"Happy, happy birthday today's the day for you. Happy, happy birthday from the celebration crew!"

Breylynn rocked along to the little jingle as she recorded her mother laughing away. Today her beautiful mother had turned fifty-four years young and couldn't have looked any better. And Bre would top her night off with a surprise dinner at the towns best seafood restaurant Shaun's.

In the beginning Breylynn thought it would be impossible to trick her mother into coming out. But with a little help from her aunts and her step dad they were able to pull it off. Despite her mother hating surprises and whopping Breylynn a little bit she was overall grateful. Grateful that God had blessed her to even wake up, and so happy he added an extra year to her life.

As the celebration crew, aka servers walked away Breylynn joined along side of her mother as they hugged yet again. "I hope you enjoyed yourself mom." Breylynn cooed giving her mother a tight squeeze.

"How could I not baby? Look at this beautiful dinner you put together." She exclaimed as she looked around at the balloons and all the people that had gathered tonight just for her. "Not only that but you got all my friends, siblings, and everybody else to come out. And let's not forget about the gifts. I've done more than enjoyed myself." She reassured her planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Oh yeah about the scarf I actually rented that from Melanie so I'll need that back by Monday." Breylynn joked referring to the Burberry scarf she had purchased.

"Girl! I almost called you something." She warned giving Bre's back a small pat. "Well tell Melanie I said thank you for her gift too."

"I'm the one that helped her pick out that Coach purse so don't be to h-."

"Me and Ronda go way back. Oh way back." Someone sung causing everyone to turn their necks towards the unfamiliar sound. Breylynn's eyes seemed to be first to land on the mysterious person. There stood a tall, fair-skinned man rocking to the rhythm of whatever he sung. A few faces of her family members scrunched in hopes of trying to remember who the hell he was.

"Randy?" Her mother questioned eyes almost budging out of their socket. "Randy Harris?" She asked a smile slowly starting to form across her face as she walked towards him. Her arms were opened wide enough for Randy to jump in.

"In the flesh." He joked laughing exposing his gap. The two soon collided rocking each other back and forth as they giggled. "Happy birthday girl!" He congratulated her pulling hisself away.

"Breylynn you didn't tell me you invited Randy! How did you even find him?" She wondered waving her hand at Bre.

At first Breylynn had to search around the restaurant to see if she was talking to her. She had never seen this man a day in her life let alone invited him to the dinner. Looking over at her step father, who wore a confused look too. "Mom, no offense Randy." She started pointing towards him. "Um I didn't invite him." She laughed also.

"I seen your brother Gabe post you on his Facebook this morning. I had completely forgot i followed him until now. I messaged him and he told me about your dinner." Randy explained looking over at Breylynn and her step father.

"Gabe didn't even tell me he posted me." She shook her head at her ignorant brother but in the end it was all love. "Well Randy I want you to meet my husband Chris. Chris this is Randy my best friend since elementary." She explained grabbing Randy by the hand and leading him over to Chris.

"It's nice to meet you." Randy started holding out his hand.

"It's nice to meet you too. You live out here?" Chris questioned trying to make small talk while everyone continued to do their own things.

"Nah I actually live in Colorado now. I moved from here after my freshman year at ESU." Randy explained thinking back to the day he actually left Ronda. See every since the first day in Mrs.Gibson class Randy and Ronda were friends. In fact the longer they remained friend the quicker they discovered that they had so much in common. Shared the same favorite foods, movies, and other small things.

They were friends meant to be.

"Is it nice up there? I've never been." Chris wondered truthfully as everyone soon started to sit back down. They had only gathered around Breylynn's mother so they could sing happy birthday and eventually cut the cake.

"It's a beauty if you make it one." Randy joked causing Chris to join in with him.

While everyone soon started to sit back down and prepare for departure Breylynn took this time to excuse herself to the bathroom. Exiting out her seat she made her way through the sliding doors exposing the people outside of it. The place had become packed to the point where a line had started to form outside. Blowing her eyes up a bit Breylynn minded her business and continued to the bathroom.

Passing through crowds she tried not to stare in anyone's face too long just to avoid any conflict. Humming a quick song to make things less awkward Breylynn broke her promise not to stare as her eyes soon caught something.

"What the hell?" She questioned herself as her face started to form a frown upon it. Sitting in the booth together was Asia and a guy with the smoothest dark skin Bre had ever seen. At first Bre believed that the heavy lashes that her makeup artist put on were just in the way.

Maybe she's with family or friend. So mind your business and go to the bathroom, She thought to herself as she continued down the pathway. But something couldn't let her eyes come off them.

As she watched from a distance her eyes almost budged out her sockets as she watched Asia rub the mystery's man face and pull him into a intimate kiss. Suddenly Bre could feel her eye twitching. How could she sit out in public and cheat on Dray? And Dray of all people who she knew treated her like a queen.

But then again Breylynn felt like she needed to mind her business. Shaking her head Breylynn finally made it to the bathroom. Entering Breylynn found herself inflicted with mixed emotions. One side of her was telling her to call Dray right now, hell FaceTime him if she needed too. But then the other told her that they could have broke up and here Asia was enjoying her new life.

Plus Dray hadn't brought Asia around in a minute.

Finding a stall Breylynn immediately started to regret her choice in choosing to wear this bedazzled  romper. It was time somebody truly designed one to where you didn't have to get ass naked just to use the bathroom but unfortunately she had to get naked.

After undressing herself Breylynn made sure she squatted a bit above the toilet.  It was something about a public bathroom that she didn't trust too much. Quickly using it Bre could hear the sounds of heels clicking against the floor. Finishing she cleaned up, flushed, and got back dressed.

Opening the stall door Breylynn made sure her romper was exactly back to how she had it before. Fixing her straps she approached the sink and immediately looked for the soap. Taking a glance in the mirror Breylynn was shocked to be met with Asia starring back at her.

"Oh wow it's good to see you Bre." Asia mentioned touching up her hair. Breylynn couldn't help but to admire her beautiful and neat braids.

Pumping the soap into her hands Breylynn slowly shook her head in agreement before speaking. "It's nice to see you too Asia. It's been a minute since we've seen you."

Asia cleared her throat as she gave Breylynn a slick side eye. She felt a little shade being thrown but she suppressed it and continued. "Yeah things kind of got busy. Started a new job with the hospital and haven't had much of an off day." She explained slightly smiling.

Breylynn pondered to herself for a moment. She understood that jobs could start to occupy your time eventually. But she needed to truly see something.

After washing her hands Breylynn began to dry them as she starred at Asia. Throwing the paper towels away she began to speak. "Wow Dray didn't  tell us you started a new job. Wait!" Breylynn paused smiling. "Matter fact where are y'all sitting because I'm about to go get on him about that right now."

The sudden look that came across Asia's face would have given you the idea that she needed to use the bathroom more than Bre.

"Um no. He um. No he went to the car." Asia lied laughing shoving Bre a bit. "I'll tell him when I get back to the car. Well it's been nice seeing you Bre. I'ma make sure I get on Dray for you though because I been telling him I missed y'all."

"Is that before you and the guy outside leave?" Breylynn questioned titling her head to the side a bit.

"How about you mind your damn business." Asia stated more than asking rolling her neck. She felt Breylynn had some nerve questioning her about what she was doing.

"Oh I'm very much minding it because Dray is my business. He's my friend and you think I'm going to sit here and watch him get cheated on?" Breylynn laughed truly wondering if Asia had lost her mind.

"Who cheating?" Asia asked looking around.  Thankfully they had been the only two people in the bathroom right now but she knew people were bound to come. "See if you weren't in my business you would've known that I'm having dinner with my brother. So do you feel dumb now or later?" She said holding out her hands.

"We'll see how dumb you look when Dray breaks up with you." Breylynn corrected her brushing past Asia and to the door. Opening it she paused, Asia stood there with her eyebrows furrowed together. "Oh yeah by the way tell your brother it's not cute kissing with your eyes open. Take care love." And with that Breylynn exited leaving Asia there astounded.

Returning to the party Breylynn watched as her family members started to depart. Some giving each other hugs. Babies were passed around and given soft kisses as they were told to tell certain family members goodbye. Others stood against the wall taking pictures.

"Bre come take a picture of us!" Her mother called out catching her attention. Up against the wall stood her step dad on one side, Randy on the other, and her mother in the middle. "Take it with your phone because you know how my phone be acting." Her mother added in quickly.

Giggling to herself she rushed over to the table. Picking up her purse she scrambled through it until her pink phone case could been seen. With the face recognition Breylynn found the camera app and soon started to take the pictures.

"Wait let me suck my gut in!" Her mother laughed taking in a deep breath.

"Really girl! What stomach?"Chris asked looking down at her. He didn't care one bit if Ronda stomach was on flat or fat. He found her to be so lovely in every single way.

"She was always crazy." Randy added shaking his head as he joined in on the laughter. Taking a few pictures Breylynn made sure to airdrop them to her mother or else she knew she wouldn't hear the last of.

Suddenly a vibration could be felt going off in her hands. Turning her phone around in her hand Breylynn almost found herself smiling at the fact that things had clicked.

Dray 🧩        8:04 p.m
Mel waited until the damn day was gone to tell me that it was your mother's birthday lol. Tell moms I said Happy Birthday.

Looking around Breylynn wondered if Asia had text him or maybe if God was just taking this moment for her to tell him. Grabbing her to go plate Breylynn took another sip of her lemonade before announcing her departure.

"Text me when you make it home."

"I will mom. Bye everybody." Breylynn said blowing a kiss before exiting out the sliding doors. The crowd had only simmered down a bit but it seemed the more people that exited the more started to poor in.

Exiting out the door Breylynn checked both ways before heading to her car. Pulling back out her phone she decided to text back.

No it's okay bro. I'll make sure to tell her. But hey can I ask you something.         8:12 p.m

Unlocking her car Breylynn placed her plate down and her purse. Getting in she closed the door behind her and sat for a second. The sandals she had chose for tonight were starting to tear the middle of her foot up and she couldn't do it anymore. Slipping them off she placed them on the passenger side as well.

Feeling her phone buzz Breylynn quickly checked it.

Dray 🧩          8:15 p.m
Wassup? Everything good?

Sticking the key in the ignition Bre started up the car while putting on her seat belt. She tried to pick her brain and find the perfect way to say it but she couldn't figure it out.

Be direct or indirect?

You would want someone to be direct with you, She thought to herself as she began to type.  

Are you and Asia still together?    8:17 p.m

Pressing her foot against the brakes Breylynn placed the car in reverse. Turning her head she watched for a second before backing out. Throwing it in drive she made her way out of the parking lot and towards the exit.

Quickly looking down at the flashing phone Breylynn read as fast as she could before having to pull onto the main road.

Dray 🧩       8:18 p.m
Honestly I been wondering the same. Things haven't been the best but we're working through them. I kinda feel like our energy isn't matching anymore. You know like somethings going on.

Paying attention to the road  Breylynn merged into the next lane. Luckily she had reached a red light to where she could attempt to text back.

I completely understand but there is something I feel you should know. I'm not putting my input in or nothing but I seen Asia with another man at Shuan's. At first I thought it could have been family or a friend. But then I seen them kissing. And then she confronted me in the bathroom about it.

Breylynn wanted to type more but a sudden blow of the horn immediately made her tap send and lock the phone. She honestly didn't know or could think of what Dray's reaction was going to be. But she knew one thing he deserved to know regardless of what anyone thought.

She was basically playing with family and that's something you don't do.

Yes.
Yes I know.
Your probably cursing me out and I deserve it lol.
But hey I'm back now and hopefully for good. School came around and as you know it needed my undivided attention. But then boom Mrs. Rona wanted to come and completely set me back. Long story short guys I want to say thank you for all the support y'all have STILL been showing to this book. Despite me saying I was going to update and never did. Also a another shoutout to the people who have been going read Soul Ties. I will also be updating on there also. Thank y'all so much for the support of this book and baring with me ❤️.