Wedding Bells #3
“I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger.” I was lying and they all knew it.
“Yoo say that. But who kens? Yoo seem like yoo care and there’s nothin’ wrong with that, Ori. So stop denyin’ what yoo ken is the truth.”
I sighed, frustrated and not being able to escape this same conversation about my emotions. It was irritating me even more because Asha wasn’t speaking to me.
“Are we done here?”
“Yeah. Just like you’re anxious to get back to your girl, we’re ready to get back to ours.”
“Shut up, Mir.”
“I’ll say this: you’re different in a good way. Not softer because you would put a bullet in me for saying that shit. But you’re less angry. Still hard but not bitter. Like she came in and made you more… human.”
I folded my arms in front of me because it sounded like the good pastor had just called me a bitch. “That sounds increasingly like I’m soft.”
Mir just glared at me emotionlessly before he shook his head in disappointment. “Of course you’d see it that way.”
“Look, they’re trying to say that they like that you’re around here acting human and shit.
They did the same thing with me and I don’t even stress the shit anymore.
I mean I smile and shit and I know they be thinking Sweets gave me a lobotomy or something but it’s just her.
She’s the best remedy for the chaos in my mind.
” Smoke tapped the side of his head and I was again ready to shoot his ass.
“You know that my sister-in-law is crazy, don’t you?”
Smoke didn’t hesitate to give a retort to Yacouba’s warning. “Yeah, what’s your point?”
Couba focused on me as he pointed at Smoke over his shoulder. “Okay, don’t end up like this nigga but please come to grips with this shit. The last thing we need is a wedding like Liam’s where we find you tied up to a bed cause that girl done whipped your ass.”
Liam’s blond-headed ass was grinning and I knew that look too well. “I let ‘er do it willingly now. She likes to be in control.”
My mind went straight to the gutter and now I was thinking about my Mistress and how easily I could let her tie me up and use me in whatever way—
“Never mind y’all. Let’s wrap this up so we can go eat. This nigga doing that awkward ass smile and shit so they’re good. He’ll have to get out of his way eventually. We ain’t got to do shit.” Cou hopped up and patted my shoulder bringing me back out of the thoughts I was having about Asha.
“Where to?”
“One of the family’s spots. The seafood one so that we know that Xerx won’t have to worry about what he eats. I already called and gave them a heads up to ensure it was all halal.”
Everybody looked at me again like I’d grown another head.
“Zhat’s zhoughtful of you. I guess Yacouba is right and we no longer have to stress about you.”
“Let’s get the fuck outta here before I have to find a new groomsman.”
Jahmir tossed the tie back on the pile in front of him as we made our way to the door. “I would tell you to stop running but we don’t need to worry about it. You’re going to find out the hard way.”
ASHA
“This is harder than I expected it to be.”
I couldn’t understand why but I was furious with this woman who sat across from me.
And this was only my second time seeing her.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I could almost feel the weakness in her previous actions or if it was because I knew how her presence was disturbing Ori.
Something else I found fault with her for.
She was making me empathize with someone that I shouldn’t have.
These emotions were wearing on my bloody nerves and I wanted to go back to the peaceful numbness that had been my life before I’d gotten involved in all of this.
Despite her willing absence from his life, Faith Franklin Nakoa still had a lot of connections.
She’d used the number we’d exchanged in his hospital room almost immediately and wanted to meet with me.
She invited me out to lunch and although I had no clue what her motivation was behind the gesture, I was intrigued all the same.
Something shifted. I knew it and so did Ori.
The shift was driving me crazy. I felt my emotions threatening to release when I sat with him in the hospital room but when he checked himself out without speaking to me I retreated back in myself.
I was worried about him. Worried for him and to cut me out so easily without explanation it pissed me off beyond reason.
The back and forth that we kept going through was old.
When it seemed like he was breaking through my walls I retreated to figure out what I wanted.
And by the time I could understand myself he was somewhere else shutting me out.
We couldn’t seem to get on the same page and it frustrated me to no end.
“I can’t fathom why you would think this was an easy task.” I laid my napkin across my lap my eyes sharply focused on the woman in front of me.
Her brows rose slightly as though she knew I was challenging her.
Ori’s mother was a beautiful woman but I could tell by the way her lips dipped at the corner that she’d been perpetually sad for a long time.
Her skin tone was a deeper color than her son’s and the smattering of freckles he had across his face was obviously inherited from her.
Her hair was straightened and cut into a long rich chocolate brown bob that was incredibly stylish and fit her face perfectly.
The sundress she wore was fitted to her curvy frame and she only smiled in response to what I’d said.
“I have to say I was surprised to find out that Ori was getting married.” She mimicked my movements by placing her napkin across her lap. The place we’d decided on for lunch was one that was a favorite for me and I felt more in control being somewhere that was familiar.
“Surprised that he was getting married or surprised that you were notified?”
Instead of a raise of her brows this time she only smiled. “You don’t bite your tongue do you?”
“Since our marriage is guaranteed and I have no one I feel the need to impress, no. Besides, I’m not one for that type of trite interaction under any circumstance. If speaking my mind and being authentic is something that offends the company I keep, I’d rather change my company than change myself.”
“Wow.”
My head leaned to one side as I studied her; the long ponytail I’d wrestled my hair into falling over one shoulder. “Do you find that shocking?”
“Actually—”
We were interrupted when the server came by and asked us for our drink order.
I had a very specific drink order and despite how nice this place was, I still wanted to ask if they had the components before ordering.
It was late summer and I should have gotten water but I felt the need for alcohol to have this conversation.
“I normally don’t drink this early in the day.”
“It’s a celebration. Before I order do you have Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger?” I didn’t want to get Faith drunk but maybe loosen her up. I had questions that I wasn’t going to ask Ori and she was the only person who had answers who might willingly reveal them.
“We have both.”
I glanced at Faith not wanting to be rude. “Do you have a preference?”
“Veuve is something we used to have at every organizational event.” Her smile was wistful but I took it as a sign that she’d be okay with my choice.
“Perfect. A bottle of Veuve and could I also order a French 75 with Indigo Gin please.”
“You want a bottle of champagne and the drink?” The server looked at me in surprise and I didn’t know if she felt I was a lush or simply wanted clarity so I didn’t take her question personally.
“Well, yes. You’re going to open the bottle to make my cocktail. I’m purchasing the bottle and my companion wants a flute of champagne. Works out well for us, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Lovely. Could I have a bottle of sparkling water as well, please? Faith, did you need anything else?”
“Water as well.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“French 75?” Faith looked at me quizzically as though she knew there was a story there.
My smile was tight not because of her question but the history left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Blame my mother.” That was one of the few habits that I’d picked up from Jacqueline Avery. Her drinking was something of legends and the French 75 was one drink of hers I’d had and actually liked. The woman had excellent taste in men, handbags and liquor.
“Not to be forward but when will I get to meet her?” Faith’s face was eager like she wanted to be included badly but I needed to disabuse her of the idea that dealing with my mother was a positive venture.
“If you’re lucky, never.” I gave her a look and the tension on her face increased.
“You have a mother hurt as well?”
“That’s putting it lightly.” I huffed and sat back wishing that I already had my drink so I could calm my nerves. Instead, I glanced out of the large windows at the front of the restaurant watching the lunch traffic go by.
“I think… I hope that I’m right and that you and Ori are exactly what the other needs in this world.
The way you looked at him in the medical facility made me think that you all will find your footing.
” When I looked back at her I noticed how hopeful she looked.
Like she truly meant each word she said.
“I’m not sure about all of that. Besides, neither of us really knows him well, do we?”
I knew my words struck a chord with her because of how she pressed her lips together. Instead of lashing out or biting back at me, she smiled.
“You’re proving my desires are closer to reality than I think.” Her water and my drink were set down at the table before the server disappeared silently. After another sip, I picked up the conversation.
“How so?”