Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I widened my eyes and tried to make sense of everything.
Shi said I hadn’t fallen asleep, but I clearly had. What other reason could it be? I’d been in this limo before, hearing these same sentences.
But why?
“Ah!” Ryan dropped the glass. Champagne stained the front of his gray pants. The glass tumbled along the floor.
I gasped.
That happened in my dream.
Horace glared at him. “Are you serious right now?”
The chorus came in and M.J. began to ask if the other person remembered all the good times they had, when they were in love.
No. No. No. This is getting really. . .weird.
Bernard spread out his hands and raised his voice over the song. “Hey. I have a good joke. There’s a bunch of people on an airplane and it begins to have a bumpy ride—”
“Absolutely not!” Claire placed her hand on his stomach. “That is a racist joke, baby. You are not saying it.”
The racist joke.
I bobbed my head like an idiot and then turned to Horace knowing what would happen next.
“I asked you to do one thing.” Horace lowered and grabbed the glass on the floor. “I begged you to keep it together this evening and you couldn’t even do that.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Ryan did a dramatic sweep of his hands. “I hope I’m not embarrassing you in front of your friends.”
This happened in my dream.
I snapped my view to Shi. “Are you sure that I didn’t fall asleep? I dreamt all of this.”
Shi leaned away as if nervous that I was super crazy. “But, we were just talking. When could you have fallen asleep?”
“We were talking?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
“You apologized for us having to sit in the most uncomfortable and awkward ride in history.”
I blinked. “I remember saying that.”
“And then I told you that it was okay, and you said—”
“Welcome to my dysfunctional friends.”
Shi chuckled. “Yes. That’s what you said.”
Bernard’s voice rode the music. “But how is the joke racist, sweetie?”
Claire loudly sighed. “You are literally saying racist derogatory terms in the joke.”
Terrified, I turned back to them.
This happened. It really did.
Bernard held his hands out. “But the people in the joke are black so they can say it if they’re black—”
“Yet, you can’t say it.” She pointed at him. “I told you not to repeat that joke again. Do not tell it at this Gala this evening. That is probably the exact reason why Ethan has never responded to our invitations.”
I looked at Shi and gestured to her. “Then, I tell you that we will get a taxi or uber.”
Shi blinked. “Is that what you want?”
“Huh?”
“You want me to get you a taxi or uber?”
“No. That’s what I tell you, and then you say that you will get a nice and quiet driver.”
Shi touched her chest. “That’s . . .what you want me to say?”
“Forget about it.” I leaned back in my seat. “I’m losing it.”
Shi grabbed her purse. “I could get my phone and get you an uber—”
“No. Not yet.” I watched my friends.
Bernard and Claire continued to go back and forth on their debate of the airplane joke being racist or not. Horace and Ryan glared at each other having some silent heated argument.
And M.J. sang more to his past lover, hoping she remembered their good times.
This has to be some like. . .crazy deja vu situation.
But, what about Ethan? And what happened to my diamond rose? It was odd for me to think about yet, that moment, his words, and the precious gift had meant a whole lot to me. It had rocked my world.
To think that it all never happened or did or. . .would. . .
What the fuck is going on?
The limo pulled up to the Ravenswood Manor.
I gazed out of the window, noting that every detail of the place was exactly like in my dream or thought or whatever the hell it was.
Regardless of the name assigned to this situation, I had seen this place before.
The mansion sat on a sprawling estate on the outskirts of the city. It was that same grand, imposing structure of stone and marble, with towering columns and ornate architecture.
O-kay.
I looked at everyone else.
Something crazy is going on right now.
The driver opened the door.
“Thank you.” I slowly looked down and saw the small puddle that I had stepped in before. “I got my foot a little wet with that last time.”
The driver twisted his face in confusion. “Excuse me, ma’am?”
“Nothing.” I left the limo and made sure to avoid the puddle. “Nothing at all. I’m just losing my mind.”
The driver gave me a sweet smile. “Have a nice evening, Ms. Johnson.”
One thing I won’t be doing is drinking champagne.
I touched my neck and turned to see the rest of the group, emerging from the limo.
Shi helped Ryan leave the limo. A huge circular stain covered the front of his gray pants like he had peed on himself.