Night Of Love

Chapter Seventeen

"WELCOME HOME!" Everyone I know yells at me as soon as she opens the door. I am taken aback by the sheer amount of people who are here.
This is my first full party at my place since the pandemic, yet because we waited for it, most of us are in very good health, with good enough lungs and energy levels, to party all evening long. Honestly, parties like this give me anxiety, my mama knows it but continues to throw them on my behalf.

My Mama has seemed to invite everyone I have known my whole life. All the girls from where I work. Some of my old college friends, even Ava, are here now looking as if she is going to pop anytime soon. I walk over to her and her billionaire lover. 

"We heard what happened, your Mama told us you were coming home in a few days so I had Seth drive us all the way here since I am not allowed on a plane during the second trimester." She says this, pulling me into a hug. Ava smells like candied violets and vanilla. I need to ask her what she is wearing in hopes of being able to afford a dupe.

"I can't believe you drove all this way for me." Seth hands me a brown leather folder that is monogrammed and looks very expensive. I don't know this man, but he probably knows a lot about me since he is Ava's fiancee. She gets married to people too quickly, her ex was with her for a few weeks before they got engaged.

"This is for you to look through, it's business," Seth says as he winks with his left eye. I accept it, graciously knowing it is a huge favor. I know what information is in this. It's all about Blade's adoption and knowing Ava she found his brother's whereabouts. I would love to look into it, but there are about a dozen other people here I have to attend to.

"I'll be back around so we can catch up," I tell Ava as I walk over to the group of girls from work.

The girls from work all have a different assortment of white claws and some have flutes of wine. I give them all a quick hug. It's been weeks since I have seen them.

"The office isn't the same without you, Britney the intern can barely keep up with what you do." My boss Jules says handing me a card that is in a purple envelope. I can hear chatter behind me from girls my mams tried to force me to hang out with. They went to my Dad's church, they are rude and think their shit doesn't stink. I never use that kind of language but they get on my nerves. I might start using that kind of language it honestly feels good.

"That scar is hideous." One of them says referring to the scar that has formed on my shoulder from the accident. My eyes would roll into the back of my head if they could. Then I turn to them and give them the look.

"Hey, Alicia, you look so great after all that you have been through." One of them chirps at me their lies practically make their noses grow.

"Out," I say pointing to the door. They both head out the door and I want to do a victory dance. Those are the type of girls you see online acting racist and homophobic. Like they tried to bully a hijab off a girl and school and almost got expelled for calling her a terrorist. But since dad is a youth group leader, he found a way to help them. Fake Christians are what they are.

Someone taps on my shoulder and I turn around. As soon as I am fully turned around someone jumps into hugging me.
There is an energy to the hug as if someone is dousing it in joy.

"I am so glad you are better." I pull away from the hug and it is Erika, Blade's big sister.

"I am glad you are not with that douche anymore." As I say this I kind of want to take it back because I feel as if it is going to kill the mood. I wish my best friend was here because she is like a medic when I say things like this.

"I'm strong; I can stand alone and take care of everything I need to know." She explains, Blade walks over and suddenly I forget she is there. He gives me a kiss on the cheek and backs away from me quickly as he notices my mama glaring at us.