Free Beautiful Liar by J. Jakee

out the silhouette of my petite yet curvy shape. I led him to our table and made sure to flip my hair as I sat back down - men love that stuff.
                  I smile and chirped, “Good to see you!”
                  Ronnie dug into his pocket and pulled out my wallet. When he placed it on the table, I noticed his toned arms which were not too bulky and not at all scrawny. They were just perfect for his slender yet athletic body. Physically, we looked like the perfect couple.
                  “Sorry to keep you waiting. Traffic is a challenge in the city.”
                  “I know. I used to live there,” I said as I pointed out of the window toward my old place.
                  “Did you? Living large, huh?” he teased.
                  I chuckled, “Of course.” I gestured at his tea cup. “Have a seat. You have to try their tea before you leave.”
                  Ronnie adjusted his hat, then he hesitated before he sat. I motioned for our barista.
                  “I’ll have another mango green tea. Could you get him the black cherry special?”
                  “Actually,” Ronnie spoke up. “Could you make that for two, and can we grab an extra chair?”
                  The barista nodded and went off for our drinks. I sat confused while Ronnie grabbed a chair from another table and brought it to ours. Before I could part my lips to ask who the other chair was for, he was waving to a woman who had just entered the store, dangling car keys. She had big round eyes, a tapered haircut with dark roots and blonde tips, and she wore a khaki colored button-downed flare dress with those disgusting $2 flip flops from Old Navy.
                  “I finally found a good spot,” she said as she approached us. She handed Ronnie the car keys and then looked at me and smiled big. “Hi!”
                  Ronnie quickly introduced us. “Nola, this is my lady, Carmen. Carmen, this is Nola.”
                  Carmen sat down, “Nice to meet you.”
                  I looked at Ronnie, “Oh I’m sorry. Lady what? Lady of the usher board? Lady of the deacons?” She couldn’t have been his lady-friend .
                  Carmen giggled and patted my hand. “No, Sweetie. There’s no such thing.”
                  I snatched my hand away. I wanted so badly to say, “Wench don’t touch me. You don’t know me.” However, I bit my tongue.
                  Ronnie nodded slowly. “She’s my lady—my girl.”
                  My heart sunk, but my exterior didn’t let it show. I dryly said, “Oh. How nice.”
                  Carmen smiled. “Ronnie told me that you’re his daughter’s sorority sister.”
                  The barista placed our tea on the table, and I quickly sipped some to keep my mouth from blurting out something that could hurt her feelings.
                  Carmen continued, “I always wanted to be an A.K.L.”
                  I swallowed my tea and retorted, “We don’t pick any ole-bodies. We’re very selective. I’m sorry you were rejected.”
                  “Oh! I wasn’t rejected. I just never… You know what? Never mind that,” she said, rolling her eyes.
                  I rolled my eyes. “Thank you.”
                  There was an awkward pause before I looked at Ronnie and smiled. “How come Marley doesn’t know about, Camilla?”
                  Carmen retorted, “It’s not Camilla, it’s Carmen. Ms. Carmen”
                  My eyes never left Ronnie as I continued, “Marley thinks you’re single.”
                  Ronnie stroked his chin, and glanced at Carmen. “We’re taking it day by day.”
                  I chuckled,