Page 10 of Eat Slay Love

My throat tightened as the thought pressed against me, threatening to unravel everything I’d built myself up to feel tonight.

Rae. . .we’re better than that.

I swallowed.

You are worthy. You are deserving.

And with that, something snapped in my heart—not in a way that hurt, but in a way that broke chains.

You’re going to have an amazing trip.

I fisted my hands, not in anger or frustration but in resolve.

No, I wasn’t going to sit in some Stellar-starred restaurant feeling sorry for myself. I wasn’t going to shrink into my chair, avoiding eye contact, hiding behind my phone, or letting loneliness creep into a night I had planned with so much care.

No, ma’am. Not tonight.

This Valentine’s evening, I was going to be the goddess I deserved to be.

Liam and Ava’s fake moans rose in the air, and I stood up straighter, tilting my chin higher as I finally realized that every inch of me was worthy of love, admiration, and indulgence—and if the world didn’t see that, I damn sure would.

You are worthy. You are deserving. You are goddamn amazing.

I was going to put every ounce of my energy into having the best trip of my life, no matter what.

Let’s do this.

Chapter one

The Queen Arrives

Rae

"Girl, enjoy your date tonight, and I hope you get lucky—with yourself!" My bestie, Laila teased. As always her laughter was contagious, lighting up the other end of the phone and reaching across the distance between us.

“I’m most definitely going to be lucky with myself tonight.”

“I know that’s right, Rae. That picture you sent me.” She whistled. “Girl, you are looking GOOD! You got to post it on the Gram. Hell, post it everywhere—Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn.”

“Not LinkedIn though!”

“Let these men know you’re a full-course meal, not some microwave dinner.”

“But LinkedIn?” Chuckling, I stepped out of the elevator into the Four Seasons’ lobby.

My six-inch heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor.

“You put it on LinkedIn and some hot CEO might creep into your DMs trying to give you aposition.” She laughed. “And the position is not a job, baby. It’s your legs up in the air, girl!”

Keeping the phone to my ear, I did my best to keep my chuckling down, but I knew I looked a hot cackling mess as I breezed past the concierge desk.

The Four Seasons’ lobby was a masterpiece of extravagance—towering columns, dangling chandeliers, plush velvet chairs in deep jewel tones, and massive floral arrangements in every corner.

The scent of fresh roses and lilies filled the entire building.

Everything about this space screamed indulgence, and for once, I felt like I belonged here.

Not because I was here for work.

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