Emerie shared a glance with Vaughn and took a deep breath. “We do have news.”
“Is everything okay?” I looked at Vaughn. “Do I have to kick your ass?”
Grinning, Vaughn shook his head. “Nah, bruh. Nothing like that.”
Emerie clapped. “We set a date!”
“I want you to be the best man,” Vaughn added.
Vaughn had proposed to my sister last summer, but they’d both been vague about the details, much to my mother’s dismay. And since Emerie lived on the other side of the country, Dana and I had to hear all about it—in every phone call or visit to my parents’ house.
“’Bout time,” I said. “You know I got you.”
“Thanks, bruh.” Vaughn shot Emerie another sidelong glance.
“What am I missing here?” I asked.
“We’re getting married in three months,” Emerie blurted out.
With wide eyes, I said, “What? Are you pregnant?”
My sister waved a dismissive hand my way. “No, but we’re moving—” she swallowed visibly, “—to the UK.”
“I booked a world tour,” Vaugh explained, “and Emerie landed a solid job in London. So we figured we’d make the move.”
Vaughn was a popular DJ who’d toured with several high-profile R&B and Hip Hop artists. And Emerie was an up-and-coming DJ who’d built quite the reputation in the short time she’d been doing it full-time. It wasn’t uncommon for them to travel abroad for gigs. But moving overseas?
While they didn’t live near me now, I wasn’t sure how I felt about my little sister moving out of the country. And ifIwas apprehensive, I could only imagine how my mother had taken the news. She still had her heart set on a church wedding and more grandkids running around her backyard. “How did Mom take it?”
“She cried,” Emerie admitted. “She’s not happy.”
Usually, when Emerie or Dana needed reinforcements to convince my mother to abandon her plans, they called on me. “And you need me to talk to her?”
Pressing her hands together as if she were praying, she said, “Please? I don’t want her to be angry for too long. I’d love to enjoy my family at the wedding.”
Nodding, I agreed to smooth things over with Mom. “Wow,” I said. “London, huh? Are you sure about this?”
Emerie beamed. “Len, it’s a great opportunity, and I want this. It’s not forever, but it’s for now.”
It had taken a lot for my sister to leave her stable job as a respiratory therapist to follow her dream of becoming a DJ. I was proud of her for taking the risk, and as I’d always done, I would give her my blessing. “Okay,” I told her. “You know I’ll support you any way I can.”
Tears filled her eyes as she stood and walked over to me. “Thank you!” She held out her hand. “Love you.”
I stood and hugged her, kissing her brow. “Love you too.”
She pulled back, dabbing at her cheeks with her thumbs. “I’m not really crying. But I should probably fix my face.” Emerie blew a kiss at Vaughn and excused herself.
Once she was out of earshot, I took my seat again and said, “I’ll still kick your ass in London,” I muttered.
Vaughn barked out a laugh. “Whatever, man.”
“I’m serious, bruh. Take care of my sister.”
“No doubt.”
Despite my many warnings to my best friend, I knew he wouldn’t hurt my sister. I’d seen the love between them and I’d watched their relationship grow in so many ways. I had no doubt they’d take care of each other, and I looked forward to following both of their careers.
“So what’s up, man?” Vaughn asked. “’Who is this mystery woman?”
