Page 21 of Meet Me at the Altar

“Of course, it does, Drè. That’s all I’ve been thinking about. I keep asking myself is he serious, and what would that be like being married to you. I’ve never been married before, and I have no idea what to expect, what to give, or if I’d make a good wife.”

“Nobody does their first time. We would learn together.”

We crossed the street and entered the park. I let her down once we were by the swings, and she took a seat on one. I pushed her gently, and she appeared thoughtful. After several minutes, she spoke again.

“I always wanted to get married.”

“You once said there would be nothing better than marrying your best friend.”

“No. I said, the only thing better than marrying my best friend would be to marry a man who loves me unconditionally.”

“Same thing.”

“No, it’s not. I need more than just best friends. I need the spark. I need love, and I need it unconditionally, Drè, because that’s what I’d be giving. It’s the only way that I know how to love.”

I stopped pushing her, walked around to the front of the swing, and kneeled before her. I stared into her eyes and then captured her face in my hands. She stared back into my eyes as I leaned in slowly and kissed her.

She whimpered and pressed deeper into the kiss as I swirled my tongue around hers and deepened the kiss, making it more passionate and more demanding. When I pulled back, she whimpered, “Drè.”

Her mouth was still parted, and she wore a dazed look in her eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t feel a spark.” My tone was raw and rugged, filled with emotion.

“I do. We’ve always had chemistry, Drè. Even when I wasn’t sure you wanted me, there was always something powerfulbetween us. I just wasn’t sure what it was. That’s not the problem.”

“What is the problem?”

“I know that you love me, but I need unconditional love.”

“That’s the kiss of a man who already loves you unconditionally, baby girl. I always have since the moment that I stood up against Vincent Waller and Jeremy Mote for you in sixth grade. If you don’t know what my intimate love looks or feels like, give me a chance to show you. Trust me with your heart, your life, and your hand in marriage.”

She licked her lips.

“Yeah, but . . . the pact was one of two silly kids.”

“Maybe, but we loved each other. For me, that love hasn’t left. It’s only intensified through the years, Kalli.”

She sucked on her bottom lip, and I reached up and tugged it free. “Give me two months to date you, Kalli. Two months is all the time we need for me to prove to you that I’m that guy. There is no other who holds your heart the way that I do. No matter what you tell yourself, I felt it in that kiss. Your body can’t lie to me.”

I glanced down and chuckled when she attempted to hide her hardened nipples by crossing her arms over her chest.

She thrusted her chin up and replied heatedly, “Two months, goddamnit—and they’d better be the best two months of my life.”

I winked, moved behind her, and pushed her again as I sang Jagged Edge’s, “Let’s Get Married.”

Chapter 7

Kalliope

A FEW DAYS LATER

“These look good on you, babe.”

I blushed under his scrutiny, thinking about all the times that I wanted to hear him call me baby, sweetheart, sugar, or any term of endearment at all, anything except for bighead and skinny minnie. Those were names that he always teased me with as a child, and I quickly grew sick of them.

“This is too much, Drè.”

“Come on, baby. Your worth will never be limited by money. This is the least that you deserve. You should have been showered with gifts all along.”