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“I don’t.”
“Is he some sort of old man or something?”
“No, he’s only three years older than me.”
“Do you know him? Is he an asshole?”
“Does that matter, Megan? I don’t love him. I don’t love anyone. I just want to be a normal twenty-something. I don’t want to get married. I want to become a celebrity makeup artist and stylist. Can you imagine me on tour with Beyonce or Taylor Swift? I would create fierce looks for them.”
“Why don’t you have an accent?”
“Not everyone speaks with a twang back home."
"I'm sorry, I just thought–"
"I get it," she chuckles. "But I attended private schools my whole life. They teach you how to speak like you’re a news anchor there. That way you can blend in anywhere you go, at least in the States.”
“So what will you do? How long can you avoid this marriage thing?”
“My father has given me until my 25th birthday tosow my disrespectful oats,as he put it, but then I have to come home and get married or there will be consequences.”
I think about the many times Naomi and I have eaten Ramen noodles for dinner or how she moved with me to Hunter’sbuilding because she wouldn’t be able to afford a place on her own. Does that even make sense if she comes from a powerful family like this?
“Why don’t you have any money if your family is well off?”
“This isn’tComing To America. My parents weren’t going to bankroll my escape to Los Angeles like Eddie Murphy’s parents did in that movie. If I was going to disobey them, I’d have to fund it myself. They expected me to fail. They expected me to be back home three years ago.”
“So what are you going to do? Your birthday is in three months.”
She grabs a piece of the French baguette and dips it into the olive oil and basil.
“I don’t know, girl. I’ll be in deep shit if I don’t go home. The women in my family have had arranged marriages for a hundred years. I’d be the first to break tradition.”
“A hundred years?” I repeat in disbelief.
“My family’s wealth began during prohibition. My great-grandfather built an empire on selling illegal liquor.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound so dangerous.”
“Yes, but prohibition ended. So the money he earned during that time was used to fund another business that exists today, and it’s very dangerous. Much like Hunter’s business is.”
“Is that why you don’t like him?”
“I never said that I didn’t like him.”
“It’s pretty obvious you don’t. Hiding your emotions has never been a part of your skillset.”
“That’s real nice,prego. I suppose your baby’s daddy just reminds me of so many guys I grew up with and not in a good way.”
“He’s been nothing but wonderful to me and for me, Naomi. He encourages and supports my art in a way I didn’t know was possible. He actually believes in my talent.”
“I believe in it, too!”
“You know what I mean.”
“Let me ask you this.” Naomi’s voice grows more serious. “Have you ever told him no?”
“Told him no?” It’s my natural inclination to immediately respond withwell, of course, I have,but if I actually think about it, I’m not sure that I’ve denied Hunter anything.