The Guilt Trip Final excerpt before June 2012 release

Chapter 2

           “I spooked him.” Talise swallowed as she hid herself from Ace’s view near her apartment window. His normal goodbye kiss lacked luster she had come to expect.

Her heart sank as Ace sped off from the curb without blowing her his customary kiss. His hasty exit scared her.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Talise second guessed her timing. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned her suspicions. If only she had listened to her older sister. Sinclaire’s advice was to wait until she was one-hundred percent sure to say anything.   

A week earlier, she had experienced mild cramping and light spotting. Talise didn’t give it a second thought until the nausea hit. Then she endured bouts for the past few days. Finally, she took a home pregnancy test.

If Talise read it right, she wasn’t. But her suspicions lingered. The thought of becoming another statistic as an unwed mother made Talise bawl like a two-year-old in the middle of a tantrum.

During a Skype call less than twenty-four hours earlier, Sinclaire had tried to console her, “From everything you’ve raved about Aaron,” her sister refused to refer to Ace by his nickname.

Sinclaire once said it sounded too gangster. “I’m sure he’ll do the right thing. We can always repent, and God will forgive us as long as we don’t continue in our sins. If God spares you from this situation, then you’ve got to turn your life over to him.”

A tear slid down her cheek as Talise recalled their conversation. Stepping away from the window, she rubbed her arms and then massaged her flat tummy.

Turning around, she scanned the apartment she shared with Lois. Her roommate was one of a handful of people she could call friend since her move from Virginia to Boston.

After responding to a “roommate needed” ad, Talise met with Lois, studied the South End neighborhood and quizzed Lois about her lifestyle. Seemingly satisfied, Talise signed the lease. That had been six months ago. 

“A good friend of mine—and Cameron Jamieson is fine—has a cousin named Aaron or Ace who is equally as fine and unattached,” Lois had said when trying to set up Talise on a double date. “Tall, muscular and has a rugged pretty boy face and a good job.”

At first, Talise was reluctant. “What’s wrong with him? Is he a homosexual?”

Lois had laughed and snorted. “Far from it. He’s a good-looking brother who enjoys having a good time—nothing more.” She paused. “Just go out one time,” she had pleaded. “If he’s a jerk, then dump him.”

Talise wasn’t buying what sounded like “too good to be true” set up. “If both of these brothers are so fine, then why haven’t you dated either one of them?” She crossed her arms.

Lois could go toe-to-toe with any woman in the good looks department. She had a touch of Puerto Rican in her blood and a whole lot of African-American. The woman turned heads as a browner version of Keysha Cole.

“I learned not to date friends or friends’ relatives. My relationship with Cameron is for networking purposes only. I keep my friend pool separate from my potential boyfriend pool. Separate and not equal.” Lois’s voice had been serious.