Independent Women - the Complete BWWM Romance Series Boxset Read Online Free PDF

I’m here for you always even if it isn’t pretty. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
     
    “I know, it was just embarrassing and I was hoping that things would be better. I promise to share more in the future, now get off of my case.”
     
    Kalena smiled, “Okay, I’m backing off. I just want you to be happy and I want you to know that I’m here for you. You didn’t ask me for my advice, but I think that you should talk to him and see what’s going on.”
     
    “I tried.”
     
    “Try again and try harder. This is your marriage and your life, it’s worth another shot. Shit, it’s worth a dozen shots. You don’t have anything to lose by trying.”
     
    Tamika took another sip of her drink and let Kalena’s words sink in. She decided that Kalena was right. She had to try to talk to him again.
     
    “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I invited Crystal,” Kalena said.
     
    “Oh yeah?”
     
    “Yep. Today is the day that we tell her about her boyfriend.”
     
    “I’m really not in the mood for this but today is just as good as any other day. Didn’t think that we would be doing this today, but let’s get this shit over with.”
     
    “My thoughts exactly. I really wanted to push through this so that we all could move on. We didn’t need this shit hanging over our heads forever and the sooner she knows the better.”
     
    Tamika groaned slightly, “It was my idea to tell her and now I’m more nervous than you. This is sad.”
     
    Kalena laughed, “It’s not sad. You just have a lot going on right now.”
     
    Tamika wondered if she had time to tell Kalena about Jin or if she should tell her about Jin at all. Maybe her friend could snap her back into reality so that she wasn’t lusting after a man who  wasn’t hers anymore. Maybe she would laugh at her for wanting an Asian man, and call her “truly desperate”. That was probably what she needed, a good old fashioned shaming. Before she could truly decide, Crystal made her way into the bar.
     
    “Hey, divas!”
     
    Tamika and Kalena got on their feet to greet their friend. Then they sat down.
     
    “Y'all didn’t order me one?” Crystal asked. “You ladies know that I’m down with the Porn Star Martini.”
     
    “Sorry girl, didn’t know what time you were coming and I didn’t want your drink to get warm,” Kalena said.
     
    “I guess I forgive you this time,” Crystal said, before she motioned for the waitress and ordered all of them another round of drinks. “I need this drink; work has been driving me insane. I swear sometimes I wonder why I do this at all.”
     
    “Probably because you love kids.”
     
    “Shhh, don’t tell anybody.”
     
    “Your secret is safe with us, even though the world knows at this point.”
     
    Crystal was a director of a non-profit organization that catered to kids in under-served neighborhoods. She worked long days and that’s why she did her best to play hard when she had the time. She didn’t have any children of her own, but she’d dedicated her life to their well-being. She was a really sweet person on the inside, with a wild streak. She had a caramel skin tone, beautiful dimples, and a smile that warmed the hearts of men, women and children. Her curvaceous body spent most of the time being hidden by suits, so when  she was able to show it off, she went all out.
     
    “I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to go insane. There is so much red tape to go through. They make it hard to do simple stuff for kids. Unfortunately, people have abused the system so much that you have to do a ton of paperwork.”
     
    “But you’re getting it done,” Tamika said.
     
    “Yes, I’m getting it done. The only thing that gets me through my week sometimes is seeing my boo.”
     
    Kalena and Tamika looked at each other and Crystal caught it.
     
    “Before the two of you say anything, I’m going to need my drink first.”
     
    As if on cue the waitress brought them the next round. Crystal