by Yvette Hines
Though they were dressed to go out, at the last minute she’d opted for them to stay instead of going to the movies. She just didn’t feel like watching the romantic comedy that was the new release. Now that she sat there with a slice and a half of pizza and a glass of California Zinfandel sitting in her stomach, she wished she had just gone to watch an action movie instead. Nothing like things blowing up on a twenty foot screen with surround sound to clear the mind. Answering her friend’s questions, she said, “Not see him again.”
“Is that going to be hard since the two of you are working on his new store?” Becky poured herself a second glass of wine then turned to face Chelsi.
“Probably, but most of Densa’s contact goes through Rudolph. I don’t see why Vincent would ever have to be involved.”
“The grand opening?” her friend supplied, as she sipped her wine.
Swirling her wine in her glass, Chelsi said, “There’s no reason we can’t be mature, professional adults around each other.”
“How has that worked for you so far?” Becky lifted a single ebony brow at her.
Chelsi remained silent for a moment. “You’re right, Beck. Every time we are within breathing space of each other my heart and hormones go up in flames.”
Fanning her face, Becky joked, “Flames? Meow, baby. Where can I find a double dose of that?”
Slapping her friend on the knee, she laughed. “Whatever.”
“Maybe you’re making too much of this.” Becky placed her empty wine glass on the table. “If you enjoy having sex with him and he likes it too, I assume, then just see where it goes.”
Closing her eyes, she took a shuddering breath then opened them and stared at her friend. “Because he makes me wish for things that can never be,” Chelsi proclaimed.
Laying a gentle hand on her knee, Becky’s voice was soft as she said, “How do you know he doesn’t want it, too?”
“Please. Mr. Corporate Bachelor? He was going to get married two years ago, but the woman turned him down because he didn’t love her. Now, I’m supposed to believe he loves me more than just for a roll in the sheets? Because what, a high school love that once was?”
“Maybe.”
“No, Beck, he just wants a woman panting underneath him, and I want…” Could she say it? Admit to her friend out loud what her heart wanted? Vincent. That was it. Just the boy she loved who became a man.
“You want what—”
The sound of a horn pulled their attention away from the conversation.
“Who in the world is that?” Becky frowned and glanced in the direction of the window.
The blinds were open, but from where they were sitting, Chelsi couldn’t see outside and didn’t care to. “Someone picking up one of my neighbors maybe.”
“Strange. People don’t usually honk in your community, especially since the tenants have to clear the person to come in.”
“True.” Setting her drink down, she said, “Thank you for spending my birthday with me. Sorry about the mov—”
The horn blew again.
“Good, Lord they are persistent.” Becky got up and walked to the window. “Oh shit, Chel, you have to come see this.” She waved her over frantically.
Getting up, Chelsi rushed to her friend’s side. Now, she was curious. When she got there, her mouth fell open, accompanied by the wide stretch of her eyes.
“Is that Vincent?” Becky whispered as if someone could hear them.
It may have been dark outside, but the street lamps did a great job of illuminating Vincent Poindexter, dressed in a black tuxedo, standing by the back door of his pearl white limo.
“That’s him all right,” Chelsi confirmed.
“He is hot. If I would’ve known in school that nerd was going to grow up and look like that I wou—”
Chelsi cleared her throat and folded arms as she eyed her friend.
“I would’ve hooked him up with you sooner.” Becky gave her brilliant smile and chuckled.
“What is he doing here? He was supposed to be at the same benefit tonight Peter was going to.”
“You won’t find out until you get out there.”
As if proving Becky right, the limo’s horn beeped again.
Headed to her door, she said, “If nothing else, I’m going out to tell Thomas to lay off the horn before he brings the whole neighborhood outside.” Slipping her feet in leather ankle boots on the side of the couch, she left her apartment.
“Hello, Chelsi.” Vincent didn’t move from beside the limo.
She loved how good he looked in his formal wear. The tuxedo, like all his clothes, were made to fit his body in a sexy fashion. Moving down her walkway, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry about bring the limo in here. I know you don’t like your neighbors to stare and ask you a bunch of question.” Mischief lightened his gaze.
“I know the car comes with the man. So what brings you here?”
“Glad to find you home. I remembered you telling me you were going out with Becky today, but I hoped that by ten at night you would be back.”
Stopping two feet from him, she met his gaze. “How did you get in here? The guard didn’t call me.”
“I pleaded with him not to.” He gave her a devastating smile.
“So you convinced a man to break the rules, Mr. Poindexter. Now what?” She waved her hands at her side and rolled her neck. Keep the distance.
Frowning at her words, he said, “You know I’m only Vincent to you.”
She remained silent. Saying his name brought back memories of her calling it out while he was buried deep inside of her. Those thoughts were best left alone. “Why did you come here?”
“I love you.”
What? “What?” She could feel her stomach muscles begin to tremble.
“I love you.” Just as he said it the first time, calm and clear, there was no mistaking his words.
“Vincent…no…” Taking a step back, she shook her head. She couldn’t do this. He’d told her he loved her that summer and then never called, especially when she had needed him the most. He’d enjoyed a summer of fucking the homecoming queen and walked away.
He took one step. “Yes, Chelsi. Fate took her damn sweet time, but she finally brought us back together.”
Standing before her, Vincent seemed to be saying all the right words her heart wanted to hear, but she didn’t know if she had the strength to survive losing him again. “I don’t think I can do this.” She turned her back on him. Seeing Becky standing on her porch staring at the exchange caused Chelsi to close her eyes, blocking everyone out.
She felt his presences behind her, the heat of his body cloaking her in warmth. “What do you mean you can’t do this? It’s love, Chelsi. You don’t have to do anything but follow your heart.”
“It’s not that simple.” She lowered her head and stared at the asphalt. “I loved you once, but it hurt too much.”
“Hurt too much? Sweetheart, you’re not making sense.” Taking hold of her shoulders, he swung her around to face him.
Uncertainty and confusion clouded his gaze. She knew the time was drawing near for her to tell him the truth. The results of that summer. Maybe the wine she consumed was helping her be bold and reveal things to him she promised never to talk to anyone about again. She and Becky didn’t even discuss it anymore.
“You never called,” she croaked. Her throat was tight, and tears were beginning to blur her vision of him.
“I never called? When?” His thumb swiped along her cheek, and she knew she’d begun to cry.
“After we went to college.”
“Why are you bringing this up?” Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hair, mussing it a little.
“Because you didn’t call. Not once.” Her voice started to rise, and all the anger and hurt she’d felt lying in her dorm room clutching her phone, built and exploded. “Not a how are you doing? Is school what you thought it would be? Nothing.”
“I was trying to res
pect your decision.” His voice lowered, remained controlled and clear. “You are the one who decided we needed a clean break as friends. That our relationship wouldn’t last through the college years. I never wanted it to end.”
Oh, God. He was right. It had been her idea. The reminder of the past conversation released her anger like a pin to a balloon.
That was something she had forgotten, how he had debated with her. Their first and only argument. However, she had convinced him it was better for them to part as friends at the end of summer so no one would get hurt if one of them found someone else. Even then she knew she would never find another Vincent, but she had feared he would fall for someone else prettier and smarter. Her fears and pride had been smothered under the pain, and she had waited for him, for a call she had practically forbidden him to make.
“Chelsi…” She must have been silent too long because there was worry in his eyes.
Lord help her. She had suffered because of her own selfishness, and she had blamed Vincent, believing he was glad for his freedom in college without her. It was her fault.
“Oh, God.” The tears poured down her face hot and fast. Her stomach ached, the revelation making her sick. “Vincent, I’m sorry—”
Pulling away from him, she was prepared to run into the safety of her condo. But he was much quicker. Grabbing her arm, he swung her around to face him. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he yelled, his control finally breaking. His blue eyes pleaded with her, his hold tight almost to the point of pain.
“I lost our baby.”
His gaze shifted back and forth as if unable to settle on one area of her face. “What are you talking about? What baby?” he asked in a low voice as if afraid to question the words out loud.
“That summer, I got pregnant.” The words continued to flow from her as if she needed to purge herself with the truth. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know, Vincent. I was in pain and bleeding. I didn’t know what was happening. I went to the emergency room a…a…nd—”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Pain filled his eyes, making them darker.
She had done this to him. “I remembered holding my cell phone in the ER after they told me I’d lost the baby that I didn’t even know I was carrying, and I wanted to hear your voice. I wanted to tell you.”
He caressed her cheek. “It killed me every day, Chelsi, not to pick up the phone and call you. If I’d have known about the baby, I never would’ve let you go through it alone. I would’ve been there, by your side, to hell with anything else.”
Her knees gave way as she sobbed. Vincent pulled her to his chest, holding her tight. The embrace she had wanted twelve years ago now surrounded her.
“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I promise I’ll give you as many babies as you want if you’ll let me.” He stroked her back until her tears subsided. Then he lifted her face to his. “I love you. Nothing you have said has done anything but make me love you more.”
“Are you sure?” she whimpered.
“Absolutely.” He released her from his embrace only to drop to the ground on one knee and take hold of her hand.
Chills raced down her spine and caused the hairs on her arms to rise.
“Chelsi Renee Halifax will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” With his free hand, he reached in his pocket, pulled out a ring, and held it up.
The street light caught the diamond, reflecting a prism of color onto the ground. He was serious. Vincent had come here in his limo and tuxedo to propose to her.
“I’m getting nervous here, sweetheart.”
She nodded then threw herself at him and started kissing him. “Yes! Yes!” she screamed between kisses.
He began to chuckle, and behind her she heard clapping. Turning, she saw not only Becky at her door, but several of her neighbors had come out of their condos as well. There were even a few wolf calls and whistles filling the night air.
“When?”
“Right now.” he declared.
“What?” She rose off his lap. “We can’t get married now.”
“Yes, we can.” Rising with her, he winked then turned and nodded at Thomas who was now standing like a sentry beside the back door.
Grinning, Thomas opened the door. Out stepped Peter first, still in his tux from the benefit. He rushed to her and gave her a hug. Next was Manuel followed by Pierre. Then an older white man and another white man that looked like an older version of Vincent’s friend Zeth from high school. The Zeth look-a-like helped a pregnant black woman from his car. Chelsi assumed that was Tamara, the cook and brains behind the mother/baby store idea.
“This man knows how to do a proposal right.” Becky said, joining them in the parking lot.
“Not a proposal, a wedding,” Peter cheered.
“I still don’t know how we can do this,” she stared up at Vincent.
Waving over the older man, he said, “This is David, Zeth’s uncle. He’s a minister and has agreed to marry us.”
“I’d be honored to finally see this man tie the knot.” David gave her a warm smile, holding a big black Bible curled against his side.
“What do you say, sweetheart? Marry me tonight?” Vincent squeezed her hand. “With our closest friends as witnesses to our love?”
“Come on, Chelsi, make this nerd a happy man,” Zeth chimed in, advocating for his friend.
Her heart swelled, and staring into the dark blue eyes guarded by dark thick lashes, she saw the love shining there. “I’ll marry you anytime, anywhere, Vincent.”
He pulled her into a hug and groaned, pressing his lips to her ear, he said, “I love it when you say my name. Tonight I’m going to make you scream it over and over again, my beautiful designer.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Vincent,” she whispered back.
“What do you think about a honeymoon in Italy during fashion week?” Vincent held her body along his.
Oh, my God. Chelsi wanted to burst. The knowledge that she not only had the man of her dreams back in her life, but that she would be able to see the Spring/Summer fashion show in Milan made her life complete. Wrapping her arms around him neck she pulled his face down to hers. “I think you’re wonderful, and I love you.”
“Don’t ever stop.” Closing the gap, he kissed her.
Epilogue
“You know what I like to call this?” her mother asked her.
Her parents were joining her and Vincent for dinner. Right now, her father and husband were in the kitchen discussing business while Vincent checked on the lamb in the oven.
Glancing at the dual crystal frame her mother was stroking with a manicured nail. One side of the frame held a picture of her and Vincent the night of their wedding in the pavilion in the center of the jogging park at her old condominium community.
The other side of the frame held the marriage license they’d gotten that following Monday, making their wedding official. Six months they had been married and that picture never ceased to cause chills to race along her spine. Even now, standing before the roaring fire in the fireplace, goose bumps were popping up on her arms.
“What do you call it, mom?”
Sylvia Halifax’s brown gaze met her own. “The first day of happiness.”
Tilting her head, she assessed her mother, not sure is she wanted to ask question floating through her mind. Her parents had been there that night, Vincent had already called her father and asked for her hand in marriage, then gave them the time to show up. By the time she had gone back into the condo with Becky and her Densa family to get into the simple chiffon sheath halter dress Peter had brought from the studio, her parents had arrived. The only people who were not there were her siblings, but they’d spent time with them over Christmas at her parent’s house. Curiosity got the better of Chelsi, so she plunged ahead. “Why’s that?”
“Because the little girl your father and I raised went off to college and changed. You didn’t smile anymore. Yes, you pretended to be happy and your career brought you some joy, but nothing caused you
r eyes to light up like they did when you were around Vincent.”
All those years, she thought she had been good at burying her emotions, but she hadn’t. She loved her parents and they were close, but the truth of what had happened all those years ago was something private between her and Vincent. “He does make me very happy.”
“You don’t need to tell us that.” Her father, Kent, entered the living room beside her husband.
Chelsi couldn’t help but smile at the two men she loved most in the world. “How much longer until dinner?” She asked Vincent when he came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist as her parents crossed the room and claimed their seats on the couch.
“Are you hungry?” He kissed her lightly on the lips.
“You know I am.” She and food had become best friends; she knew part of that reason was because her husband was an extraordinary cook. The other reason had more to do with the fact Vincent was a devoted and passionate lover.
“Another twenty minutes and everything should be ready.”
“Perfect. Did you and dad have a good talk?”
Glancing over her shoulder at her dad, Vincent said, “Absolutely, your father even helped me figure out something for a new business venture. Kent Halifax is a very smart man.”
“Yes, he is.” Her mother echoed as she rubbed the knee of the man she’d been married to for thirty years.
Vincent’s fingers lightly brushed along the side of her stomach. Pretending to kiss her cheek, he whispered, “So, do want to tell them now or wait until dinner?”
Joining her hand with his, she absorbed all of the warmth and support of the man she loved. They had been through years of misunderstandings and a loss of something precious, but now their bond was strong than when they were teenagers. She was looking forward to the rest of her life with him. “My vote is now. You may do the honors.”
Nodding, he kissed her on the cheek and then gazed at her parents. “Mom and Dad Halifax, you’re going to be grandparents in seven months.”
Her mother was the first one up off the couch, shrieking in joy as she rushed towards her.
Vincent stepped back so her mother could hug her. Her father was only a few steps behind her mom, but he went to Vincent first, shaking his hand and patting her husband on the back congratulating him.