Blueprint for Love by Chanta Jefferson Rand Read Free Book Online Page A

driven away and finished what
they knew was bound to get started if they’d been alone. She was
grateful for him coming to her rescue, but it was more than that.
The powerful spark between them convinced Ronnie that she should be
as far away from that man as physically possible. She felt out of
control around him. She didn’t like feeling out of control.
    “ Ronnie, you haven’t said
a single word,” Toye accused. “Are you still buggin’ over last
night’s wardrobe malfunction?”
    Ronnie stared at her cousin, sitting across
from her in the booth. Toye had joined Ronnie and her sisters for
their monthly Saturday breakfast together. All of their schedules
were so busy; this was the only time they could find to meet.
    “ I’m not buggin’,” Ronnie
corrected. “I’m just tired.”
    “ You can’t be hung over,
‘cause you don’t drink,” Marlowe added her two cents.
    Ronnie shot back. “You do enough of that for
both of us, Marlowe.”
    They all laughed, including Marlowe. She was
the youngest, and the most spoiled. At twenty-six, she didn’t have
the same concept of responsibility as her sisters did. In fact, if
Marlowe didn’t have Candace and Ronnie to answer to, all she would
do was spend money and party. If you could earn frequent flier
miles for shopping, she’d do it!
    Candace tapped her fork against her plate in
rapid succession. “Everyone, I have an announcement to make.”
    “ You’re pregnant!” Toye
shouted.
    Candace pursed her lips. “Girl, please. No.
I’m planning a surprise birthday party for Gabe. I’m thinking his
boat will be the perfect venue. Nothing too big. Just family and
friends.”
    “ Gabe is going to love
that,” Ronnie said.
    “ I know! I just want to do
something special for him. He’s been so good to me.”
    Ronnie could see the love her sister had for
Gabe. Her eyes lit up every time she talked about him. She was
happy for Candace. She deserved a good man in her life. God knows
they all did after the misery they’d seen their mother go
through.
    Toye spoke up. “The best present you can
give Gabe is to have the damn wedding already.”
    Candace rolled her eyes. Ronnie hoped Toye
didn’t piss her off this morning. Candace had decided to have a
long engagement, citing she was too busy to plan a wedding right
now. Gabe was patiently waiting on her. He really was a sweet
guy.
    “ I’ll get married when I’m
good and ready,” Candace warned. “If Gabe doesn’t have a problem
with it, neither should anyone else.”
    Ronnie couldn’t help wondering if Toye still
wanted Gabe for herself. But she would never bring that up. All
hell would break loose if Candace was reminded of that
incident.
    “ Can I bring a date?”
Marlowe asked, effectively breaking the tension.
    Candace nodded. “Sure. Who’s your latest
victim?”
    “ Jamari.”
    “ Your ex?”
    “ Yeah, we’re on and off
again. You know how it is.”
    Toye interjected, “I thought you said he had
bad breath.”
    Marlowe shrugged. “Vodka should cover up any
smells.”
    Ronnie laughed. Her heart went out to her
sister. But she felt bad for Jamari too. It wasn’t easy being
Marlowe’s boyfriend. Simply put, the girl was high maintenance.
Maybe she and Candace were partly to blame. They’d spoiled their
little sister to make up for not having the affection of a mother.
Now, Marlowe expected everyone to cater to her. She had no shortage
of dates, but her relationships lasted about as long as a gnat’s
life cycle.
    “ What about you, Ronnie?”
Candace asked. “You can bring Jovan if you want. It’s a Rated PG
party.”
    Ronnie smiled to cover up her sadness. So,
each one of her sisters had a date. Ronnie already felt like a
third wheel. Maybe she should just bow out at the last minute. Make
some excuse. Like she had to clean out her closet. Who would
believe that?
    Well, it was a pretty big walk-in
closet.
    “ You could bring Vic,”
Toye suggested, reading her mind.
    “ Who’s Vic?”