Page 6 of Target

“Dodged that bullet.” I chuckle but pain still laces through me.

Seeing people around me settle down makes me want what they have. I may have a slice of envy toward my ex, but I am glad that I found out what he was like before I added to the two years that I had him.

“He was not good enough for you anyway. Always too stiff, and fixated on his career. You, my dear, can do far better. You are sexy as fuck, you know that.” Darian winks at me.

I laugh, waving her off.

“I am nothing special, Darian. You, on the other hand, men fall to their knees for.” She is all legs and boobs, my bestie.

Long legs, trim waist, big boobs, and long ink black hair that reaches her butt, where as I am shorter, curvier, with decent-sized boobs for my body, reddish-brown hair and chocolate-colored eyes.

She huffs, mock-glaring at me.

“You are stunning, a natural beauty. You do not need to try and be hot, it is just who you are.” She winks at me. “I dare you to try and deny it. I will nark on you to Grandpa Peter.” She giggles.

My hand goes to my throat, and I let out a loud gasp in fake outrage.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

When I ended my relationship, both Darian and I decided that LA felt stuffy, and we needed to start somewhere fresh. As it turned out, my grandfather fell ill, so we packed up and moved.

My baby sister, Aria, was not happy, but it is not like she had a choice in the matter. She was fourteen when I became her guardian after our parents passed away. Not that they were good parents; they would always prefer drinking, days out on a friend’s boat, or flying off to some place exotic instead.

I have taken care of her since she was a baby, as I was thirteen when she was born. A drunken night by our parents, and believe me, they never let either of us forget that we were such a big burden.

Darian looked into property here in Phoenix and she found this place, and we fell in love with it. The large storefront windows with the open plan office has a welcoming feel to it.

Wanting to get Aria on my side, I made sure to find a home that came with plenty of space and a pool so she could invite her new friends over. So far, she has settled in okay, but we do have the typical sisterly heated discussions from time to time.

Darian moved into a smaller home a few blocks over from us, as she wanted to be on hand if I needed her. Plus, Grandpa Peter’s place is a short drive.

“We need to go out tonight. Aria is over at a friend’s house, so we should have a girls’ night. This summer event has been drowning you, because you want it on point.”

“I do.” I shrug. “This will be good for the community and us. It is our first summer here in Phoenix and it will get our name out there,” I explain, and open up the file that I need for a baby shower we have booked this weekend.

The mother of the mother-to-be, spared no expense for this party, to celebrate the arrival of her first grandchild. They are a lovely family and I can see that the baby will be loved.

When we get bookings like this, that are all about family, love, and support, it makes my heart all gooey. Being in the family I was brought up in, I know what a shitty family looks like, so seeing something good makes my job easier.

Being organized was always something that I loved doing; even in high school people would make fun of me for being really freaking anal about certain things.

Checklists are my thing. Spreadsheets, oh yes, please.

I giggle internally at my silliness, but hey, it has gotten me to where I am today. To be able to bring joy into someone’s life and remove the stress from them is what I live for. But seeing all the love and happiness also leaves a black mark in my heart because I am twenty-seven, not in a relationship, and have no kids.

Seeing my friends, besides Darian, who will be perpetually single, makes me want what they have. I know my time will come, so I cling to that thought as I work on making my company successful.

“So, girls’ night?”

I look over at my friend, blinking as she pulls me from my thoughts.

I smile. “Okay, fine.” She claps excitedly. “I need to check in on Gramps on my way home, he sounded chesty when I called this morning.”

“Shit. I hope it is nothing; that old man can’t catch a break lately with his health,” she says softly.

Grandpa Peter may not be her blood, but Darian sees him as her grandfather, after she walked away from her family years ago.

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