My Sister's Ex by Cydney Rax Read Free Book Online

…”
    “I’ll take my time and think carefully before giving him an answer.”
    “I wish I would have done that with Jeff.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “Alita, remember I told you how scared I was? I mean, of course I’m crazy about the guy, but to be his bride? I’m so young. I feel like I haven’t lived enough life yet. I haven’t yet come into a strong sense of self. I don’t want to have any regrets.”
    “But life and love are about taking chances, girl.”
    “You don’t have to preach to me. It’s too late now, Alita, don’t you think?”
    “No, not really.”
    “If he’s kicking it with Marlene, it is too late.”
    “You and Jeff need to have a conversation.”
    “I can’t.”
    “You gotta. You need to let him know how you feel.”
    “He’s still pissed at me.”
    “But do you know that for sure? Have you asked?”
    “I doubt he’d answer if I call him.”
    “Sneak and call him using Marlene’s cell. Then he’d answer.”
    “Ouch, that’s unimaginable. Crazy. Dang, I can’t stand this. How can Marlene do this to me? I would never, ever do anything like this to her. Why can’t she understand how I feel?”
    “Girl, you’re a trip. She doesn’t even know that you know, so … you’re not making much sense.”
    Floyd returns to the classroom, so we’ll have to continue our conversation later. He instructs everyone to stand up, and we move the tables and chairs out of the way so that the center of the room is clear and accessible. Floyd then asks all twelve women to stand in a circle so we can first do stretching exercises.
    For the next thirty minutes, Floyd and his coteachers take us through a series of self-defense moves. How to block. How to stand and where to place our feet in preparation for an attack. They explain why it is important to yell and scream when you’re being attacked. Floyd tells us, “The louder you yell, the more power and strength you give to your body.”
    “No! Stop! Stay back!” We yell these words so manytimes my throat grows sore and begins to hurt. I have to stop and sip bottled water a few times.
    And before we know it, class is over. I’m hot and sticky and want nothing more than to jump in the shower and clean the dirt off my body.
    “Alita, is it all right if I come home with you? I don’t want to be at my place with Marlene tonight.”
    “Sure, no problem.”
    “I think I’ll just wear a pair of your shorts and a T-shirt when I go to bed.”
    “Jeez, Rachel. Are you sure you don’t want to go home and pick up some overnight clothes? Are you that afraid to face your sister?”
    “Girl, she’s still at work so it’s not like I’ll run into her … I just don’t want to be at the house anytime soon. I need to chill out with you. No telling what I’ll do to her the next time I see the wench.”
    “For real? Have y’all had physical fights before?”
    “Ha, I remember when were young, she’d sit her big butt on my back many times. She’d grab my hair and yank at it. She was so heavy I could barely breathe, felt like I was about to die. My mama would have to pull Marlene off me. And then I’d get beat with a belt because Mama felt I should have taken the closest thing to me and knocked the hell outta my sister. Not easy to do when it feels like the Empire State Building is sitting on top of you.”
    Alita chuckles. “Your mama is a trip.”
    “Oh, baby, you have no idea. Mama’s like that because she had to be. But I think she’s trying to do better. Man, I gotta talk to my mama. Tell you what, I know I have some old pjs over at her place, so that works out perfectly. I’ll pay her a little visit and then meet you at your spot later.”
    Alita and I share a warm hug and go our separate ways.
    When it comes to how I view myself, my life purpose, and who I am, things can get fairly complicated. Sometimes I don’t know where I fit in. I’m not as bad as a sinner, yet I’m not pure enough to be a saint. My feelings get so