Page 304 of When a Soul Cries

Hell, none of us did.

But looking around that crazy-ass SUV, listening to Sugga fuss at Kai while Halo babbled beside me, I realized something.

We weren't just going to watch Sol marry Roman.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, all of our lives had started weaving together.

And today was about to make it official.

My brother had officially lost his fucking mind.

That was the only explanation I had for why I was pushing damn near a hundred miles an hour down the highway with Ma fussing in my passenger seat, Zari laughing her ass off behind me, Halo babbling from her car seat, and a wedding ring worth more than some people's cars tucked safely in my pocket.

All because Roman Devereaux woke up this morning and decided he wanted a wife.

I glanced down at the speedometer.

Ninety-seven.

Then at the GPS.

Twenty-three minutes.

“Slow this damn car down, Khalil!” Ma snapped, bracing one hand against the door as I switched lanes.

“We late!” I shot back, keeping my eyes on the road. “You want to get there before or after they say I do?”

“I want to get there alive! Ain't nobody getting married if we wrapped around a damn tree.”

Zari burst out laughing from the back seat. I caught her reflection in the rearview mirror, one hand covering her mouth while the other rested near Halo's car seat.

“Don't encourage her,” I warned.

“I'm not encouraging her.” Zari shook her head, still laughing. “I'm agreeing with her. You driving like the police already behind us.”

“They might be in a minute,” Ma muttered.

Halo let out a loud string of baby babble from beside Zari.

I pointed toward the back without taking my eyes off the road. “See? At least somebody appreciates me.”

“She can't even talk,” Zari said.

“Exactly. That's why I like her.”

My phone rang through the speakers.

I didn't even have to look.

Rome.

Again.

Zari leaned forward slightly when his name appeared on the screen. “Don't answer it.”

“I have to. If I don't, his ass just gonna call again.”

Ma sucked her teeth and shifted in her seat. “Tell him we coming! And tell him he should've thought about all these damn questions before he planned a wedding in five minutes.”