Chapter 33 – Zeb
Chapter Thirty-Three
Zeb
Zayna did her best to make their large family dining room a good venue for a wedding.
She set out chairs, hung up lights, and arranged a pair of speakers so we could have a little bit of music.
I’m upstairs with Ruger, my best man, while Janelle reunites with Rana, her maid-of-honor in the basement.
I’m paranoid that Rana will talk her out of it, but Zayna says I’m not allowed to see her before the music starts or I’ll curse the whole thing.
“Did you tell her about the tattoo?” Zayna asks, striding over to me with Eden on her hip and a sassy ass look on her face. Ruger would let her slap me. I know it.
“Why would I tell her? Adrenaline will only make it hurt more.”
“She’s going to be perfectly calm when you start shoving a needle into her lower back.”
I grin. “Yes. Her lower back.”
“Don’t be gross, Zeb.”
“I’m putting my name right on her butt cheeks.”
Eden is old enough to laugh at the phrase “butt cheeks”, but I almost earn a slap from Zayna, who I can see scouting my face for a good place to land her palm.
“The only reason I’m not boxing your ear out is because it’s your wedding day,” she says. “Ruger says that you actually love her and he has proof.”
What proof is that? I keep my mouth shut about that part.
“I love her.”
“Good,” Zayna says. “If you so much as lay a finger on her or raise your voice in anger, I will hunt you down in Boston and circumcise you with a butter knife.”
“I’m already–”
“I’ll find some new foreskin to cut off. Don’t try me.”
I look at Ruger, who is white in the face. Great. Doesn’t help that he’s more afraid of her than even I am. She must have the capacity for that kind of thing.
“You can threaten my foreskin, but I can’t talk about butt cheeks?”
Eden giggles again. Zayna glares. “Be good, Zeb.”
“I will. I swear it.”
“Will you get the ladies upstairs?” Ruger asks. “Worried you might kill the groom before we’re done here.”
She hands Eden to Deacon Hollingsworth, who instantly starts playing peekaboo with her so Eden doesn’t start wailing like she normally does when forced to leave Zayna’s side.
I hear shuffling, more women’s voices downstairs and then the makeshift bridal party emerges into Zayna’s shockingly beautifully decorated living room.
I stop noticing anything else once Janelle comes into view. Even if she weren’t the only one wearing a veil, my entire body responds and orients itself towards her once she enters the room. I want to love this woman for the rest of my life and I have never been more sure of anything.
Her white dress looks incredible on her.
I don’t know where the hell Zayna got that dress, but every last one of Janelle’s curves are highlighted.
It’s one of those princess dresses that women like and men love, because Janelle’s ample chest points towards me pressed together in plump pillows I can’t wait to bury my face in once we’re done here.
I love this woman more than I thought possible.
Her boobs might be perfect, but what I really want to see is Janelle’s face.
I want to look into the eyes of the woman I love and promise to be there for her no matter what happens – no matter how far she tries to run from me.
Rana links arms with Janelle, dressed in a much plainer gray dress to lead her down the makeshift aisle.
Zayna, Vickie Shaw, Owen’s wife, and Keyshawn, Deacon Hollingsworth’s wife, comprise the rest of the bridal party.
Janelle stands at the altar in place right in front of me, allowing Rana to sink back and sit on a chair in the front row.
It’s just me, her, a priest, and Ruger standing behind said priest for a reason that I probably don’t want to know.
Keyshawn joins Deacon and takes Eden onto her lap. Zayna sits in the front row with Talitha. I lose track of the other witnesses and wedding guests because the most important person in the world stands in front of me, and I know I’m making the right choice to spend my life with her.
She’s smart. She can handle herself on the road. And I know from the way she took off on me that there’s a part of Janelle that will always be independent. Her grit makes me love her more. She balances me and challenges me at once. I need her.
The priest says all the religious stuff he’s supposed to say, and I try to listen, even if I could have written my own vows if given enough time.
I repeat the words that I’m supposed to say and eagerly lift the veil over Janelle’s face when I receive my instructions.
My heart thumps in my chest once our eyes meet.
It’s the same way I felt the very first time I saw her.
There’s just something about her that sinks its hooks into me and rips all my emotions out from the very depths of my core.
I mouth the words, “I love you,” to her, and I mean them.
I see how scared she is over everything that happened in the past, but just getting her here with me and getting this chance at a lifetime with Janelle…
I would never screw up and disappoint her.
I’ll make sure she doesn’t regret this – even if she might get mad over the tattoo later.
Janelle repeats her wedding vows after our officiant.
He instructs us to kiss. I touch Janelle’s cheek, edging closer to her with a deep appreciation for this moment standing in front of her that we will never have again.
I want to savor it. She’s just so fucking beautiful.
Our lips meet and Janelle devours me right back. I don’t feel alone on this rock.
The women in the room start cheering and carrying on.
It’s easy to get swept up in the moment.
I dip Janelle close to the floor and they only cheer for us louder.
She deserves to feel special. My hands tighten around her waist and I hope she knows just by the way I’m gripping her tightly that I won’t ever let her fall.
Everything about this woman is precious to me.
Once Janelle stands steady on her feet again and we are officially married, I feel the uncertainty flowing between us at our joined fingertips.
“We’ll have your witnesses sign the documents,” the priest says. “And then, the two of you are married. Congratulations.”
The witnesses sign our marriage documents in quick succession. My fingers interlace even more tightly with Janelle’s. What’s next after this? Finish my business out West and take her back to Boston…
But what about Janelle? She ran from me for a reason. As much as I might not want to admit it, there are things she wants out of life aside from my love and companionship. Whatever it is Janelle was riding away towards, I’ll ride with her. I just want her to know that.
“I love you, angel,” I whisper, giving her another kiss on the cheek. “I’ll make your wildest dreams come true… I promise.”