Lynnia (29 page)

Her nasal voice grated on Lynnia’s nerves. The seventeen year old looked like a younger version of Sofia Vergara. All the boys drooled over her. Of course, she had to go after the one that hadn’t. She needed to have every boy in every grade to make her feel like somebody. Looking at the assets that were unmistakably present on Margo’s body, it was a wonder any girl stood a chance. It didn’t help that Lynnia didn’t think much of herself and what she had to offer.

That day, she and Dario had been doing their normative of homework before fooling around. She was dreading even thinking about it less more acting on anything. All she kept thinking about was what Margo had said. As soon as they had their homework finished, she slipped her shoes on and was out the door before he could think of initiating anything. She continued that routine for a week until he cornered her in the hallway outside of the boys’ locker room.

“What’s going on, Lynnie? I don’t get it. Did I do something? Why does it seem like you’re avoiding being alone with me?” he was leaning over her, close enough that she could feel his body heat. Her body was on high alert just being near him, enter Margo.

“Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. You slipped away last night and I wasn’t done,” her nasal voice dripped with the truth of the meaning of her words.

Lynnia slipped under his arm and quickly moved to the side. Before he could speak, she was moving up the hallway and around the corridor. She didn’t stop until she’d made it through the double doors that led to the main hall.

It wasn’t until months later and a very heated conversation between the two of them that she found out he had been tutoring Margo. The girl tried repeatedly to get him to have sex with her, but he wasn’t having it because he didn’t feel right about it. He had something that was important and he hadn’t wanted to mess it up. Lynnia had been clueless to the fact he was talking about what he had with her. They eventually hit the just friends zone and remained there until those occasions where they were lonely, feeling nostalgic, or just plain horny as hell. They would give in to the base need and fireworks would light the sky. At least for her they always did. The man had picked up a few things from his other experiences. She wasn’t a slouch or a plank style participant. There was a reason he kept coming back for more.

“Quinnie, do you mind if we get into this a little later. I have some things I need to get taken care of and caught up on. Not to mention we have a meeting in a couple hours with our new client.”

Lynnia’s hands shook as she came back to the present and tried to ignore the response she had to the thoughts about her times with Dario. He’d been addictive from the first moment and she needed to kick the habit of him. That was where things were with them and she needed to stop dwelling on what they had in the past.

“I can’t believe this, Evie. You’re actually going to sign a contract with this female? This female is getting ready to have her bridal shower here in the restaurant you christened with the man she’s about to marry. How in the hell did all of this get so fucked up? I didn’t know … you’re telling me, we’re doing this?”

“Yes, Quinnie. Yes. That’s what I’m telling you. I’m surprised as fuck as well. I didn’t expect this shit, but I’m not about to turn that money away. I just won’t be here. I will stab him in his shit if asks me to be there. Barring that, my restaurant will be made available for the festivities. Now, I have tons to take care of, little sister. Please leave me to do it. I love you. I just need to work.”

For once, her sister didn’t argue. She let things be.

“Love you too, sissy. I’ll talk to you later.”

Chyra waddled around the desk and gave her a tight squeeze. Lynnia waited until she knew that Chyra was long gone before lifting the tumbler she had on her office desk and tossing it at the opposite wall. The wail that tore out of her throat felt like it came from her very core. Her hand went to her stomach and she cried at the truth that he was officially gone. He was no longer hers. He was in love with another and willing to have all that she wanted for them with this woman. All she had was this little bug growing within her. It was the only thing she had to hold onto. Hope was dashed and she had things to prepare for. It didn’t stop her from remaining in the fetal position for another ten minutes. The tears ran freely as she pictured another woman’s face taking her place at the altar in front of Dario. The choice was his because she’d been too scared to let him know the real choices that were available to him. Her pain was her own damned fault. Hers alone.

Over the speakers of the restaurant “What If” by Colbie Caillat began to play. She sang of possibly becoming best friends and lovers. Lynnia totally agreed with wanting to stay in one moment with the one that she loved over and over again, but that wasn’t her reality. Her reality was he remained in moments with someone that wasn’t her while she stood off in the background raising his first born child. If the lyrics to the song were correct, the question she would need them both to ask themselves would be if what they had was real love since they could seem to come together like they should.

~~~~~~~

One week later

“Tell me that I’m not hearing this. Tell me that you are not …” Zoie’s voice had reached a pitch that none of them had heard since they were young girls.

“… pregnant with the baby of a man that is supposed to be engaged to that girl, excuse me, that ‘woman’ that ‘owns his heart’ was the way she put it before,” Wynter supplied and smiled when Lynnia shot her a dirty look. She just lifted her glass to her lips and continued calmly speaking as if they were discussing the weather. “She is. Go ahead, L., tell them what he said when you told him.”

All four of her sisters looked at her and waited for Lynnia’s response. She couldn’t make herself say the words. It wasn’t supposed to be this way with Dario. Sitting at the edge of the bench had all of them leaning forward to see her. Chyra was the only one that was on an opposite bench while Wynter was on a stool in between the two. The woman was still smiling as the rest of her sisters looked as if they were on the edge of their seats. Lynnia averted her gaze and was about to speak when Chyra took the opportunity away from her.

“Either she pulled a me and didn’t tell the man?” Chyra paused for a breath of a moment before continuing. “Or she told Dario and being the man that I know that he is …”

Chyra’s sentence stopped short and the area grew quiet enough to cause Lynnia to grow alarmed. She looked up to see Chyra and Wynter sharing a look. Her raised eyebrow had Chyra looking her way and nodding.

“He told you that he was more than ready to do what was necessary for this child and you freaked the hell out, didn’t you? He said that he wanted you.
You
. In your mind, you can’t be happy. You don’t think you deserve it.”

“Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. You hit the nail right on the head, baby sister. L. Boogie is scared as hell to embrace her ‘happy’. Instead, she is making up excuses as to why this man would suddenly step up and be ready to commit himself to her.”

Lynnia remained quiet.

“Oh, hellz no you don’t, L. What in the hell are they talking about? The loudest, most outspoken of us all is actually trying to play shy on us,” Rayna called down the end of the bench and announced to the room.

Lynnia placed her head in her hands and rocked. Maybe if she did this enough then she would be able to disappear and this conversation would not be happening.

“How is he offering to do right by you when he’s set to marry someone else?” Chyra asked, effectively bringing the elephant in the room and parking it directly in front of Lynnia.

“They don’t remember the fact that you were once the nerdy, shy girl that was the ‘little sister’ of the cheer captain, student council president and valedictorian.” Chyra pointed to Rayna, Zoie then Wynter in order of the titles she spoke. “They forget that you weren’t always outspoken and outgoing L. Boogie. There was once this girl felt like she was the one who nobody saw and fought with her body weight because she thought she was to be known as the ‘fat’ Norton sister for the rest of her life,” Chyra said as she stared directly at Lynnia.

Lynnia’s eyes watered as she listened to her baby sister report what none of her sisters knew she’d struggled with. They didn’t see her as anyone other than their little sister. She was one of them, accepted and loved. Outside of their little group, she was outcast and looked down upon. No one ever really saw her. She was always Rayna, Zoie, or Wynter’s little sister. Nyema hated being in the limelight so she steered clear of all of the groups and studied. Anytime anyone ever tried to tease her or make her feel bad, she would pretend to be so engrossed in a book that they would finally give up and leave her alone.

“Forgive me for wanting the man that asks me to marry him  to actually want me to be his wife because he loves me and not out of some desperate obligation to his child. Besides, I didn’t exactly tell him the full truth. He doesn’t know I’m carrying his baby. Enjoy the rest of your lunch. Talk about this situation all you want. I’m leaving.”

Lynnia did just that before anyone else could speak up. She didn’t want any more comments from the peanut gallery. Her mind was made up and she was doing what was best for her little unit. At least she hoped she was.

Chapter 16