“Hey, French fry.” I cringe at the nickname. She has one for each of us, all based on the foods we loved most when we were kids. “I was hoping we could have dinner tonight. I can cook or we can go out. I talked to your sister earlier, but she has plans with Ethan. I’m going to book the three of us a spa day soon, four if I can convince your brother to come down for a weekend. I miss you guys. And I want to hear all about your night out last week. That quick conversation wasn’t enough. Call me back. Love you.”
I hit delete and only feel a twinge of guilt at not listening to it earlier.
Even though I didn’t use the toilet, I flush before I walk out. As I’m at the sink washing my hands, Tamron, my good friend and fellow teacher stumbles inside.
“There you are. There are NBA stars here tonight.” She raises both hands up, swings her hips then sticks her butt out and twerks.
“Hard pass, but you go ahead.” I add lipstick and dab the corners of my eyes with concealer. “I do not see the appeal of athletes at all.” I make a face like I taste something sour.
“Good. More for me to choose from. Stay away. You’re looking too fine tonight for your own good.” She approaches the sink and runs her fingers through her hair. I try not to roll my eyes. My dad would be over the moon if he were here, but I’m certain he’s at home on this Friday night with my evil stepmother, living their best lives.
Dad got the best deal after he and my mother divorced. Well, after she left him and us.
“Why the hell are you staring off into space?” Tamron waves a hand in front of my face and snaps her fingers. “How do I look?” She spins around in her tight black faux leather pants and sparkly crop top.
“Fabulous.”
“I’m going to see if I can get one of them to buy me a drink.” She puts on burgundy lipstick and wiggles her brows at me through the mirror. “And then who knows what else?” She does a little shimmy with her shoulders.
“If a drink is all you want, I can buy it for you. No need to stroke some athlete’s ego for an overpriced, watered-down cocktail.”
Unlike me who grew up with a successful businessman father in a big house and attended nothing but elite private schools, Tamron grew up in a two-bedroom apartment in Queens with five younger siblings. She still helps them out financially, and she counts every penny she spends.
“I’ll take you up on that later if I fail, and girl, I don’t plan to fail tonight.” She fluffs her curly hair and gestures for me to follow her. There are a group of women circling a crowd of tall men when we step out of the bathroom.
“Come with me,” Tamron begs, but I shake my head and point in the opposite direction.
“I’m going to get two drinks. Come and find me and bring the rest of our friends with you.” I walk away, disgusted at the site of women willing to embarrass themselves to get the attention of a man just because he’s an athlete.
I don’t get very far before I spot my sister and her boyfriend. Tara drops his hand when she sees me, and the two of us run to each other like we’ve been apart for years. You can tell we’re related, but she looks more like our dad whereas I take after my mom. And even though Alan is my twin, he looks more like Tara. She’s two years older than us, putting her at eleven when our mother left. The three Taylor siblings were always close. So close I don’t think we’ve ever had a serious argument, but our mother leaving drove us closer together. We formed a bond that nobody can break.
After hugging her, I hug Ethan.
There are rules my sister and I have when it comes to dating, and she’s broken every single one of them to be with Ethan Bradford. Rule one is that we don’t date men with kids, and Ethan is a single father with a bitch of an ex-wife. Rule two is my rule, but celebrities and athletes are out. I don’t need to be in a relationship with a manandhis ego.
Ethan might not be a celebrity or athlete but being the CEO of the world’s largest discount chain makes him famous. He bought out my father’s business, which was not the least bit welcome by my sister who worked for our father at the time. Regardless, I liked him for her the minute my eyes landed on him. He was so different from the type of guys she’s always dated, it was comical.
“Look at New York’s power couple.” I stand between them and twine my arms through theirs. “Ethan, your girlfriend’s sister needs a drink.”
Ethan talks to a bouncer, and he opens a VIP section for us. Once we’re seated, he kisses my sister and walks to the bar.
“How the hell did you get VIP access? I called you to meet me here less than an hour ago.” Tara looks at me, shrugs, and we both burst into laughter. “I get it. That’s what happens when your man’s a billionaire. You get all the good stuff.”
“I’ll try to remember you and my humble beginnings, dear sister.”
A bartender approaches with two bottles of Cristal.
“Despite all the NBA players in here, your man’s the real MVP.” We clink our glasses, and I down mine. Before I can bother to put my glass down, our personal waiter refills it. “I love it here. If it’s not VIP, it’s not for me. That kind of rhymes. Should I put it on a t-shirt?”
My sister laughs at my antics, and I look for Tamron so she can join us, but I can’t see her through the thick crowd hanging by the athletes. I look around the room, and the friends I came with are all congregating near the NBA players, taking selfies.
“I can’t stand women who throw themselves at athletes,” I whisper to my sister. We clink our glasses again in agreement. “It’s like you’re dating two people. The guy and the giant chip on his shoulder. Oh, and let’s not forget the fangirls. Those guys can’t keep it in their pants for nothing.”
“Well, let’s not generalize. Don’t lump them together like that. A lot of them are family men.” While our server pours us another drink, another brings out platters of food. My eyes light up and my stomach growls at the platter of mini tacos placed in front of us. “You’ll never believe who Ethan is good friends with.” I stuff my mouth with a taco. I’m sure Ethan knows a lot of high-profile people.
“Oh my God, does Ethan treat you like this all the time?” I point to the food and the drinks. I already know the answer to that. He adores her, and she deserves it. “Of course, he does,” I mutter. “As he should, or else. And why aren’t you eating?”
“We just ate a huge meal. I’m stuffed and still buzzed from the wine. We had a different one with each course.” But that doesn’t stop Tara from finishing her drink.
