On the Other Side Read Online Free

everyone.”
    â€œIt’s a big fucking deal!”
    It was the first time Damita had heard Neal curse or even raise his voice. It was something she hoped she wouldn’t hear often. It also seemed so unwarranted.
    Standing in the middle of the ballroom, Damita silently reminded herself of where she was and what her life was going to be like. She looked around the ballroom, gazed up at the ornate chandeliersthat hung high above her and she smiled. It was going to be a good life. Marriage, like anything else, wasn’t always perfect, but her marriage was going to be as close to perfect as anyone’s could. She was sure of it. Her wedding day in all its splendor was sure to be a sign of things to come.
    The wedding reception continued without event. Damita tried her best to steer Brandon clear of Neal. With the two hundred or so guests in attendance, her task wasn’t too difficult. She considered enlisting the aid of her best friend, Carmella, but that would mean giving an explanation. And, the last thing she wanted to do was lend credence to everyone’s doubts about her new husband, especially Carmella.
    â€œGirl, you okay?” Carmella asked.
    Damita sighed. “I’m good. I’m a little tired.”
    â€œI knew it! That’s why your ass got married. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
    Damita put her finger to her lips, cautioning Carmella to be quiet.
    â€œShhh; now why do you want to go starting rumors? No, I’m not pregnant. But, I do plan on trying as soon as possible. Neal is anxious to start a family. After all, I’m thirty-five years old. I’m not getting any younger and that clock of mine is ticking away.”
    â€œThat’s not why you got married, is it; because of your biological clock?”
    â€œNo, Carmella. I married Neal because I absolutely, positively adore him.”
    â€œI’m sorry, girl. I just don’t see it,” Carmella said, frowning.
    Carmella glanced over at Neal, adjusting his tie so that it was perfectly straight. She didn’t mention it to Damita at that moment, but it occurred to her that he had all the earmarks of a serial killer, with all that fidgeting and adjusting—the perfection. Then, as if on cue, he did what he always did, stared directly at Damita.
    Damita and Neal had been dating for over a year, but from the very first time she met him, Carmella always noticed how he never, ever allowed Damita to get too far away from his bird’s-eye view. Damita considered it endearing. Carmella thought it was plain ole creepy. She had known her share of obsessive, controlling men. And, in her experience, relationships with men such as Neal always ended badly.
    As Carmella observed Neal watching Damita, she sensed something different in him. There was a certain air of cockiness that was somehow more intense than it had been before. He seemed to be standing even taller and speaking with even greater precision. That’s when it occurred to Carmella what it was. He had won the prize. He no longer had to play the role for Damita’s family or friends. She was now his wife and there was nothing any of them could do about it.
    As Carmella and Neal both eyeballed one another, neither of them willing to admit defeat, Brandon joined Carmella and Damita on the other side of the room.
    He grabbed both Carmella and Damita around the neck simultaneously, hugging them to him. “So that leaves you, Carmella. This one here has broken my heart and married someone else, so I’ll have to marry you.”
    Carmella giggled. “Uh, uh, I’m no one’s booby prize.”
    â€œNaw, naw, it’s not like that. All these years I’ve been biding my time, getting cozy with Damita in order to get to her hot, Latina friend.”
    â€œI know that’s right,” Carmella agreed.
    Although Carmella didn’t think Damita, nor anyone else noticed, Neal’s response to Brandon’s presence was