by Joy, E. n.
Vincent smiled. "You like bossing me around, huh?" "I'm good at it, right?" she giggled, rubbing his face.
"I'm the boss."
"You can boss me around all you like." He kissed her then walked toward the lit walk-in closet. "But come the time when we become parents, I ain't changing no funky diapers. I'll be in The Room chilling. Besides, I let you boss me around because it's cute."
Micki whopped Vincent upside his head with a pillow. He turned around, picking up the pillow while she laughed.
"Oh, we throwing pillows now?" he said, grinning. You're safe right now. Since you're all dressed up, I'ma let you get off for now." He tossed the pillow back on the bed, then turned back into the closet.
"Baby," she giggled, You're talking crazy if you think you're not changing any diapers. You deserved to get hit in the head."
"First things first," Vincent told her. "Let's get down the aisle first, then we'll argue about who's gonna change our son's diapers later." On that note, Vincent felt the pillow bop him upside the head again.
"You mean daughter," Micki smiled as the two finished getting dressed. The two would have to argue about that later as well.
Chapter Six
"Welcome to the society of being an engaged brother," Aaron joked with his raised glass of Scotch in a toast. The two couples sat inside the Tantra Restaurant and Lounge located in Miami Beach, Florida.
"Did you enjoy those steaks, Vincent?" Aaron asked. "Bruh, it was almost as good as Micki's cooking."
Vincent had a glass of Henny in front of him.
Micki smiled and winked at Celisha.
Aaron cleared his throat. "Excuse me," he muttered.
"Vincent, as a Christian, it's my obligation to share a few things with you and Micki. As you all know, I had my doubts about you when Celisha mentioned working for you. Yes, I was guilty of judging you on your past and I spoke to you up front about my feelings. Your very words were, 'A man would be careless and naïve not to be concerned about his woman working for an ex-convict.'" Aaron smiled. "That statement changed my view of you. And I am pleased that you have confessed your love for Micki, and it will please the man up above when you two tie the knot."
"Thanks, man," Vincent said.
"Celisha tells me you'll be going to church this Sunday," Aaron said.
"Church?" Micki looked at Vincent in surprise.
"Why am I not surprised that it slipped your mind to tell Micki about church?" Celisha said, shooting Vincent a look.
He shrugged his shoulders, grinning as Celisha proceeded to tell Micki just exactly how it came about that Vincent was to be at church on Sunday.
"Awww, that's so sweet." Micki rubbed Vincent's back after hearing how he had accepted Shana's request for him to visit her church. "I wish I could go too, but I have to leave for New York Friday night."
"When will you get back?" Celisha asked.
"Umm. . .Monday. My brother will be on leave and he's going to meet me in New York. We're coming back together."
"There's always next Sunday," Aaron replied. "Sorry, I take that back. I know this is a very special moment for you two. But no one is promised tomorrow, so we can't assume there will be a next Sunday."
Under the table, Celisha slightly tapped Aaron's foot before he started preaching. Not that she had anything against it, it's just that she didn't know how seriously he would be taken after downing that glass of Scotch. He got the hint and smoothly changed the subject.
Vincent enjoyed the positive friendship he had with Aaron. Aaron was younger at the age of twenty-nine. He was a Christian and proud that life did not have to be dull and bland. Aaron was a high end real estate agent, closing deals from low six figure homes to high eight figure luxury estates throughout South Florida.
Vincent believed his past life of crime was simply that; his past. He would never forget his past or where he came from. That statement was well known to others that rose from the hood. People in poverty were working and struggling to leave the ghetto, not stay in it. No one was poor by choice. Vincent knew his background shaped him into the man he was today. Through trial and error, he had learned about life. For him, at times, his life was an everyday struggle.
"Baby." Micki lowered her glass of Strawberry daiquiri onto the table after taking a sip. "I'll be right back. I need to use the ladies room." She kissed Vincent on his cheek.
"I'll join you as well." Celisha stood up.
When the two men were alone, they started grinning as the ladies disappeared around the corner.
"How do you suggest we pull this off? Aaron asked in a mischievous tone.
"Do you have it now?" Vincent asked.
"In my jacket. Want to see?"
"Nah." Vincent glanced over his shoulder for a second. "I've been thinking. I want to do it in a private setting."
"I can understand that. But what about the element of surprise?"
Vincent nodded with a sly grin. "You'll find out soon enough."
As planned, Vincent was later walking barefoot down the peaceful moon lit beach, hand in hand with Micki. His leather loafers were in his free hand. He and Micki were walking in one direction while Aaron, per Vincent's request, had led Celisha in the opposite direction.
"Do you miss being a flight attendant?" Vincent asked Micki.
"Not really," she shrugged. "I only did it for a year and a half. It was fun though. I didn't have much of a personal life because I was always in the air. And living out of a suitcase in different hotels got dull. Honestly, Vincent, if I hadn't met that modeling agent, I believe I would still be a flight attendant." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I was lonely too," she whispered.
"I knew all about being lonely when I was in prison. Some nights I felt as if I would never get out. After I tried to escape, I. . ." he paused, looking out toward the dark ocean.
Micki stopped walking, then moved in front of him. "Talk to me, Vincent," she said, looking up into his face.
He released her hand, reaching up to caress the side of her face. She was real. Not a character in his book. He could not read her mind.
"Let's walk some more." She took his hand again.
After a few slow steps, he released her hand to slip his arm around her slender waist. He wanted her closer. "Like I was saying, about that night I tried to escape from prison. They took me to seg after I came back from the hospital. From all my cuts from the razor, it took thirty-eight staples to close all the cuts. Adrenalin is powerful, Micki. I don't even remember feeling any pain when I cut myself. I just wanted to escape the only way I knew how. Anyway, when I was placed in seg, I was at my end mentally. Failure ate me up from the inside. Well, there was this older guy I knew from the yard that was on some heart meds. Long story short, I managed to get a bunch from him." He relieved a deep sigh. "I took them, Micki. I took every single pill with the hope of never waking up. I even wrote a letter to my mom and sister and left it on the desk. I had nothing to live for, so I thought. "I woke up the next morning. I wasn't even sick, Micki. After two attempts, I couldn't even leave this earth." He chuckled. "Talk about being a failure." He shook his head at the irony and then continued. "That entire day I was silent, thinking about my life. Past, present and future. I realized that I was failing in life because I was focused on being negative. At one point of my life, I was proud to claim how I could chop cars with ease or how I could be in a new whip like the average man would buy some new shoes." Vincent thought back to how stealing cars was what landed him in prison in the first place. "Negative things don't last long. Well, I made up my mind to turn my life around. Under the bed was my rough draft of A Hood Legend. I now had a reason to go on. . .something positive."
"So you threw all your energy into your writing?" Micki asked. She had taken in each word with a bit of pain.
"Yep. I felt I needed a change in my life. And a challenge. Baby, if I didn't have my books, my time in prison would have been hard."
They walked the next few yards in silence. Their closeness s
poke loudly with unheard words of their love for each other. Micki cared for his past because it was a part of him. But most importantly, she loved him for today. A man who she respected and adored. Their serene moment was broken when Vincent's cell phone started ringing.
"Hello," he answered. "Oh. . .okay. Peace," he ended the call. "Baby, that was Aaron. Let's head back. He said they're heading back as well."
She handed him her wrap-up sandals then jumped up on his back. She was tempted to suck on his ear. Instead, she whispered how much she loved him and how proud she was of the man he was now, in spite of his past.
After dropping Vincent and Micki off back home, Celisha had driven back to her apartment with Aaron. Celisha knew that things between herself and Aaron was at odds end. How could she explain why she felt uncomfortable around her soon to be husband?
"I think I might need to spend the night," he said, sitting on the sofa. "I don't want to catch a DWI."
"I thought you said you would go easy on the drinking, Aaron," Celisha reminded him.
He loosened his tie. "I'm happy for Vincent and Micki," he said, ignoring her remark.
Celisha stood at the sink in the dimly lit kitchen. "So am I," she said softly as she reached for a glass in the cabinet above the sink so that she could get her some water. She had her back turned toward Aaron so she didn't see him walking up behind her.
"You look so good tonight," he whispered against her ear. His body was pressed firmly against hers. "You know how much I love you, right?"
Fidgeting with discomfort, Celisha nodded.
"You mean so much to me, Celisha." He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
"Aaron-" Celisha started as she tried to pull away.
"Shhh," Aaron stopped her with his words. "I just wanna be close to you right now."
Celisha closed her eyes as Aaron began to touch her intimately.
"Aaron, we can't do this. It's not-"
Aaron suddenly spun her around, then placed his lips against hers. Celisha gave in to his slow and tender kisses as his hands roamed up and down her hips. Celisha fought to gain control of her urges. She knew how things would end if she kept going.
"I love you, Celisha," Aaron moaned against her neck, bound and determined to tell Celisha what she wanted to hear in order for him to get what he wanted. This was a hidden talent of his he had learned at an early age from his father who had been a pimp.
Vincent wasn't the only one who knew of the streets. Aaron had knowledge of how slick the street game could be as well. This was why he sometimes tripped on Vincent and Celisha's relationship. He knew that where there was a will there was a way, and deep inside he felt that if the day came that Vincent wanted his way with Celisha, he'd use his street mentality to get it. But for right now, it wasn't about Vincent getting what he wanted; it was about Aaron getting his.
For an instant, the thought of enticing the woman he loved into the sin of fornication crossed his mind, but in an instant it was gone.
"Aaron," Celisha whispered as she continued to fight inside her mind.
"I love you so much, Celisha," was his only reply.
"I love you too, but we shouldn't be doing this." After a few more moans, Celisha finally gained control of herself. She pushed Aaron away. "No, I can't!" Celisha was stern in her tone
"What?" he suddenly shouted in an equally stern tone that startled Celisha. "What is it? You're not attracted to me anymore or something?"
"No, it's not that, it's just that I can't."
"You wasn't saying that last month," Aaron sarcastically reminded her. What's the difference between then and now?"
"We both backslid, but I repented and asked God to forgive me. I can't turn around and keep doing the same thing over and over."
Aaron wasn't trying to hear nothing about God right about now. The so-called Christian in him had lost the battle with his flesh. "So you're just a tease, huh?" The insulting words escaped his mouth.
"Aaron, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting this way?" Celisha had never seen Aaron carry on this way before.
"Ain't nothing wrong with me. Maybe except for the fact that I ain't Vincent. Because you know it's all about Vincent. I bet if it was him standing here you would-"
"How can you even think that, let alone say it?" Celisha shouted on the verge of tears. "Look, I think maybe you've had too much to drink."
"No, I think I've had too much of you and your games." Aaron snatched up his car keys. "I'm out!"
Before Celisha could even find the words to speak to her fiancé, he was out the door, slamming it behind him. Celisha looked down at her engagement ring wondering, if now, a wedding band would ever follow.
Chapter Seven
Micki stood at the dresser putting her jewelry away. Vincent was behind her in bed reading a Faithful Sister Magazine. Micki was surprised to see him reading the magazine, reason being, it had a small religious concept. It was her magazine that she had left out in the open. Just as she turned around to ask if he was enjoying the magazine, her attention was halted. At the foot of the bed was the tiger print shoe box. The only time they broke them out was when they were going to get intimate. Vincent had a foot fetish indeed.
"Um, Vincent," she pointed at the box. "Why do you have that box out? You know we're not doing anything until our honeymoon, remember?" She placed a hand on her hip and moved one foot forward.
He slowly lowered the magazine until only his eyes showed. "Yeah, I know. I just want to see you in them tonight." He closed the magazine, placing it by the lamp next to the digital picture frame.
"Vincent, I'm going to bed. I'm not messing with your butt tonight, and plus. . ." She paused, folded her arms and frowned. She remembered that he was going to get her back for throwing the pillow at him. Sure they were grown, but their little games were a part of their love. She knew he was up to something. She could see it in his eyes.
"Are you going to put them on or not?" He did his best to keep a serious face.
"No, I'm not." She unfolded her arms, walking toward the bed. "We're going to bed, Vincent." She picked up the shoe box. "So you might as well. . ." Her words trailed off as she looked at the box curiously.
"This box is empty. It's too light." She shook the box and heard a faint rattle. "Okay, I know you're up to something." She moved the shoe box to cradle it in her arm. She took the top off. No shoes, just the white paper that lined the shoe box. When she moved, something slid in the box under the bunched up paper. She looked at him suspiciously.
"What?" he grinned. "Why are you looking at me all crazy?"
"Where are my shoes and what's in the box?"
Vincent reached for the remote. First he dimmed the lights to a real low setting, then filled the bedroom with some music. Maxwell's "Fortunate" filled their ears.
"Vincent," she reached inside the box. "Don't make me act a fool up in here so-"
She gasped, dropping the shoe box. In her hands was a small, black, Tiffany box. She stood motionless with a shocked look on her face. The Tiffany box was clutched against her heart.
Vincent propped up on the pillow. "Open it, baby." "Wha. . .what is this?" She was still in shock.
"Open the box and find out." She shook her head side to side. "Open the box, Micki,"
Again, she shook her head. Vincent didn't have his glasses on, and plus the lighting was low and red. He squinted briefly and saw that she had tears sliding down her beautiful face. She was shaken up. This was not the reaction he had expected. Again, he told her to open the box and again she shook her head. He started to get out of the bed, but then she moved. She crawled in the bed, clutching the box with a tight grip. He sat up hugging and rocking her slowly. She cried softly. Slowly he pried her grip from the box. She was hugging him tightly as she watched him open the box.
"I love you, Micki," he said intimately. "I'm fortunate to have you in my life." Through tears, she watched him remove the two carat rhombus diamond set in a platinum band. Her sobs turned heavy as he sli
d the engagement ring on her left hand.
"You're all the woman I need, baby," he spoke softly against her ear. "There's no me without you, Micki."
She cried into his chest, clinging to him. "It's beautiful, Vincent. It's. . ."
"Yours, baby." He ran his fingers through her hair.
"I love you," she sobbed, wiping her tear streaked face on his chest.
There was a brief two seconds of silence when the song ended. Next, Jodeci's, "Cry For You" began to play. Caught up in the moment, Vincent looked into Micki's eyes and could tell what was on her mind; what she wanted to happen next.
"But what about waiting?" he asked her.
She thought for a moment and then replied, "We'll start tomorrow."
Micki was leaving for New York today. Her trip would be the longest she would be away from Vincent since moving in with him. She managed to hold her tears when she left on the first class flight to New York. She was missing him before the plane even left the airport.
Without her knowing, Vincent had slipped three scented handwritten love letters into her tote bag. She would open one for each night that she was away. Each day he was learning he was good at a new subject. . .loving his woman and not just making love to her.
Vincent's weekend was filled with work. Two hours after leaving Micki at the airport, he was on I-95 North with Celisha. He had a mini book tour at a bookstore in West Palm Beach where he patiently signed sixty-eight copies of his book. After leaving the bookstore, they headed for a trip to Tallahassee. He was scheduled for a book signing at two black owned bookstores that would take up much of the day.
Vincent drove nonstop, only stopping for gas. Reaching Tallahassee, they checked into their reserved rooms at the Hilton. Vincent ordered a pizza and shared it with Celisha in her room. She made sure he knew what time he needed to get up the next day and urged him to go to his room to get some sleep. It wasn't even nine o'clock when Vincent had taken a shower then crashed out on the bed.