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He releases my hand and pulls a hand down his face. Pushing his coat lapels back and pressing his hands against his waist, he says, “I’m sorry. That’s not what I was trying to do. Would you please forgive me?”
I blow out a breath. Before I can answer that question, I have something that I want to get off my chest.
“That was really selfish of you.”
“What was?”
“Proposing to me at your brother’s wedding reception.”
“I thought you would have liked that; to have the surprise of your life in front of those you love.”
“Except the people that I know and love aren’t here. I mean, a few of them, yes. But these are your brother’s and Toya’s family and friends. Not mine. Even if they were here, it wasn’t our time, Kenneth. Tonight is their night, and you stole that to gain their attention for yourself. I don’t like that. It was selfish and thoughtless of you to take any moment away from them to have the spotlight on you.”
“I can’t believe this. I thought you would be happy and appreciative that I proposed to you. Isn’t that what you’ve been waiting for the last year?”
“Yes, Kenneth, but not like this! Why don’t you get it?”
“So, what are you saying? You don’t want this?”
I hesitate for a moment. I’m emotional and don’t need to speak from those emotions. Tonight, I witnessed two of my closest friends pledge their lives to each other. The love and passion they share are evident to anyone who watches them. It’s easy to burn from the heat flaring between them at any moment.
I want what they have. At one point in my life, I thought I had it, but I learned it wasn’t for me. I’ve had to settle and a part of me resents that. I tried to recapture that with Kenneth, a man I had a crush on for years. They say to be careful what you wish for.
“Yes, Kenneth,” I lie. “I do want this. I need you to accept me as I am and stop trying to change me.”
“Okay, I promise that I won’t do that again. We’ll work together, but I need you to ensure that you understand appearances matter now. If we live in the public eye, we must be mindful of our choices.”
“I didn’t ask for that, Kenneth.”
“But you accepted that, Piper.”
I sigh and roll my eyes. “One more thing.”
“Yes?” he says in a way that tells me he’s coming up short with the ability to continue negotiating.
“Don’t antagonize your brother especially on his wedding night.”
“Don’t push it, Piper.”
“Kenneth.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll let it go for tonight. Just remember what I said...future Senator’s wife,” he says, smirking and pressing a kiss to my lips.
