Granting Wishes (10 page)

“Still want breakfast, darlin’?”

Lilah stretched and yawned, nodding her head as her stomach growled.

“I guess that answers my question,” he laughed and took her hand to help her up. Once she stood, he hugged her, kissing the top of her head. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“You wore one of the flowers I sent you in your hair tonight.”

“I did. They were beautiful, Jake. Thank you,” she stroked his cheek, toying with a lock of hair that curled around his ear. When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and pulled away, walking into the kitchen and sitting at the table. He had fixed bacon, fluffy pancakes and scrambled eggs that looked so good her stomach growled again loudly. Jake laughed and poured her another glass of ginger ale.

“I take it you approve?”

She grinned at him, “Oh yes. I’m starving to death after losing my dinner at the bar earlier.”

He cocked his head
to the side and frowned, “You got sick?”

She felt her skin grow hot with embarrassment, “Yes, I think I maybe drank a little too fast trying to keep up with my brothe
rs. I didn’t drink a lot really. Well on second thought, maybe I did for the short time frame. Or maybe dinner didn’t agree with me. Either way, I lost it all but I feel better now. Just hungry.”

He still looked at her with concern but he didn’t push further. They ate in silence until Lilah couldn’t wait any longer for some of her questions to be answered. “Did you go there tonight to see her? To see Alana?”

Jake sat his fork down and reached for her hand, squeezing it in his, “No. I didn’t know she was going to be there or I wouldn’t have bothered meeting my brother. Keegan asked me to come have a few beers with him. I’m assuming it was his attempt at playing cupid since he was there with you guys.”

Lilah laughed, “He was the one that talked all of us into going out tonight. So I’d say your assumption is probably correct.”

“I’m not going to complain about it though. I’m here with you now and that’s exactly what I’ve been wanting is more time with you, and for us to smooth things over.”

Chelsea sat down still holding her queasy stomach as she watched her best friend leave the bar. She’d never had a weak stomach before but watching Lilah heaving up dinner mixed with the soured smell of alcohol didn’t have a pleasant effect. This is exactly why she gave Dom the rest of her beer, and switched to water instead. With the turn of events, the earlier boisterous fun had dwindled down. Everyone but Chelsea and Angel were playing pool so the idle chit chat was at a bare minimum. Of course, Chelsea’s attention was split between listening half-heartedly to Angel and staring at Dom. She was wondering if he was going to come to her place when they all decided to head home and in all honesty, she was ready to go now. But he was enjoying rare time with his big brother and she didn’t want to interrupt.

“Wow, you got it as bad as Lilah does,” Angel laughed and gave Chelsea’s shoulder a gentle shove.

Chelsea realized then that she had been caught staring and had lost track of what Angel was saying. Her cheeks blushed bright pink and she stammered, “I, uh, sorry what did you say?”

“I said you got it bad. You’re looking at Dom like I look at Dakota
, and like Lilah looks at Jake. Devouring him with your eyes.”

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, “Yeah, well a lot happened after the wedding
, and while you guys were on your honeymoon.”

“Apparently so. To you,
and
to Lilah. What’s up with that? Did the wedding release your hormones or what?” Angel teased.

“Something like that. Not that I’m complaining mind you.”

The conversation stopped there upon the interruption of the guys deciding it was time to call it a night and head out.

On the ride home, Dom didn’t talk much because he kept getting text messages. The only reason it bothered her was because he turned his phone at an angle so she couldn’t see who it was. That made it obvious he was talking with another woman. It wasn’t like her to get jealous, but the fact of the matter was, they weren’t in a committed relationship. If he wanted to talk to other women he had every right to, but he didn’t have to be sneaky about it. They were grown folks.

Fairly certain she was going home alone, she withdrew from him and looked out the window. Since she was the only one that lived in town, her stop was first. Quietly she said her goodbyes and slipped out of the car feeling disappointed that Dom hadn’t even acknowledged she was leaving.

***

Angel whacked Dom upside his head. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What did I do?”

“You didn’t even tell your girlfriend bye.”

“Shit, I’ll text her.”

“Who are you so enthused to talk to that you could blow off Chelsea like that, bruh?” Dakota asked.

“None ya business.”

That answer wasn’t good enough for Dakota. He snatched Dom’s phone and held him off with one arm while he thumbed through the messages. “Ah hell, bruh. Really?
Jade
.”

“Give me my phone back damn it,” Dom yanked it out of his brother
’s hand and shoved it in his pocket.

“I can’t believe you’re back to messing with that trashy troublemaker. Especially when you got a good girl like Chels. What are you thinking, bruh?” Dakota shook his head.

“She’s not trash and my relationship with Chelsea is none of your concern. You handle your business, I’ll handle mine.”

Angel huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, “You better be straight with Chelsea, Dom. If you hurt her…”

“Thank God it’s my stop,” he interrupted as they pulled into the driveway to drop him off. “Night y’all, it’s been fun.”

As he walked inside, he shot a quick text off to Chelsea telling her he was home now and apologizing for being distracted while texting with ‘an old friend’. He felt the guilt creeping up on him but he was still full of liquor and curiosity so he continued his conversation with Jade until sleep won out and he went to bed.

***

He apologized in a text. Really? Was that all she was worth was a simple text? No way was she going to let him blow her off like that and it
being smoothed over by a text. If he didn’t have the courtesy to call, he didn’t deserve a reply. It was obvious he had other things on his mind since he didn’t try texting or calling after she ignored his message. Two could play that game.

Chelsea put her phone on the charger and turned down her blankets. Before she went to bed she stripped in the bathroom and took a hot shower, washing off the smoky smell of the bar. Toweling off, she crawled between the sheets and fell right into a fitful sleep.

The next morning, waking up with a killer headache reminded her why she rarely drank. It really wasn’t worth it. When she opened her eyes, Mr. Chewy was staring at her with his nose nearly touching hers while he purred loud enough to make her head pound. He rubbed his paw on the top of her head as if he sensed her ache. Why couldn’t men be as thoughtful and loving as a pet? She hadn’t even given Mr. Chewy his treat when she came home last night, yet he still was here, loving on her, now using both paws to massage her head. Of course, he was probably trying to coerce her into crawling out of bed and getting him a treat.

It worked.

She rolled out of bed and slipped on her fluffy pink terrycloth robe and went to the kitchen to fetch her frisky feline his treat and start a pot of coffee. It was her Saturday off and she had no plans. She had no plans because she had sadly mistaken that Dom was staying the night last night and she would be spending the day with him.

With a shrug of her shoulders she decided it was high time she did something for herself for once. A good way to start that would be breakfast at Ms. Lola’s, followed by going car shopping. She had pinched pennies and saved her money for a down payment quite
a while now so she might as well trade in her dilapidated old Ford and get something reliable. She poured a mug of coffee and leaned against the counter, sending a text to her bestie to see if she wanted to go with her. While she waited for a reply, she went about getting dressed and pulling her long blond waves up in a ponytail. Lilah had given her a pretty white scarf with a floral pattern that she hadn’t worn yet, so she tied it artfully around her head in a cute pin up style before applying her makeup. Feeling brighter and more daring, she chose a strawberry red lipstick that matched the flowers in the scarf. After applying her mascara and a hint of blush, she smiled at herself in the mirror. This day was looking up already. Lilah would meet her at the diner. The prospect of shopping for a new car and a visit with Lilah and Ms. Lola was just what she needed.

Opening her closet door, Chelsea picked o
ut a short sleeve, white button up blouse and a pair of red Capri pants with a black belt. They would look so cute with her red platform pumps. She was definitely embodying Marilyn Monroe’s pin up style today. Embracing her curves and displaying them in a fashionable way made her feel good. After donning a short strand of pearls and tiny pearl stud earrings she was ready to face the day. Dressing up to make yourself feel good was like putting a layer of armor on. It made her stand taller and stop feeling sorry for herself that Dom blew her off the night before. It was a new day.

When she pulled into the diner she didn’t see Lilah’s orange mustang in the lot but once she went inside, she saw her friend sitting at the counter talking to Ms. Lola. “Hey bestie! You look beautiful as ever,” Chelsea hugged her friend, then leaned over the counter and kissed Ms. Lola on the cheek. “Ms. Lola, you never age. What’s your secret, lovely lady?”

“Oh lordy, darlin’ girl. You flatter this old woman! I always say a good lovin’ man, hard work, and prayer works wonders.” Her laughter was the contagious kind, boisterous and joyful. Both girls laughed along with her.

“Well, we need to work on the good lovin’ man part,” Chelsea said.

“From what I been hearin’, both you girls got yourselves men-folk clammerin’ after ya.”

Lilah blushed and turned to Chelsea. “I thought things were going good between you and Dom. Did I miss something?” Even Ms. Lola wanted to hear the answer to that so after she poured cups of coffee for them and one for herself, she pulled up a stool and sat with them to chat while her mister cooked breakfast.

Chelsea explained how Dom had ignored her on the ride home while he texted with someone she assumed to be a woman since he’d been shielding his phone from her. She’d had high expectations that he was through with dating and flirting with other women, but after that and him only sending her one vague text when he got home, her hopes were pretty well dashed.

“Shoot, darlin, my mister was an idiot when he drank back in the day. Not that he was a drunkard, but he sure didn’t have an ounce of consideration when he was liquored up. Don’t mind that boy being ignorant. I’ve seen how he looks at you. That boy got love fo’ you child.”

“Did he not say who he was texting?” Lilah questioned.

“No, he didn’t say a thing to me at all. He just turned his phone so I couldn’t see it.”

“Maybe Ms. Lola is right. We all drank a lot and he’s never been good in relationships sober so you’re going to have a lot of work to do to get him straight,” Lilah teased. “But I know he cares for you. That’s a fact.”

“Enough about me. What happened between you and Jake last night after you left the bar? Have you told Ms. Lola who showed up in all her slutty glory?”

“That’s what we were chatting about when you got here. Jake swears he had no idea she was coming to town, or going to the bar last night. I’m struggling with the fact he was dreaming about her. I mean, doesn’t that mean he’s in love with her still if he’s emotional while dreaming?”

“Honey child, now you listen here. That boy done gone head and fell in love with you and you know it. Sounds to me like he was having more of a nightmare than
, some kinda love dream. Besides that, he’s ain’t no fool, he know he deserves better than that piece of work. Shoot, y’all shoulda seen her up in here with her hind end hangin’ out for God and everybody to see, and she was proud as can be to be showing it. In front of her momma and daddy too! I tell you what…” Ms. Lola shook her head in disgust.

“Both you girls are still youngin
’s. Enjoy your life and don’t base your happiness on account a no man. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. If you know you both in love and some chunk a change in a two bit dress come along lookin’ to take yo’ man? You handle ya business. Y’all hear me now?” Mister rang the bell and called out the order was up and Ms. Lola went to get their plates and set the steaming food in front of them. Blueberry pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs looked and smelled like heaven.

“Now, eat your breakfast and go buy you a sexy lil car, darlin’ girl so’s ya can take me for a spin round the block next time you come see me.” She waddled to the back and both girls looked at each other and smiled.

“She gives the best advice doesn’t she?” Chelsea grinned at Lilah as she nodded her head, already digging into her syrupy pancakes.

When they had eaten to their hearts content and refused another cup of Ms. Lola’s coffee, the girls gave out hugs and kisses to Ms. Lola and her
mister. Turning to leave, the door swung open and in walked Dom and a familiar face. Tall and even thinner than she was in high school with board straight, red hair, was none other than Jade, Dom’s ex-girlfriend. The same girl that spent years doing her best to torment Chelsea simply because she was jealous of the tight friendship between her and Dom.

Chelsea paled, gripping Lilah’s arm. “That must’ve been who he was texting. Shit, Lilah, what
the hell do I do?” The sinking feeling and insecurity made her stomach roll.

“Remember what Ms. Lola said?
If you know you both in love and some chunk a change in a two bit dress come along lookin’ to take yo’ man? You handle ya business.
So do it, Chels. Handle your business!”

Dom and Jade still hadn’t seen them. When Dom walked to a table by the front window and sat down, she noticed a few things. He didn’t pull Jade’s chair out for her like he would do for Chelsea. When he smiled at Jade, it was polite, but again, not like when he smil
ed at her. His smile didn’t show in his eyes.

She wanted to believe he meant it when he told her he loved her.

“Lilah, what if he still loves her? What if that’s really why he blew me off last night?”

“Chels, Dom doesn’t go around telling women he loves them. We both know that. You’re the only woman I know of that he’s said those three words to. And I know my
, Twinnie.” Lilah pried Chelsea’s fingers off her arm and gave her a shove. Gritting her teeth in a smile while she said under her breath, “Handle your business, girl! Go on before they see us plotting what to do.”

Chelsea took a deep breath and pushed her shoulders back, holding her head high. She decided then and there that she wasn’t going to let that hateful bitch
Jade think she was going to come back to town, and take her man from her. Even if he was an idiot sometimes, he was
her
idiot.

“Dom! Hey, baby,” she said in her
sugary sweet, most happiest of tones. When he turned to her he smiled bright, then looked at Jade for a second and his smile faltered before he stood up and opened his arms. She walked right into them too. Hugging him tight, she took a moment to just breathe in his familiar cologne and nuzzle her face against his neck. “I didn’t know you were meeting anyone for breakfast. I figured you might sleep in for once or I would have invited you and your friend to join Lilah and I.” Maybe it was wicked of her to act like she didn’t recognize Jade but she was rather enjoying herself at the moment.