by K. C. Mills
“Hey, hey, hey,” Brit yelled when she walked into Hakeem’s office, which stopped me from responding to Jacob. She walked over and threw her arms around me.
“I’m so happy for you Tay, and Lord knows I’m glad this is finally over, because I literally had to not talk to you for a week so that I wouldn’t tell you,” she said with a big ass grin.
“Is that why you haven’t returned my calls all week and have been short texting me?”
“Yes, and she was about to drive me and your father crazy. Everyday it was like, ‘oh my God, Tay is getting married, I can’t take this. Maybe I should just tell her’,” my mother said hugging me and then kissing me on the cheek after Brit let me go.
I just laughed because I knew Brit. “Well, I can honestly say I’m proud of you Britbrat. That was a pretty big secret to keep and you did it.”
“Yeah but trust me, it almost killed me. I think Jay and I were on a temporary separation because he got tired of me complaining about it.” Brit just laughed.
“Okay, okay, okay she kept the damn secret, now shut up and let's get started.”
Jacob did his normal thing and took over. I sat back and let them handle my fabulous transformation, as Jacob kept calling it. I was anxious, and on the verge of tears the entire time. I couldn’t believe that they all made this happen. I couldn’t believe that Hakeem set it in motion but they did, and it was happening, so I just let them do their thing and prayed that I didn’t break down.
-22-
Hakeem
I stood there looking in the mirror after I was finished dressing. Hell, I’d marry my damn self, as good as I looked. My tailored tux fit perfectly. I had a fresh cut, and shit not to be arrogant, but I looked damn good.
Liyah had just left after telling me that Tay was almost ready, and also informed me that Tay had a meltdown first, about the whole surprise wedding thing, but then let it go and was rolling with it. Thank God. I knew I was taking a chance, but I was the kind of person who did things my way, and I needed Tay to be my wife. Shit, we had been through so much it was time; there was no other way for it to be but husband and wife.
“You sure about this?” Jodie asked as he walked out behind me with his hands in his pockets.
“Hell yeah. I can’t see it any other way.” I turned to face him.
“Aight then, let’s do this shit,” he said and extended a closed fist to me, before he grabbed me and pulled me into a brotherly hug.
“I’m glad to see your ass in something other than jeans and a hoodie,” I said and walked over to the sofa in the room and sat down.
“Trust me, the second I hear I do, I’m out this shit,” he said looking down at his suit. “You’re the only person I’d do this shit for, so you better appreciate it.”
He sat down next to me just as Jaysyn and Talen came walking in the room.
“Damn nigga, we look like we need to be on a wanted add or something like that.”
“The fuck?” Jodie asked looking at Talen.
“Shit, we killin’ these hoes, so we need to be on Americas Most Wanted.” Talen could barely get his sentence out because he stared laughing.
“You dumb as fuck, Talen. Real talk,” Jaysyn said.
“It’s true and you know it,” he said.
“Let me go tell Neicy you're killing hoes and see what she got to say about that shit,” Jodie said.
“I didn’t say I was fucking ‘em, just killing ‘em,” Talen laughed again.
“You ready for this? Your whole life is about to change. Marriage ain't no joke bruh,” Jay said.
“You right, but in my mind, I’m already there. A title and piece of paper isn’t gonna change shit but my tax status,” I said truthfully. I knew that Tay was it for me. No sense in playing around with it, and I was about to make sure she was my wife when my child took his or her first breath. She deserved that and more, and I was about to make that happen.
“Aye, that’s what’s up,” Kendrick said when he joined us. He dapped everyone in the room and stood next to the sofa that I was sitting on.
“You making it hard for us Keem. Mona been in my ass with that marriage shit. She won’t let it go. You forever complicating my life,” Jodie said.
“Then get your shit together. I know a good ass jeweler. I can hook you up.” I looked at him with a smirk knowing he probably wanted to clock my ass.
“Nah, we’re working on it, but we damn sure ain't there yet. Hell, we can’t even agree on dinner so we damn sure don’t need to be buying rings and shit.”
Just then I heard a knock on the door. “Keem we’re ready, you guys ready?” I looked up to see my sister and she was absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t help but smile and be sad at the same time. Seeing her in that white dress had me thinking that she would be here soon, marrying somebody.
“Yeah we’re ready,” I said looking around at my boys. I felt blessed to have such a loyal circle and couldn’t image this day without them.
I stood as Liyah walked in the room right up to me. She threw her arms around me and I hugged her back. “I wish Mom and Dad were here. You might not have been what they expected you to be, but they would proud. I love you Keem, and I’m so happy for you. You’ve always been there for me, and you and Tay are my family. I miss Mom and Dad, but you two make it a lot easier.”
I kissed my sister on the forehead and then looked down at her. She had me about to break down. “You really trying me today, Liyah.”
She just laughed. “Its true, so I just needed you to know that.”
“Yeah, well I love you more, now take your ass own before you have me in here crying like a little bitch,” I said playfully shoving her.
“You so dang rude, I swear.” She rolled her eyes and left the room.
“Let’s do this shit,” Talen said with a smirk. We all dapped each other and headed downstairs. I was nervous as shit, but at the same time, there was a certain peace that took over. I was ready to make Tay my wife and there was no doubt in me whatsoever about that.
*****
I stood under the canopy in front of the stage, looking around at everyone that mattered to me. Tay’s family was there, my boys, all of the people that were important to Tay. This was life. No big fancy overpriced bullshit that was more about appearance than the moment. I had to give it to Jacob, he did his thing and I was damn sure glad he did. There was no way I could have made this happen.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the music start, and then Riley’s little voice.
“Daddy, she’s so pretty, just wait to you see her.” I laughed at my baby girl walking, well hell, almost running next to Angel in their white dresses, carrying a basket of rose petals that they were tossing in handfuls, as they made their way towards me. I knew for sure they were not following the instructions that Jacob had given them but fuck it, it worked.
When they finally reached me, Angel ran right up to Jodie and hugged him before she and Riley stood in front of us.
“Daddy look,” Riley yelled grinning and pointing as Tay followed behind Liyah, Lisa, and Brit. Even though they were leading the way, my eyes were on Tay. She looked like she was about to pass out and I grinned, because I didn’t know if she was nervous or if the future Williams she was carrying was getting to her, but either way I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was so fucking beautiful that I couldn’t wait to get her close to me.
When everyone made it to their spots, Tay looked at me and smiled. I couldn’t help but return the favor, as she stood there next to me; this was happening. Tay’s parents hooked us up with their pastor and he greeted everyone, and just as he was about to begin, I grabbed Tay and kissed her. Everyone started clapping, laughing and when I finally let her go, the pastor looked at us and smiled.
“Well, I guess I better get started… looks like he’s a little impatient.” Again everyone laughed and he began.
Twenty minutes later, we were done, and Tay was officially my wife. I felt like things was finally coming toget
her. After everything we had been through, our forever was starting, in this moment, right here.
We spent time with our family and friends, but now it was time for me to have my one on one with Tay. I grabbed her hand and led her to my office.
“Where are we going?” she asked looking up at me with the most beautiful smile ever.
“I need a minute with my wife,” I said over my shoulder as we climbed the stairs.
“Keem, we have plenty of time, we can’t just leave everyone,” she said with a slight frown.
“We can do with the fuck we want, and it’s just a minute.”
When we reached my office, I shut the door locked it, and wasted no time pulling Tay into my body and kissing her like our lives depended on it. When we finally came up for air, she looked at me with the most sensual stare.
“Are you happy?” I asked.
“Are you?” she returned.
I chuckled, “Happy is not the word for it, but I guess it will do,” I said.
“Then yes, I’m happy. I can’t believe you did this,” she said.
“I didn’t really, Jacob did,” I admitted.
“Yeah, but only because you asked him to.”
“Is it what you would have chosen?”
“It was perfect and I love you for this.” She pecked me on my lips.
“I love you for this,” I said placing my hand on her stomach. She looked at me confused for a minute before a smile formed on her face.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“I’m just good like that,” I said with a smirk.
“Really Keem, how?” she asked.
I laughed, “Nah, I heard you telling Brit at Riley’s party.”
She frowned and playfully punched me in the arm. “You knew all that time and didn’t say anything.”
“Shit, you didn’t either, you wanted to keep secrets and shit, so I let you,” I said with a smirk.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. I knew how bad you wanted it, and I needed to make sure things were good.”
“Don’t sweat it. Everything’s perfect. My little shorty is in there chilling.”
“Is that why you did this?”
“Yes and no,” I answered honestly. “I would have married you anyway, I had been thinking about it for a while. But I also wanted you to be my wife before you had my shorty. It wasn’t happening any other way.”
She just looked at me for a minute and then smiled. “I love you,” she whispered before she roped her arms around my neck, and pulled me towards her for a kiss.
“I love you more and don’t ever question or doubt that.”
I kissed my wife, yes my wife once more, before we left my office hand in hand to go join the people who mattered the most in our lives. This was what it was all about and from here on out, I planned on enjoying every second of every day that I was blessed enough to share with the love of my life. She was my world and I had every intention of making sure she knew it. It took a lot to get here, but we finally made it!
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