AllFreeNovel
Share Us
By the time I finished reading the messages, my hands were shaking. The messages were ominous and strange coming from Jessica. I thought of her as a sweet and adoring fan up 'til now. Her true colors had shown through the second I didn't respond in a timely fashion for her. And today was supposed to be a good day.
A new message popped up on the screen. I refused to read it. Jessica had said enough, invoked too many bad feelings already on this special day. I closed out my Facebook page, retracing my steps to the dressing room where I put my phone in my purse. As soon as the wedding was over, I was going to show Jessica’s messages to Bruiser and see what he thought about them. Someone might have hacked her page. I hoped she wasn’t another stalkerish fan.
“Alise, come here for a second,” Shaniqua said, pulling me into the hall.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what else to do. I did her makeup like she wanted it, but she didn’t like it. Now, she won’t let me back in her room to do it over.” Shaniqua explained the dilemma happening with Tameka’s makeup.
“Tameka has been stressing everyone out over every tiny detail all day long. Why would you think the makeup would be any different?” I chuckled, needing this distraction from my own issues. “Don’t worry about it; I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks,” she replied.
I walked to Tameka’s dressing room and knocked on the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Come on,” Tameka answered.
I entered the room. A breathtaking Tameka wore a regal lace gown that flared out at her knees. An antique-style bowknot draped the middle of her stomach, and her arms were covered in a lace design that matched the silver broach and crown she was wearing. “What can I do to help?” I asked, admiring my friend with a smile.
“You look beautiful, Alise, while your girl has me in here looking like a clown.” She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a long sigh.
“Tameka, you look absolutely stunning,” I assured her. “Trust me, it’s just your nerves. But I did talk to Shaniqua, and she said she’ll come back to redo your face.”
“Good. We have plenty of time to remove the makeup and redo it,” Kemara said with so much relief in her tone.
The door flung open and in walked Jayne. “I hear you’re up in here being a bridezilla!”
“I’m not a bridezilla!” Tameka said.
We talked for a while before Shaniqua came back in and did Tameka’s makeup perfectly this time.
Minutes later, I was lined up, ready to support my friend in one of the best moments of her life. I looked over to Bruiser, and he looked so good standing next to Channing in his black tux. I wished I could hurry the ceremony along, just to be alone with him.
?
3:16 p.m.
By the time the reception kicked off, I knew I wasn't going to get a moment alone with Bruiser anytime soon. Jeb had a song and then a dance planned for the men, then I was singing Whitney Houston’s “I Believe in You and Me.” After that, Channing and Bruiser were to present the newlyweds with an impromptu speech. Tameka had been micromanaging every little thing to make the day perfect. I couldn’t wait to see her face when the program took a turn.
Jeb and Tameka were having their first official dance as a couple. Bruiser and Channing waited nearby, ready to crash the song. As soon as the DJ restarted “Pretty Brown Eyes” by Mint Condition, he handed Jeb his microphone, and the mashup began. Some standing under
the canopy oh’ed and ah’ed while others laughed hysterically. It was hilarious to watch Bruiser dance and sing his lines on cue.
A set of hard arms slinked around my chest. I frowned, knowing it couldn’t be Bruiser initiating that moment I craved with him. He was in the center of the canopy dancing his heart out. The arms around me constricted tightly as if trying to squeeze the life out of me.
My internal alarms went off, heightening my senses. They took in the distinct smell of tangy alcohol and a familiar whiff of cologne belonging to the weirdo that started the confrontation at the club, followed me home, and was currently obsessed with me. Lord knew what else he'd have done if Bruiser hadn't been adamant about seeing me home every night.
This guy was just crazy enough to do something like come to my best friend's wedding to make a scene. And now, we were here, standing on the south lawn of a historic estate on a beautiful day with him holding me hostage in the middle of a jovial crowd. All around me, people were cracking up laughing at Bruiser and Channing’s dance moves as Jeb serenaded Tameka.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, but I already knew what was happening. The weirdo was asserting himself in my life where he wasn’t wanted. “Let me…” I paused when I felt a hard object press firmly against my side. A gun. God, no. “Don’t…”
“Say another word, and this will be a red wedding,” his grungy voice sounded against my ear, his breath causing my stomach to bubble in disgust.
The blood in my veins froze. Fear, of his next action, pumped wildly through me instead. The impulse to scream for help rose like a tsunami within, but dozens of lives would be at risk if I did. Who knew what he was capable of or how much firepower he brought with him?
I couldn't stomach someone else being hurt. I couldn't handle him on my own, either. The only option was to get someone's attention who could handle him without my attacker being the wiser. So, I looked to the closest person nearby. Jayne stood a few feet away, observing the prank song and laughing happily.
