The Johnson Sisters Read Free Page B

said.
    â€œExactly. I’ll feel better about myself. Looking at you in that dress is not helping either. I thought this was a casual event. Where the hell do you think you are going?” Serena asked.
    â€œGirl, this old thing?” I joked.
    â€œPlease, Phoenix. Every time I see you, you got something on I haven’t seen you wear before. Where the hell are you getting the money to afford so many clothes?”
    â€œSerena, don’t worry about my finances,” I said, giggling. “It’s none of your business.”
    â€œY’all make me sick,” Vivian interrupted.
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    â€œY’all know why. Look at me. I’m the plus-size sister.”
    â€œAnd you look good every time I see you, too, Vivian.”
    â€œYou do look good, sis,” Serena cosigned.
    â€œI know, but y’all skinny bitches always find a way to make me feel bad standing here with your perfect shapes. Serena is talking about losing more weight. Any more weight loss and you are going to disappear on us.”
    â€œWhatever, Viv. I’m doing this for me. This kangaroo pouch ain’t cutting it,” Serena said, jiggling her belly.
    â€œThat ain’t a kangaroo pouch. This is a kangaroo pouch,” Vivian said, lifting her shirt to reveal the Spanx she had on pulling everything in. Vivian rolled the garment down and let her belly expand outward. Serena and I giggled. “You see. So can y’all shut up about weight?” Vivian said, pulling the Spanx back up and fixing her clothes.
    â€œYou did not have to go that far,” I said.
    â€œYes, I did, so y’all could shut up,” Vivian said.
    â€œOkay, you guys. Enough about our bodies. Where is everybody?” Serena asked.
    â€œYou two are first to arrive,” I said.
    â€œWe can see that,” Vivian said.
    â€œWasn’t this supposed to start at seven?” Serena asked, picking up an appetizer off the table and putting it in her mouth.
    â€œYep. You know how black folks are,” I said.
    â€œDon’t put this on black people. Kimara is Puerto Rican. Mayumi is Japanese. Bella is Italian, and Hanna, Mackenzie, and Paige are white. You should say this is a woman thing, or mother thing, or even diva thing, but not a black thing,” Vivian corrected, walking over to claim the space she wanted for the party. She sat down on the sofa.
    â€œWell, I didn’t mean to offend black women,” I said jokingly, checking out what Vivian was wearing. Even though she was considered plus-size, she could dress her behind off. She looked good in her red skinny-leg jeans with black dolman top and black stilettos. You would think that red would make her look bigger, but it didn’t. It flattered her body nicely. With Vivian’s thickness, she carried it in her hips, butt, and breasts, so I didn’t really see what the issue was.
    â€œIs that an apology coming from Phoenix? Because I need to voice record this on my phone,” Vivian said, pulling out her cell and typing something. “You never apologize about nothing, and that’s as close to one as I’ve ever heard you come to.”
    â€œShut up,” I said, playfully hitting her.
    â€œI’m just saying.”
    Serena went over and sat on the sofa next to Vivian, yawning, leaving a space to her left for someone else to sit.
    â€œAll right, sleepy head. We can’t have that. You got to get ready to have some fun tonight,” I said.
    â€œPhoenix, I’m tired. Nevaeh still isn’t sleeping through the night. I know I get up every two to three hours. But when the sun rises, that girl sleeps for hours. Why do babies do that?”
    â€œI don’t know, and I don’t want to know,” I said seriously. “I don’t want kids. Hell, I don’t really like them. All that crying and throwing up and changing Pampers and always needing someone to care for them. Naw. Y’all can have that,