Page 62 of Kove and Xiah
“But that’s only because we witnessed how your heart was crushed and your dreams were shattered. Your father loves you,Xiah, and he feels like he failed you because of how things with Kaden worked out. He can’t carry the blame any more than you can. All of that belongs with the person who wronged you but I’m very aware that you both feel responsible. Don’t. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I mean it.”
I huffed. “I know.”
“But please tell this young man. He deserves to know what he’s dealing with. Have the conversation with him. If he wants more than stripping, he needs to have all the insight on the woman he’s falling for.”
“He’s not falling for me.”
“He is, sweetheart.” She smiled smugly.
“You don’t know that. You’ve never even met him.”
“I don’t have to. I know the woman he’s falling for. I raised her and there’s no way in hell he doesn’t know that you’re the best decision he will ever make in his life.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure that multi-million dollar contract is the best decision he’s ever made in his life.”
“Honey, he can make all the money in the world and still not feel whole. He can be broke and homeless and feel like he has the world in the palm of his hand. You know what the key to both is?”
“Having or not having the love of a woman…”
I’d heard my mother say this too many times.
“Exactly. If he has the right one in his corner, he’s king of the world, no matter what his finances are.” She leaned toward me and kissed my cheek. “He’s picking you up tonight?”
Oh God no, she absolutely cannot meet him…
“He is but I don’t want to make this weird.”
“Fine, I’ll stay in your room when he gets here but you have to promise we get to meet him sooner rather than later.”
“I don’t think we’re going to be a ‘meet the parents’ kind of thing.”
“Mhm.” She lifted and headed to the door. “I’m going to make this pasta and drink some of your wine. The good one from Divine Vines as a thank you for my advice.”
“You were going to drink it anyway,” I yelled after her.
“I was but now I feel justified.”
My mother was right. I needed to have the conversation with Kove about my husband, and if he decided to end things, I would have to accept his decision. I would be devastated but there wasn’t much I could do about it. I had a few hours before I needed to start getting ready, so for now, I decided to join my mother while she enjoyed the use of my kitchen and my wine.
After I easedthe diamond studs into my ears, I raked my fingers through my hair and smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
Okay Xi, do your thing, girl…
I turned from side to side, admiring how good I looked. The black silk and tulle dress looked good against my skin which was glowing and shimmering from the sparkle body butter I used after I showered. The dress had sheer, long sleeves, a low cut V in the front, sexy but tasteful, and a ruffled tulle skirt that was short in the front and layered to be longer in the back. Simple black heels were on my feet that buckled at the ankle.
I wore the diamond pendant that matched my earrings and a set of stacked gold rings on my index finger, electing to skip bracelets and a watch. Simple, cute, and still making a statement. I reached for my phone and snapped a few pictures ofmyself in the mirror then made a short video that I planned on uploading on my story. Before I could, Koa was on my line with a video call.
I noticed she was in her car as soon as I swiped my screen to accept. She pouted, looking frantic.
“Friend, I’m sorry. I’m leaving now and should be there in like forty minutes. Is it too late? What time is he coming?”
“Aren’t you driving? Stop looking at the phone, Koa.”
“I can look at the camera. I’m currently in traffic and my forty minutes just turned to fifty-five. Please tell me you’re not leaving like right now.”
