CHAPTER

Thirty-four

Get out!” Seneca roared, shoving Mildred halfway across the room.

“Ouch,” Mildred screeched as she fell down onto the sofa.

Seneca's eyes were as wide as saucers and her mouth hung open so that Mildred could see her pink tongue.

“Let me see it again,” Seneca said, starting toward Mildred.

Mildred stretched her hand out for Seneca to see.

“Humph. He could have spent a little more, don't you think?” Seneca remarked sarcastically.

Mildred pulled her hand away.

“Fuck you, you hater,” Mildred spat.

Seneca drew back in shock. She couldn't remember ever hearing Mildred curse. “You're certainly picking up some nasty habits, Mildred Johnson.”

“Sorry,” Mildred said, and then huffed, “but you deserved that. You never seem to be happy for me. Here I've found this wonderful man and he loves me for me and wants to marry me, and all you can say is that he could have spent a little more money? Love is not about money, Seneca. It's about what you have in here,” Mildred said, slapping her chest.

Seneca smirked. “Yeah, okay. Congratulations,” she said halfheartedly.

“Well, you know, if you can't be happy for me, I don't think we can continue to be friends,” Mildred said.

For the second time that evening Seneca drew back in shock.

Yeah, she was gagging on the inside. Envious. She couldn't understand how it was that overweight, ugly-ducking Mildred had snagged a man as fine as Tony.

“I said congratulations,” Seneca snapped, snatching her handbag from the coffee table. “I don't know what you want from me. Maybe you want me to kiss your ass, huh?”

Mildred said nothing.

“Well, I'm not going to do it. And if me not kissing your ass means we can't be friends anymore, then so be it,” Seneca said as she turned and marched toward the front door. “Have a nice fucking life,” she threw over her shoulder as she stormed out into the hallway and down the stairs.

Mildred didn't feel a drop of regret. She calmly walked over to the door and secured the lock. She didn't need Seneca or anyone else for that matter. All she needed was Tony.