Free Reinvention of Chastity by Eve Vaughn Page A

swirl.”
    A confused look crossed his face. “Down with the swirl? What the heck does that mean?”
    “You know, have a taste for chocolate?”
    It took him a moment before understanding entered his eyes. “Oh! I get it.” He chuckled. “You see? I told you I was slow on certain things.
    Well, to be honest, I’ve only dated one black woman, but that was back in college.” A far-off look entered his eyes, and Chastity got the distinct impression that there was more to the story than he was letting on.
    She knew it would be best to mind her own business, but curiosity got the better of her. “What happened?”
    He turned his back to her with a long sigh. “It…it didn’t work out. My parents…”
    “Your parents didn’t approve?”
    “Not really. The truth of the matter is, that regardless of what my parents thought, I should have stuck by Serita’s side. I was still in college though. I had it good—didn’t have to get a job; my folks were 57
    Eve Vaughn
    paying the rent on my cushy apartment off campus and my credit card bills. To top that off, they gave me a monthly allowance as well.”
    “Wow, you did have it good. Your parents must be loaded.”
    He turned back to face her, a derisive curve on his lips. “They do okay. Anyway, when I started dating Serita, everything was wonderful until I took her home to meet the folks. They were cordial to her and smiled in her face, but I knew right away something was wrong. When she left was when they laid into me. They made it clear in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t stop seeing her I’d be cut off. I…you have no idea how much I regret doing what I did next, but I broke up with her in not so nice a way.”
    “How old were you?”
    “Nineteen. Old enough to know better.”
    She touched his hand in an act of understanding. “You were just a boy. We all do things in our teens that we later regret.”
    “I just wish I hadn’t been so weak.”
    “You were young and scared. While I don’t necessarily approve of what you did or how you did it, a lot of people would have made the same decision.”
    “That doesn’t make it right.”
    “No, but at least you acknowledge your error, and that’s a sign of maturity. Whatever happened to her?”
    “The last time I heard, she was married with a couple of children. I guess she’s happy.”
    “Well, things worked out for the best then.”
    He shrugged. “Maybe.” Something in the way he said that one word made her think that all wasn’t well.
    “Are you still close to your parents?”
    “That’s the funny thing. After I dumped Serita, my relationship with my parents deteriorated. They acted as though everything was hunky-dory, but I grew to resent them to the point that I cut myself off. I realized that as long as they supported me, they could make the same threat when I did something else that didn’t meet their approval. Now we only ever communicate on holidays, if that.”
    58
    The Reinvention of Chastity
    “That’s so sad. I’m not that particularly close to my mother either, but she’s still my mom and I love her.”
    “I love my parents too, but I just don’t like them very much.
    Sometimes I wonder what might have been.”
    “Isn’t that a little futile? The damage is done, and the best you can do is learn from the past.”
    He nodded, and then a smile appeared. “You know, I’ve really enjoyed this conversation with you.”
    “I enjoyed it too. We have to do it again sometime.”
    His smile widened. “Over dinner?”
    Chastity laughed. “You never give up, do you?”
    “I haven’t even gotten started, my dear, but don’t worry, I won’t persist. I can take no for an answer. A word of friendly advice though, be careful with Sebastian. He’s my friend, but he doesn’t have the best track record with women.”
    Chastity smiled. “Oh, I’m not the one who’ll need to be careful.”
    59
    Eve Vaughn

Chapter Seven
    “Oh, my goodness! I can’t believe you did that, girl!”