guess,” she said shrugging. Tony shook his head.
“ No, I’m serious. You did turn out great, better than most actually. It’s the thing about you I love most,” he said as he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. Rochelle smiled and put a hand around his neck. She kissed him again, softly caressing him until Cynthia cleared her throat loudly.
“ Keep it clean down there, kids,’ Cynthia said as she looked outside again. Rochelle pulled away from Tony and laughed. “Really? Now we are giggling?” Cynthia asked as she turned to look at them. Rochelle stood up and looked at her cousin.
“ Quick question, Cynthia. Is that what you are wearing to dinner?” she asked. Cynthia looked down at her sweat pants and oversized t-shirt and shrugged.
“ What? Have we suddenly moved to the Hamptons and I didn’t realize?” she asked.
“ Well, this is a special dinner. You should dress up,” Rochelle said looking at her.
“ You are the one making the big apology. I’m in the clear,” Cynthia said. Rochelle walked up to the window and pulled Cynthia away.
“ I know it’s my apology but you promised to be supportive,” she said as she pushed Cynthia out of the living room. “We still have…Tony? What’s our ETA?” she asked as she looked at Tony.
“ Um, T-minus fifteen minutes,” he said. Rochelle turned her attention back to Cynthia.
“ You have ten minutes to look glam,” she said before walking back to the kitchen. She took a long, deep breath again. She had not been this nervous in a long time. Perhaps it was because she never went out of her way to make someone this happy. She looked at Tony and shrugged again. “This is so weird. I feel like I am about to hear the winning lottery numbers and I put all I own into the ticket,” she said. Tony walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out half a bottle of wine from the shelf. He then took a glass and poured her some wine before he walked back to her.
“ Here,” he said as he handed her the glass. “All you need is some liquid courage.” She smiled and quickly downed the contents of her glass. Tony looked at her, surprised. “Okay, maybe a lot of liquid courage,” he said as he poured her another glass.
“ I only have ten minutes to get courage, so maybe I need the boost,” she said. Tony smiled and put the bottle back in the fridge. “Hey, I need more of that,” she whined. Tony shook his head and took the glass from her hands.
“ The last time I had to carry you out of here because of this liquid courage,” he said.
“ It was your idea,” Rochelle said in her defense.
“ Well, maybe that was not my best call,” Tony said. Rochelle looked at him and then down at the layered skirt she was wearing.
“ Okay, fine. At least tell me how I look,” she said. He smiled and let his eyes travel down her round-necked vest that showed off her generous cleavage and smiled.
“ If there is anyone who ever looks anywhere as good as you, it would be a crime,” he said just as Cynthia walked into the room. Rochelle smiled at her.
“ Okay, ice queen. How is this?” Cynthia asked, gesturing at her skinny jeans and floral top. Rochelle nodded.
“ See how lovely you look,” she said in an old woman’s voice. Cynthia rolled her eyes and walked to the living room. Tony looked at his phone and smiled.
“ Okay, they are on their way back,” he said and then pulled Rochelle closer. “You will need to set an extra place at the table,” he said in a whisper. Rochelle looked at him and squinted.
“ Why?” she whispered back.
“ We have company,” he said just as the front door opened. “Hey!” he said with a smile as Taylor, Desiree and a tall, muscular African-American man walked in.
“ Hey. Why are you all dressed up? Were you going somewhere?” Desiree asked. Rochelle shook her head.
“ No, I made dinner, you know, for being the bitch with the temper,” she said. Desiree smiled.
“ I told you that was
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