Time to Shine Read Online Free PDF Page A

that Zac would want his son to be a part of his big day. You can’t erase him, Zac. And you can’t erase me. But as long as you keep sending me those checks, you don’t have to worry about me being too much of a problem.”
    The girl turns to leave, but does not take the boy’s hand.
    â€œAren’t you forgetting someone, Nya?” Zac asks.
    â€œNope. You can arrange for a sitter when you go on your honeymoon, but I think it’s time for Zac Jr. to spend some quality time with his daddy.”
    â€œYou c-can’t just do this!” Mystique protests.
    Nya ignores Mystique and the little boy as he starts to whimper. She strides right out of the reception hall as disruptively as she came in.
    The poor little boy is in full-fledged scream mode. “Mommy! Mommy!”
    All those years of taking care of my little cousin Manny has given me a bit of experience in the diffusing of tears in little boys. I let DeShawn go and run to the little tot and scoop him up in my arms.
    â€œHey, little man!” I say as his screams turn back to whimpers. “This is a party for your daddy! You like parties?”
    The little boy nods.
    â€œWell, this is a big ol’ party too! They have all kinds of cookies and cakes over there on that table. You want to get some?”
    â€œCake?” he asks, his tears almost forgotten.
    â€œYep! As much as you can eat.”
    I glance over at Zac and Mystique and mouth, I got this . I take little baby Zac over to the table and let him fill up a plate of every goodie imaginable. Then, I take him to the table where Zac and Mystique’s mothers are sitting.
    Zac’s mother, Ellie, reaches out to the Zac Jr. “Come sit on granny’s lap, baby.”
    A huge smile bursts onto the boy’s face. He definitely recognizes his grandmother, although he doesn’t seem too familiar with his daddy. He scrambles onto Ellie’s lap and takes bites out of each of his desserts.
    Zac signals to the DJ to start the music back up, and the party resumes as if the interruption had never occurred. I take DeShawn by the hand and walk over to Dreya and Evan’s table, the Reign Records table.
    I sit down in an empty seat next to Dreya. She snickers like she already knows what I’m going to say.
    â€œThat was foul,” I whisper in her ear.
    She shrugs. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    â€œThat little scene. I know you had something to do with that.”
    Dreya laughs and runs her hand lovingly down Evan’s arm. “Sunday, I wish I had coordinated that. That chick was the most entertaining part of this bougie, boring wedding reception.”
    â€œSunday, I know you don’t think Dreya would do something like that to a label mate,” Evan says. “That would just be in poor taste.”
    I roll my eyes at Evan because his words are saying one thing, but the glint in his eye tells me he and Dreya were probably in cahoots on this thing.
    Bethany, who is sitting in the next seat, taps my arm. “Hey, girl. I didn’t get a chance to speak to you earlier. You look really pretty as a bridesmaid.”
    â€œThank you. You look good too. You ready to get back in the studio?”
    She grins. “Of course. You?”
    â€œMaybe. Gotta figure out how to navigate around Sam, but other than that I’m ready.”
    DeShawn leans over and takes my hand. “I can help you navigate around Sam. Like right now, I can take you right up out of here, and we can have our own after-party back at your dorm.”
    â€œI am ready to go, DeShawn, but don’t think something is gonna pop off. This ain’t prom night or nothing. You can eat ice cream and brownies with me and my girls if you want.”
    DeShawn smirks. “If that’s all I can get for now, I’ll take it. But pretty soon, you’ll want me. You won’t be able to help yourself.”
    This makes me laugh out loud. “Boy,