Chapter 3

That morning was hard. It’s hard to walk away from five years even if the man I loved was a fuckboy. He was all I knew. And that night he spent working my body over almost made me change my mind. I was so close to forgiving him and falling right back into the same destructive behavior.

Even that morning workout had me second-guessing myself. Did I really want to leave? Most of the furniture in the apartment was purchased by me. Fuck it, I thought. He can have all this shit. I’m about to go out and get my slut on.

I wrote the letter and left him $2000.00. Most women would not have left shit. But see, even in my anger, I still cared about him. I wondered if he knew how much.

I shook my head in disbelief and aggravation. He had no idea what he was about to lose. I was a top-rated makeup artist with brand deals. I never divulged all of my financial information to him because he wanted to keep separate accounts. Every month I would transfer money to his account.

Being a top makeup artist in the area allowed me to meet all kinds of people, football players’ wives, basketball players’ wives, actresses, singers, and musicians. One of my best and favorite clients was this real estate tycoon named M. Nina Howard, whom I called Auntie Nina.

Her husband was a contractor and she was a real estate agent. They worked together for many years acquiring properties and renovating them. Some they would sell, others they’d rent and some they had as vacation rentals.

This woman had money on top of money. Her husband passed away two years ago and she became even more wealthy. And since her husband’s death, she was exploring her sexuality to the fullest. Every time I went to see Auntie Nina, she had a story to tell about some young man she had been with all night long.

She often gave me advice on my situation with Ashton. I never listened to her thinking I knew better. But that morning, I remembered her saying, “If you ever need a place to stay for a time, don’t hesitate to come to see me.”

So, I was on my way to see her.

I pulled up to one of the vacation rental properties. She was standing outside. Her short-cropped silver hair shined in the sunlight and her youthful face glowed. If it weren’t for her silver hair, one wouldn’t know she was in her sixties.

I walked up to her and hugged her, “You’re a lifesaver, Auntie Nina.”

She chuckled, “Oh stop, I can’t live in ten houses at once, might as well let a friend use one.”

We went inside. She showed me around the place. I told her about what happened. She smiled, “At least now you’re finally seeing the light. But.”

“What?” I asked as we stood in the kitchen.

“I just think you need to get away. Out of this state. Away from him and the noise. I own properties and land everywhere you know. I have an island about an hour’s boat ride off the coast. It’s beautiful. It typically stays busy in the spring and summer but no one but my nephew and a few others are there now.”

“Hmmm, I mean—”

“I’ll set everything up. Don’t even try to back out of this. If you do ... you’ll end up back at that apartment doing the same foolish stuff.”

“You’re right.”

I let her make the arrangements. If I didn’t in a week, I’d be back at the apartment with my legs spread east and west as Ashton drilled my wet paradise for dear life. As I sat on the bed thinking about the morning, my heart ached. He was my first. However, before I could sulk long, Auntie Nina burst into the room with the details and told me to get up and grab my bags. I was on my way to the airport.

I arrived at the airport late evening. Then I had instructions to take a train to the other side of town toward the coast. When I lived at the station, I waited in the area for my guide ... Justin McDonald the nephew of Auntie Nina.

As I stood scrolling through my cell phone, I happened to look up and saw this insanely gorgeous creature approaching me. I was like, ain’t no way that’s the dude. In my mind when she said she had a nephew that lived on a secluded island most of the year ... I was thinking he was some goofy-looking dude with zero swag.

Yet, there was a brilliant smile headed my way. Jet black hair, dazzling blue eyes, a tanned complexion, a chiseled jawline, an intense gaze, and a scruffy beard. “Hello, Justin, you must be Chelsea.”

I reached out my hand to shake his, “I’m her.” I almost couldn’t speak. I had to send her a text message, “You didn’t tell me that your nephew was totally fuckable. You’re about to get me in trouble.”

She replied, “What happens on the island stays there. Have fun.”