Best She Ever Had (9781617733963) by Shelly Ellis Page B

This was the first time in his life that he had seen her without makeup. The freckles on her nose and cheeks stood out even more, and so did the gold flecks in her eyes. Not surprisingly, Cynthia Gibbons was a natural beauty, even though she looked like she had been through hell and back.
    â€œDid you know about this?” she asked, shoving her way inside his home and barging into his living room. “Did you know about Clarissa and Jared?”
    Korey’s shoulders slumped. So Cynthia had finally found out. He figured she would be angry when she did. He probably should have assumed she’d be angry at him too.
    Korey shut the door behind her. He turned and nodded.
    â€œYes, I knew.”
    â€œWell, why the hell didn’t you tell me, Korey?” she screamed, throwing up her hands. “You didn’t think I had the right to know? She’s my daughter, damn it!”
    â€œI know she’s your daughter, but—”
    â€œ How could you? How could you let this happen? What on earth were thinking?”
    Korey took a deep breath. “Cindy, I didn’t let anything happen. I had no control over this. You know how these things are. A boy and girl meet and . . . it evolves all by itself.”
    She balled her fists at her sides. Her lips tightened. She looked on the verge of a Mount Vesuvius–worthy volcanic explosion.
    â€œLook, Jared, Clarissa, and I knew you would be upset by this. That’s why they kept it a secret and asked me to keep it a secret too. I know you’re pissed off now, but just give it some time to let it sink in, okay? Don’t make any rash judgments right now.”
    He reached out and touched her shoulders. Her warmth made his fingers tingle. He hadn’t touched her like this in such a long time. It felt good to do it again.
    â€œThey’re smart kids, Cindy, and they know their own hearts.”
    Just like I thought we did back then, Korey thought, but he didn’t say those words aloud.
    â€œIf you just give it a chance, you might—”
    â€œI will never ‘give it a chance,’ Korey Walker,” Cynthia said with a deadly calm, shoving him away from her. “I’m putting the brakes on this right goddamn now! Do you understand me? Your son and my daughter are getting married over my dead body!”
    â€œGetting married?” Now he was confused. His hands fell to his sides. “Who the hell said anything about them getting married?”
    â€œWhat do you mean who the hell said anything about them getting married?” she shouted. The tendons were almost bulging out of her neck. “You told me that you knew! You knew they were headed to Vegas to get married! Don’t act stupid!”
    â€œWhat?” Korey shook his head. “Jared’s not headed to Vegas! He’s going on a three-day trip to Virginia Beach with his . . . with his boys . . . you know, his friends from college.”
    Cynthia went silent. She furrowed her brows and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at Korey as if he was the most gullible man in the world. “Oh, is that what he told you? And when did your son leave for this three-day trip to Virginia Beach?”
    â€œUh . . .” Korey struggled to remember. He ran a hand over his head. “Sometime last night, I guess. He got a call from his friend. He asked Jared to pick him up, and they were supposed to stay at another guy’s house until—”
    â€œClarissa and I had a big fight last night about your son, Korey,” Cynthia said, cutting him off. “She took some clothes and her luggage and snuck out of the house in the middle of the night. Her car is still in my driveway, so someone had to pick her up. I know it was Jared who did it! And how do I know? Because she left a note saying she was running away with your son, and when she came back, she would be Mrs. Jared Walker.”
    Korey felt the blood drain from his head. No, he thought. No,