Love Next Door

1. Abril Symone Severs

“Girl, you are going to rock these outfits. Have you ever thought about modeling, Abril?”

“Nona, you know my daddy would have my tail. Half the stuff those girls go through, I would never put up with.”

“But you’re so beautiful.”

“Thank you, sis. But I can tell you one thing I’m not gon’ do.”

“What’s that?”

“Starve myself to death to fit into those tiny outfits. Besides, at five-two, nobody’s about to hire me to model anything but kids’ clothing.”

We laughed. Although I was a slim girl, I had curves that I loved and embraced. I wasn’t ashamed of them, and I never wanted to be model thin.

“I know that’s right, honey.” She tilted her head a little as she handed me my receipt and bag. Nona’s Notions was my favorite boutique to shop at.

“What?”

“How are you really doing?”

“I’m fine. Oh, you’re talking about Devon’s and my breakup?”

“Mm-hmm.” She nodded.

I waved my hand. “Girl, one of us has to quit being so stubborn. I guess it’ll be me as usual, though. This breakup and makeup is getting old, but I miss him so much. I’ll hit him up later on this evening and invite him over for drinks so we can talk.”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a little “O.”

“What’s wrong, Nona?”

“You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

She glanced nervously around and cleared her throat. “Devon’s getting married.”

“What? You’re kidding me.” I laughed and shook my head.

“Abril, I wouldn’t tease you about something like that.”

“When? To who?” My eyes widened, and I rubbed my arms absently as I tried to process what she said.

She cleared her throat again, and I smacked my hand on the counter. “To who, Nona?” I demanded, trying not to cry.

“Her name’s Sasha.”

I squinted. That name sounded so familiar to me. Then it hit me. I recalled that I’d caught him talking to a girl with that name once when I was at his place. Devon had immediately ended the call, and he told me it was a client for his personal training business.

“When?”

“Today.”

“Today?” My voice came out as a high, unrecognizable shriek as I became lightheaded.

“St. James Episcopalian Church over on Highland.”

My skin grew warm, and my chest tingled. I felt an anxiety attack coming on. Clutching my bags and tugging my purse higher up my arm, I muttered, “I gotta go.”

“Where are you going?” Nona called after me, but I didn’t stop. I rushed out of the store, blindly making my way across the street to my car. Horns blared, and I barely avoided getting hit.

I climbed inside of my car, held onto the steering wheel tightly, and closed my eyes. I inhaled the scent of my perfume, listened to the sounds outside of my car, and slowly peeled my eyes open. I started the ignition and pulled away.

St. James was a beautiful, white stone edifice with high pitches, sweeping arches, a towering steeple, and gorgeous silver windows. I parked across the street and took in the long line of cars.

A man was placing something on the rear of a limo. I hopped out and made my way across the street, glancing sideways. He smiled at me and gave a gracious nod as he continued affixing the sign to the car. “Just Married.”

Was I too late? This couldn’t be Devon’s wedding. Nona was wrong. It had only been three months since we spoke, three months since we had sex, argued, and I asked him for a little space.

We did this all the time. Our on-again, off-again relationship had been the joy of my life and a thorn in my side for the last two years. Devon and I planned to get married in a year.

We were going to get married at this same church and honeymoon in St. Lucia.

I pulled the doors open and rushed into the church.

Taking a moment to gather my nerves, I stood in the lobby and dragged my sweaty palms down my gorgeous red sleeveless jumpsuit.

I clutched the chain of my black purse tightly in my hands as I whispered a silent prayer that Nona had it all wrong, or I would soon wake up from a bad dream.

I pulled the sanctuary doors open, and my heart stopped.

Devon was at the end of the aisle, holding the hands of a beautiful woman in a gorgeous white mermaid gown with tiny crystals sewed on it and a slit up her left thigh.

She wore a large sweeping train, with a crystal beaded crown holding her long curls back, which cascaded down her back.

He wore a red suit and smiled brightly at her as he pledged his life to her, the life he was supposed to pledge to me. The decor was red and white, just as we discussed. I noticed every detail that I shared with him had been implemented into his wedding . . . with another woman.

He kissed her and then turned and saw me. His face froze briefly before his best man, his brother, nudged him. Tears pricked my eyes as I stood in despair and watched the love of my life walk down the aisle holding the hand of another woman.

His mother spotted me and turned away. His sister nudged a couple of other girls, who had been mutual acquaintances. They all looked away with discomfort etched on their faces.

I followed the wedding party and guests out of the church and into the street. They celebrated Devon and Sasha, and he looked happier than he ever had. The knife in my heart couldn’t go any deeper. I remained standing there even after he climbed into the limo and it whisked them away.

By the time I made my way down the sidewalk and back across the street to my car, all the other guests had left. Only then did the tears drop, and I let the pain have its way in me, breaking me.