She laughed. “Girl bye, nothing doesn’t make you smile like this. But I get it, trust me I do.” She wore a grin.
I spent a while longer, eating and catching up on life before I had to head out to check on my store. Maybe that was my problem, I’d never have enough time for a man or family because I liked making my own money. I mean, of course I liked spending that of my siblings, but I loved making and maintaining my own. Over the years I had worked so hard to create my own space and brand that I didn’t know how to back up or slow down. I only knew how to strive for and work toward my goals.
My eyes then went to the counter where a vase of red roses sat. It was addressed to me from a secret admirer. Who the secret admirer was; I didn’t know, but I guess I was grateful for the flowers that I’d leave here. I wasn’t too keen on taking any and everything into my space.
“This place is coming together nice, Jay. I’m proud of you.” A voice flushed annoyance through my veins and sent my eyes to the ceiling.
With my arms crossed, I turned and faced the man, who at one point, I thought I’d be with forever. Too bad forever only lasted through the honeymoon stage and wasted time. “Why are you here, Gavin?”
He smiled in my direction, but that was met with a mug. I literally hated this nigga. Not only because of his whorish assways, but because he was who he was outside of the fact that he couldn’t get over himself. I felt like I spent so much time auditioning for his affection that now every time I looked at him, I got an ill feeling.
“I was in the area and wanted to see you. It’s not like you answer an email or anything. You did block me.”
“Ha. For good reason.”
“It was a misunderstanding. I fucked…” His sentence trailed off right where mine picked up.
“You fucked my brother’s trifling ex. But that was years ago and not worth bringing up now. So why are you here? Why do you think it’s okay to intrude on my life now?”
“I’m not intruding, Jade. I fucking miss you. It took me years to face you, to finally see that I can’t keep letting a past I didn’t mean to let happen dictate my future.”
“Oh, so the fact that my brother told you to stay your trifling ass away from me isn’t enough to dictate your future. Negro, please.” I waved him off.
“You deserve to be mad at me, maybe even hate me, but that ain’t gonna make me love you no less, Jade.”
“I don’t hate you nor am I mad at you. I learned a long time ago to leave shit in the past. You, I’ve left in the past. So, why won’t you stay there?”
“Because I love you. So, do me a favor and think about it. I know you don’t have my number anymore, so I’ll leave it on the counter. I love you, Jade.” Then he walked off.
When he exited, I turned and found my eyes on the mess before me. I had so much to do and so little time to do it. Then again that could’ve been me overthinking and not allowing myself time to inhale. I was constantly on the go, never truly allowing myself to breathe or smell the roses. It was a gift and a curse, as I never felt fulfilled, because I always felt like I could have done better.
“Everything is fine, boss. We will have everything together by next month. I promise,” Ava voiced. Ava was not only my assistant but someone I just recently considered a friend. Though most of her professional life revolved around me and what I had going on, she offered sound input, honesty, and a shoulder when needed. She was present.
“I know. It’s the overthinking.”
“That you shouldn’t be doing. Everything is going to go off perfectly as always. Just know you got this and nothing else matters.”
I grinned. “You’re right. What would I do without you?”
“The same damn thing you’re doing now. And please tell me why Gavin was walking out of here?”
“Trying not to allow his past to dictate his future. Whatever the hell that means. I really wish he’d crawl back into whatever hole he dug his way out of. I don’t have the space for his mess.”
“You’re right; you don’t. You’re too busy working on becoming a mogul. So, I speak for you when I say you don’t have time or space for anything attempting to waste it.”
Her words echoed in my brain. What she said was true, but maybe I needed to waste some time for once instead of always being so caught up in work.
“Who bought you the flowers?” Ava’s voice brought me back to where I was presently.
“I don’t know. They got here a little bit after I did. I’m not aware of any secret admirer. Shoot, they could be from ol’ boy from last night. However, I did ditch him, so you never know.”
She laughed. “To be young and beautiful. Flowers just start appearing out of thin air.”
We both laughed.
Chapter 2
Oden
