance. You handle this and I have a list of things I must check on including some phone calls. Okay cool I'll start on that now, also Mila just made it, I just seen her pull up. Good morning how are you, welcome to Luxe books, Taylor greets a couple coming in. before I can even get started on my paperwork my phone is lightning up again, noticing a text from Jacob and my sister. Damn it! My sister, how I keep forgetting to call her. I'll make sure I call her on my lunch, and I don't even respond to Jacob, he can wait. After a few hours of calls and being put on hold, to being transferred to different customer service representatives, I was able to get our stock delivered before lunch tomorrow, report our garbage issue which will be handled today, and help T with making room for the new collection coming in. T I am starving, its thirty minutes after twelve so what we eating? Hold up Raina they packed next door, let me go see if they need some help, I'll be right back. Okay I'll check these few people out then put the closed for lunch sign up so we all can figure lunch out. After checking the customers out, put the sign on the door, I open my phone walking back to my desk. Jacob: I HOPE YOU DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT ME. See this the type of shit make me think they trying to run game, both of them will say similar things. ME: HOW CAN I. To be honest Jacob gives me a small vibe that he's not fully into a relationship, but I can't make that decision off one night. I decide to call my sister, hey sissy, she answers with so much joy in her voice. Hey young lady or should I say, soon to be my lawyer on call. Yes, sis about that, I need a huge favor. Okay what do you need honey. Well my final test is an actual jury and case and I would love it if you could come and watch me. We have two free tickets and you know I had to ask you. Sis that's great, and I wouldn't miss it for the world, I am so proud of you by the way. Thanks Raina you know that means everything to me. So, is mom using the other ticket? No, it's you and Cole. Oh goodness Casey you haven't seen mom in over a year she is going to freak out. She will be alright, you know her, she always booked and busy with something to do. Yeah that is true, so when are we talking? What's the date so I can put it in my planner now and get my flight set up. It's on May twenty fourth that's a Friday at nine that morning. Okay sounds perfect and on top of that I'll buy whatever else you need for that special day. Girl stop! For real! Oh my god Raina now I'm super excited and ready to do this. No problem at all Casey, well I love you and we will catch up more soon okay? Okay love you too bye. Casey just made my day to hear her voice on top of how proud and happy I am of her just made my day even better. Before I can sit my phone down, I see James name pop up. A man that keeps his word, I like that. Hey there Mr. James, how's work coming along? It's been a typical Monday, but something happened that doesn't happen. Is everything alright, what happened? Well I had the woman of my dreams on the phone with me all night last night and today I just can't get her off my mind no matter what work had to be done, thinking of her kept me smiling. Could you believe that? You know what James that sounds very similar to my day about this gentleman who keeps popping up in my mind. Looks like a match to me huh, I guess so. We both start laughing enjoying our conversation. In the back of my mind I want to tell him so bad about Jacob, I'm just not sure when and how to say it. I was having a good day until Jacob ran through my mind. I'm not upset with him, its just me and James are getting acquainted and it could break his heart.

Authors Note: I am happy to see Raina has a friend like Taylor she seem cool to me I still don't know why she would tell her to mess with Dro though. So far James is winning the game but she still thinks about Jacob, its like she's wants to know him more but its that on and off appearance he keep giving. Also, how is she going to manage both of them because it seems like thats what she may end up doing. I'm just speechless right now I have to keep reading is. where's my popcorn at honey.