Epilogue
Ace
One year later...
Contrary to popular belief and what these niggas told you. It doesn't take a man long to know when he met the right one. After our first night together, I knew Kema was my one. I just had to convince her ass we were going to be together for life.
A year after Kema asked me to be her fake boyfriend, we were on my private jet headed to Vegas to get married.
A lot had happened since Cancún. Kema spent the last few months building her brokerage from the ground up.
She handled the licenses, hired her own employees, and brought most of her clients with her.
For our three month anniversay, I bought her a building.
She cried, cussed me out for lying to her, and then she sucked and fucked a nigga so good I wanted to buy her ass another building. Her sucking and fucking was how she got this private jet.
I used to just rent planes but after we started taking more trips and Kema complained about not wanting to have sex in a bed she wasn't sure was clean I bought this shit.
Tiana never pressed charges after her fight with Kema and Sierra.
I guess getting her ass beat was enough.
A few weeks later, Sierra found out Tiana was pregnant with Kel’s baby.
They didn’t get back together, but having a baby meant they were stuck dealing with each other for life.
The baby was innocent, but Kel and Tiana having to put up with each other?
That was karma. I loved that shit for them.
Kel tried calling me to explain himself and apologize for the fight. He also tried calling Kema like she gave a damn. We blocked his ass. Whatever he had to say, he could tell his baby mama. We had nothing left to talk abbout.
Now we were heading to make us a forever thing with our friends and family.
Stephen and Sierra sat across from us with our godson, Deuce.
Apparently that Jamaica trip did exactly what it needed to do because nine months later, his little ass showed up.
Best apology gift I ever bought. “Ace,” Sierra called.
“What?”
“Be a good godfather and come get your godson.”
“Sisi, he’s sleep.”
“And?”
“Ain’t his daddy right there.”
Stephen looked up. “Leave me out of it.” Sierra slowly turned toward him. “I mean, give me my son.”
I chuckled. Kema was beside me scrolling through her phone. “What my sister sending you?”
“Nothing.”
“Let me see.”
She rolled her eyes, “no Ace. You always in our business.”
I reached for her phone and she moved it away. “Ace, stop.”
“You about to be my wife. We shouldn’t have secrets.”
“You have an entire wedding planned for us in Vegas that you refuse to tell me about.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because you said you were overwhelmed planning it. I did everything to make sure you could relax.” She rolled her eyes.
Five weeks ago, we started planning a wedding.
Sunday Kema dropped her wedding binder on the counter and announced she would rather go to the courthouse.
I did her one better. I called in some favors to have my small winery outside Vegas decorated, and my sister Alice handled everything else.
Wasn’t shit you couldn’t make happen if you had money. “You nervous?” I asked.
Kema put her phone away. “Should I be?”
“Nope.”
“Then why you asking?”
“Cause you keep fidgeting.”
“We’re really getting married today.”
“You having second thoughts? We don’t have to do it.”
She stared at me. “You want me to hurt your feelings before our wedding?”
I smiled. “There she go.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. You stuck with me.”
“We’re not married yet.”
“You think I’m letting you off this plane without becoming Mrs. Davis?”
She laughed and rested her head against my shoulder. “I’m not having second thoughts.”
“Good.”
“I just wish…” She stopped talking but I knew. Days like this reminded both of us of the people we didn’t have anymore. I kissed her forehead. Kema looked across the plane at Sierra, Stephen and Deuce before squeezing my hand. “I’m okay,” she said. “I have everybody I need.”
My grandparents taught me early that family wasn’t always about who made you. It was about who showed up and stayed. They did that for me when my parents couldn’t, and I planned to do the same for Kema for the rest of my life. “And you got me.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Watch yourself.”
A few hours later, I stood beneath an arch at my winery waiting for her. I wasn’t nervous until the music started. “You nervous now?” Stephen whispered.
“A little bit.”
“That’s normal.”
I nodded and a few seconds later I spotted my nieces coming down the aisle with Sierra followed behind them. They all looked good but what took my breath away was when I saw Kema. She appeared at the end of the aisle with my sister, Alice beside her.
Damn. My woman looked good. Her white dress hugged every curve, and the smile on her face almost took me out. Alice walked her to me and placed Kema’s hand in mine. “Take care of my sister.”
Kema immediately started wiping at her tears. I could tell hearing my sister acknowledge her over me made this whole moment more emotional for her. I nodded, “I got her,” I promised.
Alice kissed her cheek and stepped away. “You okay?” I asked.
“Your sister has me crying.”
“She your sister now too.”
The ceremony was short. Exactly how Kema wanted it. When it was time for our vows, she squeezed my hands. “A year ago, I asked you to be my plus one because I wanted to make another man jealous.”
Everybody chuckled because they all knew the story. “I didn’t expect you to become my best friend or the person I wanted beside me every day. You make me feel safe without making me feel helpless. You showed me love didn’t have to hurt.”
My throat tightened. “I promise to love you, choose you and try not to cuss you out every day.”
“Every other day is fine.”
“Ace.”
“Sorry baby.”
She shook her head. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Then it was my turn. I didn’t write shit down. I felt like she deserved to hear my raw feelings. “Kema, I wanted you before I had any business wanting you. Then you walked into my bar needing a plus one and finally gave me my chance.”
She smiled. “I promise you’ll never have to question where you stand with me. I’m goin' to love you, protect you and support every crazy-ass idea you come up with.”
“Crazy?”
“Let me finish.”
Everybody laughed. I squeezed her hands. “You needed a plus one. I needed you.”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “Damn, yours were better than mine.”
“Nah baby you had a nigga bout to cry.”
The pastor had us exchange rings before finally pronouncing us husband and wife. I didn’t wait for him to tell me twice. I pulled Kema against me and kissed my wife. When I finally let her go, she smiled up at me. “Hello, Mrs. Davis.”
“Hello, husband.”
“You stuck with me now.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Ace.”
“What?”
“Kiss me again.” I grabbed my wife by her waist and pulled her in for another kiss. A year ago, Kema needed a fake plus one. Now I was her plus one for life.
THE END... For now!