times that she called him, voicemail kicked in immediately.
She was hesitant to call her mother or even Samantha. She knew that a call to Samantha would turn into one big I told you so.
Earlier, it was all she could do to get out of the restaurant and not be dragged into Samanthaâs Saturday night plans, although it was tempting.
She walked into the kitchen in hopes of being inspired to fix something to eat, but the phone rang before she could get started. It was Linda. Leela sighed, but she took the call.
âHey, you talk to Big Mama this evening?â
Leelaâs heart sank. âNo, why? Whatâs wrong? Did something happen?â This wasnât the kind of excitement she needed on a Saturday night.
âNothing, just wondering why she ainât answering the phone, thatâs all. Itâs nothing. What you and Riley doing tonight?â
Leela pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it. Was her mother bored or something?
âAh, actually, heâs not here. So Iâm gonna meet up with Samantha later.â
âOh⦠you know I never did get all the goods on what went down with those two. So he really cheated on her, huh?â
It was the way Linda asked that gave Leela pause. They were all there together, and it was Linda who helped clear the house, so she knew for sure that Linda saw the same video.
âYeah, you know he did. You were at the party.â
âUmph. Well, all Iâve gotta say is, if that video was accurate, she may have wanted to hang on to that one,â Linda remarked.
Leela wanted the conversation to end, but she wasnât that fortunate.
âFrom what I could see, they donât make âem like him anymore,â Linda said.
Leela was disgusted. She was more than relieved when Linda put her on hold to take another call. The instant Linda clicked over, Leela ended the call and decided she wouldnât answer when her mother called back.
As she thought back to her time with Samantha, regret began to seep in. Why didnât she throw caution to the wind and go out with her? She shouldâve done the unexpected.
âWhatâs stopping me from doing it now?â she asked aloud.
Leela grabbed her cell and dialed Samantha.
âHey, girl, is everything okay?!â Samantha yelled. She finally answered on the third phone call. The music in the background was so loud and so overpowering, Leela struggled to hear her.
âEverything is fine. Iâve changed my mind; where are you?â Leela asked.
âHmm?â
âI said, where are you?â
âWhere am I? Why? Are you gonna come out tonight?â
âYes, where are you?â
âOh. Iâm at Belvedere!â Samantha yelled over the music. It took her repeating it a few times before Leela finally understood.
âOkay. Iâll see you soon.â
Leela had never been to Belvedere, but she looked forward to going out instead of staying home alone. Leela walked into the closet and pulled out a white, slinky, sleeveless sweater dress that fit like a second layer of skin. She put on a pair of sky-high, nude-colored stilettos and grabbed a multicolored wristlet on her way out.
After she punched the address to Belvedere into her carâs navigation system, she took off. To get herself into a party mood, she turned on the latest hip-hop station and started to groove to the music.
Leela pulled up to valet parking and stepped out of her car when the young guy extended a hand to her.
âWelcome to Belvedere,â he said. âYou look lovely this evening.â
âThank you.â Leela accepted the claim ticket he gave her and walked into the sleek lounge. Immediately, she was pulled in by the space and its similarities to Miami. Its neon-lit rooms screamed South Beach and Leela loved it instantly.
She texted Samantha and let her know she was walking in. Three steps in and Samantha appeared.
âYou did the damn thing!â Samantha
She was hesitant to call her mother or even Samantha. She knew that a call to Samantha would turn into one big I told you so.
Earlier, it was all she could do to get out of the restaurant and not be dragged into Samanthaâs Saturday night plans, although it was tempting.
She walked into the kitchen in hopes of being inspired to fix something to eat, but the phone rang before she could get started. It was Linda. Leela sighed, but she took the call.
âHey, you talk to Big Mama this evening?â
Leelaâs heart sank. âNo, why? Whatâs wrong? Did something happen?â This wasnât the kind of excitement she needed on a Saturday night.
âNothing, just wondering why she ainât answering the phone, thatâs all. Itâs nothing. What you and Riley doing tonight?â
Leela pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it. Was her mother bored or something?
âAh, actually, heâs not here. So Iâm gonna meet up with Samantha later.â
âOh⦠you know I never did get all the goods on what went down with those two. So he really cheated on her, huh?â
It was the way Linda asked that gave Leela pause. They were all there together, and it was Linda who helped clear the house, so she knew for sure that Linda saw the same video.
âYeah, you know he did. You were at the party.â
âUmph. Well, all Iâve gotta say is, if that video was accurate, she may have wanted to hang on to that one,â Linda remarked.
Leela wanted the conversation to end, but she wasnât that fortunate.
âFrom what I could see, they donât make âem like him anymore,â Linda said.
Leela was disgusted. She was more than relieved when Linda put her on hold to take another call. The instant Linda clicked over, Leela ended the call and decided she wouldnât answer when her mother called back.
As she thought back to her time with Samantha, regret began to seep in. Why didnât she throw caution to the wind and go out with her? She shouldâve done the unexpected.
âWhatâs stopping me from doing it now?â she asked aloud.
Leela grabbed her cell and dialed Samantha.
âHey, girl, is everything okay?!â Samantha yelled. She finally answered on the third phone call. The music in the background was so loud and so overpowering, Leela struggled to hear her.
âEverything is fine. Iâve changed my mind; where are you?â Leela asked.
âHmm?â
âI said, where are you?â
âWhere am I? Why? Are you gonna come out tonight?â
âYes, where are you?â
âOh. Iâm at Belvedere!â Samantha yelled over the music. It took her repeating it a few times before Leela finally understood.
âOkay. Iâll see you soon.â
Leela had never been to Belvedere, but she looked forward to going out instead of staying home alone. Leela walked into the closet and pulled out a white, slinky, sleeveless sweater dress that fit like a second layer of skin. She put on a pair of sky-high, nude-colored stilettos and grabbed a multicolored wristlet on her way out.
After she punched the address to Belvedere into her carâs navigation system, she took off. To get herself into a party mood, she turned on the latest hip-hop station and started to groove to the music.
Leela pulled up to valet parking and stepped out of her car when the young guy extended a hand to her.
âWelcome to Belvedere,â he said. âYou look lovely this evening.â
âThank you.â Leela accepted the claim ticket he gave her and walked into the sleek lounge. Immediately, she was pulled in by the space and its similarities to Miami. Its neon-lit rooms screamed South Beach and Leela loved it instantly.
She texted Samantha and let her know she was walking in. Three steps in and Samantha appeared.
âYou did the damn thing!â Samantha
Similar Books
