Allure: The Arranged Hearts Series

Chapter 14

“Okay,good job, guys. It’s clean-up time, so you can take your paintings home,” I announced.

I walked around to each student to grab the cups of brushes that needed to be cleaned. They were taking turns drying their paintings as I continued to clean up. This was my last class of the day and Mahalia had called me earlier to let me know she would be here once she left the ice rink.

I could admit, I missed my girl and it hadn’t been that long. I appreciated the time she had given me to be with my husband with no distractions; it was very much appreciated.

One of the little girls in the class rushed over to me with her painting and she was so good at it. I knew she would be a big artist one day if her parents nurtured her spirit, as my parents did mine when I was her age.

“Ms. Reed, it came out so pretty.” She pointed at the sky she had been having a hard time blending until I showed her a new technique.

“You did beautiful, Analese. I knew you could, honey, and guess what?” I asked her.

“What?” she asked with a smile.

I lifted my hand to show her my ring. “Ms. Reed got married and now she is Mrs. Lockwood. Can you say Mrs. Lockwood?” I asked her.

She nodded and danced with excitement. “I sure can, Mrs. Lockwood. When will we get to meet your husband?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. When do you want to meet him? I’ll check with him about his schedule,” I told her.

She smiled and rushed off to the other kids. I was sure to tell all the other kids that my name wasn’t Ms. Reed anymore.

“You better go ’head and correct these kids about your new name,” I heard from behind me.

I rolled my eyes and stood up, then looked over my shoulder at Mahalia.

She rushed over to me and hugged me, then she pulled back to look me over like it had been years since we last spoke.

“I missed you, girl. You don’t know how hard it’s been not to call you and tell you what’s been going on with me. Not to mention, we usually talk every day. I want you to know now that I appreciate you and our friendship.”

I squinted because she was scaring me for a minute and made me want to know what she had been going through. I hated the thought that maybe I was so wrapped up in my own bliss that I didn’t realize she needed me.

“You know I appreciate you too. But we’re going to talk because you have me slightly concerned right now. Let me get these kids together since their parents are here to get them.”

Mahalia nodded and walked over toward the window. She looked so far away in her gaze while staring out of that window. I returned my focus to the kids, helping them get their things together. As each parent picked up their kid and also congratulated me on my marriage, I knew they knew about it because of social media, unlike the children, who wouldn’t have understood even if they saw it.

Once all the kids were gone, I locked the doors and then returned my attention to her as she walked over to me.

“So, tell me what’s going on? Why do you appreciate me so much?” I asked.

I crossed my arms, waiting for her response.

Mahalia exhaled and took the seat across from where I was standing.

“Girl, it’s nothing too big. I’ve been thinking about putting my skates back on for real and not just as a teacher. But I haven’t been as inspired to leave all the doubts I have behind. What if I fuck it up again? I could have died from that last stunt I pulled that practically ended my career… or at least in my eyes it did.”

I grabbed one of the chairs and slid it so I was in front of her, then I reached out for her hands.

“I know how much you love to skate and I know how much the art of it means to you. You can do this. I have faith in you, but you also know that you have to have faith in yourself.”

Mahalia nodded and then stood, wiping the corners of her eyes.

“I hear you, but let’s head out. I know I’m on borrowed time. That husband of yours will be wondering where the hell you are soon.”

I shook my head and stood to put the chair back in place, then grabbed my things.

“Actually, no, he has a few things to handle. Plus, he knows I’m with you and doesn’t plan to call,” I told her.

She lifted a brow and nodded as she followed me out of the building.

“I’m still shocked he is the same man from that nightclub. You couldn’t stop talking about him after that night, but I get why. He’s a looker, girl. And what are the chances that you come across this man again? Shoot, of all places, at the end of the aisle.”

I exhaled as we walked down the street together, toward her car.

“Say it again. If someone would have told me I would see this man again and in that way, I would have told them to go somewhere. But I guess that’s what’s special about it. He is everything, Halia.”

“I can tell by how much you’re glowing. Y’all have been wrapping it up, right?” she asked.

I looked somewhere other than her and kept quiet.

“Bitch, are you trying to get pregnant?” she asked.

I waved her off. “Absolutely not. We’re just very spontaneous people and it just happens that way. It’s not in the plan, but I don’t think he cares if it does happen. Shoot, I haven’t gotten pregnant in all of these years, so I highly doubt it will happen out of nowhere.”

“Yeah, just like you highly doubted you would see this man again, but here we are today, Mrs. Lockwood,” she said.

I nudged her and we both burst into laughter. The ride to the restaurant we chose to eat at was short. When we made it there, I knew for sure I wouldn’t want to eat again later, so I pulled my phone out to text Niko again since I had shot him a text when I got up this morning.

Me: Hey babe, I’m out getting food with Mahalia. This is the menu. Do you want anything? (Picture attachment)

Husband: Damn, yeah. Honestly, I eat anything on there and I don’t have a specific taste for anything. Get me whatever you’re eating.

Me: Got you. I’ll be home in an hour or two at the latest.

Husband: Take your time and enjoy your friend, baby. You not gon’ be able to use me as an excuse and then she don’t like me thinking I took her friend away.

I laughed and then looked up to see Mahalia staring at me with a smile. I knew she was shocked to see me this engrossed with my texts. Mainly because I wasn’t the texting type, but for this man, I would do it. Plus, I didn’t want to be rude while I was sitting here with Mahalia and call. It was bad enough I was texting.

Me: It might be too late for that. lol

Husband: Damn, tell her my bad. I can’t help it that her friend got good pussy and even better vibes.

My face was surely red. I didn’t need to look in the mirror to know that.

Me: Bye. See you later and I’ll try to get your food back warm. lol

Husband: Don’t rush be safe. That’s what microwaves are for.

I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket, then looked back up at Mahalia, who was still staring.

“What?” I asked.

“You know what? You’re already in love. This man only needed a short time to get you wrapped around his finger. But that’s not a bad thing, sis. This is a marriage. I’m happy for you. You got me feeling like I need to invest in Arranged Hearts.”

I smiled and nodded, knowing everything she said was true. This man was everything, and we were everything together. I didn’t feel like I was trying hard to be with him. It came effortlessly.

“I’m telling you, I think you should. The way dating is handled these days, you’re bound to come home with a toad if you do it the traditional way. I’m not going for that anymore. I wanted more than the average man could offer. I think it would really help you. Well, if you truly want it.”

Mahalia nodded and took a sip of the drinks that had just been brought over to the table. I was still drinking water, which had her brow lifted again.

“Do you got something you need to tell me? Did I guess right earlier?” she asked.

“Girl, no, I just drank so much while we were out of town, I wanted to flush my body of all of that. That’s all. Niko has been drinking water just like me. When I say we had a ball on our honeymoon, I mean that. He pulled out no stops when it came to making it special for us.”

Mahalia smiled. “Tell me all about it. I need to live through someone.”

I laughed and told her about all the different surprises he had in place. The locals we met when we went into town, all the foods we tried, and more. By the time we had eaten and I ordered his food, it was dark. I was ready to be home with my man and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that.

We got the check, then she dropped me off at my car. The ride back home was quick since I didn’t live far from the shop. The moment I walked through the door, I saw Niko watching Martin on the couch in the living room. He looked to be freshly showered and chilling. I rushed inside with his food, making him my first stop.

I leaned down and kissed him a few times before letting him know I was placing his food in the kitchen on the island and that I was going to go get in the shower, then come back. He nodded, so I went upstairs and got myself cleaned up. By the time I made it back downstairs, he was lounging on the couch again, still watching the show. I brought a blanket down with me and immediately got on the couch with him, lying down.

I threw the blanket over both of us and cuddled up as close as I possibly could.

“How was your day?” I asked.

He released a sigh. “Eventful. I went to see my agent and he let me know the team doubled the money on my contract if I come back. Don’t get me wrong, I know I could play another successful few years of football, but I don’t think this is what I want anymore.”

I turned around in his arms so I could look directly at him.

“You don’t have to make a fast decision; the ball is in your court. If this isn’t what you want, money will never make you happy, no matter the amount. But I know you will choose what’s best. Now, is that the only thing?” I asked.

He seemed to have more weighing on him than the money. He released a sigh, then looked back down at me.

“I stopped by to see my mom today and she wants to invite your parents and us for a family dinner this weekend but I told her I needed to check with you. If you got something else planned, I will gladly tell them we can’t make it.”

I laughed. “Are you trying to use me to get out of this?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Maybe. Those folks grind my gears sometimes.”

“Well, I’m not letting you use me. We might as well see how the family acts in one space,” I said with a shrug.

“If we must,” he replied dramatically.

I pulled myself up his body slightly and wrapped my arms around his neck as he gripped my ass with both hands. I pecked his lips a few times before lying against his chest.

“Damn, you must have really missed me.”

“Did you doubt it?” I asked.

“Nah, the way I be feeding this body, I can already tell you feeling your boy hard,” he said while rubbing his chin playfully.

I lightly bit his shoulder, pulling a groan out of him.

“Girl, you better stop before I give you something to talk about,” he replied.

I giggled and laid down with him as we fell into a comfortable silence. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laid with anyone like this but this man was beginning to feel more and more like home to me.