Page 52 of Kandie Shoppe

At the time, that was all I could give her, anyway. Her showing up was one of the main reasons I worked so hard to open the bakery, so I could help her if I could. The fairy godmother or father who stepped in made that unnecessary.

Still, we are friends as close as we could be with so much tragedy between us. I couldn’t understand or shake why Daddy never came back for me and Kerania. That he died without me knowing. Nikki said by the time he passed away, he was bad off mentally, never being able to get good mental health help. She was mostly his caregiver. I didn’t ask more after that, knowing she went through her own private hell no different than I did. It was all she knew, plus she was alone. At least I had Kerania for a little while.

“I have to go over to the President’s reception next door. Will you come with me?” She casts hopeful eyes my way.

“Sure.” I sip the seltzer water with lemon I’ve been nursing down on a nearby table. Being in a dry county is not hard. I drank for fun anyway and despite what ol’ big head Ulysses thinks, I’m in complete control of my drinking. I still drink, but I’ve cut back a lot, and it’s only every now and then. His words about me ruining my business and wrecking my life hit me harder than anything Mimi ever said about my health or anything of the like. I’ve shown them both that sober Kandie is just as fun as tipsy Kandie.

“There you two are. Why’d you leave me with everyone mad at me?” Joi huffs, sidling up to us.

“You probably have folks over here mad with you too,” I quip, which has Joi giving me a mean look.

“Y’all behave. President Fane is coming this way,” Nikki whispers in a rush just as the president of the university and none other than Mathias Shelby come upon us.

“Ladies,” Fane says in cultured British tones. “Congratulations again, Miss Love,” then he pivots to me, “I’ve heard wonderful things about your confections, Ms. Love.” His words could be dipped in honey. They are so sweet.

I can’t help but smile my thanks at the gorgeous man. Hair dark as midnight, eye blue like a Tiffany box, with muscles clearly defined in his sleek suit. He is the epitome of elegance.

“Maybe we can have you cater some events for us in the near future? Presently we are having to go all the way to Birmingham per contractual obligations. I think finding someone local would benefit us all.” My heart is beating out of my chest.

“I’d love to,” I say, not minding the eagerness in my tone.

It seems to be exactly what he wants to hear. After giving me his card and securing a promise from me to reach out to his assistant, he leaves to mingle with more guests.

Finding myself alone, I go in search of my cousin and sister. A thin path opens when a group separates and damn if I don’tcome face to face with Ulysses and a tall blond who looks like a supermodel. The woman is at least six-feet-tall wearing red bottom shoes, giving her another three inches.

Shame pierces me. I feel ashamed of myself for trusting him. He’s smiling at her and all the surrounding people. Smiles he gives me so rarely he’s freely bestowing on this woman and the group surrounding him.

He never even said he’d be here. I know I mentioned the graduation. I didn’t let myself ask him because he’s not my boyfriend. I never put a label on it. Labels make things permanent and I know better than to lay claim to anything. Things you claim get taken from you like mothers, fathers — sisters. No, I’m not doing that, but it doesn’t mean what’s between us means nothing. He acted like it meant everything to him.

I must have been standing here staring at him too long because one by one the people in the group look from him to me and that’s when I realize he’s looking at me. And the look is not welcoming. He couldn’t scream get the hell away from me louder than if he had a bullhorn.

Part of me wants to go confront him, while the other half wants to run away. Another felony doesn’t seem so bad right now. But I learned my lesson the last time. I’m not going to cut the fuck up and ruin my chance with the catering contract with the university.

Pivoting, I turn from the group without so much as a fuck you to the man I’ve been sleeping with for the past couple months. His loss.

Heading out to the venue, I catch-up with Nikki and Joi like nothing happened. Like my heart wasn’t just ripped from my chest.

The Shack

“They have the bull up tonight.”Joi giggles maniacally as she pulls up to The Shack.

“Hell yeah.”

“That’s wassup,” Nikki and I crow simultaneously as she moves into an empty parking space.

“Let me put on some more gloss.” Fishing my Gloss Bomb out of my pocket, I reapply, not even bothering to look in the mirror until I’m done, then turning the rearview mirror my way, using my finger to get rid of any smudges.

“Ew, hoe.” Nikki slaps my thigh after I run my finger on her thigh to get rid of the excess.

“It’s only going to add to the glow,” I say, looking at her shimmery thighs.

“Then you won’t mind, then.” She returns the favor quickly, getting out the passenger side of the car.

“Hey.” Joi stops me with a look of concern marring her otherwise beautiful features. “She looking sad to you?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. I’ve been so caught up in my own heartbreak for the last day since I saw Ulysses with the tall blonde woman hanging onto his arm and his every word. How he looked at me basically saying not to approach him in that moment like he was ashamed of me or something.

So no, I wasn’t paying attention to my baby sister.

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