After The One (The One Series Duet)

by Danielle Allen

He scooped me up into his arms and spun me around. After putting me down and making sure my feet were solidly on the ground, he yelled to the crowd, “She’s my wife!”

  Everyone went wild.

  “Have you ever seen two people more in love? Let’s hear it for the happy couple!” DJ Dre called out. After the crowd cheered, he continued, “Now let’s get the single ladies on the floor!”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw our family. Shaking Julian’s arm, I pointed excitedly and we jogged over to them. We were barely there long enough to hug them before we were called back onto the dance floor.

  The rest of the reception highlights were scheduled back to back—the bouquet toss, garter toss, father-daughter dance, and mother-son dance flew by. The only event that stood between us and the end of our obligation to The One was the speeches.

  “We have a few people who would like to say a few words about Julian and Zoe,” DJ Dre alerted the crowd, quieting them down from the raucous laughter incited by Julian and his mother’s unconventional dance.

  When I saw my mom and dad approaching the DJ booth with Julian’s parents, I grinned even though I knew none of them wanted to do an on-air speech. The wedding planner handed me a glass of nonalcoholic champagne. I rolled the stem between my fingers as I lifted the sparkling cider toward my beautiful mother as she held the microphone.

  “Hello,” Elise Jordan greeted the crowd. “We are the parents of the bride and groom.” After everyone finished clapping, my mom turned to us and continued. “We got together the other night and discussed how we’ve never seen either of you as happy as the two of you are when you’re together. Remember that. Hold on to that. They say that reality TV couples don’t make it. And that’s true. But you two aren’t a reality TV couple. You two aren’t the byproduct of a manufactured romance. Zoe, Julian… you two are a real couple who met and fell in love on TV. But the real romance wasn’t when you were on the show or even the years you’ve had together. The real romance was today. The commitment to choosing one another every day for the rest of your lives is romance. We love you both individually and as a couple. Congratulations!”

  My mom lifted her glass as the rest of our parents shouted out well wishes, congratulations, and I love yous.

  The guests applauded as they left the DJ booth to embrace us.

  Next, Omar approached the stage, flanked by James and Scott. The catcalls and shouts from the women in the audience overpowered any other sound in the room. It was so loud that Andre had to make an announcement to quiet down.

  “Hi, I’m Omar—”

  They squealed.

  “I’m James—”

  They shrieked.

  “And I’m Scott—”

  They screamed.

  Omar, James, and Scott were undeniably good-looking and in their tuxedos, they looked like the ad for some high-priced clothing line. But the crowd reaction was a bit of an overreaction. I looked around Koko to see Keisha and Lenny’s expressions. I started to crack a joke, but my brother interrupted me.

  “Had I known this was going to happen, I would’ve gone up there with them,” Zach quipped.

  Julian and I chuckled.

  “Thank you for the warm welcome,” Omar started with his mix of humor and graciousness. “We aren’t going to take up much time. We just wanted to come up here as a group to say congratulations. Julian has been my best friend since he moved to California eighteen years ago. We met Scott freshman year in high school and we met James junior year in college. There are a lot of stories we could tell, but since this is going to be on national television, we decided to save those for later.”

  Omar smirked as everyone laughed. “Julian is a good man. He’s one of the best men I know and I’m honored to stand up as his best man today. I know he will be a good husband because there is nothing he wouldn’t do for that woman right over there. Zoe, I knew Julian was in love the first time he told me about you. I was a bit skeptical because it was a reality show and let’s face it…” He lifted his hands and shrugged. “The track record isn’t so good.”

  The audience laughed again.

  “But I reserved my final verdict because we’d never heard Julian talk about a woman like that before. I know I’d never heard him more sure about anything in his life. But again, it’s a reality show.” He paused. “But the moment I met you, I knew I was looking at my best friend’s future wife. And seeing you two together, there was no doubt in any of our minds that our best friend had found what he was looking for. So Zoe, thank you for being the best thing to ever happen to Julian. To the happy couple!”

  I clanked glasses with all of those around me before I brought my sparkling cider to my lips. My eyes watered a bit. Not because I didn’t know that Omar and the guys loved me for their best friend, but because I was so happy to be surrounded by so much love.

  Julian dropped his arm around my shoulder and a kiss against my forehead. I looked up at him and grinned in response.

  I heard James and Scott take turns saying they loved us and congratulations before the three of them exited the stage to the same enthusiastic catcalls as they entered.

  Koko slapped me on my ass and by the time I looked over my shoulder to where she was standing, she was making her way on stage. I peeked over at Lenny and Keisha to see if they were going on stage with her, but neither of them moved. They just flashed me huge smiles.

  “Good evening, everyone!” Koko chirped out to the crowd after a thunderous applause. Her delicate features showcased her happiness to both the moment and the response she’d just received. “As some of you may know, I’m Koko…the maid of honor and best friend of the bride. I’m not going to bore you with all the details of how we became best friends when we were thrust together as roommates freshman year of college. I’m getting the stink eye from the planner so I know I have to keep this short and sweet.”

  I laughed and looked around for Peri who was standing near Koko’s parents, grinning from ear to ear. She didn’t know Koko at all before the wedding weekend, but there was an odd excitement about her expression.

  “…the best friend in the entire world. We are kindred spirits. We are sisters. So I knew that Zoe and Julian were meant to be long before today. Zoe’s mom, Elise, said it best earlier. People fall in love every single day. But when I’m around Zoe and Julian, it’s more than that. There’s a genuine sense of belonging and commitment. They belong together and are committed to one another. It’s one thing to feel that for your partner, but it’s another thing when you can feel that from a couple. Zoe, Julian… I’m so happy to witness your love as it has continued to grow and evolve. I’m so happy for you both.”

  Koko swiped at the corner of her eye at the same time I swiped at mine. The three speeches had taken their toll and another tear threatened to drop, but I brushed it away quickly.

  “Now raise your glasses… my best friend, my sister is married to the man of her dreams. And my brother-in-law just upgraded his life by marrying a queen. Now drink up bitches!”

  Everyone cheered and celebrated with drinks and since it was the last speech, Andre was supposed to start playing music. I looked at the producer next to the closest cameraman in hopes of signaling to him that Julian and I needed our mics removed. But DJ Dre didn’t start the music.

  “Koko!” a male voice shouted out. “Koko!”

  Everyone quieted down and had their heads on a swivel. I kept my eyes on Koko who seemed to be looking directly at the person who was screaming her name.

  Koko squared her shoulder so she was her full five feet and nine inches in height. Her porcelain complexion was tinged pink and her lips puckered into a bow. She was nervous.

  With my eyes still glued to the stage, I slipped my hand under Julian’s jacket and removed his battery pack. I turned slightly so he could do the same for me. We turned them off and then removed the microphones that were clipped to us. Sharing a confused glance, we returned our eyes to Koko.

  “Koko!” Bryce repeated, his voice unmis
takably distinct in the almost silent ballroom.

  “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. I know we work together. I know it’s complicated. But what’s not complicated is that I love you.”

  A collective gasp traveled through the room.

  My empty hand flew to my chest.

  “Kumiko Liane Green, I love you and I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier,” Bryce declared as he moved to the DJ area. He ran his hands through his blonde hair. “I used to think I didn’t want to be with anyone, but you changed that. You changed me. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry about the misunderstanding, but believe me, that’s all it is—a misunderstanding. I want to be with you and only you. I love you. Please forgive me.”

  Julian was on his way back from handing over our microphones to a producer. His eyes were glued to Koko and Bryce as he walked toward me. While all eyes were on the action on stage, my eyes traced the strong jawline and Adonis-like profile of my husband. Julian Winters was not only the sexiest man in the room. He was the sexiest man in the world.

  To me anyway.

  At that moment, he looked at me and warmth coated my insides. My heart constricted as if reminding me that I was in the presence of its mate. I let out a sigh from deep within me once he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his side.

  “Please say yes, Koko,” I whispered, looking up in quick prayer to God.

  I believed Bryce. I’d believed Bryce since I spoke to him on the phone in her trailer. Hearing what he said to me and the way he said it to me, I couldn’t see him throwing what he had with Koko away for someone who we all knew was an opportunistic fake.

  “What?” Julian asked, his lips brushing my earlobe and sending a chill down my spine.

  My words faltered as I explained myself. “I was praying that Koko says yes.” I moved my head so that our foreheads touched. “I want her to let go so she can be free to feel what it is I feel every time I’m with you.”

  The corners of his mouth turned upward slowly. “What is it you feel when you’re with me?” He asked.

  I was quiet as I got lost in his eyes. I placed my hand over his heart and waited for him to do the same. His breathing matched my breathing. My heartbeat matched his heartbeat. And deep in his eyes, I saw happily ever after.

  “I feel a love that’s so big and all-encompassing that I feel powerful and powerless at the same time,” I murmured as our noses touched. “I feel like I’m home. I feel...”

  Capturing my mouth with his, Julian interrupted my sentence with a tender kiss, causing me to feel faint. I gripped the front of his tuxedo as he took his time exploring my mouth with his own. The kiss was tender and worshipful. He deepened the kiss, causing me to moan lightly into his mouth.

  We’d kissed a lot over the course of the day—during the ceremony, during pictures, during cocktail hour, and during dinner especially. But we kept the kisses ranging from rated G to rated PG-13. Mostly it was due to the cameras and the four hundred guests, but also because kissing Julian was a gateway drug. It would start off innocent enough, but it would always lead to me having R-rated thoughts. And if I heard him moan, the thoughts would exponentially turn X-rated.

  I pulled out of the kiss before things went too far. Our faces were an inch apart and as much as I wanted to continue kissing him, I felt my self-control slipping. If I was being honest with myself, my thoughts had been R-rated since the first wedding ceremony.

  Nothing gets me hot and bothered like a surprise wedding.

  With us no longer kissing, the sound of the crowd cheering and musical instruments cueing up alerted me to the fact that something had happened.

  I turned my head slightly and saw Koko and Bryce looking lovesick as he held her lovingly. Next to where they stood beside the empty DJ booth, Super Casanova was set up and started playing one of their hit love songs.

  “Zoe,” Julian growled my name roughly against my ear, pulling my attention back to him. “I’m supposed to sing a song that I wrote for you.”

  Aww!

  “Oh my God.” My heart swelled and I knew I was officially swooning. “Really? When?” I asked between kisses of appreciation and love that I peppered onto his face. “That’s so sweet.”

  “After this song.”

  “I—”

  “But we’re leaving now,” Julian interrupted, the demanding urgency in his voice was doing something to me.

  “Why? I love hearing you sing.”

  He discreetly pushed his hard dick against me. “Because I can’t think of anything other than fucking my wife,” he uttered sexily.

  My panties were instantly soaked.

  “There’s a room on the second floor.”

  His words reverberated through my body and I gripped his shoulder to keep my legs steady.

  Nodding, I replied, “Let’s go.”

  We mumbled an excuse about an interview before scurrying away. Julian tucked me under his arm and we snickered on our way toward the door.

  “Where are you two headed off to in the middle of your reception in such a hurry?” My grandma asked, stepping directly in our path.

  She and Julian’s grandma appeared seemingly out of nowhere, both with a hand on one hip and a wine glass in the other.

  We stopped in our tracks. My eyes widened as I positioned myself slightly in front of Julian, blocking any bulges that might have been noticeable.

  I thought they were standing near Zach and his girlfriend on the other side of Julian’s parents. I felt my forehead crease in confusion. Where the hell did they come from?

  “Hey…” I replied in a voice higher than my natural tone. I stretched the word out as I glanced up at Julian. “Are you two having fun?”

  “Not as much fun as you two,” Julian’s grandmother joked with a wink before lifting her full wine glass. “The way you two have been canoodling, it looks like you two are off for a little reception sex!”

  “They wouldn’t do that!” My grandma chastised, her hand flying to her chest. She gawked at her before shifting her gaze to us. “You two wouldn’t have sexual intercourse at your reception? While the guests are here?”

  She is literally clutching her pearls.

  “You know who had sex in the broom closet at their wedding reception?” Julian’s grandma exclaimed as she looked at my grandma. “Ellen on As The Days Get Restless. She had sex with Marco, the best man. The things she did…oh my! My second husband used to get me to sneak into closets too. Do you remember that episode?”

  “Do I remember? It was the episode that made me…” She looked at me with a wink. “Well let’s just say my husband, may he rest in peace, had a great afternoon.”

  Julian and I groaned in unified disgust.

  Yuck! No one wants to think about their grandparents getting it on. No one.

  “What?” Julian’s grandmother feigned surprise as she patted her fine grey hair. “We had lots of sex back in our day. That’s the secret to a long marriage. Lots of sex. My feet barely touched the floor in the sixties. The trick—”

  “Grandma Pearl!” Julian scolded sharply.

  I felt the corners of my mouth set in a semi-permanent frown as I shook my head.

  As our grandmothers giggled, I felt the wrinkle in time. I felt the exact moment in which I dried up completely and my sex drive did a disappearing act.

  “Thank you! I’m Hayden and this is Londyn and Marshall. And we are Super Casanova!” Hayden called out from the elevated platform where they performed.

  The crowd screamed, pulling our attention away from the sex lives of our grandparents. Julian and I turned toward the stage and clapped. I peeked over my shoulder and saw our grandmothers chatting happily.

  “Hey,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him. I looked deep into his eyes, twisting my pursed lips into a rueful smirk. “Looks like I will be hearing you sing tonight after all.”

  Julian scoffed, running his hand up and down my back before resting it on the curve of my ass. “It’s probably for the best.”<
br />
  I nodded. “I’m going to need at least an hour to get that conversation out of my head.”

  “You?” He glanced over his shoulder. “My dick died back there. Right after my appetite. It was a one-two punch.”

  My shoulders shook as I did my best to hold in the deep chuckle that threatened to burst out of me. “I don’t ever want to think of my parents or grandparents doing the same thing we were on our way to do.”

  “Grandma Pearl just said—” He put his hand over his mouth and made a distressed noise. “She said something about a trick and I think I blacked out.”

  We had to hold each other up from laughing so hard.

  “Oh there they are!” Londyn waved from the stage as we struggled to pull ourselves together. “We’ve had a lot of talented writers and producers work on our albums. But one of our favorites to work with is Julian. We’ve grown up in the industry together and we’ve become more than just collaborators. We’ve become friends. And anyone who has had the pleasure of getting to know him or listening to his music knows that there’s only one Julian Winters.”

  Everyone in the room, including me, screamed at the top of their lungs and applauded. As I cheered, Julian grinned at me like I was the only fan he needed which only made me giddy.

  Marshall flashed the room his trademark smile. “Julian was helping us put together one of our most successful albums when he was contacted about a little show on network TV called…The One.” He paused as the hollers and shouts from former contestants intensified. “Well when our friend appeared on it, we thought it’d be good for him to meet someone. He works so hard. Thought maybe he’d come out of the situation with a friend, maybe a girlfriend. But we didn’t seriously think he would find love. But when we saw Julian and Zoe together for the first time, we knew he’d found her.”

  Everyone cooed in response. Julian’s arm tightened around me and I looked up at him. Just hearing someone else tell the briefest version of our story gave me butterflies.

  “Follow me,” Julian whispered, kissing my forehead.

  “Anywhere,” I answered as our fingers intertwined and he pulled me toward the stage.