Page 12 of Third Time Lucky

I do miss her, but my desire to hasten her move isn’t all about me. For some reason, despite the fact that we’re not even thirty, she’s gotten it into her head that she’s an old maid.

She seems to have decided to be the single auntie until she dies. If I didn’t know her so well, I’d say that was her choice and there was nothing wrong with that.

But I do know her. I hadn’t realized how bad it had gotten until after I left, because I was too involved in my own drama. Tanisha deserves to have some joy and passion in her life as much as I do. More than I do. An almost impossible task with her family’s all-seeing, overprotective ways.

I wonder if Winston Duke is single.

An hour later, I’m still thinking about her, skimming status reports instead of sorting boxes and eating my prepackaged tortellini when I hear it.

Music. Pouring through the open doors of my balcony. I move closer without realizing it, my fork dangling from my mouth.

It’s him. And it sounds like he’s playing guitar outside.

Is he singing?

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