Black & Ugly as Ever by T. Styles Read Free Book Online

she thinks with me in the picture, Smokes won’t have time for her.”
“Well he will be a married man.” I walked over to the mirror and unraveled her ponytail so that it fell on her shoulders.
“I know…but I know how it feels to be alone.” She looked at me through the mirror.
I heard her but I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Miss Parade was. Her skin was clear and she truly looked flawless.
“You’re beautiful,” I informed her. “Can you finally see it now? You really are beautiful, Miss Parade.”
“Miss Wayne, please,” Parade attempted to walk away but her steps didn’t lead her far. “I don’t want to hear that right now.”
“Miss Parade, do you know who you are now? I mean really know who you are.”
There was a long period of silence.
“I don’t know! I don’t know,” she repeated, dropping her head. She sat down on the bench. “I’m just trying to be happy for what I got. A man who wants me. You know?”
Silence.
“Is your mother coming?” I asked, skipping the subject although I truly prayed for the day when she would finally know her self worth.
“No.” She looked down in her lap. “She still hates me for escaping her verbal abuse and I’m through trying to talk to her.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“If she met Smokes I know she’d like him though.” Her eyes widened with hope.
“Speaking of Smokes, have you guys discussed that night yet?” I was speaking of the night he hired Cannon to murder Sky.
She looked around to be sure Sweets wasn’t coming in the room and said, “I’m afraid to.”
“Well I think you should. He made a serious threat to all of us and I’d like to be able to rest knowing he doesn’t want my nuts on a platter anymore.”
“I’m sure your nuts are safe.” She laughed.
“You know what I mean. You guys need to talk about that night.”
“I’m just joking.” She rubbed my hand. “I’ll talk about it with him later.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah…I’ve been thinkin’ about it too. He never mentioned anything. I mean, at one point he was gonna kill me, you, Sky and Daffany just to find out who killed his wife. And now I’m gonna be his wife.”
“Right. You sure you know what you’re doin’, Miss Parade?” I held her beautiful face in my hands. “Cause this is serious. I mean…you shouldn’t ask him if you think he can’t take it. It might set him off.”
We were in a middle of a conversation when Sweets walked back into the room with two dresses in her hand. One looked like it could be used to wrap a truck in and the other looked like an old bed spread.
“Honey, why don’t you like Miss Parade?”
“I do,” she said placing the dresses down on the stool. “I’m more on her side than you think I am. So why would you say that?”
“Cause you and I both know you wouldn’t be caught dead in either of those dresses. So why bring them to us?”
“I would wear these dresses,” Sweets covered her mouth with her hands in disbelief. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Parade.”
“Miss Parade, from here on out, I’m taking over your wedding plans.”
“Excuse me?” Sweets said, with her hands on her hips. “Smokes trusted me to handle all of the affairs.”
“Honey, the only thing you gonna handle is your ass in a seat. I’m not about to stand by and let you ruin my girl’s wedding. I’ve spoken! You’re dismissed!”
Sweets got so pissed with me she ran out the dressing room slamming the door shut.
“You know I’ma hear about this shit when I get home right?” Miss Parade slid her clothes giggling the entire time. “Yeah well if he gets mad tell him to come see me.” “You serious?”
“Girl, I’m just playin’ that man’ll kill me dead, honey!”
“That’s what I thought.” She laughed, slipping on her shoes. “But let me get home before she calls him. I’ma talk to you later.” She grabbed her purse.
“Wait…you talk to Miss Daffany yet?” I asked, stopping her from leaving momentarily.
“No and