Chapter 1
Annalisa
Five more minutes of peace—that’s all I could’ve asked for—but no, she’s got to yell from the top of her lungs to remind me of the same thing every week: family dinner. Oh, how I could not wait to see my siblings at the end of the week to give me the power charge I need. They have their little families, and most of all, they don’t have a constant shadow on them.
“I know, Mum, I won’t be late.”
I always run out of the house, quickly grabbing my food to save myself from a morning lecture.
“Where are you running off so quickly? Don’t I get a morning kiss?”
“Sorry, Mum, I am in a rush to get things done, so I am not late tonight.” I give her a quick kiss, and I am out of there.
While driving to work, I think about everything I’ve done, and it’s not much. I am almost finished with my teaching degree, and I work at a school with teenagers with more common sense than adults. The only thing I’ve done that I am even surprised my mother would let me do is travel with my cousin for six weeks in Europe. However, my older sister deserves credit for being the chirping bird in her ear.
Arriving at the school parking lot, I am always the first one in and the last one out, but today, I have to be home on time. I am more productive with minimal distractions and a calmer working space, and I love it.
“Hey girl, what’s the go for tonight?” Melinda walks in with her naturally tanned skin, curly locks, and slim figure, reminding me we have plans tonight that I completely forgot about.
“Hey Mel, I am so sorry I’ve been so caught up I forgot, but everything should be fine. Where are we going again?” I completely forgot we had made plans four weeks ago for tonight.
“Ummm, I think we just said we’d go to Nobu for dinner and then to a rooftop afterwards.”
Mel “knows” the owner of Nobu, so we never have to make a reservation to go; we can rock up, and he’s got a table for her for as many as she wants.
“Ok, I will message my sister for some backup when I get home.” Mel knows everything about me and, especially, about my mother. She’s so understanding and gives the best advice because she went through similar things growing up.
“I can’t believe you forgot to tell her, but at least if you tell your sister, there’s no way you’re not coming! So what are you thinking of wearing?”
“I think I will do a little black number with thigh-high-heeled boots.”
“YAY! I might wear my navy dress and strappy heels. It’s his favourite.”
Mel knows what a man needs, and she knows how to manipulate them to get what she wants. But I am definitely clueless in that department. So, it’s a whole new world when I go out with her.
I’ve messaged Kat, and she said it’s all under control, whatever that means. Being my older sister, she knows what I am going through, and sometimes I think she got married young as an escape. Her husband is a true gentleman, and their love for each other is every girl’s dream, but they are like a needle in a haystack. Something that only happens in movies.
The day is finally over, and I say my goodbyes, dreading to leave. But I need to get home, face the music, and then get ready for the night. My sister’s three blessings greeted me with the most lovely smiles as soon as I walked in the door.
“Aunty Annalisa, we missed you! How was work?”
“Aw, I missed you too, my darlings! It was good, and I hope you’ve been good for your mummy.”
My sister hugs me and whispers, “It’s all set.”
I whisper back, “I owe you, thank you!”
We talk about our day and the week that has just flown. She’s always captivated by school stories and the crazy things that happen in my day.
“Hey Annalisa, what time are you going out tonight? Do you want me to cook extra? Are you going to eat at home or eat out?” I am so confused about how she is going about this so casually without drilling me as to why I didn’t give her at least four business days’ notice. I had no information about how or what time we were going, but I simply replied, “We are eating out, Mum, so it’s ok, thank you!”
“I am going for a shower and getting ready. I’ll come down shortly and hang out until Mel gets here.” Now I have to call her, get a few more details, and get out of here quickly.
“Hey, doll, what’s up? Did it work? Are we good for tonight?”
“Everything is set, but what time are we leaving? Also, can you pick me up so she does not get too anxious?”
“Done. I’ll be there by 7:30, so in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Dom organised a driver for us tonight so we can drink whatever we want and go wherever we want.”
“OMG, Mel. Are you serious? Poor bugger, he really loves you; I wish you could see it.” Mel hasn’t had the best relationships in the past, so for her, this is uncharted territory, and I understand that being hurt again is not ideal for her. But Dom is a really unique guy. He is very career-oriented, which works for Mel because she is as well, and their romance is beautiful. She can deny it all she wants, but when they are together, she becomes like a little kid when you give them ice cream.
“Okay, Miss, I’m looking for Prince Charming. You know why I can’t go there yet; there’s still plenty of time; he’s not going anywhere, and if we are meant to be,. Anyway, hurry up because I know you’re nowhere near getting ready, and we have cocktails calling our names!”
I’ve just finished brushing out my curls into big waves, and my sisters applied the last brush of bronzer.
“There, you look glamorous, little sis! You’re going to be breaking necks tonight.”
I am not your typical-looking girl. I have naturally dark brown hair, which apparently is the new thing. My tetas are a full C cup, my bum is perfectly round with the right amount of lift, and my waist cinches in, giving me a curvy silhouette. I’ve always been insecure about my body, but according to Mel, it is sexy, and so many girls surgically change their bodies to have bigger bums or bigger tetas. I train hard to maintain a leaner figure, but it’s my body shape, so I’ve just got to embrace the curves.
“Hey, how come mum is so easy about me going about tonight?” It was the one thing on my mind since Kat told me it was all set.
“Don’t worry about it, sis. I told you I have it covered. Sometimes, she just needs to be reminded that she can’t keep you in bubble wrap.
“Okay, well, as long as she’s not going to blast our heads off later, then all good. Oh, Mel just texted, She’s outside.”
“Alright, get going, and I hope you have the best night! Love you”
"I love you too, big sis!"
