hour to get dressed and head out the door. When I finally looked in the mirror one last time. I was proud of how everything came together. I must a

ves, the dress fell in just the right places on my slender frame. I like that I wasn't too tall but not too short either. Nothing was

By the time I reached the sofa, I had started feeling overwhelmed. I g

~

on International Hotel and stepped onto

is magn

n't enjoy gazing at it for fear that my heart would swell and burst. My eyes became watery. The

outnumbered. It was going to be very stressful, meeting all these different people of different cultures. The Morton's Restaurant and Hotel business is international but primarily ba

ation made certain

this must be overwhelming for you. Copel

n so long!" I said, giving him a big hug

l all alone," I t

uld be able to do it. But you're going t

t together. "I'm just nervous.

Joel asked me, smilin

hing i

here, he was my friend and

l went and got me a drink. But all I could do was wait and die from the anti

!” I saw momma

got up to

ul dress for tonight. His eyes will fall from his head when he

them he hadn't seen me since last night. But I co

ing all over, taking pictu

ging him as the new CEO. Once everyone settled around him. His eyes shifted around th

being a DJ to an owner of a fam

out with me sometimes. Are

l stop by before I leave. I g

!" He said as w

curious about me. They wanted to know who I was. Where do I live? And who was I connected to at thi

's table, he didn't see Joel ev

n who looked familiar to him. Copeland's dark eyeb

elt his heart begin to respond with rapid throttles in his chest. For a second, he tried not to look at her.

opped for a second. It seemed like time stood still. E

oel asked me, distracting me from

I don't

, I wrapped my arms around Joel's lean waist and cuddled into him just like we used to whe

Even though Joel was his best friend, he still knew how Joel felt about Tameka, and he could s

re you

re doing?" Joel said, steppi

ice one last time. Move out of my

o be all right. Thank you, an

u are going to b

Then, Joel left, and I picked up a glass o

re you

don't owe you or anyone else an explanation. But, if y

and continued t

er and sorrow! It was time to go. I went back inside and gathered my t

t evening. Thanks for everything, Joel. You are

minute, Tame

o bring into something you shouldn'

I heard Copeland say, "Tameka,

fast he couldn't stop me. My eyes turned red from being upset as I walked through the crowd and turned the corner to he

plashing down the front of my gown. Others who saw the collision gasped.

artially fit in. I nodded to Copeland, who I could've happily looked at forever but hoped never

king me. I headed out the front belvedere glass doors. Two women glanced at me, then at each other,

uld breathe. It

apped around my shoulders. I turne

ris! When can I sign

ha

led me back home to do?

an tonight. Don't I have the right to say somet

hat is Lizzy to me? No, I should be asking, what is Lizzy to you?! She's only your frie

ou got!" I yelled and took off, walking ag