Yearning for Love by Toye Lawson Brown Page B

back in the day. She just wasn’t smart when it came to choosing the men she slept with.”
    Walker lunged throwing Jeremy over the table breaking it as they fell to the floor.  “You son-of-a bitch,” he said through clenched teeth as he punched Jeremy in the face.
    Lance and a few other men hurried to pull Walker away not allowing him to strike his brother a second time. “Walker, don’t! He’s drunk.  You know how he gets when he’s drunk.  Man, walk away before this gets out of hand.”
    Breathing erratically, Walker ran his hands through his hair.  “It’s already out of hand! Screw this shit, I’m out.  When that son-of-a bitch is conscious, tell him I said to kiss my ass.”
    Lance caught up with him grabbing his arm before he could leave the bar. “Walker, in the morning, when Jeremy’s sober, he will apologize for what he said. You’re his best man tomorrow.  You all have to patch this rift.”
    “I don’t give a shit about his wedding, Lance.  I’m not gonna be a part of that damn wedding or anything else having to do with his family.”
    Handing Walker his coat, he said, “You don’t mean that.  You’re brothers.  Jeremy would do anything for you.”
    His lips thinned. “Lance, would your brother blast your life in a public place like Jeremy did me?”  He saw the expression on Lance’s face and answered for him. “I didn’t think so.  Have a nice time tomorrow.”
    He pushed his shoulder into the heavy door swinging it open.  Fumbling for his keys he got inside the truck starting it but not shifting in a gear to move.  What was going on in his life lately?  At 36 years of age, he’d worked his way from poverty to make a decent living.  He wasn’t rich but lived a decent lifestyle and was able to help his mother financially.
    He and Mitch Collingsworth were not on a father-son level and never aimed to be.  He refused to ask his biological father for any help or advice concerning his desires to open a business.  They weren’t cordial and never got to a point where they hung out together or even exchanged gifts at Christmas.  Once he accepted he was the illegitimate son of a millionaire, he didn’t make any attempts to get closer to the man.  He didn’t have a father figure for the first sixteen years of his life and Mitch Collingsworth didn’t attempt to fill that gap now.
    As more of the participants of the bachelor party spilled from the bar, Walker put the truck in reverse and left.  He didn’t have a destination in mind, all he knew was he needed to get away from the humiliation of what the day had been for him.
     

Chapter Four
    Nicole finished brushing her teeth and taking her medicine.  Turning off the light in the bathroom, she went over to the bed and pulled the bedspread back.  Taking off her robe, she threw it on the end of the bed and crawled between the cool sheets.  The bed was comfortable, and her head sunk into the soft plushness of the pillows easing her tension.  She was exhausted and couldn’t wait until the wedding was over tomorrow.  All the affection from Patty and her family was alien to her and made her uncomfortable.  Someone was bound to notice her hugs were manufactured and not genuine and heartfelt.  Either way, she was tired of faking and ready to return home.
    She tried closing her eyes, but they wouldn’t stay closed.  There was a lot of work waiting for her at home.  The office was relocating to a new building and the technical headaches of dealing with that weighed on her.  Which she didn’t know why she was letting it bother her, she might not be going forward with the company.  AeroFusion announced layoffs would affect a number of people in order to accommodate the reduced space since advanced technology would be taking over the duties humans once handled.
    She turned on her side folding her hands under her head. She wished she could turn back the clock and redesign her plans for life.  Fashion was a risky busy, but