Read Online Her Little White Lie (BWWM Romance) by Cj Howard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cj Howard
Tags: United States, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Urban, African American, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages)
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Important. Do not open until Christmas morning.
That was all it said. I took the envelope and placed it under the tree. I had a present, at least, although I had no idea who it was from and what it could be. As it was an envelope it had to be money or a voucher or something. I thought of my brother, Tommy, he did send me a birthday card most years. Maybe he was trying something new for Christmas. Maybe it was something from the hotel. Maybe they were giving bonuses this year. That seemed hard to believe but as I was going in anyway, maybe I'd find out.
To get to the subway, I had to pass Mikey's house. I looked up at what I knew was his bedroom window. The blinds were down, but that was nothing new. I wondered if he was due to work on the site today or was he up there with her? They could have been making love right now. I dug my hands deeper into the pockets of my thick, winter coat and just kept right on walking.
The staff at the hotel were all wearing tinsel around their heads and Daisy, who was on reception with me, kept trying to convince me to join in the so called fun.
“Come on, Grace. It's Christmas. In just a couple hours or so you'll be off for your holiday break. Three days, baby,” she said to me and pumped her fist.
I was so not in the mood to be jolly. I smiled as best as I could at any guests that came by and answered the phone as pleasantly as I could. Knowing Mr. Iglesias had already left the hotel also added to my feeling of loneliness.
After an hour on reception and with the hotel being particularly quiet, I made my excuses to Daisy I slipped away to the staff cafeteria for something to eat. I had skipped breakfast and my stomach was beginning to grumble. I think Daisy was glad to see the back of me.
Alicia, Suzette, Damion and Ramon all happened to be up there too. I tried to duck out of sight as I picked up a pastry and grabbed a cup of coffee, but it was no use.
“Hey, Gracie! Gracie come over and join us,” Alicia waved her arms as though I could miss her.
“Hi guys,” I said, trying to keep the misery out of my voice. It didn't work.
“Okay, who died?” Damion put his arm around my shoulder.
“No one died. Why do you ask?” I looked down into my coffee, trying not to give myself away.
I smiled as wide as I could but something must have shown in my eyes as I looked up at them. They had all stopped for a second and were looking right at me.
“And how's that rich boyfriend of yours? He been playing around?” asked Suzette.
“No it's not that.” I whispered.
“What? He buy you a cheap Christmas present with all that money he got?” Ramon was still eating his lunch but he spoke anyway.
“I don't know what he got for me. I'm not allowed to open it until Christmas Day.” I lied.
“What about his fancy restaurant, that open yet?” Alicia's eyes were lighting up.
“Not yet,” I said.
“Seems like he missed an opportunity,” Damion put in. “Anyone with any business sense would have known to get their restaurant open in time for the holidays. Shit, that don't make no sense.”
“And what you know about business sense, fool?” Alicia rolled her eyes at him.
“One thing I know is,” Damion said. “If I had a girl like our Gracie, she wouldn't be up in here looking so sad. Not at the holidays anyways. I would have bought her a pink Cadillac or some shit like that, something classy, like she deserve.” He pinched his lips together and shook his head up and down, waiting to get an 'Amen' from his congregation.
“Damion, your sweet.” I kissed his cheek. “Mikey isn't one for making a big show of things. He's the strong silent type, you know? I mean, I mostly don't know what goes on in that head of his. But what I know is, he's kind and gentle and sweet and he makes me laugh. He makes me happy, Damion.”
The others had all gone silent, their faces all pressed towards mine,
That was all it said. I took the envelope and placed it under the tree. I had a present, at least, although I had no idea who it was from and what it could be. As it was an envelope it had to be money or a voucher or something. I thought of my brother, Tommy, he did send me a birthday card most years. Maybe he was trying something new for Christmas. Maybe it was something from the hotel. Maybe they were giving bonuses this year. That seemed hard to believe but as I was going in anyway, maybe I'd find out.
To get to the subway, I had to pass Mikey's house. I looked up at what I knew was his bedroom window. The blinds were down, but that was nothing new. I wondered if he was due to work on the site today or was he up there with her? They could have been making love right now. I dug my hands deeper into the pockets of my thick, winter coat and just kept right on walking.
The staff at the hotel were all wearing tinsel around their heads and Daisy, who was on reception with me, kept trying to convince me to join in the so called fun.
“Come on, Grace. It's Christmas. In just a couple hours or so you'll be off for your holiday break. Three days, baby,” she said to me and pumped her fist.
I was so not in the mood to be jolly. I smiled as best as I could at any guests that came by and answered the phone as pleasantly as I could. Knowing Mr. Iglesias had already left the hotel also added to my feeling of loneliness.
After an hour on reception and with the hotel being particularly quiet, I made my excuses to Daisy I slipped away to the staff cafeteria for something to eat. I had skipped breakfast and my stomach was beginning to grumble. I think Daisy was glad to see the back of me.
Alicia, Suzette, Damion and Ramon all happened to be up there too. I tried to duck out of sight as I picked up a pastry and grabbed a cup of coffee, but it was no use.
“Hey, Gracie! Gracie come over and join us,” Alicia waved her arms as though I could miss her.
“Hi guys,” I said, trying to keep the misery out of my voice. It didn't work.
“Okay, who died?” Damion put his arm around my shoulder.
“No one died. Why do you ask?” I looked down into my coffee, trying not to give myself away.
I smiled as wide as I could but something must have shown in my eyes as I looked up at them. They had all stopped for a second and were looking right at me.
“And how's that rich boyfriend of yours? He been playing around?” asked Suzette.
“No it's not that.” I whispered.
“What? He buy you a cheap Christmas present with all that money he got?” Ramon was still eating his lunch but he spoke anyway.
“I don't know what he got for me. I'm not allowed to open it until Christmas Day.” I lied.
“What about his fancy restaurant, that open yet?” Alicia's eyes were lighting up.
“Not yet,” I said.
“Seems like he missed an opportunity,” Damion put in. “Anyone with any business sense would have known to get their restaurant open in time for the holidays. Shit, that don't make no sense.”
“And what you know about business sense, fool?” Alicia rolled her eyes at him.
“One thing I know is,” Damion said. “If I had a girl like our Gracie, she wouldn't be up in here looking so sad. Not at the holidays anyways. I would have bought her a pink Cadillac or some shit like that, something classy, like she deserve.” He pinched his lips together and shook his head up and down, waiting to get an 'Amen' from his congregation.
“Damion, your sweet.” I kissed his cheek. “Mikey isn't one for making a big show of things. He's the strong silent type, you know? I mean, I mostly don't know what goes on in that head of his. But what I know is, he's kind and gentle and sweet and he makes me laugh. He makes me happy, Damion.”
The others had all gone silent, their faces all pressed towards mine,
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