Page 14 of Weddings on the West: Vol. I Brick & Destiny

“Fuck, Destiny,” he huffed. “Fifteen. Take it or leave it! I’m not goin’ no higher!”

“Sold,” I shot back, quickly shaking his hand before he could change his mind.

“Aight cool. One thing though. I’d be the laughingstock of The Sleigh if niggas knew that I had to pay a woman to be my wife… So, we need to keep that part quiet. I mean, you can tell the people in your circle, but as far as everyone else is concerned. We met, fell for each other, or whatever niggas be doin’, then got engaged… Send me your ring size and some shit that fits your style and I’ll hit up my jeweler this week.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod, starting to warm up to the whole situation. He seemed to have a little common sense. At least I wasn’t being shipped off to some maniac.

“So, will we be expected to live together?”

“You know any niggas who don’t live with their wives?” he asked with a smirk.

“Okay… Stupid question. Am I expected to sleep with you?” I asked with a suspicious brow and a narrowed gaze. I would call the whole thing off if he thought he could buy me like some loose woman. Daddy would just have to figure it out.

“Not unless you want to,” he said as his voice deepened and his eyes bore into me.

“Brick!” I cleared my throat nervously.

“My fault, that shit just comes naturally.” He shook his head like he was trying to force the lustful spirit from his body. “I actually think it might be for the best that we keep shit neutral. It’s less messy that way. You’ll be at the crib, but I’ll make sure you have your own space.” I felt my shoulders sag with disappointment but couldn’t pinpoint why. It wasn’t like I wanted him to want me. Or did I?

I mean… we would technically be married, so it wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.

The idea of having to wait to give it up until I met my second husband may have been too much to bear, but for fifteen thousand a month, I could just keep squeezing my legs together like I had been.

After we set a few more ground rules, we finished lunch and went our separate ways. I left feeling like this whole thing really could work out in my favor.

* * *

A few days later, I awoke from a mid-afternoon nap to a knock at my front door. I had completely stopped going to work, and if Daddy had a problem with that, he could sue me. I was sure that promising me off to pay for his debts would stand up in court for a few days off. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Brick was right. Even though I didn’t want him to die, it was high time I got away from him and his controlling ways. All I could do was pray that I wasn’t jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I shuffled to my front door and opened it without looking, jumping back when I saw the huge man in a black suit. It took me a moment, but I recognized him as the man who was always with Brick’s mom. It was only then when I realized that I had never learned his name or heard him speak a single word.

“I have a delivery from Mr. Brick West,” he said. His voice was just as deep as I expected but had a playful undertone.

“Um. Thank you?” I said slowly as I accepted the small bag and gorgeous spring floral arrangement.

“Have a good day,” he said, tipping his imaginary hat at me. I looked down at the bag, and by the time I looked back up, he was gone. I stared at the open space in front of me for a moment, wondering how someone so big could move so quickly without making a sound. That man was every bit of six foot six and couldn’t have weighed less than three hundred pounds of pure muscle. Still, nothing about him made me feel like I should fear him… Daddy on the other hand—I’m sure he peed on himself a little every time he got too close.

I kicked the door closed and made my way to my kitchen counter to place the flowers down. Once I was sure they were secure, I dove right into the gift bag, pulling out the small box and tearing it open. That box contained another smaller, velvet box, and when I opened it, my mouth hit the floor. The simple, yet exquisitely flawless, oval shaped diamond on a gorgeous gold band was everything I could have asked for. If Brick didn’t do anything else, he listened.

“I hope he don’t think he’s getting this back when I divorce him,” I mumbled to myself as I quickly pulled it from the box and slipped it on my finger. On cue, my phone rang, and I knew it was Brick. He and I had been keeping in contact, and I had to admit, aside from the cursing, he wasn’t nearly as bad as our first meeting would have led me to believe. He was surprisingly funny and seemed to have his head on straight, regardless of how crazy his mom was.

“You couldn’t even bring it to me in person?” I fussed without greeting him.

“Nah, try that shit again! You swear you don’t like when I cuss but stay doin’ fuck shit to make me cuss at you. I just dropped a bag on that damn ring. Answer this phone like you know better!”

I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth. Everything he did directly contradicted how I was taught that a man should speak to or handle me, and I had cut potential suitors off for way less. Still, every time we spoke, I found myself smiling like a fool way after the conversation ended. I would never tell him, but I kind of liked when he cussed at me.

“Hi, Brick.” I rolled my eyes. “Thank you… but you couldn’t bring it to me in person?”

“That’s more like it. Shit. But my fault. I’m out of town working right now. I sent flowers, though. You got those, right?”

“Yes, they’re very pretty. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. My mama just let me know she’s on her way over to your place. I apologize in advance, and if you think I cuss too much, you gon’ hate her ass.”

“Wait… how does she know where I live?”

“She knows everything,” he said with a chuckle. At that moment someone knocked on my door… It took me a moment to realize that her security detail literally just dropped off the ring and flowers, so she clearly knew where I lived.