Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 82060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Toni wasn’t playing with the bridesmaid dresses. They were very pretty and demurely sexy.
Her gown, an ivory, off-the-shoulder column, with more structured ruching to the more nuanced ruffle at her hip, was understated and sophisticated.
And her most important quality when she’d been searching for the perfect dress, she could dance in it.
I shook my head at Miss Vanessa so she wouldn’t spook Toni by opening the door.
She nodded hers, but still looked freaked and didn’t move from the window.
“You’re not going to fuck it up,” I said to Toni, considering the circumstances, dropping the F-bomb when I did my very best not to curse, since my son had superpowered hearing, and he picked up everything anybody laid down, and I didn’t need my kid F-bombing his way through elementary school.
“He loves me so much,” she whispered.
I smiled because he did.
So much.
“Yeah, he does.”
She lifted her head and looked at me.
Her hair was smoothed severely back into a big, intricate bun in the back, the veil now attached to it.
The perfect move, letting her beautiful face do all the work.
“You look gorgeous,” I said quietly. “He’s going to lose it when he sees you.”
“Yeah? He likes my hair full. Should I—?”
I set the bouquet on the parking brake and reached for her hands, holding tight.
“You’re perfect. Every inch, perfect.”
She stared into my eyes.
I bounced our hands, “Let’s do this, okay?”
“You’re a good friend, Malia Clark,” she declared.
“I’m not your friend, honey. I’m your sister.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“No!” I shouted, she jumped, so I calmed myself down. “It’s waterproof, but let’s not take any chances with your makeup.”
“Right, right,” she mumbled.
I nodded to Miss Vanessa.
She pulled open the door.
I grabbed the bouquet, got out, stopped to open the back door, nabbed Toni’s shoes, and after Lena gave me a that bitch is crazy bug-eyed look, which I returned with a just wait until you get married smug-eyed look (yes, we were sisters, we could communicate like this), we all headed into the church.
* * * *
My heart was awash with love.
Because it was an amazing day where my best friend was marrying a good, decent, hard-working, loving man.
And because my boy was her ring bearer.
He looked adorable in his little tux with his back straight and his shoulders squared, taking his duty of holding that frilly pillow as serious as if he was delivering a promise of forever bliss from a merciful God to the altar.
He was such a cutie.
I was standing in my maid of honor spot, preening (I was a proud momma, I had no regrets) and smiling at him, when I felt something funny tickle the hairs on the back of my neck.
I tore my gaze from Liam, who was staring with hyper alertness at the spot he was supposed to walk to, ignoring the flower girl beside him making a show with her ivory petals (I’d noticed during rehearsals she was very extra), and looked to the last pew at the back of the church.
It was then, my heart stopped beating.
Darius stood there, looking a thousand ways of fine in a dark suit, his gaze riveted to his son.
Oh God.
Oh shizzle.
Oh shizzlesticks times a hundred.
I’d been right, he hadn’t been able to stay away from me. He showed at my house, always when Liam was spending the night with his grandparents or Auntie Lena, so he could spend the night with me.
And I’d been right again, he couldn’t hack it.
He had to see his boy.
I’d told him Toni was getting married and she’d asked Liam to play his part. He’d agreed, because he loved his Aunt Toni, he loved his Uncle Tony, and “I’m gonna look awesome in a tux” (his words).
And Darius hadn’t been able to stay away.
Helpless, I stood at the front, watching the emotions wash over my man’s face. Pride. Love. Desolation. Pain.
My hand tightened on my bouquet as my throat constricted.
His gaze shifted to me, and I forced a swallow.
Because all that was left was the pain.
I ripped my gaze from his to watch our son walk to where he was supposed to stand, in front of Tony’s best man.
I held a hand out to the flower girl, and she took it and stood in front of me.
Then my eyes went back to Darius, to see he was gone. I moved them to the doors of the sanctuary just in time to see him disappear.
But I had no chance to do anything.
Because Toni was next.
And I’d told no lies.
Her very soon-to-be husband lost it when he clapped eyes on the beauty that was his bride.
It was everything.
* * * *
When I got home that night, I knew he was there, and not just because Mom and Dad had left the reception early, taking Liam with them to spend the night at theirs, so I could party with my friend on her big day.