Quasim II: King Inferno (Season Four: Inferno Gods #2)

30. Blair

Blair

I had found a dress, and it was the most beautiful dress I had laid eyes on. Telly said that it fit my petite body perfectly and didn’t overwhelm me. I even tried dancing in it, because I told Meer that the DJ better had bounce music on his set list because I planned to dance all night long. I’ve been a wife before and that was nothing like this experience.

Everyone in our family was invested in this wedding; it was me and Simmy’s world, and everyone was just living in it.

I was surprised when Capone popped into Telly’s shop and told us that the men had a surprise for us on the beach tonight. After ripping and running around the island all day today, I was tired and wanted a nap.

Soon as I walked into the house, I saw my baby coming out the room. “There go my baby.” He kissed my lips a few times and then grabbed a handful of my ass. Elijah popped out behind him, and they had matching linen outfits on.

“Hey, baby,” I smiled at him.

He was so tanned from being outside all day with both Ryder and CJ. From the minute they woke up, they were on the go. They had motor scooters and were all around this island. Everybody would give Jean a call, letting her know they passed by their shop, or they were in a certain area.

“Go tell Capone we coming,” He told Elijah, and he ran off to pass on the message, and I kissed my man again, this time giving him tongue.

I was pushing him back into the room and he laughed. “Nah, badass… remember the fuck shit you did.”

“I remember, but now I’m saying the beef is over… I want actual beef now.”

He tossed his head back and laughed. “Got shit to do, Anjo… now it’s on my time.” He kissed my lips and backed away.

“I’m not going to see you after tonight,” I whined, because all the men were going to the Delgato house while us girls were all staying here.

He came back over and kissed me, dipping me in the process. “Means I get to be inside my wife for the first time, hmm?”

“Simmy, you still want this… right?”

He kissed my forehead, nose, and then lips. “More than anything, baby. Wouldn’t be here or wouldn’t have asked you.”

“Okay.”

He kissed my cheek. “Elijah isn’t going to like when we head back home.”

“Why?”

“Pops made the call that Gams and mommy staying behind with Jean … I’m keeping Elijah here.”

“I think that is the best thing right now. We don’t know what we’re going back home to, and he needs to be protected. All of them do.”

“Yeah.” He kissed my head.

“Let’s enjoy our last night as single people before tomorrow.”

Quasim cocked his head to the side. “Even when you was single you were never really single, my love.”

“Yes, I was…. crazy.”

“Yeah, ight.”

We kissed once more before he left and went to the beach. I was curious about this surprise that they had for us. Goon walked from the back with a scowl on his face.

“Goon, you alright?” I asked, grabbing water and snacks for the beach.

“My baby got cramps… I don’t like that shit.”

I looked at him. “As in her period?”

“Yeah. I’m about to get her air lifted to a hospital… she been sleep all day.”

Zoya didn’t come out with us earlier because she got her period, and her cramps were really bad. She always complained about the cramps she got when on her period, and me and Capri both told her that it could be her birth control.

“She has bad periods… always works from home on the days that it does come.” I informed him.

He leaned against the counter. “Been rubbing her stomach and laying with her all day… she ain’t ate shit either.”

“Aww, Gerald. I’ll check on her before coming out onto the beach.”

“Appreciate you, B.” He headed toward the back, then stopped. “You straight, B?”

I smiled. “For the first time in a while… I really am. Just worried about my future husband. I know things aren’t over.”

“When it’s all said and done, the King remains standing, B. The Gods are always going to make sure the King and Queen stay protected.”

“Thanks, G.”

“Never mention it, Queen.”

I placed my snacks on the counter and went to Zoya’s room where she was sitting up in the bed. “You alright, girl?”

She laughed. “Please tell me that you told Gerald I didn’t need a doctor? The man is pure madness, then his ass went into an accent when yelling about me being stubborn.”

I laughed. “He was pissed out there. It’s fine, he doesn’t understand what us women go through. He does care a lot about you… Can’t say I ever saw a man ready to square up with a period.”

“He has been in the bed with me all day… just rubbing my stomach and asking me if I’m good.” She closed her eyes.

“Felt good, huh?”

“Yeah, I hate to even admit it.”

I sat down beside her. “Zoy, I’m never going to tell you what to do with your life. However, you deserve to feel like that all the time. I know this started as something to get under your brother’s skin, but now, I think you just want to prove everyone wrong by sticking this out.”

“It’s complicated, B. I leave him and go with Goon? They both have beef, and how does that make me look?”

I screwed my face up. “Girl, I was married to Tookie’s ass… a fucking chrome viper, and here I am about to become an Inferno tomorrow. I know how that looks, but you can’t straddle the fence. I picked my side before me and Simmy were ever going to be a thing. My loyalty was to my friend, and her family.”

Zoya hugged me. “That’s your family now, Blair… I know, I need to figure out what to do with my life… right now, I need to decide on removing this damn IUD because I’m almost sure that’s the reason for these periods.”

“Get on the pill and see if that regulates them.”

“Yeah… ready to go to the beach?”

“You’re going?”

“Girl, it’s your last night before getting married. I am sitting on that beach.” She smiled and hugged me. “I love you Blair, girl… this was all supposed to happen for you.”

“Thanks, Zoy.”

We were meeting on the Delgato side, and someone called Zoya before we left and told her to come to the front, so that they could drive us over. I was confused because we could easily walk the beach and meet them there.

When we finally made it on the beach, I couldn’t help but smile at the set up. There were oversized pillows and blankets with snacks, and a movie projector. I could see something happening down on our side of the beach, which is why they took me out the front.

“Erin, this is beautiful… you and Alaia really need to become event planners.” I took in all the small details. “How did you get this picture?”

I picked up one of the picture frames they had on the small wooden tables next to the pillows. It was the picture of me and Quasim on the jet ski. I was sticking my tongue out and told him to do the same. I remember calling him boring because he didn’t do it.

It was like I was seeing the picture for the first time. As I was sticking my tongue out taking our selfie, he was staring at me with love in his eyes. “Quasim sent me a bunch of pictures you have together.” Alaia smiled, as she stood next to Erin.

“I know you didn’t want the whole bachelorette experience like Capri had… I figured we can relax on the beach and watch a movie with your fiancé before you have to split up.” Erin smiled and hugged me.

“I really appreciate this.” I hugged them both, as we walked further down onto the beach. “This is beautiful.”

The further I got, the more I had to keep wiping my tears because my pictures from Bali were all over. I smiled at the picture of me laughing and having the best time of my life. “Now, who the hell took this?”

Alaia busted out laughing. “Meer sent that and said to add it.”

It was a picture of me and Quasim climbing out the sprinter van after having sex. My hair was all messed up and he was fixing his pants while the straps on my dress were crooked. “I am going to kill his ass… why would he put that.”

“I’ve had my fair share of back of the car action… but I’m trying to see what that sprinter action about,” Alaia laughed.

Erin snorted. “Freaky ass.”

“Once my hijab come off… I’m a different woman with my husband. Reason why he let me drag his ass out that lounge even though he wasn’t doing nothing.”

“Alright, they want us to all sit for this surprise,” Capri came out with a drink in her hand, and Ryder behind her.

Gams came onto the beach with Mina and Papa. He held both of their hands, as Jean and Des followed behind them. Wylie walked onto the beach, and I had to do a double look.

“Augusta Mae?” I screamed.

I ran across that beach and rushed into her arms as Wylie held her arm to make sure I didn’t tackle her onto the floor. “Hey, Blair Boop,” she smiled at me.

“Wh…What are you doing here?” I cried as I held onto her.

She held onto me and let out that raspy chuckle that I loved so much. “Yo future husband had me fly with this gentleman to come see my girl get married.”

“I’m so sorry,” I sobbed into her as she held me and rubbed my back.

Her arm was still in a sling and cast as she held onto me with her one good one. Tre said that her arm was taking a bit longer to heal because of her age. “For what, baby? You living your life and that’s all I wanted… Now, quit all that crying and get me a shot of rum… I know they got some here.”

I laughed through the tears. “Yes, I will get you something to drink. Does Tre know?”

“Your husband, what’s his name… Quaseem?”

“Sim, Augusta Mae… Quasim,” I laughed.

“Oh okay… Well, he called Tre and told him that he wanted to surprise you and here I am.” She kissed my cheek.

I took her arm, and Wylie helped us down onto the beach. “Thanks, Wy.”

“Don’t mention it, Queen.”

“Such a handsome one… quiet, too,” she said when Wylie headed back into the house, and I sat her on the couch.

I went and grabbed her some rum and a plate of food. Jean had cooked food for everyone, and I made her a plate. When I made it back to the beach, she and Capri were talking. “This is my best friend, Capri.”

“I never forget a pretty face… I remember her from parent’s night. Your freshman year, when I came to visit you. Such a pretty little light… look at her babies, beautiful, just like her.”

“Thank you, Augusta Mae… this is my mommy.”

After everyone got their greetings out, I held Augusta Mae’s free hand, and we waited for whatever this surprise was. The guys all filed out from the house onto the beach in a single line, all wearing white silk pajamas. CJ and Elijah were at the end of the line as they all lined up next to each other on the beach.

Everybody was laughing as they stood there. “Yerrr, King, I bet yo ass you can’t get that Queen,” Meer said, and we all fell back in laughter because we knew what they were doing.

Sim had a smirk on his face as he stared at me. “Blaze, bet I can get the Queen.”

The beat dropped to ‘You Rock My World’ by Michael Jackson.

All the men backed up and started two stepping all out of order. Elijah and CJ were doing Fortnite dances as they all kept together. Quasim started singing and we all were dancing in our seats as they put on a performance.

Capella and Cappadonna both were moon walking while kicking sand everywhere. Meer ripped open his pajama top and started grinding. Capri hid her face as he was pointing to her and started hopping while grinding over toward her.

She rubbed his stomach while she was ashamed because her parents were right there. Meer had no shame as he was singing. Ryder was hysterically laughing, watching her father being silly with her stepmother.

When ‘Cool It Now’ by New Edition came on, they all lined up, shielding Quasim. As the beat went on, they did this electric slide, and he came through the middle singing. My hands covered my mouth because this wasn’t Simmy.

The fact that he was laughing and singing with his friends and brother told me everything. He was happy, and I needed to stop worrying about if I was making him happy. He didn’t need to tell me every day that he was, his actions were showing me.

Elijah and CJ slid in front of him as all three of them body rolled. “Oh lawd!” Jean hollered out in laughter. “Go CJ and Lij,” she clapped for them.

My eyes was locked on Sim’s body. It was sickening how perfect his body was without him even having to try.

Capone and Cappadonna both popped out and started rapping Michael and Ronnie’s part while Alaia and Erin yelled for them both.

Capella and Jaiden were both body rolling and pop locking while Goon was two stepping while singing and pointing to Zoya. We all were laughing because you could tell they rehearsed this and none of them could get it right. Quasim looked at all of them to hit the next part and they all forgot, so all of them started doing the running man.

When CJ and Elijah got down and started doing the worm, even Augusta Mae had tears in her eyes. “This is a hot mess… boy, my stomach is in pain from hollering.”

I couldn’t reply because we all were laughing but thought they all looked so damn good up there. Havoc and Yasin started doing patty cake and then tried to shoulder bump, but Havoc was taller than his brother.

The song ended, and they all took a bow, and then shoved each other because they knew they messed up their dance all the way. “Going to the crowd wasn’t in rehearsals and you got Sisqó over here snatching open his shirt and getting rubbed on.” Jaiden pointed to Meer, as I made my way over there.

“Don’t be hating cause you single and don’t got nobody… I’m the star of this… who got the voice?”

“Nigga, that’s all you had to offer,” They all yelled in unison at Meer, who was sparking a spliff.

Soon as he saw me coming over, he quickly put it out. “Stabby, you gonna let them talk to your wedding planner like that?”

Quasim pulled me into his arms and kissed my lips while holding me. “What you think of the surprise?”

“I loved it… I’m thinking I want a private show. Maybe a strip tease, too?”

He slapped my ass and kissed my lips. “I got you.”

Elijah was still singing as he came over toward us. “Elijah, you killed it up there.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

He was satisfied as he and CJ went to talk to Ryder who was laughing at them. “Baby?”

“Hmm?” he looked down at me.

“Augusta Mae?” My voice choked as I stared up at him, and he wiped the tear that slid down my face. “How did you pull that off?”

“I’m always going to pull anything that I have to when it comes to you, Angel. Never going to allow a day to pass where you don’t know how I feel about you, or that I don’t try to move the mountains and the moon for you. Anything for you, Blair… always.”

I hugged him tightly and kissed him on the neck. “I love you so much, Simmy.”

He kissed me on the shoulder. “I know, baby. Can you properly introduce me to her… I wanna meet someone that was a very important part of your life.”

Smiling, I locked my hands into his and walked over to where Augusta Mae was laughing with Syn. “She is a little firecracker. You do know that you got that man wrapped around these tatted fingers?”

“Just how I like them,” Syn laughed, standing up and giving us a chance to speak to Augusta.

She leaned up and smiled at Quasim. “Well, I’ve always known my girl had it in her to get what she deserved. Nice to meet you, Mr. Inferno. All those people at that fancy airport kept hollering was Mr. Inferno this, and Mr. Inferno that.”

Quasim leaned forward and hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Augusta Mae.”

“You better call me Augusta and leave that Mae mess alone. It’s very nice to meet the man that my Blair Boop is going to marry. You know, I told you that you deserved better when you brought that little dust bucket to the house all in love.”

I hid my face with my hand. “Don’t hide now, baby… Augusta, tell me more,” Sim snickered, clearly tickled.

“I’m not going to talk about the bad when good is happening here. I am going to say when you cried to me after that first time, I told you that you are destined for good. You are a good girl, Blair. Always have been, and I told you that you deserved better.” She looked at Sim. “She’s always been stubborn and always has had to have her way. Tre even went after him when he put his hands on her and his little gang beat my baby up. I knew then, we had to let her go and hope she learned her lesson without it being a hard one. We have to let our people go and hope they come back wiser without more trauma.”

I sat down beside her and cried in my hands because I remembered everything she spoke about. Tre had tried to defend me many times, and I got him pulled into my mess. CVs showed up to Augusta’s house and she held her shotgun out the door and told them to get gone. They never brought any more mess to her door.

After the last time, when the CV’s beat him badly, I decided to pull away and didn’t involve anyone into my life. I didn’t want more people that I loved getting hurt. This was my decision to be with that man and nobody needed to be hurt because of me.

Quasim kneeled down in front of me and kissed my lips. “I’m so sorry for everything. I know that I caused you stress and constantly did the opposite of what you warned me of.”

Augusta rubbed my thigh. “Honey, that is what life is about. We all have our own paths, and some are explored with advice, and then others are explored blindly. I hate you had to have that experience, but I am glad that you can cry about it. That means you’re alive and here with us.”

Quasim kissed my face as I continued to cry, and I held him around the neck. “Aye, no crying today. Happy tears only, promise?”

I smiled and nodded my head. “Happy tears only.”

“Blair Boop, life gets so good for people who have had it bad… I want you both to always keep each other first, and love is always enough. Don’t believe that mess about love not being enough. Keep God and love at the front of that marriage and you both will be fine.”

I leaned my head on Augusta’s shoulder like I used to do as a teen when I felt down. “Thank you for everything, Augusta.”

“My only regret is that you weren’t placed in my home sooner, Boop.”

Recommendation: Listen to You by Jesse Powell

I was getting married today.

As I lay in this bed with Capri and Zoya both next to me, I couldn’t believe today was the day. I was getting married. My body and mind felt so clear and peaceful. There was no overthinking this morning.

Today, I was going to marry Quasim Inferno. Our second chance at life was here, and we would become one today. I would become his wife, after all the shit we had been through. All the second guessing I did, not knowing where I stood with this man.

All the emotional turmoil he went through, not feeling like he deserved this. I always became emotional when I thought about how much he suffered alone. How much he took on his shoulders and suffered in pain.

Always showing up for everyone and their family while he was in pain from losing his own. I leaned up and became choked up, and felt Capri put her arm around me. “You’re getting married today, Blair.”

“I’m getting married today, Capri.”

I laid back down, as she laid on my arm, and smiled. “I love you so much, Blair. Everything that is happening for you and Quasim is supposed to happen. Including you both taking on Elijah. The three of you were meant to find each other. All three of you went through life alone and in pain, and now you each get to experience love together. Never second guess if Quasim loves you, boo… he loves you so much.”

The light knock on the door pulled us from our conversation. Gams came in the room, as she held something in her hand. “Your future husband has sent something for you, Angel pie. He stopped by this morning, and I had to push him and Dumplin away.”

“Wait, I’m not getting married… why can’t I see my husband?”

“Yerrr, Ms. Lawyer!” We heard Goon’s mouth coming from the window, and she lifted her head slowly, still out of it from the drinks last night.

“Please tell me I’m dreaming and that’s not Gerald hollering?”

“Girl, you up and he yelling out the window.”

She snatched the blankets off her and shuffled to the window. “Yes, Gerald?”

“How yo shit feeling today?”

Zoya blushed as she looked away, then smiled. “I’m feeling much better today, Gerald. Thank you for letting me be a baby yesterday.”

“You my baby… I dropped fresh pressed juices for you. I called my moms, and she told me some juices that help with cramps and stuff. You need some steak and beet juice… I put that downstairs, too.”

“You told your mom about my period, Gerald?”

We couldn’t see his face, but I just knew he was smirking. “She excited to meet you, too… told her all about those babies you gonna give me after the wedding, right?”

Zoya had this different look in her eyes as she stared down at him. “Gerald, juices and steak? Thank you.”

“Baby cakes, we don’t count favors this way. I take care of mine … see you in a bit, ight?”

She nodded her head. “Okay.”

I finally took the box from Gams, and she sat next to me. Opening the box, I looked at her and she smiled at me and ran her hand through my messy hair.

Inside the box there was a bible like the one that Quasim had. It was a light pink bible, and like his, my name was inscribed on the back of it. I opened it carefully, and smiled when I saw his handwriting

My love, we had a lot of people praying for our second chance and now we’re here. I can’t wait to become your husband and welcome our baby into this world. A life I prayed for. A life I waited for because I waited for you. Or should I say, you waited for me. My angel on earth. Love you, Anjo.

Gams kissed my head. “I have no doubt that you girls will take care of both my boys’ hearts. They are grown men, but they will always be my boys. All I could ever want is women to love them, because they have big hearts. They’ll give you both the world, but I also know that you two will give them the world, too. I love you both so much.”

Capri climbed closer to us as we both hugged and kissed Gams. “Should I even bother with makeup today because I am going to be a mess?” Capri said and we laughed, then she took my face in her hands and kissed my forehead and both my cheeks. “I love you today, every day, and God made sure that we stayed locked in by making you my sister… our Queen.”

“I’m not even emotional like that and you got me in here with my eyes all misty.” Zoya came over and hugged us all.

“You next, Zoya… that’s a man in love.” Gams squeezed her cheeks and left the room while we laughed.

I spent the morning eating and laughing with the girls. Capri got me a shirt made that said Queen Inferno .

Note: Password to access the shirt is queeninferno2– don’t share this with anyone or else I won’t do this again. An appreciation to my girlies that read in real time.

As I got my hair and makeup done, I closed my eyes and listened to the soft Jazz music that Capri had playing. She wanted today to be stress free for me. I was constantly trying to figure out what I had done to be blessed with friends like the ones that I had.

I could hear the door open but heard nothing after, so I assumed someone was coming in to pick something up. A soft but cold hand touched my forearm, and I opened my eyes to see Mina was standing there.

“Anjo,” she said, taking a seat next to me in the chair Capri had been occupying moments before.

“Hi, Mina,” I was nervous because I didn’t know what to say. Since Mina’s recovery, she spoke, but she still stayed to herself.

Jean went over to the house often, and Gams was always around. However, I didn’t have much interaction with her because I was nervous. What if she hated me and didn’t think I was good for her son?

My mind automatically went to when Elijah started dating and brought a little skank around. What if he was in love and I hated her? So, I kept my distance because I didn’t want to stress her out. A lot was going on and she was trying to remember things while relearning how to speak. She didn’t need her oldest son’s girlfriend in her face, trying to make her remember her.

She held my hand as she looked at me. Mina Inferno was stunning with her golden skin, almond shaped eyes, and high cheek bones. Her hair was down and straightened for the wedding. “Sim is my baby. I want happiness.” She sucked her teeth while trying to get her words out. “Always.”

“I want to make him very happy. He deserves that.”

She went into the pocket of her maxi dress and pulled out a chain. I watched as she opened my hand and placed it inside. It was a rosary with red roses on it. Each point of the cross had a red rose. “Quin gave this to me… yours now, Q…Queen Inferno.”

I reached over and hugged her tightly as she patted my back. “Thank you, Mina… this means a lot to me.”

“ Minha filha ,” she kissed my cheek.

With the way I had been chasing down Quasim, I should have been learning Portuguese like Capri had for Meer.

Mina held my hand the entire time I got my makeup done. She smiled as she fixed my hair and watched me. She didn’t need to tell me that she approved, her actions did, and the rosary that meant so much to her, showed me that she accepted me in a position she used to hold.

“I told myself that I wasn’t going to cry and that I would hold my tears… Jesus,” Capri cried when she opened the door and saw me in my dress.

“Happy tears,” Mina said, and Capri hugged her.

Mina, Gams, Jean, and Augusta got me ready after the makeup artist left. They helped me in my dress and wiped my tears when I randomly broke down crying. Gams kissed my head and reminded me that I was marrying the man of my dreams today.

She slipped and let it be known that Simmy was anxious and wanted to see me. “God, you look amazing.”

I wore a lace mermaid style dress with lace straps. The dress melted to my body, showcasing my small, but mighty curves. It didn’t swallow me up and gave me room to move in it. I decided on not wearing any shoes down the aisle. My dress was so long that you couldn’t see my feet anyway.

“Really, Pri?”

“The most beautiful bride I have ever seen, Blair.”

We hugged as Zoya came into the room and stopped short. “Dammit, Blair… I told you that I’m saving my tears for the wedding. Baby, you look beautiful. Eating the girls up, for real.”

“Period,” Jean blurted.

“Mommy, please,” Capri laughed while hugging her mother, laughing at her trying to keep up with the slang.

“Ryder taught me that.” She laughed.

Gams looked at her watch and kissed me once more. “I need to go check in with my boy. Mina, you coming?” She reached her hand, and she took it, and they left the room.

Augusta fixed my hair, and dusted imaginary dust from me as she took me in. “Always been the most gorgeous thing walking. I’m happy that you are finally seeing it. Beautiful inside and out, Boop.”

“Thank you.”

She wiped her tears. “Today you hold your happiness in your hand and walk down to the man that makes you feel like a kid on Christmas.”

She held my hand as I made my way out the house. Papa came from the beach, and that’s when I saw Quasim and Elijah was with him. They had Quasim blindfolded.

“He said he not walking down the aisle unless he can pray with you before.” Papa held his son’s hand and guided him up the steps as I looked at him.

Simmy had a fresh haircut, and his skin was glistening. He wore a cream tux with satin lapels, and his rosary around his neck. I don’t know who talked him into wearing a bow tie, but he looked so damn good in it.

Elijah wore the same suit, except his lapels weren’t silk, and his bow tie was a few shades lighter than Quasim’s. He came over toward me and hugged me, while taking me in fully. Elijah was in awe.

“How she look, Eli?”

“Beautiful, Sim… like a princess.”

Sim laughed. “Like my angel?”

“Exactly like an angel.”

“My love?”

“Simmy,” I walked closer to him as Papa put his hands into mine. He rubbed the back of my hands with his thumbs.

Quameer came from the beach and Capri was blushing like crazy. He had the same color suit, and his bow tie was also a different shade. “You and B gonna have to wait because I’m about to marry my wife again… Suga, fucking stunning.”

He kissed his wife and then came over toward me. “B, you look amazing. Like a true angel that has a dark side like throwing k?—”

“Blaze,” Papa warned his ass.

He laughed and put our hands into his. “I told Pop that there would be a time when the sadness and pain would slowly fade. I told him then that I would sing his favorite song and witness him get married to it, and now that shit is here.” Meer got choked up as he squeezed my hand. “This shit is happening for two of the most selfless people I know. I’ve been there for both of you at your lowest, and I can say that this isn’t the highest… this shit about soar, and that’s all I want for you both. I love you both, and I’m always going to be there for both of you. Planning this wedding was my love letter to the both of you. Love you both.” He kissed me on my head and kissed his brother on the cheek.

Sim held his hand out for Elijah and placed it in the middle of ours. “Father, we stand here today, waiting to embark on forever together. We come before you with our hearts opened, and grateful for this second chance. You have carried us through some dark times, grief that once felt like there was no escaping it, and here we are. Standing in your grace, ready for the future you prepared for us. We thank you for giving us today, tomorrow, and every day after that together. Thank you for giving me this second chance as we become the Infernos. In God’s name we pray… amen.”

“Amen,” I sniffled.

Elijah held our hands and looked at us both. “We’re the Infernos?”

“You already know, Eli.” Sim answered him.

I kissed Sim’s hands. “Now you can go down the aisle and wait for me, baby.”

“You gonna walk down to me, Anjo?” He smirked.

“I’m running, Simmy.”

He kissed his fingers. “My angel… Elijah, we out.”

Meer helped him down the steps as Elijah faced us walking backwards. “See you down the aisle, Anjo.” He saluted like he had seen Sim do multiple times and ran behind them.

Zoya had walked August Mae down to her seat, so she wasn’t standing too long. Papa and Mina stood there. “It’s only right for the former King and Queen Inferno to walk down the new Queen Inferno… our daughter.”

I rushed into both of them and hugged them. “Beautiful,” Mina dabbed my face with the back of her hand.

As we came down the steps, I gasped, seeing the set up. The chairs were filled with so many people, and there were sunflowers. There were rows of sunflowers lining the aisle and the altar. Each chair had a sunflower on it, as everyone turned to see us. Music slowly started and ‘You’ by Jesse Powell started to play.

I held both Mina and Papa’s hands and took a deep breath. The waterworks hadn’t stopped since the moment I opened my eyes today. “Pop figured the red could rest for one day.” Papa whispered in my ear.

From where we stood, he couldn’t see me yet, but when we walked further toward the aisle, that’s when he saw me, and Meer was singing softly. He stood to the side as he sang into the microphone. His hair was freshly twisted, and he looked at his brother, and then down the aisle and nodded for Sim to see me.

The minute that our eyes met, he looked away and walked a few steps. Cappadonna stood in the middle, as our officiant, and squeezed his shoulder. He closed his fist and brought it to his mouth as tears fell down his face, watching me coming down the aisle.

“I wanna be yours from this day forward.” Meer hit the high note, with his vein bulging in his neck as tears fell down his face.

His voice carried on this beach as my face was wet with tears. Mina was crying as she held onto me tightly. Capri was a mess as she watched her husband. Even Cappadonna had to use the handkerchief in his suit to wipe his tears.

He cleared his throat. “Who gives this woman away?”

“We do.” Both Mina and Quinton said, as he took his own son’s hand, and put my hand into his, and Sim helped me up there with him.

My entire body was shaking as I looked into his eyes and saw the emotion. I saw the love in his eyes as it poured down his face. All the time I questioned how he felt about me, and if I was his one, were put to rest today.

Every time he showed up for me when he didn’t have to, showed me that he loved me. Every night we both slept apart, praying and wishing on a star for a love that could heal us, he was that one.

“This is off script for me, but I have to speak my little shi… stuff.” Cappadonna corrected himself. “I have to speak for everybody here, we been waiting for this. Waiting for our guy to find his one. I remember when he came to visit me in prison, and he told me that he was good on love. Said that he didn’t need it, and he was good. I knew he was hurting then, and I couldn’t push him on it… couldn’t force something he wasn’t ready for. When Blair entered our life, I saw something in him come alive again. We had many talks, and I knew your fear and I had those same fears. Sim, you deserve love… deserve this woman here. I’m really happy that you both didn’t book me last minute and got the right price to have me here with you?—”

“Leroy!” Alaia scolded.

“You ready for that? A man my size be getting barked on by her short ass, and I like it.” He winked at his wife and licked his lips. “She runs the show, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My heart, my love, and everything. Today, you become one, and she becomes your everything.”

Quasim kissed my hands, as we listened to Cappadonna go on and follow his script from whatever paper he printed from online. He put his glasses on and continued to do his best. I stared at my baby and wiped his face as he looked at me.

His hands were steady as mine trembled slightly. “The couple has vows to share with us.”

I took a deep breath as Capri gave me my phone, because I worked on my vows yesterday. I combined all my notes from the encounters we’ve had through the years and composed my vows.

“Simmy Jimmy,” I smiled. “ My Simmy Jimmy, I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. So quiet, but observant. You never spoke much, but the one thing that I noticed was how solid you were. Always one call away from the ones that you love. Right there to take on any and everything because that’s the kind of person you are. In Miami, I remember you telling me to never lose the love that I have. Told me it was pure and that the world needs it.” I smiled, as the tears fell. “You mumbled that you needed that, and I never forgot it. Baby, who does the strong one lean on when they can’t be strong anymore? I’m your strength when you can’t be strong, and the love you need poured back into you when you can’t show love.”

“Damn.” I heard Meer behind Sim as he wiped his eyes.

“I promise that you will never have to sleep with your arms behind your head, because you’ll always have me to hold. Your coffee will remain hot and black, because I know it’s your favorite. Pyro will remain in the house because as much as you think she’s a hoe, you love her and saved her, too. Me, Elijah, and our baby are your family. When you’re out there, know that you won’t return to an empty home anymore, baby. We’re home waiting for your boots to cross that threshold because we know they will. I told you I would walk through the fire with you because I know that I’d never feel the heat. I know you’d take it all for me… for us.”

He didn’t bother to wipe his face, as he stared down at me. Both of us were a mess with the tears. “Anjo…my love. The day I saw you in that kitchen, I saw you broken. No matter how much you smiled and pretended to be okay, you weren’t, and I knew, because neither was I. I wanted you so bad, but knew I couldn’t have you. God didn’t want it to happen then, and I started to resent him for it. Each time I made the step; I pulled back because I knew I was disobeying him. There was a reason he wanted me to wait. He knew I would have messed it up, and allowed you to get away from me, because at that time, I was still in my head about a lot. I couldn’t be trusted with someone as fragile as you. In Miami, when you said that I was scared of you, I was.”

“Tell me.” I used his words on him.

“Scared because love radiates off you like no other, and you make me do something I haven’t done in a while… feel. I’ve gotten used to feeling numb, and you changed that for me, baby. I call you my angel because you are my angel on earth. You’ve been through some shit, and you never lost your faith and love. Baby, I promise that I’m all the way in when it comes to us. I promise to always pull you close to me because you overthink and think that I’m mad when I don’t… I promise to always kiss your chin because you start kicking your feet in excitement whenever I do. Most importantly, I promise to love you until I have nothing left. I promise to heal all those wounds that I didn’t put there. My love, I promise to put so many babies in you that they gonna call us the fucking Brady Bunch.”

He paused and looked out at everyone, and that’s when he saw the chairs.

“I promise to love you hard because that’s what you do… love hard. When I walked down the aisle and saw those chairs, I became emotional. Meer told me that you woke him up at three in the morning to find someone to make these chairs. This is the kind of woman that you are. The kind of wife that I want and need. I need you, Blair… there’s no doubt about that. You’re my angel… always and forever.”

I got three chairs made. One for Harley, my mom, and my son with a sign that said we would have been here today, if heaven wasn’t so far away.

On Ryder’s flower basket, she had a picture of her cousin wrapped around the handle. Harley was still part of our lives.

Cappadonna went on another love spiel, and we all listened because the man had good advice. He had a million so-called jobs, but his advice was usually solid. “I now pronounce you husband and wife… kiss your wife, nigga.”

“Cappadonna Leroy Delgato!” Jean hollered.

“My bad, mommy.”

Quasim grabbed my face, and kissed me so hard, bringing me back as his tongue fought to get to the back of my mouth. When he pulled away, I pulled him back and then kissed his nose. “My King. I would do anything for you.”

“My Queen.” He kissed my lips, never saying anything because I already knew that he would do anything for me.

“It was an honor to stand up here and do this… I now present King and Queen Inferno.” Quasim picked me up and carried me down the aisle as I kicked my feet while laughing. He saw my toes and smiled.

“No shoes… just red toes.”

“We had to have a hint of red today.”

He kissed my lips. “You damn right.”