Only For The Week


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2023 by Natasha Bishop
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 Title Page
 
 
 
 
 Dedication
 
 
 
 
 Playlist
 
 
 
 
 Prologue
 
 
 
 
 Part One
 
 
 
 
 Chapter One
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Two
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Three
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Four
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Five
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Six
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Seven
 
 
 
 
 Part Two
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Eight
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Nine
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Ten
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Eleven
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Twelve
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Thirteen
 
 
 
 
 Chapter Fourteen
 
 
 
 
 Epilogue
 
 
 
 
 Acknowledgements
 
 
 
 
 Also by Natasha Bishop
 
 
 
 
 About the Author
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 May you learn that it is okay to be selfish with yourself
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kehlani—Can I
 
 
 Justin Bieber—Company
 
 
 Wale, SZA—The Need To Know
 
 
 ZEINA—Nasty
 
 
 Ambre, Jvck James—I’m Baby
 
 
 Quin, 6lack—Mushroom Chocolate
 
 
 Lucky Daye—Guess
 
 
 Babyface, Ari Lennox—Liquor
 
 
 Beyonce—SUMMER RENAISSANCE
 
 
 Victoria Monet, Bryson Tiller—We Might Be Falling In Love
 
 
 Khalid—Better
 
 
 Alicia Keys—Un-Thinkable
 
 
 Alex Isley, Jack Dine—Such A Thing
 
 
 6lack & J. Cole—Pretty Little Fears
 
 
 Paolo Nutini—Better Man
 
 
 Coco Jones—ICU
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Janelle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Janelle
 
 Months Later
 
 
 “A
 nd you’re sure you have everything you need? Passport? Phone charger? Deodorant?”
 I roll my eyes, thankful my mom can’t see me through the phone, as I shove another book into my suitcase. Without fail, my mom always calls me to run through a checklist whenever I go on a trip. I could remind her that at my big age of thirty I’m capable of packing my own bag, but what would be the point? I’m going to get the list regardless, it can either be with attitude or not.
 I choose not.
 “Yeah, Ma, I got everything. Double and triple checked.”
 “Okay, what time you headed to the airport?”
 “Evie should be here in about twenty minutes.”
 “Good, good. And you’re sure you’re okay to go on this trip, sweetie? I swear, I don’t know what your sister was thinking, tacking on an extra week when this is already uncomfortable for you.”
 There it is. The reason why I can’t wait for this wedding to be over is not the fact that the bride is my sister, and the groom is my ex-boyfriend. It’s the fact that everyone keeps bringing it up with pitying glances like I’m some sad sack hung up on the guy.
 Fun fact: I was over Arnold Hightower before we even broke up.
 We just weren’t a match. It took a year of us being together for me to finally see that, but once I did, he agreed, and we went our separate ways. No fanfare. No hard feelings. No nothing.
 Yes, when he popped back into my life six months later on the arm of my older sister, I was surprised. Who the fuck wouldn’t be? But that’s all it was, shock. I knew they were a much better fit than Arnold and I ever were the minute I saw them together. Hell, I was the one who comforted Ri when she started panicking that they were moving too fast due to Arnold proposing after three months. I was the one who convinced her not to break things off, and yet somewhere along the way, everyone deluded themselves into thinking that I’m some heartbroken woman scorned that’s barely holding onto my sanity.
 The shit is ridiculous.
 “Mom, I’m good. An extra week in Tulum is exactly what I need right now.” Beautiful weather, beaches, and a private pool? I will be living my best life for the next week until the wedding madness begins.
 “You’re so brave, baby.”
 Lawd. I need to get off this call.
 “Yeah, thanks, Ma. Let me go so I’m ready for Evie.”
 She lets me hang up without too much fuss and I release the deepest of breaths. The trip hasn’t even started yet and I’m already exhausted.
 From my bedroom upstairs, I hear my front door open and Evie’s loud ass walk through.
 “What’s up, biiiitch?” she yells.
 I walk down the stairs to find one of my best friends, Evie, dressed in jean shorts and a white t-shirt that does nothing to hide her bright pink bra underneath, helping herself to a sparkling water out of my fridge.
 “Why is it that you’re so damn loud every time