Page 311 of When a Soul Cries

Halo reached for me, and despite myself, I smiled.

“Come here, Sugga's baby.”

I took her from A’Zaria and kissed her fat little cheek. She immediately grabbed at my necklace.

“Mmm-hmm. You just happy. Your mama somewhere having a nervous breakdown and your new daddy done lost his damn mind.”

“Ma,” Khalil groaned.

“What? It's true.”

A’Zaria nodded toward the hallway. “Sol said she was getting ready.”

That was all I needed.

I handed Halo right back to her. “Watch my baby.”

Then I went looking for Sol.

I found her behind a closed bedroom door.

I knocked once before pushing it open. “Baby?”

Sol turned.

And every smart-ass comment I'd been preparing disappeared.

“Oh…”

She stood near the window in her wedding dress.

And Lord, that dress.

It hugged that little shape of hers like somebody had poured it directly onto her body. Ivory-white fabric covered in intricate pearls and beading shimmered every time she moved. The strapless bodice dipped low in the center before fitting tightly around her waist and hips, then flared near her knees into a long mermaid train that spread beautifully behind her.

A long veil fell from her hair and trailed almost as far as the dress.

She looked beautiful.

But it wasn't the dress that got me.

It was her face.

Nervous. Overwhelmed. Eyes already shining like she was fighting tears.

My own eyes filled immediately.

“Oh, shit.”

Sol's mouth trembled into a smile. “Sugga.”

“Don't Sugga me.” I closed the door behind me and wiped underneath my eye. “You got me riding through Georgia with them two fools just to come in here and make me cry?”

She laughed, but it broke in the middle.

I walked toward her. “You okay?”

Sol nodded too fast.