“I’m not rushing it. We are in a good place. So we can take it slow.”
“So you mean to tell me if Marcos asked you to marry him, you would say no?” She said, hiking her brow and staring at me.
“Hell, you know I would say yes. I’m just not rushing. Especially after everything we've been through.”
“That I do get. Let’s go before I’m late for my own damn wedding.” She looped her hand in mine, and we went down to the chapel.
“How the hell did you find a hotel that has a wedding chapel in it on such short notice?”
“Well, it wasn’t easy, but my baby pulled some strings to make me happy.” She beamed. We were all smiles. I was over the moon, like I was getting married. This was my girl, my ride or die, and she really showed me how much she had my back. I wouldn’t trade this girl for the world.
We walked into the chapel, and music began to play on cue. I stepped behind her as she approached the front. Chubby’s eyes were glued to her as she made her entrance. Marcos was on the side of him, looking so damn delicious, I thought I would faint. He had on a tailored deep blue suit that clung to him just right. He smiled when he looked in my direction, and I blushed red. I couldn’t wait to get next to him, but now wasn’t the time. I stood beside her as the ceremony began. There were only a few of us here. Chubby and Chante’s parents came. My mother and Ma Lyn were sitting next to each other like old friends. Trina was there taking care of MJ, whom she had gotten incredibly close to over the last few weeks. Everything was falling into place. I hadn’t felt so calm and assured in my whole life. It was a wonderful feeling.
The ceremony passed, and we all decided to go get changed and celebrate. I quickly ran back to the hotel room to get out of the dress I was wearing. As soon as I lifted my dress over my head, I felt Marcos' strong arms lift me off my feet, and I yelped, throwing the dress off quickly so I could see him.
“Stop playing! You're about to give me a heart attack!”
“You taking off shit made me think you was ready.” He said through a smile, still holding me in the air.
“You know I’m changing for the reception, so put me down.”
“Or what?” He teased again, bringing his face close to mine. He was so damn fine. There was no denying that. More than anything, he was mine. I felt that through and through.
“Stop it! I don’t want to be late for Chante’s special day. It's about her and Chubby right now.”
“You know our time is coming. I don’t want you to think that marriage isn’t something in my plans with you, because it is. I ain’t looking for nothing else.” His expression turned serious.
“I know. And I’m not rushing it. We've been through a lot, so when it happens for us, I know it will be when the time is right.”
“The only thing left is to pick a date, right?”
“Huh?” I replied, confused.
He smiled, and I warmed all over. He pressed a kiss to my lips, and I reciprocated. Before I knew it, we fell onto the bed and he positioned himself on top of me. I wanted to fight the feeling, but I knew he would have his way with me, and it would only result in my pleasure. He gripped my hands and put them over my head as he kissed my neck and collar.
“I love you, Dyami. I always have and I always will. It's beyond this. I love who you are, and I love who you make me. You stepped up in a way with MJ that I could never repay you for. That means more to me than you will ever know. But you are right. Today may be about our friends, but trust me, the rest of our lives is about us.”
I felt the weight on my hand change, and I looked up and saw the reflection of the diamond dancing off the wall first. I sat up quickly, looked at the ring, then looked at him. Tears rushed to my eyes. It wasn’t about the size of the ring, which was massive. It was the fact that I finally found a man I could believe in and love that I could trust. I searched so long for someone to bring the type of consistency and pressure that Marcos brought, when all I had to do was just look for the one who gave me butterflies since I was a little girl. No other man truly stood a chance, because I was chasing a high that couldn’t be duplicated.
“You still ain’t said nothing, so let me make it official.” He slipped the ring off my finger and got down on one knee.
“Dyami Denise Taylor, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
I nodded vigorously, unable to form words. Of course, it was a yes, because when it came to what love meant to me, it had always been him.
Epilogue
6 months later
Dyami
Icould see why Chante and Chubby eloped because planning a wedding was stressful as hell. Too many times, I looked at Marcos while we lay in bed and told him, 'Let’s take a flight and do it in Vegas.' Every time he was with it, if I was.
Before he pulled the trigger, I'd talk myself off the ledge. Mainly for Trina's sake. I wanted her to see this. What she had to look forward to. All the different ways a man could and should show love, Marcos modeled, and I wanted her to see nothing less.
Finally, the big day was tomorrow. It was really happening. I was on my way to breakfast with Marcos, and we were keeping tradition by not seeing each other for 24 hours before the wedding. Leaving him today would make it real. We were inseparable over the last six months, only growing closer each day.
We even drove different cars to drive the point home. I was going over to Chante’s and him with Chubby. Our circlewas still close. No friends were added, but it was still more than enough.
