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18 | FRANCESCA PE NN

“I am a fashionista. I have good taste. You will take the things I got you and
like it, brat.” I laugh, could a twenty-nine-year-old still be a brat? “Besides, this is
quality stuff, Sandy Cakes. Bobbi Brown has wonderful color palettes. I looooove
a good sale at Macy’s!” I know what’s coming next. I start the countdown in my
head. Five, four, three, two, one… “You’ll catch a man in no time, and I will get my

grandbabies.”
“I knew it, Mom! I could win money off you. I got the trifecta.” I shoot
imaginary guns with my fingers and blow them. “I’m hot on this guessing game.
Not even two minutes. This is a new record.”
“Shut it, child. I’m just anxious. You wasted a lot of time on that uptight ass. I
just want to make sure you’re not at home pining away for him.” I roll my eyes. He
bruised my ego, but if I am being totally honest, I am not upset with him for
leaving. I just didn’t like HOW he did it. There was no point in insulting me. If it’s

over, it’s over. Period. The end.
“Not in this lifetime, Mom. I think I was with him because I didn’t feel like
dating.”
My mom’s sigh is of genuine relief. “Good. I never liked him anyway. Okay,
doll, I’m about to hit up the Galleria. I will be at your house tomorrow with the
stuff I bought you. And yes, I do expect you to try on everything and twirl like a
princess.”
I rub my wet hand on my face. “There has to be some level where this is

considered child abuse.”
“Nope,” my mom quips. “They’re not checking for your old ass. See you
tomorrow.” Just like that she is gone as quickly as she came.

My doorbell startles me briefly. I know he was coming, but the reality of it is
different. Henry was practically a stranger last Saturday. I knew who he was and
had seen him in passing, but we’d never spoken until the elevator broke. And, here
I am about to let him in my home four short days later. I take in a deep breath to
calm my unnecessary nerves – it’s not like it is a date; he has a whole pregnant