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Destini rolled her eyes at her sister and her Mom cackling on about her sister getting married. She shook her head when her sister Melanie wiggled her slim brown fingers, showcasing the enormous diamond on her wedding finger.

Marriage was for men and women who thought their relationship would last forever. Destini knew better.

This was why she hated coming to what her mother called it "Girl Talk Dinner's". She only did these dinners to be nosy. Melanie, her sister, didn't seem to mind it, but Destini hated how her Mother was always in their business.

Destini glanced down at her salad that she hadn't touched. She wished she had a fried pork chop in front of her. Her mother, Gloria, would be against it if she knew that's what she was thinking.

"See, Destini. If you lose more weight, you can get a man to propose to you as well," Gloria said, with pursed rose-colored lips.

Here we go.

Destini stabbed at the lettuce on the ivory plate that shined against the light. Gloria was skinny and so was Melanie. Gloria had always wanted her girls to turn out the way she had.

Destini was a huge disappointment to Gloria.

Destini watched Gloria continue to fawn over Melanie's ring.

"What's so great about getting married?" Destini asked.

Both Gloria and Melanie snapped their heads up in her direction.

"Being in love is a great thing. You have someone you can depend on who is your best friend," Melanie said, with a lovesick smile.

"I can depend on myself. I don't need anyone else," Destini said.

Gloria's sepia eyes narrowed at Destini. "Don't ruin this for your sister because you aren't happy."

Destini clenched her teeth. "Nothing I say will change her mind."

"You're just being bitter because Andrea broke up with you," Gloria said.

She just had to mention him.

Destini stood up so fast, that the wooden chair fell to the marble floor behind her. "I have to go."

Destini grabbed her purse, cell phone, and keys. She rushed out of the two-story brick childhood home towards her baby blue Jeep.

"Destini, wait up," Melanie said.

Destini already had her driver's side door open and was halfway in when Melanie gripped the door preventing Destini from closing it.

Destini sighed and looked over at her sister. A twinge of green-eye jealousy erupted within her. Her sister had a pixie-cut hairstyle and a slim curvaceous figure. Often times Destini wished she had Melanie's body.

"Don't listen to Mom," Melanie said, empathy pooling in her dark brown eyes.

"Why does she always have to bring up my weight and Andrea?" Destini asked.

"She just wants the best for you," Melanie said, placing her hand on Destini's shoulder.

Destini frowned. "She has a really messed up way of showing it."

"She wants you to get married and be happy like I am," Melanie replied.

"That's all she cares about. Look I've got to go," Destini said, closing the door.

Destini made sure Melanie backed away from the car before she pulled out of the driveway.

Destini rubbed at her right temple feeling a migraine coming to fruition.

Destini groaned out of frustration at Melanie and her best friend Camella. She sat in the passenger side seat of Melanie's yellow mustang while Camella sat in the back singing at the top of her lungs to an old-school Mariah Carey song.

"Shut up," Destini said, to Camella while grinning.

Camella smacked her glossy plump lips. "You're just mad 'cause we tricked you."

Destini frowned and crossed her arms under her perky breasts. "I'm not going in there."

Melanie grinned. "Yes, you are. You need to get out and have some fun," she said, putting the Mustang in park and shutting off the engine.

"Yeah, you need some dick in your life," Camella said.

Destini shook her head. "Why do you always have to be so nasty?"

Camella laughed and shrugged, while fixing her make-up, looking into her compact mirror. Camella had a flawless black complexion and really didn't need makeup. She was already beautiful.

Melanie applied mascara against her naturally thick lashes. "Y'all ready to go in?"

Destini watched both Melanie and Camella step out of the car. She sighed and continued to frown at the bar/ lounge that was a hot spot for twenty to thirty-year-olds.

The place was called "The Get Down." It sounded something out of the seventies which she didn't mind. Destini just wasn't in the mood to party.

Destini wanted to be curled up in her queen-sized bed watching one of her favorite thriller shows on Netflix.

Destini had initially thought they were just going to watch a Romance Comedy movie and then have dinner afterward. That was until Melanie pulled into the parking lot of The Get Down. At least she had dressed up a bit in a nice pair of high-waisted blue jeans, red heels, and a nice red blouse that tied at the corner of her waist.

Camella opened up the passenger side door, motioning for Destini to get out. Destini cursed under her breath.

Destini trudged out of the car into the semi-dark parking lot. The Texas heat gripped her and made it hard for her to breathe. She wrapped her arms around her midsection. As they walked most of the men in the parking lot catcalled Melanie and Camella. Both of them laughed it off while Destini's stomach rolled violently.

Melanie and Camella continued to talk about dancing and getting drunk, while Destini wanted to run back to Melanie's Mustang.

"Girl smile," Camella said, watching Destini continue to have a resting bitch face.

"I'm not in the mood for this," Destini said, paying her way to get into The Get Down.

Destini walked behind Melanie and Camella. The atmosphere wasn't too bad. The DJ was playing the latest Hip Hop and R&B. Inside was a mixed crowd of races that enjoyed the music that was being played.

There were nice wooden tables that friends and couples and just people trying to get to know each other in general sat at.

Destini, Melanie, and Camella sat down at one of the tables that were on the outskirts of the dance floor. A lot of men and women were dancing, simply enjoying themselves.

"I'm going to get us some drinks," Camella said. She had already asked Destini and Melanie what they wanted to drink.

Destini wasn't much of a drinker so she only wanted a strawberry daiquiri. Destini continued to scope around the lounge when her eyes landed on a man's face who was sitting a few feet away from where she was.

Destini quickly glanced away first when he held her gaze. She turned her attention to the daiquiri Camella placed in front of her. Destini took a sip of the alcoholic beverage and relaxed in her seat.

Camella and Melanie both made their way to the dance floor with handsome dudes. This was another reason Destini hated going out. Guys never asked her to dance.

Destini twirled the straw that was in her drink and bobbed her head to a smooth R&B song by Usher.

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" A deep baritone voice asked.

The voice stirred Destini's loins which made her cross her legs. She glanced up and noticed the man who had held her eyes minutes before.

Destini shook her head and that gave the man the green light to sit down. Destini thought he wanted to sit down next to her so he can ask questions about either Melanie or Camella.

It was always this way when she went out with the two of them.

From the corner of Destini's eye, she noticed him watching her. She turned her head towards him and he smiled. Destini was impressed by how straight and white his teeth were. He had a beautiful smile that anyone woman would fall for. 

Except for her.

He had to be a player just like her ex Andrea. All men were the same.

The man had dreads that stopped to his shoulders. Destini imagined running her fingers through them. He also had a nice even beard that was shaped around kissable lips.

She wondered if he was a good kisser. She imagined putting his lips to work in the bedroom.

Destini could tell he exercised regularly because he had his black button-down shirt opened to show his dark skin and muscled chest.

Destini turned her attention to his light brown eyes that held intelligence in them. She looked away when his eyes roamed her face and stopped at her lips.

"I noticed you the moment you walked in," he said.

Liar.

Destini laughed sarcastically. "Is that right?"

He nodded. "I think I can help you."

Destini frowned, confusion spreading across her features. "Excuse me? Who are you?" she asked.

He leaned in and Destini breathed in his nice-smelling cologne. "My name's Cypress. I'm a physical trainer." He held out his large hand for her to shake but Destini ignored the gesture.

Destini's frown deepened. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm just saying I can help you lose some weight," Cypress said, smiling.

Destini stared at him in disbelief. She didn't know what to say. She never had anyone, especially of the opposite sex, tell her in not so many words that she was fat to her face since she was younger.

"Here's my business card-," 

Destini chunked the liquid of her daiquiri in his face and stood up. "I don't want your card. Asshole."

Destini didn't wait to see his reaction. She rushed towards the exit of the bar/lounge, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

***

Hey, guys. Thanks, for reading the first chapter. If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to comment, vote, and share:).