The Ugly Girlfriend(12)
“Well, have you been working out?” Angela asked. “I keep telling you to come with me to the gym. If you want a man, girl, you’re going to have to get rid of some of that weight. It blocks them from seeing you. Men with money don’t date big women. That’s probably the only thing that is keeping you two from hooking up.”
“I don’t have time,” LaToya said, uncomfortable about talking about her size. “And if a man can’t like me for me, then I don’t want him.”
“No man likes you for just you. He likes you because you look a certain way, cook a certain way, screw a certain way, make a certain wage...you feel me?” Deana said, taking a large gulp of wine from her glass.
“Look, if you like him, then you need to do what it takes to get him,” Kristen added, pouring another glass of wine. “It’s not that much weight. Get lipo. I know you have the money.”
“And once you drop the weight, then you’ll get the man for sure,” Angela agreed.
“He doesn’t like me,” LaToya said softly. She really wished that they would all shut up.
“Did he tell you he didn’t like you?” Deana asked.
“No,” LaToya put her glass to her lips. “I just know.”
***
In the tranquil silence of her backyard after her friends had left and everything had been cleaned, LaToya sat in her lawn chair with her feet propped up and looked up at the full moon and the incandescent stars. Life was peaceful again now that she was alone. It was strange how accustomed she had become to being in solitude and how relaxed she was with that fact.
Her mother always worried that she would grow old alone. After the break-up, she had begged her to stay in San Diego and not run from her life. There was one problem for LaToya in doing that. If she stayed, she knew that she’d never really heal from her broken heart. Plus, her mother was married, her sisters were married, even her brother was married. Everything was just a constant reminder of what she did not have. At least now, all though she did have the occasional lonely night and sad moments during holidays, she enjoyed her life and what she had chosen to do with it.
Looking at her watch, she decided that it was time to get to bed. Morning would come soon for her and while she did take the day off to relax, she was quite certain that she would make up for it tomorrow.
Going into her perfectly clean, all-white bathroom, she turned the silver, shiny knobs on her garden bathtub and lit her vanilla candles. She was just about to grab her towels when she noticed the light blinking on her phone. One missed call.
She checked it to find that Mitch had called. She dialed him back quickly, sure that he was just checking to make sure that she would come the next day.
“Hi Mitch, you called?”
“Yes, I did. How are you?”
“Fine.” She avoided the small talk.
“Good. Look, this is really a big favor that I have to ask, but I have a meeting tomorrow that is really important, and it’s scheduled during the time that my ex wife is bringing Zach over. Can you stay with him until I arrive by any chance?” His voice pleaded.
“Mitch, that’s not my job.”
“I know. I know. Trust me. It just that I don’t really have anyone else, and if I give her any leeway with my visiting times, I won’t see him all weekend. And I just can’t bear to have him spend my time with the pediatrician.”
“Mitch’s it’s not professional for me to go from cleaning service to babysitter...”
“I’m not asking from one professional to another. I’m asking you as a friend. Please, Latoya,” he begged.
LaToya rolled her eyes and sighed. Shifting her weight from one foot to another, she crossed her arms. “Just this once.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” he said relieved. “I’ll make this up to you. I promise.”
“The way to make it up to me is to never put me in this position again.”
“I won’t. But thanks. You’re saving my ass.”
“Goodnight, Mitch.”
“See you tomorrow.”
LaToya hung up the phone and shook her head. What was she getting herself into?
***
One o’clock on the dot, LaToya arrived at the O’Keefe house with cleaning baskets in tow. Opening the door of the house, she sat her supplies down and turned off the alarm, then made her way to the kitchen. On the island table was a note from Mitch thanking her for the favor and promising to make it up to her. She doubted that he could.