Page 17 of Betrothed To Love

“You said you were going to be okay, so I had to say it. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Since I already have my phone in hand, I navigate to Quintus’s texts and my responses. My after two response was kind of vague. For a moment, I debate sending another text or calling. Calling prevails.

“Quintus,” he answers, sounding as sexy as he did yesterday morning.

Does he sound like this every morning?

Girl, stop.

“It’s Mireya. I was…I’m calling to solidify a real time for today, if we are still meeting to discuss our little situation.”

“You mean our marriage?”

“Yeah. I don’t think we need to be out in public together until we’ve talked this through.”

“I feel you on that. Private is better. I can come to you,” he suggests.

My place?

“Um…”

“Or you can come to me. I’m in Diamond Falls though and I can’t have you driving to me. So I can come scoop you.”

I give in. “That’s too much. We can just do it here. Are you familiar with The Millennium Condominiums?”

“I’ve heard of them and I can look them up.”

“There are two towers. I’ll send you my address and let security know you’re coming. Is three o’clock okay?”

“I’m on your time,” he says smoothly.

“Then I’ll see you at three.”

“I’ll be there, wife,” he says and I hear the change in his tone.

“Too early,” I utter, then end the call.

Wife! Yeah…

This shit is wild as hell.

All night, Giselle’s words ran wild in my head. Are you really okay without your dream husband and wedding? I told her I was but am I?

Being raised by the most beautiful example of Black love shaped me, every aspect of me. I watched my grandparents love on one another through life’s ups and downs. My papa fixed my ma’s coffee every morning. He made sure she never lifted a hand for anything strenuous. Every meal my papa ate was prepared lovingly by my ma and she made sure our home was his safe place. As the pastor of a church, he carried many burdens of his congregation and she helped lighten his load. They were love personified. They never left each other’s sight without a kiss and exchanges of I love you.

I was three when my mother lost her battle with drug addiction. Her parents didn’t want me but my dad’s parents did. They lost my father to the same addiction the year I was born and had no idea I existed until the state contacted them. My ma said the moment she saw me, she knew I belonged to them and the love they had for each other transferred to me. I knew from a very young age that I wanted what they had, all of it. I saw a man who loved me like my papa and me reciprocating it all. I envisioned a small but beautiful ceremony with that man followed by an even more beautiful life together. I dreamed of every minute detail of my forever and not one of those details included a stranger, hotel suite, and an internet officiant.

If my ma and papa could see me now… I roll my eyes.

After pulling myself from the thoughts of my faux pas, I place my phone back on the small bamboo stand next to my tub and wash my body. Once out of the tub, dry with moisturized skin, I dress then journey to my kitchen for my much-desired latte. As it brews, I place a brown sugar cinnamon bagel in my quick serve toaster and grab my favorite honey pecan cream cheese. I need caffeine in my bloodstream and food in my stomach to have this conversation with Duke.

I’m on my ultra-sofa, off-white sectional, propped against my comfy pillows and finishing my latte when security informs me Duke is in the lobby. After granting permission for Duke to come up, I swallow the last of my drink and take it and the other half of my bagel to the kitchen. Then, I light my Calm candle from my C3 collection to get the energy right in the room. Duke is at my door before I sit on the sectional, so I let him in.

“Well, you look okay,” he says with squinted eyes.

“Just okay,” I respond, fake fawning.