James is a little advanced in age and not a looker. What would a sane young woman like me be attracted to in that kind of man? My love is not based on money. It will never be based on money. Not entirely. Keisha Simmons is one hell of a crazy woman. I for one still wouldn’t see James Simmons as something more than that even if he had billions. But that is just me. There are other young women whose ideal type are men way older than them. When it comes to James, I understandably do overtime for his work too. Kendall has grandparents whom she lives with and solely looks after. She too is included on the list. Veronica is only just married. I heard her husband works in the Navy. So he is almost never home with her. She doesn’t have kids and a full family to look after like the others. Out of the entire team, Raymond and I are the only ones not tied down by familial commitments. But unlike me, he gets off work early. They don’t bother him with their workload as they do me. I hear my name being called. Raymond soon catches up to me. "You are still on board right?"

"On board with what?" I did not get him. Not as soon as he mentions the wedding.

"Oh right. I am sorry. I am just—nevermind." I can’t say that I am excited to fuck the cock I did last Friday. Honestly Gweneth, what have you become since that night? You were never like this.

"I will come pick you up at 9pm. Is that okay with you, or too early?"

"It’s fine with me." I am not a girl who takes forever to get dolled up. I won’t even doll up much. It is just an unfamiliar wedding that I am forced to attend because I and someone got too comfortable.

"Thank you so much. You wouldn’t understand what you have just done for me." He beams with a radiant smile on his face.

"What did I do?" My head cocks to the side, needing him to elaborate what he meant by that.

"It is just that. . . I would no longer have to face the feeling of awkwardness thanks to you." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Oh please." I roll my eyes. "Quit flattering me like you did not have a plan B."

"I didn’t. Not on you. I never did." He said. Okay, is it just me or is that. . .

The impulse to ask what he means is almost too strong to ignore, stirring in my chest, opening my mouth to let the words out. Who was I kidding? He does not need to know how much thought I’d started to give him since what Laurel said to me at the pantry.

"Can I give you a ride home?" He gestures to his car parked meters away. A sleek white Sedan. "You’ve got a nice car." I comment. "Thanks."

I politely rejected his offer and got into a taxi instead. I paid the cab fare and got out. My phone rang at the main apartment building entrance. "Hi mom."

"Hi baby. How are you doing?"

"I am fine. What about you guys? How is Percy?"

"We are all doing okay. Percy went out with Dad. We just can’t wait until the wedding. Your father has been practicing with me how to walk you down the aisle. How is the preparations going? How far along are you guys? Have you picked a dress yet? I stumbled upon this interesting magazines of wedding dresses designs that you might like. I have all the photos on my phone but I just don’t know how to send them to you." She bombarded.

I should just blurt it out and tell her. "Mom?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"There is something I need to tell you." I breathe enough air into my lungs for what I was about to say.

"Neil and I—"

"Neil! Welcome. How are you?" Her excited voice rang out. Who is she greeting?

"I am fine mother. I am here for some business. So I thought I should drop by."

My brows knit into an unsettling frown. Why does that sound like. . .? "Gweneth is on the phone. Let me put her on." There was the clattering sound of something falling, after mom’s voice. I repeated hello, but the line had gone dead. Her phone must have fallen again. She just can’t prevent it from slipping from her hands. It didn’t go through when I tried again. It must have completely broken this time. The effect of what I saw playing behind the door of my apartment was not instantaneous. My brain shut down momentarily like a computer system in dire need of a software update. I blinked severally to digest the scene in front of me. "What is going on here?"