Page 10 of F*ckin' With Me
He held up a few pieces. When his focus fell on me, I felt small under his stare. “These are what you’re planning to take?” When I nodded, he threw the clothes in the garment bag. I was confused when he pulled his phone out. After he pressed the screen a few times, he put the phone to his ear.“Aye, Sis, I need your help.”
A Few Days Later . . .
Daylen called his sister, Rissa, who was a professional stylist, to come style me. I wasn’t sure if I should have been offended or thankful. He didn’t like the outfits I picked out, clearly. I stood on a podium in front of a mirror that she brought with her.
She held a beautiful dress up to me. “Oh, yellow is so radiant against your skin tone. Do you wear yellow?” Rissa asked me.
“No, I’ve never really worn any bright colors. I usually stick to more neutral, earthy tones.” I dropped my right ear to my shoulder. “It’s easier to blend in or be invisible that way.”
She pulled the dress down and gazed at me. “Who told you to blend in when you were born to stand out?” She stood on the podium next to me and faced the mirror. “Girl, look at you! You have sun-kissed, clear, brown skin that bitches wish they had.”
She placed her hand in my hair that was all over my head. “You have gorgeous hair and a nice shape. You got a lil’ gum drop of a booty, but my brother will love that, and he doesn’teven realize it,” she said with a giggle. “You are absolutely gorgeous, and I see why my brother likes you.” I jumped when she smacked my ass.
Her words finally registered in my mind. “Oh, no! Your brother doesn’t like me. He just agreed to be my fake boyfriend since we knew each other in college. It’s like a favor since I tutored him.”
Rissa pointed at me. “You’re the girl at graduation that he hugged before we walked out. I thought you looked familiar.” Her hand went to her hip. “Let me tell you something, Simonette. I know my brother. It wouldn’t have mattered if you took all his tests and did all his assignments.
“Daylen would not do a favor like this if he didn’t like you or was curious in some way. Another way I know is because he offered to pay me for this,” she revealed. “That was when I knew I had to meet your ass. Now, explain to me why a hottie like you needs a fake boyfriend.”
I stepped down from the podium to sit on the couch. Like lava, all my family trauma spilled out. It felt like I waited all my life to just tell someone, anyone, about the hurt and rejection from my mother and sister. The only part of the conversation that was nice was when I talked about my daddy. I loved him so much.
By the end of the conversation, I was crying, and Rissa had me in her arms. I let her hug me for a moment before I pulled back. “This is so embarrassing. I’m so sorry.”
With a smile that reached her eyes, she said, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Your mama and sister should be embarrassed. Did you already upgrade your plane ticket?”
“No, I was going to when I purchased Daylen’s ticket. He told me that I didn’t have to, but it was the least that I could do. The ticket is like $2,000.” He shouldn’t have to pay for his own ticket.
Rissa waved me off. “Girl, bye! Day is not hurting over $2,000. Let me tell you what is going to happen.” A devious smile plastered her face. “We’re going to stunt on all those hos this weekend. I’m going to accompany you as your friend because it makes sense that Daylen’s sister would be your friend.
“Let’s pick out some outfits that you feel comfortable and look beautiful in. Look at God blessing you with a friend that’s a stylist who is licensed to do hair and is a makeup artist.” She tapped the tip of my nose with her finger. “Let me make a call really quick to let my brother know exactly how we need to come this weekend.”
She had something up her sleeves. I wasn’t sure what it was, but something told me it was about to be a very unpredictable weekend. I guessed all I could do was run on and see what the end would be.
Time To Go To The Maldives . . .
All the wedding party were to meet at my parents’ house, where two Sprinters would take us to the airport. My parents paid for everyone’s first class ticket and their plus ones if they had one. That was why it infuriated me that my ticket was downgraded because I suddenly had a man. A little over $20,000 was spent on plane tickets alone. We weren’t going to get started on the accommodations and the wedding itself.
“Girl, you look good! My brother is gonna forget he’s a fake boyfriend before the weekend is over,” Rissa teased. She came over last night to straighten my hair. We ended up drinking a fullbottle of wine while she did my hair and talked. It was the most fun I’d ever had.
I stood in front of the mirror in awe of my appearance. That was the first time my hair had ever been straightened. My mother and sister tried, but I drew the line at my hair. I was hesitant to let Rissa do it. I trusted her more than my blood. I turned to the side to look at my hair that flowed down to the middle of my back. It was full of beautiful barrel curls.
“Thank you so much, Rissa. I can’t believe how good I look.” I felt giddy inside. Since the flight was so long, Rissa said that a more causal lounge outfit would be appropriate. The form-fitting sweatsuit fit me like a glove. I didn’t think I’d ever worn anything that fit me that well.
When my doorbell rang, Rissa jumped up from my bed. “I’ll get it. Don’t come out until I tell you to, okay?”
She left the room after I agreed. Our bags were already in the living room. When she told me she would come on the trip too, I offered to pay for her trip. She told me to be quiet, then she told me to cancel my flight. I told her no, but she texted Daylen, who texted me and told me to cancel my flight. I did what he forcefully requested.
“Simonette, they’re here! Come on!” Rissa yelled from the living room.
With a final look in the mirror and a deep breath, I walked out of my room toward my living room. When I cut the corner and came into view, I heard Daylen and whoever the other guy was mumbledamn.I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose. “Hey, Daylen.”
He didn’t say anything immediately. “What’s up, Simonette? You look beautiful. Damn, your hair is long. This is my best friend, Rashad.”
My cheeks got warm. “Thank you, Daylen.” I stuck my hand out and stepped in front of Rashad. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He grabbed my wrist, then pulled me into a hug. “Fuck a handshake. You sis.”
His embrace caught me off guard. When we broke away, he wore a bright smile. Rashad was very handsome.
