My Best Friend and My Man by Cydney Rax Read Free Book Online Page B

know I have.”
    “But today you’ve taken some good steps. I mean, you got rid of Ferris, and I can imagine how hard it was to do that,” I tell her with all sincerity.
    “Wasn’t hard at all,” Vee says with conviction. “To hell with him. He got some nerve asking me out ’cause Shelly wasn’t around. That fool needs to keep me out of his drama. I’m a number one, dammit!”

—5—
    V ERON
    I am a liar, and my biggest victim is me. I want to get rid of this inability to face hard truths starting now. I am sitting here staring at Michael West and Demetria. I’m looking and listening and making mental notes that I pray won’t escape my memory. But somewhere in the back of my head, I’m hearing, “It’s hard to go against type. You’re a Virgo; you can’t suddenly be a Scorpio. That’s not you. Be
you
.”
    I scream at my brain to shut up and it whimpers down to silence, muted to humility. I know I can institute this new transformation. Yeah, a new life may start with the outward (the new sexy hairpiece), but eventually my inward will be chipped away. I’ll break down the parts of myself that are limping and dysfunctional and build myself up into a woman who’s glorious, strong, confident, and desirable. This new woman who I’m becoming won’t be second to anyone. I’ll draw the type of men that Demetria draws and get the kind of attention she does. That’s my goal. And I’m going to do my best to reach it. I might be a little afraid now, but like Demetria, I want to face the fear until all the butterflies are chased from my belly.
    “Okay, Ms. Darcey,” Mike says to me. “How are you feeling inside?”
    “I feel pretty good right about now. As a matter of fact, I actually detect joy inside.”
    “Hot damn, that’s the best thing I’ve heard come out your mouth in a while,” Demetria exclaims. “Why do you feel joy?”
    “I–I don’t know exactly why, but I know the fact that I feel joy without having a man in my face right now is a great thing. It’s like I’m cool with where I am right this second. That make sense?”
    “Perfect sense,” Demetria says. “You know you got it going on and you don’t care if anyone agrees with you or not. ’Cause what you think about yourself is more important than what anybody else thinks.”
    “Exactly,” I say, feeling a bit rejuvenated.
    “That’s where it starts,” Mike adds. “You speak it until it becomes reality.”
    “I’m doing it, Mike, what else do I have to lose?”
    “Then, young lady, I think you’re now on your way,” Mike says and picks up his glass filled with a tasty Hurricane. “Let’s toast. To Veron Darcey and the fabulous new woman she’s becoming.”
    “The new woman I am,” I correct him.
    We all loudly clink our glasses together as the waitress places the check in the middle of our table.
    I stare at the check, tempted to pick it up and look at it, but I know that it’s not my job. Not anymore.
    Mike scoops up the check and reaches for his wallet.
    I sit back in my seat, relishing the feeling of a man who is fine with being a man, who’s not being a cheapskate by asking us to go dutch. Dutch is for losers. Chipping in is for scrubs. I am a real woman, dammit, and I expect and deserve the best. Besides, it feels good to be pampered, taken care of, and treated with respect.
    In the parking lot, Demetria and I wave at Mike and watch him speed away in his BMW, his tires squealing and popping as if he’s trying to show off.
    “He’s cool people, Vee. Brother is the go-to man if you are in a pinch and need a keeping-it-real perspective.”
    “He gives it to us straight, no chaser, huh?” I say.
    “You damn straight. And that’s how it oughta be.”
    “So have y’all fucked?” I ask in a keeping-it-real tone.
    “What?”
    “Give it to me straight, Demetria. Be honest.”
    “Okay, I’ll give you the scoop. Let’s hop in your ride and you take me home.”
    “Cool.” I slide in the front seat of my