“Something about it isn’t sitting right with me. I think my parents are hiding something and I want to know what it is.” Something in my gut was telling me there was more to the story of that night and I planned on finding out what it was.
“I got you. I’ll hit him right now.” He pulled his phone out.
“Appreciate it.” Dylan’s lifestyle might not be on the up and up but he was more of my brother than my biological one. I faced Camilla. “And I need a favor from you too.”
“Wassup?” she asked.
I started explaining to her what I had planned and how I needed her to help me. Camilla might be crazy and impulsive but I did consider her a sister. She was one of the most loyal people I knew. I made sure to let Dylan know he needed to keep her because she would go to war over him. I knew she would be down to help me and she was the perfect person for what I needed.
____
“I’ve been trying to get Rome to bring me here for forever, but he isn’t a fan of red meat,” Nakyra gushed, looking over the menu.
She requested we go to a steakhouse down on The Shore. I looked around.
“It looks like a popular spot,” I noted, seeing the full tables.
“Oh yeah, the wait times are always crazy. From what I heard they have some of the best food in the city though. I’m shocked you were able to get a reservation on such short notice.”
“Money talks.” I flashed her a crooked grin and winked.
“Oh how nice it must be to live privileged.”
“You should know. You’re getting married to a man that knows all about it.”
Her face fell slightly. “I guess, but I don’t really feed into all that. Me and Rome are a lot different in that aspect. He’s used to using money to get his way and I didn’t grow up like that so it’s not something I’m accustomed to.”
I nodded in understanding. “Trust me, I get it. While most times I attempt to remain humble, I can admit growing up privileged wasn’t always so bad.”
“Here are your drinks. Would you two like to start off with some appetizers?” the server asked, setting Nakyra’s strawberry margarita and my rum and coke on the table.
“Can we do an order of crab cakes please?” Nakyra asked, reaching for her glass. “And can you bring a water with lemon too?”
“Make that two and that’s it for now.”
“I’ll put that in and be back shortly.” He turned and walked off.
A comfortable silence passed between us while I looked over the menu.
“So, I have to ask… Nakyra started after a while, gaining my attention.
“Wassup?” I reached for my glass and brought it to my mouth.
“I know you and your parents aren’t close, but what about you and Rome? Growing up, were you two closer than you are now?”
I licked the remaining liquid from my lips then set the glass back down. “We could have been closer, but we never hated each other. Our parents created a silent beef between us early on. They never hid their favoritism for Rome and when I was younger that caused me to resent my brother. The older I got, the more I grew out of it. Eventually I stopped trying to compete for my parents’ love and started doing my own thing. That’s around the time I met Dylan and started hanging out with him and his crew. From that point it didn’t matter to me. Rome had his crowd and I had mine.”
She gave me a sympathetic look. “I bet it had to be rough being in a house with parents who basically ignored you but showered your brother with love and affection.”
My shoulders lifted. “At first yeah, but the older I got I realized my parents were stuck in their ways. I was the oops baby and truthfully shouldn’t even be here.”
“Creed,” she interrupted but I cut her off. I didn’t need the sympathy I knew she was about to express.
“It’s all good, I learned that a long time ago. My parents got their heir with Rome. I’m not sure why neither of them never took the measures not to have any more kids, but I was born and was more of an afterthought.”
She tapped the table with her fingers. “I get it. I mean I’m an only child and my parents didn’t ignore me for another kid, but I wasn’t really a priority to them either.”
The server had returned, letting us know the crab cakes would be out soon and to take our orders. Nakyra got the garlic and herb lamb chops with loaded mashed potatoes and steamedbroccoli. While I got the Jack Daniels New York strip with loaded mashed potatoes and shrimp.
