How Times Change

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Blurb:

A BBW, BWWM, billionaire romance novel. Meet Jade, a joyful and curvaceous African American woman who isn’t fond of weddings. So when family friend Eve decides to tie the knot, Jade finds herself looking for excuses to leave.

Her plans take an unexpected turn though the moment she comes face to face with Lucas, Eve’s son, and her former nerdy housemate.

Little does she know, Lucas has become a dashing bachelor with an irresistible smile and a physique that could make you weak in the knees. Oh, and he’s now a billionaire. Join Jade and Lucas as they rediscover each other – emotionally and intimately. Story by Cher Etan.

Chapter 1

Third quarter and she was almost home; free – again.

Listening to the wedding singer work her way through a bad Whitney meant Miss Jade Brawley had done it one more time. She’d avoided Aunt Mary with the long list of ‘boys you should have married by now’. She’d managed to dance with all the uncles before the champagne glad hands sprouted up everywhere. Now it was time to bow out gracefully and get gone before Gran Cecile caught her.  She didn’t even need to hear that conversation to know how it would go.

“You look like summer sky, child. Now where is that nice Robert?”

“Grangran, I haven’t been with ‘that nice Robert’ since college.”

“Oh? He was such a striking young man…”

Bobby had been striking. Like Jake had been strong. Like Aaron had been kind in his own way.  Not one of them had settled in though. There was never that comfort food feel, that hit the lights and let the TV knock you out , keep you warm down in your bones feel. Aaron had been the closest to just right, and yet Jade had still watched him walk out without trying to stop him. It just hadn’t felt right.

Two years since and the closest man she had was Tiger, and he only loved her for food. Hmm…a lot like Jake…

“Jade?” Her father’s voice snapped her out of her reverie like when she used to daydream in church. His thick shadow fell over the table she had been flying solo at, momentarily blocking out the sun. “You ok, JJ? “

Anthony Brawley was a big man, with some of the muscle from his high school days still hanging around even at just over fifty. None of the hair though, except at the temples where there was still some salt and pepper spicing up his brown dome.  Jade owed her figure to him, though the chocolate tan complexion that made her the envy of her friends came from her mother.

“I’m fine Daddy. See?”  She waved her champagne flute at him and smiled.  “I’m even ‘partaking’.”

Anthony dropped his bulk into the chair opposite, loosened his collar a notch, and leaned back, eyeing her with his heavy brows.   “I see. Not too much I hope. “He laughed then because they both knew that alcohol wasn’t high on Jade’s list. Anthony- Tony to his friends- leaned back and sighed. “Not your speed, I know JJ, but I know Eve appreciates you making the trip.”

How could she not have? Eve Peters was a wonderful woman- a lady who’d taken the time in the short year or so that she and Anthony had been married to share what she knew about being a woman to a young Jade who’d needed it more than anything.  With her mama passed, Eve had been the closest thing to a mother Jade could latch on to. The talks the two ladies shared were memories that Jade cherished.

She realized she was drifting off into the fading afternoon again.  Tony noticed as well, and lifted an eyebrow. “Sorry, Daddy. Between the sun and the champagne-” She looked down, gesturing over the long purple gown she’d picked before realizing how hot it could still be on the Connecticut coast in September,  “- and this dress…”

“No worries JJ. You look beautiful. “ He leaned down on his elbows.  “Look, I’m the friendly ex, so I’m a lifer at this one no matter what, but I know you don’t want to hang around. “ He chuckled. “Besides, if you stay too much longer, Mrs. Menninger will have you paired up with that lawyer boy of hers…

“Marvin?” She snorted, barely covering it with her hand. She’d grown up with Marvin Menninger- he’d done her pre-calc. “No daddy, I don’t think so- Marvin’s here with his partner.”

“Partner? “ Anthony’s big brows furrowed. “As in-?” He gestured, pointing across the crowded dance area.

“Yes daddy. As in.” She sipped a little more of the rapidly warming champagne, and smiled behind the glass. Tony was always the last to know- he’d even been surprised when his brother came out.

  “Huh.” Apparently, this time that was enough for the big man, who shrugged it off, “Any who- you should get with Eve before you head out, hm? “

Jade took one last hit of the sun warmed champagne. Liquid courage. She set that aside and slapped her thighs, pushing up off her chair. “Ok Daddy, let’s go make the rounds.” In a moment they were slipping through the milling wedding folk making their way to the bride and groom.

Eve lit up the center of the wedding party like always, her easy confidence was something Jade had always admired.  The sleeveless wedding gown she wore was picking up the fading sky. She looked amazing, younger than Jade had ever seen. As Jade and her father made their way closer, Jade started mentally rattling off the names of the Peters family that she remembered.

Eve, of course. And her sister Janey, the one with the Italian boyfriend. Grandmother Peters- was that old bag still alive? Case- the cousin Case with the yacht and the Merc that went too fast on Bradman’s Hill. Funny thing was, there was as much of her family here as anything. Danforth was Danforth and all of these families had been in the area, marrying off each others children for too long to stop now. So many familiar faces, so many couples …she remembered Gnat talking about how he’d get married someday, but it would be to an Asian girl just to increase diversity. Then she’d hit him in the arm-

Gnat. That name brought her back. Gnat – Lucas Nathaniel – Peters. The gawky techno geek that spent all his time trying to raid Jade’s room and read her diary.  The one that had always left his Spiderman underwear on the floor in the bathroom.  He and Jade had shared a home for the year when their parents had tried the friend marriage that was so popular in the nineties. What was that about? Everyone wanted to be Ross and Rachel…

At that thought, she and Tony arrived next to the bride, who just disentangling herself from a social knot. When Eve saw Jade she squeaked, and rushed over, ignoring the train on her dress.

“Jade! I was so excited when Tony said you’d be flying back!” Eve’s long arms wrapped Jade up in a strong hug. Then she pulled back, holding Jade out at arm’s length. “You look amazing! Tony, why didn’t you tell me she’d gotten to be so beautiful?”

“It’s a given with the genetics.” Anthony leaned down and gave Eve a quick kiss on the cheek. “You look lovely Evie. Congratulations.”

“Well, thank you kind sir.” She bowed with a stage sweep of her arm. Jade loved the easy way that her father and Eve spoke with each other. Friends at the beginning- still friends after they’d figured out it just wasn’t meant to be. If only it always worked that way…

Anthony broke in. “I’m going to leave you two for a moment. I hear cake calling. JJ, catch me before you leave hmm?”

“Yes, Daddy.” With that the big man lumbered off, looking to make a name for himself with the food table crowd. Anthony Brawley was a buffet legend. Jade watched him go, shaking her head, and then turned to Eve.

 “Now, how about you, Mrs. Third Time?” She cocked an eyebrow.  “What’s this I hear about an officer and a gentleman?

Eve leaned in like a conspiratorial school girl. “I know! Can you imagine it?” There were teenage glee roses on her cheeks, and Jade could tell she was happy as a New England clam. “Richard is such a wonderful man…” She sighed, looking over her shoulder and then back at Jade, and whispered. “And he is such a hottie…”

Jade giggled, slapping Eve on the arm in mock outrage. “Mrs. Peters!”

Eve drew herself up to her full five foot nine. “It’s Peters- Simons.” After a moment of holding the stage glare, she broke into her high bell laugh. Another second of that and it faded into a contented sigh. “It is good to have you here hon.  It’s been so long.”  A faint crease furrowed her brow.

It had been longer than a while. Eve had moved out to San Luis Obispo right out of college, and hadn’t been back to this side of the country really since. Research chemistry kept your focus narrow and there were a lot of times she spent more time with her microscope than with anyone except Tiger.

“I know- I don’t keep in touch much, do I? “