Destiny's Fates

Chapter 2

This isn’t real! I’m dreaming. Cherry nipped at my heel as I pour the water into the coffee pot, reminding me that I still haven’t fed her today. “One sec Cherry, I haven’t forgotten about you.” I open the pantry door and scoop out her food while she sits patiently under the table. I fill up her water bowl and put it back in the holder. “Okay” I say to release Cherry to eat. While she happily crunches away, I look down at myself. Sheesh Destiny, it looks like you rolled out of bed. Granted, that was exactly what I had done, but I wasn’t expecting company. I didn’t even have a bra on. I head to my bedroom and close the door behind me. Quickly, I trade out the sweatpants for jeans, add some socks, and put on a bra. I throw on the same shirt and hoodie I was wearing before. I shove my feet into my tennis shoes and bend down to get my heel over the back of them. I probably smell like I haven’t showered, considering today is my shower day. In the bathroom, I put on deodorant, then just to be safe spray my normal citrus perfume under my hoodie but on top of the shirt. I look in the mirror. Dang girl, you look like a zombie. At least brush your hair and wash your face. You might even have to break out the makeup to hide those bags under your eyes. “Shut up” I say out loud, hoping my mind listens. After I throw my brushed hair up into a ponytail and dry off my face, I head back to the kitchen. The coffee should be done by now. Should I bring it out to the living room or invite them into the kitchen? How am I going to carry 4 coffee mugs, a pot of coffee plus milk and sugar to the living room in one trip? Not paying any attention, I bump smack into James.

“Hey Doll, I was coming to see if you needed any help. We figured it might be more comfortable for you if we talked in the living room, assuming you allow drinks over the carpet.”

“Sure, I could use some help carrying the mugs. Do any of you guys like milk and sugar in your coffee?”

“Derrek and I drink it black, but Chris likes it with sugar like you do. Where are the mugs and spoons?”

“Mugs are in the cabinet left of the sink, and spoons are in the drawer right below.” As James sorts through my mismatched collection of mugs, I grab a potholder off the oven door and hold it against my body with my right elbow. Grabbing the coffee pot with my right hand and the sugar bowl with my left, I follow James into the living room.

Derrek was standing with his back to us, admiring the wall of paintings I had collected from my mom. “Did you paint these Love?”

“Derrek, you know I have the artistic talent of a 2-year-old.” I put down the coffee on top of the potholder on the coffee table and then and spoon some sugar into my cup.

“Just because you were bad in middle school doesn’t mean you didn’t get better later.”

“She still had the same art level in college, so I can vouch that those are not hers.” Chris gave me that sly grin as he copied my movements exactly, while I glared at him for that comment.

“Those are my mom’s, specifically the one’s she didn’t like. The boat one she made a B on in college, my dad kept it and when she finally convinced him to throw it away, I claimed it. The dolphin was a special request from a client, and they didn’t like all the flowers inside it, so I fished it out of the trash right before she took it to the dumpster. The flowers were when she got into watercolor, and she said that ‘Sunflowers are beautiful in real life, but impossible to paint.’ So, I said that one was my birthday gift since she had been at a wedding, painting guests pictures on my 17th birthday.” I sat down in my Papasan chair, the one I rescued from right beside the dumpster at my first apartment. It was bright yellow, reminding me of the sun. Derrek and Chris sat on the couch, and James sat on the other Papasan chair, this one a dark blue that I had bought brand new from the store. “So, what brings you guys to my humble abode this morning?” I take a sip of my coffee as the guys all look at each other.

Chris finally clears this throat. “It’s simple, we are here because we want to know who you are going to marry. So, who is the lucky guy?”