Everyone applauded and Michelle smiled.
“Wow that was beautiful we wish you all the luck on your upcoming nuptials and the season and that is all the time we have today. I want to thank you both for being here.”
“It was our pleasure.”
Desiree stood and hugged Michelle then walked off the stage with Ramón.
“So how did I do?”
Ramón pulled her close to him.
“You were amazing. And you thought you would be nervous.”
“I was but it's your life and if I want you I have to take it all.”
“What you said did you mean it?”
“Yes I meant what I said. You have made me so happy and I meant every word.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They walked out to the car Ramón opened her door and Desiree got in. as Ramón got in and started the car he smiled.
“So I was thinking about our honeymoon.”
“I know we can’t go on a cruise like I want to but you can’t skip your therapy.”
“I know but I have a plan.”
“I’m sorry but I am not interested in having your personal trainer on my honeymoon with me.”
“No I was thinking we can do it up big here. My nights are free and your parents want to spend time with their grandson and new granddaughter.”
“Still not seeing where you are going with this.”
“Let’s just say if we can’t go to Hawaii well then we bring Hawaii to us.”
“What do you have planned?”
“You have been making all these sacrifices for me so I want to make some for you. So just leave it all up to me.”
“Ok. But I want to be clear about one thing. I know today is the rehearsal dinner and your bachelor party I just need you to behave I know your team but I also know you.”
“It’s gonna be fine baby and you enjoy yours.”
“Well it's kind of both a bridal shower and bachelorette party you know me I'm not big on the partying hard.”
“Well I am not either I told the guys I didn't want anything big or any strippers.”
“Yeah and I know the guys so all I have to say is behave yourself.”
“I always will. You know I love you right?”
“I know. And you know I love you.”
Ramón pulled out the parking lot and noticed Desiree biting her lower lip. He knew her long enough to know she had something on her mind.
“What’s wrong baby.”
She looked at him “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask me anything you want you know that.”
“What’s going on with you and Kim?”
Ramón looked at her with a frown. “Where did that come from?”
“I just need to know.
“There is nothing going on between us. I haven’t even seen or talked to her since before I got hurt. I told her there was nothing between us and there would always be nothing between us and she backed away.”
“And Maddie?”
“Like I said I will handle her relationship with her mother you just let me deal with that.”
Desiree shifted in her seat. “Maddie is my daughter too or will be I love her and want to be a part of any decisions that have to do with her.”
“Just leave it alone.”
“I won’t.”
“Then we are gonna have a problem I don't want to deal with this.”
“Fine.”
She folded her arms and frowned he pulled into the driveway and stopped the car and looked at her.
“Baby look I have practice and therapy but we will talk about this tonight.”
“Fine whatever.”
Desiree stepped out the car and Ramón turned off the car and stepped out then stood behind her.
“Baby come here.”
“Baby this baby that I don't wanna hear that. It's not gonna matter is it if I marry you or not you are always gonna put Kim ahead of me.”
“No I'm not.”
She pushed him away from her. “Yes you are. I get she was your first everything but I am supposed to be the one you want to marry and be with.”
“You are. I love you and I told you I haven’t even talked to her in months. It's you I want to marry and it's you I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
He lifted her face to his.
“You are my sunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when skies are grey, you’ll never know dear how much I love you please don't take my sunshine away.”
He kissed her and she wrapped her arms around him. After a few moments he pulled away.
“I will see you as soon as practice is over.”
“Sure.”
He got back into the car and drove away as Desiree folded her arms. This was getting to be too much. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t understand how she was supposed to let all this go. As she walked into the house her phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Desi its Brit what are you doing?”
“Nothing just got home.”
“Good is my brother there?”
“Nope.”
“I am on my way over with your dress you are gonna love it.”
Britney arrived within seconds of Nikki. Desiree smiled at the girls. Britney beamed as she hugged Desiree then Nikki.
“So where is mom?”
“She took the kids somewhere I'm not sure where she said it was a surprise.”
“Oh goodness I wonder what it is.”
“Didn’t ask. So let’s see this dress.”
Nikki and Desiree smiled as Britney pulled out her dress. They gasped at the sight of the beautiful dress. Britney held up a lace spaghetti strapped gown with a mock two-piece, lace overlay to the entire dress. It was beautiful and sophisticated. Desiree touched the unique embroidery. Loving the colorful pattern.
“Wow this is it. She saw my vision and made it come to life. I can’t believe it.”
Nikki laughed.
“Well go ahead and try it on we gotta see it on you. She said she took it in a little like you asked as she put the finishing touches on it and if you need her to do anything else just call her.”
Desiree ran into the bedroom to try on her wedding dress.
“I need help with the buttons up the back.”
She walked out and both Britney and Nikki began to button her up. When they were finished with the buttons, they both stood speechless. Desiree turned to the floor length mirror in the foyer.
“It’s perfect. Oh Britney you tell your girl she is a sewing genius.”
“Well it should be she worked all week on it. Didn’t take any other orders.”
“That dress is amazing. Ima need her to hook me up too.”
Someone knocked on the door and Desiree swirled.
“Brit it's probably mom.”
Britney walked over to the door and opened it. Desiree frowned as she noticed Kim standing at her front door. Kim gave an evil smile.
“Oh wow great dress must have taken them a while to find enough material that would fit a girl of your, what's the word stature?”
Desiree moved closer to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to Ramón.”
“Well he isn’t here?”
“I'll wait.”
“The hell you will. You need to step out my house.”
“Your house that’s cute.”
Kim picked something off the mantle then threw it back down. Desiree snorted.
“I see what you are doing and it's not gonna work. I want you to leave.”
“And what would you do if I don't?”
Desiree grabbed her phone.
“Now I am a reasonable person how about I give you ten seconds to get out of my house before I have you arrested for trespassing.”
Kim sucked her teeth.
“You wish. Tell Ramón I was looking for him.”
She blew a kiss to the ladies’ and walked out t
he house Desiree shuttered angrily.
“Oh if I just had ten minutes alone with that girl.”
Nikki shrugged.
“She is just trying to get under your skin.”
“Yeah well it's not her that I am worried about.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“Ramón and I have been arguing about her. He says she means nothing to him one minute then the next it's let me handle her I never got over her and when it comes to my daughter let me handle it. I thought we were a team. I thought we were in this together. But apparently we are only in it together on things that have nothing to do with his life.”
Desiree walked to the room and the girls followed her. Britney started to help her unbutton the dress and Nikki sat on the bed.
“Desi you need to understand that it's not as easy to let go for men as it is for us. Charles screwed you over and yet you are open to loving someone new but that took time.”
“He had longer than I did to get over her and I am not gonna sit around and wait for him to leave me for her.”
Britney sighed. “You really think he would?”
“How am I supposed to know? I am so scared that all this might not be anything anymore you know.”
“He wants to marry you that’s something.” Nikki urged.
“Until something better comes along.”
“Desiree my brother loves you he wouldn’t dream of hurting you ever don't let some stupid nobody ruin what you two can have.”
“I am so afraid that my happiness is about to leave at any moment. I don't want it to leave. I want to be happy. I want this love I feel for him to immolate the love he feels for me.”
Desiree placed the dress back on the hanger and gave it back to Britney. She proceeded to get dressed. Britney smiled.
“I know it seems hard to read my brother but he does love you so much. All he is asking is for you to be with him and I know that. You want to be his wife right?”
“Of course I do. He is the one and I know that but I don't want to be hurt.”
“Where’s my wifey?”
Ramón walked into the room, and Desiree screamed as she and Nikki blocked Britney who was holding the dress.
“Ramón go away.”
“What’s going on?” he asked peeking his head into the room.
“You can’t see my dress what are you doing home?”
“Oh you found one? Let me see.”
“Didn’t I just tell you, you couldn’t see it? Go away.”
“Come on one little peek.” He tried to stand on his tippy toes to see the dress.
“Leave!” Ramón moved closer but Desiree pushed him out the door. And shut it behind her.
“Forget the dress you and me need to talk.”
“Talk about what? I just came to get my clothes for tonight I forgot them.”
Desiree placed her hair behind her ears. “Kim came by today. For you.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Really that’s all you have to say? This woman comes to our house and all you can say is what does that have to do with me? Unbelievable.”
Desiree stormed away and Britney opened the door.
“You are a complete and total idiot.”
She smacked him on the shoulder.
“How could you say that to her.”
“What did I do?”
“Why are you ruining your relationship?”
“I’m not.”
“Come on you are allowing Kim to cause problems all Desiree wants to know is that she means so much more to you than Kim and that you want to start a family with her. You are naive if you think Kim is gonna let you get married without a fight. She isn’t and you need to realize that no matter what you think Desiree should feel she is never going to be ok with you and Kim.”
“What am I supposed to do?” he asked frustrated at the whole situation.
“I don't know but what I do know is you need to go upstairs and talk to her. How would you feel if Charles was around and being shoved in your face all the time. And I need you do it now so we can hide the dress.”
“What would I do without you sis?”
“I don't think you wanna find out.”
Ramón walked up the stairs and walked into the room. Desiree looked up and walked over to him.
“I am so sorry.”
“No baby I am sorry.”
“No Ramón I need to have faith in you and trust in what we have. And I do I am just a little scared of losing you.”
“You won’t I love you.”
“Yeah that’s what you keep telling me. But it's hard to believe it when you act like this. It's hard to understand because you’re a man but when you just put something off cause it doesn’t matter to you it hurts me.”
“Ok I get it. If we are gonna be man and wife then your feelings need to matter.”
“Exactly. I love you.”
Ramón pulled her close.
“You know we don't have to meet up with everyone for another two hours and I am sure I can be a little late…I think we need to makeup.”
“No.”
‘No?”
“We are not making up until after we are married. We have put if off this long.”
“Come on it's been almost a month I miss you.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”
“Ramón I know you don't understand but humor me ok?”
She kissed him passionately then took his bottom lip between hers and sucked it before letting it go. She smiled at him then walked away.
“Evil seductress.”
Chapter 10
Desiree beamed at everyone as the rehearsal wedding and dinner got underway and everyone talked amongst themselves. She walked over to her mom and dad.
“So mom how are you feeling?”
“I'm gonna be honest I didn't think you could put this wedding together such little time but I am pleasantly surprised. And Ramón is a wonderful man.”
“So where is Remmi?”
“She is around. I think she has made friends with a Quincy Brown?”
“Oh Lord I better go save him.”
Desiree walked right into Kelli and Remmi talking to Ramón’s teammates Quincy and Jonah. Desiree smiled.
“Excuse me guys didn't mean to interrupt.”
“Oh gentlemen can you excuse us for a second?”
Remmi and Kelli pulled Desiree over to Britney and Nikki. Desiree smiled.
“What’s going on?”
“We need to head home and get changed because we are going out.”
“Out? Out where?”
“For your bachelorette party.”
“I told you I didn't want to go out. Plus what about the bridal shower? I thought we were doing it at home?”
“Look we got it all under control now are you gonna come with us or do we have to force you kicking and screaming?”
“Fine.”
She turned and walked away. An hour and a half later, they walked into Plex the hottest club in Charleston. Desiree frowned and Remmi looked at her.
“What’s wrong big sis?”
“You guys know this is not me. I love you guys I do but can’t we go to the house or something.”
“You said you would go with the flow so come on.”
Desiree followed Britney, Nikki, Remmi, Kelli, Gia and few other friends of hers pass the dance floor and to one of their VIP rooms. Desiree smiled as she saw the Light blue and Gold balloons and one table full of gifts and another full of sandwiches and chips and drinks. Desiree gave a wide grin.
“You guys did all this for me?”
Nikki hugged her.
“Nothing is too good for you. First we open gifts then we party.”
Remmi lead Desiree to a chair and placed a sash over her shoulder that read bride to be and then placed a crown over her head that read the same thing. She grabbed the first gift and handed it to Desiree.<
br />
“Desi this is from mom and dad.”
Desiree opened it and saw a canvas pack picnic basket for two. It consisted of melamine plates, goblets, flatware and napkins for four, plus a bread knife, wooden cutting board, salt and pepper shakers and a sommelier's corkscrew and a detachable wine cooler and gray felt blanket. She smiled as she noticed it was personalized to her and Ramón. Nikki smiled.
“And I will be borrowing that.”
Desiree tilted her head.
“Nope it's personalized therefore hands off.”
Remmi handed her another gift.
“This is from Britney and her husband.”
Britney smiled.
“Don’t worry I picked it out and wrapped it. I loved the one I got so thought you would love this.”
Desiree opened it and gave a devilish smile as she opened the Champagne and Strawberries Treasure Trove. The kit included strawberry-flavored body dust that could be applied with the feather tickler applicator, and to stimulate mind, body and spirit it had strawberry and champagne oils of love and strawberry and champagne pleasure balm.
“Wow now this is a bridal shower gift. Thanks Brit.”
Kelli grabbed her gift and handed it to Desiree.
“Now this isn’t as inventive as Brits but it will go along with it very well I hope you like it.”
Desiree opened a sheer red seductive style baby doll nightgown with an opened back with a v-string.
“Ohmigosh are you serious?”
Desiree laughed.
“This is not me at all and I love it.”
“That’s not fair I got you the same thing except in black.”
Remmi held up her gift and all the girls laughed. After all the gifts were opened and the party was underway Desiree couldn’t help but feel sad. She missed Ramón. It just didn't feel right having fun without him. She looked at her phone and wished Ramón would call. Remmi sat next to her and held her arm.
“What’s wrong bigs?”
“Nothing lils.” Desiree said laughing at the nickname they had given each other a long time ago.
“Come on I know you. You miss your hubby don’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“Cause I miss me some fine basketball players too.”
“I know his friends and they have strippers on the brain not that I don't trust him I just I don't know.”
To Love a Man Page 23