Love Thy Neighbor Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’m friends with these girls.
    Tina and Nik found out about Ghost and I by
accidently hearing us in the conference room the night we did it. I
told Mimi and Lola one day at work when they questioned why Ghost
and I never talk anymore. I don’t like secrets. I prefer to be
honest with people. Sometimes, I’ve been told, I can be brutally
honest. But I can’t change who I am.
    Lola straightens and says softly, “That
sucks, babe.”
    Mimi chuckles. “Yeah. That sucks ass.
Sorry.”
    I scowl at Mimi. “You don’t sound sorry,
hag.” She laughs harder and I fight not to smirk. Mimi treats me
like my sisters do. That’s awesome because I miss them, and Mimi
makes me feel at home.
    Tina wraps me up in a hug and whispers, “Oh,
honey. I’m sorry. That must be hard for you.”
    I lie. “No. It isn’t. It would just be
really great if I never saw him. Avoiding him is best.”
    Mimi’s face becomes serious and she asks
quietly, “Why do you need to avoid him if you’re okay with it?”
    The girls stare at me for a good thirty
seconds before I respond quietly, “He told her I was no one.”
    Mimi frowns, Lola gasps and Tina shakes her
head slowly.
    I continue on a whisper, “It hurt. Really
badly. And I may have cried.”
    Tina lifts her face and blinks. “But you
never cry.”
    I reply an exasperated, “I know, right?! I’m
blaming it on the sleep deprivation.”
    Mimi responds softly, “Or maybe you really
do care.” Lola nods in agreement.
    I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “I
don’t want to care! God, why does this always happen? Ghost needs
someone like Tina. Someone who is caring and sweet and delicate.
And I need someone like- like- I don’t even know who!”
    Frustration eats at me.
    “Why not go out on a date with someone? Get
your mind off him?” Lola suggests.
    My brows lift. That is not a bad
suggestion.
    Do it.
    I put one fisted hand under my chin and
pose.
    The Thinker.
    Tina giggles. “Not every problem is resolved
with a date.”
    Mimi adds, “But it can’t hurt either.”
    Both good points.
    I respond, “It’s been a while since I’ve
been on a date. I think that’s a great idea.” I smile and ask “What
would I do without you guys? Group hug!” They smile and move closer
to me. I wrap them up and squeeze them tight.
    I love my girls.
    ***
    Saturday night approaches and I’m
pumped.
    I can’t wait to get to the club and find
myself a man!
    Tina used to host the festivities before we
went out which would consist of all us girls getting ready and
yakking about anything and everything. But now she has Tatiana, and
she can’t do it anymore. So I offered up my place.
    Ghost won’t be there. I know he starts work
at the club around seven.
    I check my watch. It’s close to nine.
    Perfect!
    Mimi and Lola turn up minutes after I check
my watch and we commence getting ready. We’ll meet Tina there.
    We take turns using the bathroom mirror. I
decide to save time and do Mimi’s makeup so we can get out of here
earlier. Mimi fixes Lola’s hair and I begin to ready myself by
letting my hair down and ruffling it.
    Mimi dresses in a black tube mini dress with
black heels. Her blonde hair is straight and her eye makeup is dark
and smudged. She looks hot.
    Lola dresses in skinny black low-rider
jeans, a white tank and strappy sandals. Her long brown hair is
half up and her makeup is minimal. But she still looks amazing. Now
that she and Trick are a sort-of item, she doesn’t dress for anyone
but him anymore. I’ll admit it. It’s kinda sweet.
    I wear a bright canary yellow dress. It
comes a little above my knees, has long sleeves and is tight. It
hugs my curves. You would think I’d look like a clown wearing a
yellow dress with bright red hair but, somehow, it works. I can’t
wear underwear under this dress, it shows the lines. So I decide,
for one night, to go without.
    I feel bare. And icky.
    I finish my look with light yellow strappy
pumps. My makeup is done using a little