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My parents stood together, smiles on their faces. So overwhelmed with emotion, I pulled Jas behind me as I approached them for a hug. It was the first time I’d hugged my mother in more years than I could count. The gesture was odd and quick, but necessary for the occasion.
“Thanks for coming,” I told my mother.
She winked then peered over to Jas. “That’s a lot, young man.”
Shit. His chest was expose. Jas was shirtless. And it was a tempting piece of art to behold.
“I got you, ock,” Juggy appeared out of nowhere.
“Juggy!” I screamed, pulling him into the tightest hug before he could take off.
I took my time greeting guests. Cecil, Borys, and Maria were near a table topped with colorful appetizers. That was when I began to pay attention to the color palette. All nude hues. The décor and the clothing of the guests. I turned to find my best friends and approached them.
“Is this why you guys were shopping for neutral-colored swimwear at the mall last month?”
Corinne winked, sipping on a delicious looking cocktail through a straw. “Yes, dahling! We’ll be swimming in the nude.”
I found that funny. All the girls did, including my baby sister Noelle standing near Ines and Chi-Chi. She approached me with a tight squeeze from the side. I kissed the top of her braided head, thankful for her effection.
“Who came up with the theme?” I wondered.
Shizu winked. “I helped when Jas told us what today meant for him.”
“Which is?”
“Unveiling,” she answered. “He feels you two have finally gotten to a place where you can be free and honest about who you are.”
“I swear to god, that’s so fucking sweet, Shi-Shi!” Becky yelled, face red. I could tell she’d had a few drinks. It was what we did when away.
“So, we’re all here in nude hues,” Peach pointed out. “We’re all naked, revealing who we are in celebration of your birthday, girl!” she shouted, prompting the girls to do the same.
“Happy birthday, bitch!” Cecil was suddenly at my side jumping from his toes.
Noelle joined him. “Happy birthday to my aggy big sister!”
I was happy. Sheer joy burst from my heart. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.
“Oh, shit,” David swore, pointing behind me. “Look.”
I turned to find my guests had parted a path, bringing into view big, four feet tall standing alphabets spelling out “MARRY ME.”
My belly leaped. Jas stood in front of them, his chin low, eyes searing me. His attention was always on me. He now had on an russet simple V-neck tee, matching his linen pants. He called me over with the tossing of his chin.Such a damn b-boy. And like a moth to a flame, I floated to his side with tears racing down my face.
He pulled out the purple square box with a gold logo.Andreatta’s Promises. We’d been down this road before. I knew the game.
My lungs seized as Jas went down on one knee. His hand trembled when he grabbed mine. His expression gravely enigmatic as he peered up to me. He was nervous. The murderous thug from Harlem with a personality disorder was anxious.
“Yes, Jas,” I cried. I heard snickering behind me, now surrounded by family and friends with phones in the air, capturing my big moment.
“Let him speak,” Ines quipped.
I rolled my eyes. She’d always been so soft for him. “I just proposed to him upstairs in bed. He can skip the pomp and circumstance.” As the group laughed, all I could see when gazing at the love of my life was the man I sat across from inBrown Baristas, trying to get into his head. Jas sat nonchalant and cold, but there was a confidence to his aura. A light beaming from him. He’d never changed on me. Even when he decided to let the hope of us go, he still cared for me. He may have been on one knee, sporting a stoic expression from nervousness, but I felt his unchanging love blazing through those eyes. I returned his passionate gaze with a bobbing head and tearful eyes. “I’m yours.”
“Will you be my wife forever?”
“And ever. Amen!”
Our party found my silly ass response funny, too. I couldn’t help it. My heart was elated.
