Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $9.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Lexi's Cherry: Operation Manopoly, #1
    Lexi's Cherry: Operation Manopoly, #1
    Lexi's Cherry: Operation Manopoly, #1
    Ebook179 pages2 hours

    Lexi's Cherry: Operation Manopoly, #1

    By Niki Simone

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    You could say Alexis Rossi has it all.

    A wealthy family

    A prestigious education from Stanford University

    A loyal best friend

    And, a hot boyfriend

     

    There's just one problem...she's a 21-year-old virgin.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNiki Simone
    Release dateApr 3, 2020
    ISBN9781393627777
    Lexi's Cherry: Operation Manopoly, #1
    Author

    Niki Simone

    Niki Simone began her writing career at the tender age of 13 with a series of short stories. She quickly learned that writing was a gift and decided to put that gift to work in media. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she studied Journalism and Communications. She cultivated a love for journalism during her college career but was always driven back to creative writing. Niki is the author of the fun, spunky romantic comedy series, Operation Manopoly.

    Related to Lexi's Cherry

    Titles in the series (1)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    African American Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Where Have All The Young Girls Gone?

      Sep 10, 2022

      The little fat man squirmed in his chair, sweat running down his red cheeks. I thought he was going to cry. Instead, he stared at me as though I had arrived from another planet, an alien being sent solely to torment him. I didn’t know why Professor H

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Space Between Us

      Oct 9, 2019

      The Space Between Us
      8 min read

    • Article

      Finding peace Jessica Rowe

      Nov 30, 2022

      Finding peace Jessica Rowe
      9 min read

    • Article

      Valentine Angels

      Dec 28, 2020

      Valentine Angels
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Doll

      Apr 14, 2022

      The Doll
      5 min read

    • Article

      The NEWCOMER

      Oct 10, 2023

      The NEWCOMER
      11 min read

    • Article

      The happiest BIRTHDAY

      Jun 30, 2021

      The happiest BIRTHDAY
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Newcom Er

      Sep 21, 2021

      The Newcom Er
      11 min read

    • Article

      ‘Nothing Fazes Me Now’

      Jun 3, 2021

      ‘Nothing Fazes Me Now’
      2 min read

    • Article

      I Confronted My School Bullies

      Jul 3, 2019

      I Confronted My School Bullies
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Family Plot

      May 7, 2020

      The Family Plot
      10 min read

    • Article

      My Big Little Sis

      Oct 8, 2020

      My Big Little Sis
      3 min read

    • Article

      Breaking POINT

      Nov 1, 2022

      Breaking POINT
      6 min read

    • Article

      A Class ACT

      Dec 29, 2020

      A Class ACT
      6 min read

    • Article

      Prometheus Bound In ISS

      Dec 10, 2021

      The room I’m in lacks character. Oh, it’s full of characters, all right, but none of them are the prizes of this fine institution. But as a room, it fits the basic definition. There are four walls, a door, the standard issued government purchased des

      16 min read

    • Article

      Not Just For CHRISTMAS

      Nov 24, 2021

      Not Just For CHRISTMAS
      9 min read

    • Article

      All By Myself

      Apr 28, 2020

      All By Myself
      6 min read

    • Article

      Valentine Angels

      Dec 24, 2019

      Valentine Angels
      4 min read

    • Article

      Me & Davey Waters

      Jan 15, 2023

      Me & Davey Waters
      4 min read

    • Article

      Keeping A Low Profile

      Jun 30, 2020

      Keeping A Low Profile
      6 min read

    • Article

      Kids & Angels

      Jun 25, 2019

      Kids & Angels
      4 min read

    • Article

      Metaphors

      Mar 10, 2023

      I’m knitting on my front porch when a car roars to a stop in front of my house. It’s a red Mustang convertible, top down on this warm Thursday afternoon in June. Two girls sit in the front, two in the back. They smile and wave at me. I smile back tho

      8 min read

    • Article

      David Sedaris

      Sep 15, 2017

      Our house on Emerald Isle, The Sea Section, is divided down the middle, and has an E beside one front door and a W beside the other. The east side is ruled by Hugh, and the bedroom we share is on the top floor. It opens onto a deck that overlooks the

      12 min read

    • Article

      Class ACT

      Mar 18, 2020

      Class ACT
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Friend I’ll Never forget

      Apr 25, 2019

      The Friend I’ll Never forget
      5 min read

    • Article

      Welcome To The Baby Group

      Nov 9, 2020

      The meeting was being held in the back room of our local church. When I finally found the door, I pushed it open and saw a room full of strangers sat in a circle staring at me. “Hi,” I said, cringing inwardly as I realised I was interrupting the intr

      6 min read

    • Article

      Dispatches From the Trenches of Domestic Life

      Mar 2, 2018

      Six years ago my wife gave me a pair of house slippers. My first ever. A domestic present I thought signaled some new phase of my life. I thanked her. Tried them on. Plush fur lined the inside. I stood up to make a show of enjoying them. Then she han

      6 min read

    • Article

      You Need To Be PUNISHED

      Jan 27, 2022

      You Need To Be PUNISHED
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Birthday Party

      Nov 4, 2021

      The Birthday Party
      9 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Lexi's Cherry

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Lexi's Cherry - Niki Simone

      Chapter 1 – Accepted

      I t’s here.

      Jelissa sits on my bed and places the envelope in my lap. I’m eating one of my favorite snacks, Rainer cherries. Jelissa reaches in my bag and starts to nibble on a cherry.

      I stare at the envelope in her hand blankly.

      My future is in that envelope.

      Well, she prompts, aren’t you going to open it?

      I pick it up and start to open it but freeze.

      I can’t. Can you?

      I point the envelope toward my best friend. I trust her. If it’s bad news, she can let me down easy.

      I can take it.

      I’ve waited my entire life to get into the Stanford law program.

      From a child, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer.

      My mom said I would raid her closet, put on her suits and perform a mock trial in front of my stuffed animals. Yes, I needed more friends as a child. I’ve always known my path. Law is my future, and, Stanford law is my family legacy. My father attended Stanford law and so did my grandfather; a long line of Rossi’s went to Stanford. Not to get into this prestigious law program would mean marring the family name.

      Jelissa takes the envelope from me, skeptical.

      Are you sure you want me to do this? It’s your big moment.

      I nod.

      Yes, I’m sure.

      She starts to slowly tear the seal.

      I don’t know why you’re so nervous. You’re going to get in. You’re brilliant.

      She opens the envelope and removes a single piece of paper, not the plain white paper that you see at any office supply store. No, this paper has quality, thick, almost card stock.

      Jelissa begins to read the letter silently.

      I wait patiently.

      One, one thousand.

      Two, one thousand.

      Three, one thousand.

      Four, one thousand.

      Five, one thousand.

      Son of a bitch, Jelissa! I yell, read it already.

      I feel my body going into spasms.

      Oh yeah, right, she says, and she starts to read, Alexis Rossi, Stanford University is pleased to inform you that you have been accepted in our law program.

      She stops reading and hands the letter over to me.

      See, I told you. Nothing to worry about.

      I’m in shock. I can’t speak. I take the letter from her and start to read the words for myself.

      Alexis Rossi, we are pleased to inform you....

      I got in, I whisper.

      Jelissa stares at me.

      I got in, I repeat. I stand on my small twin mattress in our tiny dorm and start jumping up and down.

      I got in. I got in!

      Jelissa gets off the bed before the tidal wave of activity sends her to the floor.

      Yes, you did. So, are we celebrating or what?

      I stop jumping on the bed long enough to answer my friend.

      Hell yeah we’re celebrating. Let’s go out tonight. Should I ask Drew to join us?

      No, let’s make it a night without the guys. It’s been a while since we’ve had a girls’ night, just us. Plus, I’m sure you and Drew will have your own private celebration anyway.

      I blush at the thought. Drew and I have only been dating a few weeks, but he makes the hair on my neck stand attention. There’s something about this boy. I’ve been holding out on him, trying to see if what we have is going to turn into something real. I know we’re just college kids, and my parents say that’s when you’re supposed to have fun and sow your oats, but I’m a senior now. I’m ready to settle and find a guy I can fall in love with. Drew might be that guy, but it’s still too early to tell which is why we haven’t slept together yet. He wants to and holding out is testing every bit of my willpower, but I need to make sure he’s in it to win it. I think Jelissa’s right. A girls’ night is way overdue and it will be more fun without the guys tonight.

      You’re right. We need some girl time. Where do you want to go?

      Let’s go to Antonio’s, Jelissa offers.

      I shake my head.

      You just want to eat peanuts all night.

      Jelissa chuckles, I like their food, too. The peanuts just cleanse the palette.

      I roll laughing on my bed.

      You just keep telling yourself that.

      I roll over to catch the time, but my alarm clock is unplugged. I hate my alarm clock. Most people hit snooze. I unplug the whole damn thing to shut it up - a lot of good that does me.

      What time is it? I ask Jelissa.

      Jelissa has her phone in hand.

      4:59, she says, you want to get an early start at the bar?

      I roll my eyes.

      You’re an alcoholic.

      Jelissa starts dancing around the room.

      We’re celebrating. You just got into law school, and I...

      She goes blank.

      "What did you do, Jelissa? I tease.

      I tease her because she’s brilliant. She was accepted as a Rhodes scholar, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, which means she’s smart as hell. She declined it, which is unheard of, because she wanted to go to Stanford instead. Her parents were livid when she announced this to them, but she convinced them to let her go to Stanford because it has always been her dream.

      I’m graduating, she fires back.

      Says the Rhodes scholar, I roll my eyes, And news flash Einstein, we’re both graduating.

      You know I never even wanted to apply to that program. My dad insisted. My parents are the ones who set themselves up for a letdown when I declined because they knew I always wanted to go here.

      She shakes her head.

      Still, I’m sure it didn’t look bad on your Stanford application when you mentioned that you were accepted as a Rhodes scholar.

      Not at all, she says, I was surprised by the positive welcome I received from the admissions committee when I applied.

      I lay back on my bed.

      Stanford is one of the best universities in the world, hands down, but it doesn’t hurt their marketing to have a Rhodes scholar attend their school. That’s free publicity, essentially.

      I turn on my stomach and lean on my elbows, Do you have any regrets?

      Regrets?

      Yeah, about coming here instead of going to Oxford. I imagine that would have been pretty remarkable.

      Jelissa plops back on my bed.

      I’ve never had any regrets, she said, Stanford has always been my dream, since I was a little girl. Some things you just know. Like you. You’ve always wanted to come here, too.

      Yeah, but unlike you, I have been strongly influenced by my family. If I didn’t go to Stanford, or didn’t get in, they might have disowned me.

      Jelissa rolls on her back, the two of us barely fitting on the bed, but it’s okay because we’re besties.

      They wouldn’t have disowned you.

      I sit straight up.

      Umm, excuse me, have you met my parents?

      Okay drama queen, she says, you might have a point. All would have been forgiven - eventually. Would you have wanted to go anywhere else?

      I back up against the wall and pull my knees to my face.

      I don’t know. My parents have drilled Stanford into me for so long, there’s never been anything else. I think I even saw baby pictures of me in a Stanford onesie. I was always curious about UCLA. It seems like a cool school. I love Stanford. I wouldn’t change a thing.

      Plus, it’s how we met, Jelissa adds.

      I smile.

      Yes, it is. We’ve been inseparable since freshman year.

      I reach over and wrap Jelissa in a big hug.

      "I’m so glad we found each other.

      She hugs back.

      Wow, you’re affectionate and you’re not even drunk yet.

      I giggle and pull back.

      I guess we should start getting ready for tonight.

      Jelissa hops off the bed and walks over to her side of the room.

      Yes, I need to find something cute to wear.

      I sit up on the bed and reach for my phone that is sitting on my desk.

      And, I need to call my parents.

      Jelissa heads into our suite bathroom, arm full of toiletries.

      You do that. I’m hopping in the shower.

      I dial the number home.

      Hello, a sweet feminine voice picks up.

      Hi mom.

      Hello sweetie. How are you?

      I’m good. Is dad around?

      Sure, do you want me to go get him?

      Yes, I actually want to talk to both of you. It’s important.

      I hear my mother sigh on the other end.

      Oh my God, you’re not pregnant, are you?

      Mom! Of course not! Can you just please go get dad?

      Of course, dear.

      The line goes somewhat silent for a while as my mother chases down my father. I can’t believe she thought I was pregnant. Like that could even...well, whatever.

      Hi honey, I hear my dad on the line.

      Hi dad, are you guys on speaker? I want both of you to be able to hear me.

      Yes Lexi, we both can hear you, he says, what’s this about?

      He sounds concerned, so I break the ice.

      I got into Stanford Law School!

      I hear an explosion on the other side.

      That’s amazing, sweetheart, my dad is the first to speak.

      I think I hear my mother crying in the background. This is a big deal in our family.

      Have you given any thought into what kind of law you want to study? he asks.

      Too many questions too soon. Right now, I’m just glad I got in.

      No dad, not yet. But, there’s still time to figure out what area I want to study.

      Yes, you’re right, he concedes, but don’t take too long to find a concentration, although I wouldn’t recommend criminal law. I don’t want any hoodlums coming after my baby.

      I shake my head.

      Criminal law is a very respected field, and often the people being represented are innocent. It doesn’t matter; I don’t think it’s the direction I want to go anyway.

      Good, my father says resolutely on the other end, "just remember that you can always call me if you need help deciding.

      I know, daddy. Thank you.

      Your mother is crying. Happy tears. She just wants me to tell you how proud we are of you.

      Thank you, daddy.

      Well, we won’t keep you. Thanks for letting us know. When did you get your acceptance letter?

      I just got it today.

      Enjoy this moment, sweetheart. You’ve earned it. We’ll talk soon. We love you, baby.

      I love you guys too.

      I hang up the phone, a few tears forming in the corner of my eyes. It feels good to make my father proud. He’s always set the bar pretty high for me. So high, in fact, I often have wondered if I’ll ever be able to reach it, but now I’m confident that I can. All those late nights studying have finally paid off. I know this is just the beginning. Law school will chew me up and spit me out if I’m not ready to study my ass off.

      Jelissa comes out the bathroom in a towel with wet hair.

      Did you tell your parents?

      Yep.

      "How’d

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1