Cookies And Cream (The Hollens Books 3)

7

Then, I called Ashley.

"Hey. You're coming in today, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," she responded. I heard background noises, and I was sure I heard a guy's voice.

"Where are you?" I asked, straining my ear to hear some more.

"I'll be there soon, Zen. Bye." She hung up.

Ashley has got to be kidding me.

I earned a lot of glances and stares from the guys in the streets as I walked to the bus stop. The wind blew gently on my face. I looked like I was shooting for a magazine.

"Hey, baby!"

"Sweetie, can I get those digits?"

"Damn, girl, you're so fine."

"Hey, sweet chocolate. Can I sample that?"

"That ass is real!"

Some guys were so pathetic.

I took the bus downtown, did the usual when I got to my store, and got to work. Tuesdays usually weren't busy, so I took the time to create new designs and talk to a magazine representative about creating pages to advertise our clothing lines, styles and labels.

Two hours later, Ashley showed up.

"Zen, I'm so sorry I'm late. I overslept. If you hadn't called me, I might've still been in bed."

"You slept with someone?"

"Ohh, girl... You're tripping. No." She waved me off.

"I heard a guy's voice, Ash."

She started blushing like a teenager. "Okay, okay. I'll be real. I slept with Alex."

"Girl, I know you didn't just say you slept with Alex! Come on Ash, you just met with dude! You want him thinking that you're so easy, and you're a one-night stand material?"

"Okay, slow your roll. We hit it off really well after EJ took you home."

EJ took me home?

"And we didn't have sex. We just slept in the same bed because I did drink, and he wouldn't let me drive home."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Girl, you're setting up yourself for a heartbreak. All these guys do is bed you, lie to you, create drama for you then leave you. Especially those rich and famous ones who think they own the world."

"What the hell are you even talking about? Are you still drunk?"

I heaved a sigh.

Ashley began jumping up and down. "He texted me! 'Hey sweetness, hope you got home safely. Have a nice day at work and I'm thinking about you.' " She read.

"Aww, that's so sweet," I said sarcastically, which she picked up on.

"You're so bitter."

"I'm so real. I'm so not falling in love with another guy ever again."

"Zenia, you need to let that go. So what if you got your heart broken by that idiot back in college? You can't compare him to all the other guys out there Zen, and you know that."

"You think Alex won't turn around and break your heart? My sister once told me that there is no happily ever after, and I believe her."

"Your sister must have been speaking from an angry place because look at her now! She's with Evan Hollen -- one of richest guys on this planet-- and she's happy. They have a son together and are getting married. Happily ever after does exist! You just gotta look for it!"

She went into the back and began cutting and putting together a dress for a customer.

I sat down quietly at my desk and began designing my sister's wedding dress.

I couldn't concentrate on it, so I placed my digital notepad aside and scrolled through Facebook. I decided to view Madison's profile.

She recently changed her profile picture to a picture of her and EJ hugging underneath a tree. They seemed younger. It must have been when they were still in high school.

I received a text from EJ like he knew I was thinking about him.

EJ: Hey how are you feeling?

Me: I'm good. Thanks for taking me home last night.

EJ: That's what friends are for.

I felt a twitch as he referred to us as friends. Deep down, I wanted more, but on the surface, I just wasn't ready, and I didn't think he was either.

Guys just break your heart, lie, create drama, turn your life upside down and leave. No! Happily ever after doesn't exist!

_____________

A/N

Does it?

Does happy ever after does exist?