Excerpt from a Romantic Tale: "The Unexpected Love Story" Part 1

Keyon has been the talk of the town. He is tall, dark and of course, handsome. His teeth are white as snow and you can hear his laughter from miles away. We hear his father was also a eye catcher, it obviously runs in the family. His brothers are all athletic, successful and fun to be around. They moved out of town right after we graduated from High School. We have stayed connected on Social Media but I hadn't talked to Keyon in probably 10 years.

When you live in a small town you hear the tea very quickly. Keyon was back in Bristol all of 5 days before my best friend Ashley called:

Ashley : *whispers* Girl, he is finally here.

Me: Who?

Ashley: My Husband

Me: And who is the lucky bachelor this week?

Ashley: stop playing, you know, Keyon

Me: Ashley, who the hell is Keyon?

Ashley: You know, you really piss me off. You know who Keyon is. The boys came back in town to help out their grandma. I have only a few weeks to profess my love to my prince.

Me: *giggling* love is hilarious

Ashley: Shut-up Liz, will you just come out with me tonight? Everyone is going to Bruce's.

Me: We can go anywhere but there! You know I do not go to Bruce's.

(Bruce is my uncle and he has owned the local bar for 30 years. It's not much fun when everyone knows your uncle is the bar owner.)

Ashley: You owe me one ELIZABETH. *begging* please, please, please

Me: If you call me Elizabeth again, I'm not going. Call me "Liz" and I will consider it.

Ashley: *squeals* thanks best friend, I'm coming over.

I fall back on my bed with a big sigh. I haven't been out since I broke up with Kenneth. Life has been peaceful. I go to work, come home, listen to my music, take a bath, light my candles, water my plants, workout, read my books... everything that I can peacefully do without the presence of a man.

Can I repeat, it's been peaceful!

Here I am, being dragged out. I say a soft prayer. "Lord, please do not let me see Kenneth tonight"

Ashley has always been a lover girl. She reads every romance book and watches every Rom-Com faithfully. The idea of "fresh meat" in town is exciting for her seeing as she has ran through every bachelor within a 50 mile radius. She has always wanted to be somebody's princess.

Ashley was a model, in pageants and got her hair and nails done every 2 weeks. I played basketball, wore my hair in a low bun and I only paint my toes in the summer. I have always been a hard worker. I concluded that, like my mother I would be taking care of myself for the rest of my life. So, a man was never a priority for me. But Ashley, baby she gon' do everything she needs to do to get her man.

& once again here I am letting her drag me out, for a man. *eye roll*