Page 11 of Cherry's Jubilee

She leans over the counter and gets so close to my ear that my body is flooded with goosebumps. “I can’t wait,” she whispers. Her lips graze my earlobe, and I must stop myself from shivering. I don’t even care that she probably only agreed to annoy her cousin.

Ashley stands there frozen in shock. For someone about to be married in two months, I don’t understand why she would care about who her cousin spends time with. In fact, she was annoyed at her mother’s attempts to push Amira on me too. At first, I thought she was irritated on behalf of her sister, but I see now that was not it. Ashley not only wants to be the center of attention, but she wants everything for herself.

“Cousin,” Ashley says, her voice high and saccharin sweet, “I need to speak with you.” She goes around to get behind the bar. Once there, she takes Cherry’s elbow, but Cherry yanks it away. Not to be deterred, Ashley retakes it and pulls her to the other side of the bar, away from sight and hearing distance.

Chapter 6

Cherry

I can lay her out easily. I’m a couple of inches taller, and she’s out of shape and weak. Yet I want to hear what’s going to spill from her lips.

"A man like that will never be serious about you,” she says. “I mean, look at you.” She eyes me up and down. “Flat-chested as a teenage boy.” I cross my arms and laugh in her face.

“Thanks for the warning,” is all I say. “And hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not nice to body shame? And maybe he’s an ass man. Have you ever thought about that?”

“You’re going to look like a bigger fool than you already do. I’m only looking out for you and our family. Haven’t your branch already brought enough shame?”

“What is this? Nineteen-thirty?” I inch closer. “Shame upon your houses,” I say, effecting the worst British accent. “Stay out of my business, Ashley. Since I don’t plan on seeing you again after today, you won’t have to worry about shame. And as for my chest, I bet I can put an entire tit in his mouth.”

“Oh, God,” she says with a dismissive shake. “Classy as always, huh? Never seeing me again? Where have I heard that before? If only you would follow through.”

“I’m here for my sister, not you. And because I know your snakelike behavior is inherited, I’m positive your mother will screw her over and not pay her.”

Her head rolls back as if I just slapped her. “Don’t talk about my mother.”

“I just did. Are we done here? If so, slither back to Mommy, okay?”

“All of this because I took Rob from you.” She cocks her head to the side and looks me up and down. She has the same smug look as her mother, and I ache to smack her.

“Took him from me? Honey, it’s so sad that you’ve always been so fucking stupid.” She purses her lips shut again, but her nostrils flare at the insult. She’s always been a shitty student. She’s done okay only because her parents got her tutors. “Did you ever ask Rob why I was with him at the coffee shop that night? Or did you have your mouth full when you were on your knees in front of him?”

She inches closer, and so do I. “What I do with my fiancé is none of your damn business.” She shakes her head and tosses her hair around. “And I know why you were with him at a coffee shop on a Saturday night. I don’t need to ask him. Besides, why would I waste my time asking about you? By the way, he never mentioned you again. He never said your name. Not once. And I’m getting married, and you’re not.”

“And you think marriage is some coup? You think he never says my name because you fucked and sucked him so good he forgot about me?”

She doesn’t answer but tilts her head as if in victory. I look at her before I throw my head back and laugh. I laugh so hard that the smug look gets wiped off her face. It’s quickly replaced with anger.

“God, you’re fucking stupid. How the hell do you even tie your own shoes? Stay in your lane, Ashley. The girl who failed freshman algebra has no business solving problems. I’d feel sorry for you if you weren’t so vile, but as always, you’re wrong. Rob called me many times. We met up many, many times after that night where you think you stole him from me.” I see color creep into her cheeks. Her nostrils flare, and I see something in her eyes. When she sticks her snobby nose in the air, it’s all fake bravado. I know she’s trying to keep it together.

I didn’t know this about Ashley when we were kids, but she’s incredibly insecure—always has been—and her mother has fostered that insecurity.

Whenever she tried to compete with me, she lost. Her greatest victory is that she thinks she took Rob, but what she doesn’t know is that Rob is no victory. He was never mine for her to take.

“I was his tutor, Ashley. I know you know what a tutor is.” She blushes. She’s always needed help with her schoolwork. I didn’t. I was the one who helped others, and that’s the one thing Karen could not try to take from me. “I was tutoring him in math, you moron. I also tutored him in corporate finance. Both one and two,” I toss. “That’swhat you walked in on. I was never interested in him. Unlike you, I like smart men, and Rob is about as smart as you are. God bless any kids you two will have.” I eye her up and down. “But congratulations. It feels good to know that I’m such a factor in your marriage. I hope you think of me on your wedding night.” I turn and walk away from her after firing that last shot.

I return to the bar, and when I turn back to look at her, she’s standing there with her mouth hanging open. I can practically see the steam shooting out of her ears. I give her another smug look before I look away from her. After a few moments, she stomps away.

“I’m going back upstairs and going to bed,” I announce to Solange and Kirby now that we’re done with brunch. “And I’m not helping you two clean up.” I push my plate away and stand.

“What about your hot date tonight?” Solange asks as she starts to clear the table. I snort at her question.

Daniel Jubilee left soon after my last confrontation with Ashley. When we were done talking, his back was to me, and he was on thephone. A few minutes later, he said he had a family emergency, gave me a rushed goodbye, and said he’d be in touch. He reached across the bar and rested his hand on mine. It was only for a brief moment, but I can still feel the heat of his touch on my hand. It’s like he burned and scarred me.

“I’m gonna nap, then get up and shave so I can be ready for that huge Jubilee dick,” I say with an eye-roll.

“The dick itself is a celebration,” Kirby says.

“Jubalacious,” Solange sings out.

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