Chapter 28 #2
Kas and Yanna approached the doors of the ceremony, arms interlocked, and smiles plastered on both their faces.
They both felt awkward but had to put on their game faces for the sake of the wedding.
On their cue, they stepped over the threshold and into the venue.
The vast area was decorated in an explosion of custom navy blue roses, with compliments of blush and ivory.
Their stroll down the aisle was quick, and they took places on their respective sides.
After the ring bearer and flower girls took their walk, the officiant motioned for everyone to stand.
The music changed to a piano only rendition of the song Baby that Onyx recorded for Troi, and the doors opened.
The crowd ‘oohed’ and ‘awwed’ as Troi walked, cameras flashing while her train trailed behind her.
Yanna caught Layla’s eyes in the front row and scrunched her brows when she nodded her head toward Onyx.
Yanna drifted her attention to Onyx, who was moving side to side like he was about to run and meet Troi halfway.
“His ass,” Yanna mumbled to herself before locking eyes with Onyx. She gave him a look that said calm your ass down and wait for her, praying he followed directions. Thankfully, he stepped back into place and waited impatiently as Troi finally made her way to him.
During the ceremony, Yanna tried her best not to cry, but to no avail.
She was an emotional mess, and it was causing her hormones to go crazy.
Lord, please don’t let me get sick up here.
She would be mortified if that happened.
Every few moments, she’d have to take a deep gulp, praying her unborn baby would be nice.
Fortunately for her and the sake of the wedding, she was granted reprieve.
Looking beyond Onyx, her eyes met Kas’ to find he was already gazing at her.
The intensity in his gaze was identical to the one he used to hold when he was inside her, and it caused her emotions to intensify.
Tears continued to pour as Troi and Onyx exchanged vows so beautiful they perfectly conveyed the raw love between the two.
Yanna thought she’d lose it when Onyx got choked up, prompting Kas to get choked up.
Kas placed a hand on Onyx’s shoulder, and that seemed to be what he needed to finish.
Then, almost as quickly as the ceremony started, it was over.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
The guests hooted and hollered as husband and wife kissed like they were alone.
Kas had to tap Onyx on his shoulder to break them apart.
Once the ceremony was over, the guests had cocktail hour while the wedding party took photos.
The rest of the traditions continued with grand entrances and the first dance.
Onyx had his dance with Layla, and since she didn’t have her father, Troi shared a dance with Kamilla.
Troi and Onyx took their seats on an elevated platform while the three-course meal was served.
It was time for the best man and maid of honor to do their toasts, with Kas going first. Everyone was nervous, anxious about what Kas would say.
Grabbing the mic, he stepped up to face everyone in attendance.
“What’s up, everyone? Most of y’all know me, but if you don’t, I’m Kas, and I’m the lil’ brother. I first wanna say congrats to my big bro and my sister Troi. I’m so glad I dragged that nigga to the club that night, and he found you. He’s been a better man ever since.”
Onyx raised his glass to his brother while Troi nuzzled closer to him.
“I hope y’all consider yourselves lucky…
blessed, because a lot of people never find the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with.
The one that, even when you’ve had many, you still don’t want nobody but them.
The only person you want to come home to after a long day, the only one you feel comfortable enough to admit you’re scared, when the bullshit of the world becomes too much for a nigga to deal with on his own. ”
Kas was toasting to Troi and Onyx, but his eyes were transfixed on Yanna as he spoke. Vulnerability like none of them ever witnessed was displayed on Yanna’s face while tears gathered around the rims of her eyes.
“The person who… when you know you love them, you realize you’ll never love another girl. Because even when you’re surrounded by people and getting attention from every direction, you still feel lonely unless you’re in the company of that one.”
Onyx stood from his seat, clapping his hands because he knew the toast was no longer about him and Troi. Whether Kas knew it or not, he was inadvertently pouring out his heart.
“Say that shit, baby bruh!”
Kas smiled at his brother, pounding his heart with his fist before continuing.
“Love is elusive as a muh’fucka. It’s hard to attain.
It’ll run from you too. Trust me, I know.
” He chortled. “But that just makes it all the better when you finally catch it. ‘Cause when you do get it, it’s like life is beginning, like you finally found yo purpose. I once found mine, now I’m on a mission to find it again.
My wish to everyone in attendance is that you find yours too, but when you do…
hold tight to it because losing it is easier than getting it.
It fills my heart knowing my brother found his and I can be certain he ain’t ever coming up off it. ”
The guests stood to their feet, abandoning their meals so they could give Kas a round of applause.
He turned to pass Yanna the mic, a brief spark of something passing between them before Kas moved to the background.
Yanna managed to catch Zahra glaring at Kas, jealousy resting in her gaze because even though she acted like it, she wasn’t dumb.
Taking her attention off Kas’ date, she held the mic to her mouth.
“Um, I’m Jaiyanna, the cousin/sister of the bride and maid of honor. I’m shy, so bear with me.”
“Shy where?!” Quan called from the crowd.
Yanna squinted her eyes at Quan, wanting to curse him out, but the look of warning from Layla halted her.
“Anyway, um, Troi and Onyx. I’m so happy for the two of you.
Nyx, you’re the brother I never knew I needed.
Thank you for loving my cousin so well and letting me get some of that residual love as well. ”
“Ain’t shit residual about it.” Onyx winked.
“Anyway, I’ve never seen anything like what the two of you have.
I take that back… I’ve seen something close that didn’t quite work, but if there’s anything I learned from you guys…
it’s that even if there are differences, even if some time is spent apart…
what’s meant for you will always be for you.
When you’re fated to be with someone, no force can bring it asunder.
” Yanna didn’t mean to, but the smug look she tossed to Zahra after that statement was diabolical.
Layla yelling, “Preach, ladybug!” seemed to put insult to injury causing Yanna to giggle.
“Congratulations on building that indestructible love. I love you both! Y’all thought I was gone say something wild, didn’t it?” She joked causing the guests to laugh as she handed the mic off to the next person waiting to toast.
After everyone made their toasts and the other wedding customs were out of the way, the party commenced.
The toasts had threatened to put Kas in a mood, so he had to take a moment alone to get himself together.
Now, there was one last thing he had to do before the night ended.
He approached his brother in the middle of the dance floor dancing with his new wife.
“Rich Baby Daddy” by Drake was being played, and Troi was bent in front of Onyx, doing as Sexyy Red suggested.
Onyx’s hand was gripping her waist, eyes planted on her ass as she bounced it.
“Aye, Nyx, let me holla at you real quick.”
“It can’t wait?” Onyx questioned, never taking his eyes off his wife’s backside.
“Not really. Troi Baby, you come too.”
Kas watched Troi and Onyx give each other quizzical glances before he walked off, knowing they’d follow him.
Entering a room designated for a smaller event, Kas’ nerves catapulted when his brother stilled.
Onyx’s eyes were focused on the other two people in the room, and Kas was holding his breath, praying he wouldn’t blow up.
Catching Onyx off guard proved not to be a good idea, and doing it at his wedding was even riskier.
Kas didn’t see another option, however. Maya and her husband Logan stood hand in hand, Onyx’s eyes traveling from them to Kas and back.
“Hi, Onyx.” Maya smiled.
“What’s up? You been here the whole time?”
“Yes. Layla and your gorgeous wife made sure we got an invite. I hope us being here is okay. The ceremony was beautiful.”
Onyx glanced over at Troi, who squeezed his arm to encourage him to be nice. “Uh, yea it’s cool.”
“Good, good. You know, uh… Kas and I have met a few times. I don’t know if you knew that or not, but I’ve been really hoping I could meet you as well.
I—I’m really sorry for not being around because I didn’t know.
But I’m really, really proud of all you’ve accomplished.
I met your son right before the ceremony, and I love him already.
I love your wife already, I love Kas, and I—I love you already. I’m sorry about daddy, he—”
“Nah, hell nah, you damn sure don’t apologize for Nouri. Don’t apologize for you either because like you said… you didn’t know. You don’t carry that, okay?” Onyx asserted, stepping forward to wipe his sister’s tears away.
“Okay.” Maya nodded, more tears replacing the ones Onyx swiped away. “So, I know you may not be receptive to meeting up just yet, but do you think we can maybe talk sometime?”
“C’mere, man.” Onyx outstretched his arms, and Maya didn’t waste a second running into them. It was only a few seconds until Onyx was grabbing her into the bear hug reserved for the women he loved most. “Yo ass look just like me too.”
“I got you by like three years, so I think it’s the other way around, little brother.”
“You might be older, but I’m still big dog, remember that.”
“Yea, this nigga think he run everybody,” Kas chimed in, earning laughs from his siblings.
He took a step back and watched from afar as Onyx and Maya conversed.
Kas knew it would only be a matter of time before Onyx came around, and he could already tell their new sister would be a permanent fixture in their lives.
Troi and Onyx’s wedding day was proving to be one of the best he’d had in a long time.
He’d completely forgotten he’d brought Zahra as his plus one and decided to head back into the venue.
Walking the halls, he turned the corner leading to the main room but stopped in his tracks when he saw Yanna walking in his direction.
He couldn’t help but study her; he had been doing that all day.
There was something different about her.
From the way she walked to the way she talked, down to the change in hairstyle.
It seemed like she’d taken the past month to really reflect on herself, and Kas loved that for her.
Approaching her, he couldn’t help but walk directly into her space.
“K-Kas.”
“Why you keep stuttering and shit when you speak to me?”
“Well, the last time I saw you, I was a hoe ass bitch, stupid hoe, fucking slut. So, I’m a little guarded.”
Kas’ eyes roamed her, noting the subtle changes in her face and body. “Nah, I’m not trying to be on that type of time with you. It’s been a while… you got hair now, this shit is weird.” He joked.
“Shut up.” Yanna smiled, and Kas thought he’d fold right there.
“Aye, how is yo mumma doing? I seen her out there with Ms. Kamilla.”
“She’s doing good. Got a new liver, so she’s not drinking anymore, it’s really changing her for the better.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad she getting her shit together. Aye, I heard you been kicking it with yo dad though. How that been for you?”
“It’s weird to say, but it’s been amazing. My dad has been my rock the past month. God knows I don’t deserve it because I treated him like shit for so long. He’s been my saving grace when he should’ve given me his ass to kiss.”
“Nah, yo dad loves you, and that’s not how love works.”
“Yea, you’re right. Oh yea, so I’ve been talking to someone.
You know, about why I am the way I am, why I act and react the way I do.
Anyway, the therapist told me to find a way of expressing my feelings and use it to apologize to those I may have hurt.
” Reaching into her clutch purse, she pulled out folded pieces of lined paper and handed it to him.
"You know I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings verbally, so I packed them into a few pages of written words. ”
Kas accepted the letter, unsure of what to say about it. Yanna offered him a closed lip smile before attempting to walk away. Grabbing her arm, Kas stopped her from doing so. “How the baby was doing. Nyx let me hear the heartbeat, and I been wondering ever since.”
“Oh, the baby is okay. Growing healthily and kicking my ass most days.”
“Yea? How far along are you?”
“I went to the doctor a few days ago, and I was just about thirteen weeks.”
Kas tried to calculate in his head, but he was clueless about how gestation worked. He wanted to ask Yanna how she was gone find out who her baby daddy was, but he didn’t want the conversation to go left. That would be a conversation for them to have after the wedding.
“That’s what’s up. Aye, I meant to tell you ---”
“Kas, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. Did you forget about me?”
Hell yea. Kas wanted to say, because he hadn’t thought about her since he laid eyes on Yanna. “Nah, I didn’t forget about you.”
“Good, come in and dance with me. I haven’t had alone time with you all night.”
“Ight, give me a minute to finish hollering at Yanna.”
“Oh, nah, you go ahead. I’m about to go check on Janis, anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll see you soon, ight?”
“Yea.” Yanna responded with a small smile before returning to the main room.