Chapter 17 #2
“It’s cool. I need some one on one time with my second momma. We’ll be fine,” Jade responded.
Celeste helped Cora into her coat and I followed them as they headed out of the door. After helping Cora into the car and saying my goodbyes, I walked over to Jade.
“Thank you for doin’ this on such short notice. We’ll be back Sunday afternoon.”
“No worries, Shane. She needs the break so I’m happy to help. Momma Cora has never been a problem. Y’all have a good time,” Jade stated before opening her car door.
It felt like forever before Celeste pulled herself away from the passenger seat and let them leave.
“Come put a coat on and grab your purse.”
“Where we going?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
“Do I need to change? Will I be back before my mom gets back?” she quizzed as we walked inside.
“All you need is your coat and purse, baby. Miss Cora will be just fine.”
Since she was already dressed, it only took a few minutes for her to grab her things and let Stella know we were leaving. Stella had stayed at the house alone on a few occasions and everything would be cool. This time felt no different.
“Shane…what is all this?”
“Just a lil somethin’ for you, baby. Now get in.”
As I backed out of the driveway, Celeste took the envelope off the roses and opened it. Like I knew she would, she started reading the card aloud and I was entertained.
“Baby. I hope your day is as beautiful as you. Love, your man. Thank you, baby. I love them.”
“Good. I never bought your ass roses, so I’m glad you like them.”
“I do. Now, can you tell me where we’re going? Why are we getting on the expressway?”
“I’m taking you away for the weekend. We’re going to Pleasant Springs.”
“Are you serious? How are we leaving for the weekend and I don’t have any clothes? What about my mother?” She threw out question after question.
“Jade has your mother. I took care of everything else. I don’t want you to worry about anything outside of relaxing this weekend.”
“Is this a joke, Shane?”
“Hell nah. I’m dead ass serious. You’ve been working constantly since that bitch ass nigga made his move.
Taking a couple days off won’t hurt. What good are you to anyone if you don’t have anything in your cup?
You haven’t done anything for yourself since I’ve been with you.
That shit ends now. It’s cool to be a hard worker because it’ll eventually pay off, but don’t overwork yourself.
Now, sit your ass back and enjoy the ride. ”
Turning the music up, I merged onto the expressway and prepared to fight the evening traffic.
Thankfully, the snow had stopped and the roads weren’t bad at all.
Halfway through the drive, I saw Celeste had fallen asleep.
I hated that I’d damn near had to trick her into leaving for the weekend, but that was the only way she’d come.
An hour and fifteen minutes later, I was pulling into the parking lot of Sybaris.
I checked us in and rolled our things inside as Celeste walked ahead of me, in awe of the place.
When I unlocked our room door, the two of us looked around the room and took everything in.
There was a king sized bed in the middle of the room with a mirror above it.
A small round table with two chairs sat to the left with a mini fridge about a foot away.
On the other side was the glass door entrance to the bathroom that came with two showers side-by-side.
Straight ahead was the full-sized private pool with a jacuzzi off to the side.
When I booked the room, I’d made sure to get the room with the biggest pool.
Sybaris was meant for intimacy and that was exactly what I wanted out the weekend.
Celeste and I hadn’t been able to fully connect with so much going on. Being here would help that.
“Damn. I’ve never been to Sybaris before. This is crazy. Do you see the size of this pool? It looks like it belongs in someone’s backyard.”
“I know. That’s why I got it. It’s all ours until we leave Sunday. Hell, we don’t have to step foot out of this room if you don’t want to,” I stated.
Putting the suitcases next to the front door, I walked over to Celeste and unzipped her coat. Once it was off, I took her boots off before giving her the kiss I’d been wanting to give her since I laid eyes on her a couple hours ago.
“Thank you for this. It’s really nice,” she said as she looked around.
“Anything for you, baby.”
While I continued to get both of us undressed, Celeste took a call from her mother and let her know where we were.
I was sure by now Jade had already informed Cora, but at least she’d know we made it safely.
The only other call I’d be expecting was from my dad, but that wouldn’t be until later tonight.
Right now, I wanted to be close to my lady.
Before getting into the pool, we stood under the shower and let warm water run over us for a few moments. Celeste gave me no pushback about getting in the water since her hair was in individual twists she had pulled into a ponytail.
“You don’t think we should have swimming suits on?”
“Swimming suits for what? No one is in here but you and me. Hell, the swimsuit wouldn’t do shit but be in the way.”
When we stepped inside, the warmness of the water felt better than any pool.
The temperature was comfortable and the lights made the water glow a light blue color.
We walked deeper into the pool until the water came up to Celeste’s neck.
Picking her up, I walked us over to the edge and leaned against it.
Just holding her in my arms with no barrier between our bodies calmed my heart rate.
I could stay in this position forever and it still wouldn’t be long enough.
“Hey,” I said as I looked down at her.
“Hey.”
“You wanna know something?”
“You can tell me anything.”
“I love yo’ ass. I know this my first time sayin’ it, but I hope you felt it long before tonight.
You had my heart in your hands the first time I laid eyes on you.
I had no problem with Spinna until I found out he had something so precious that he didn’t deserve.
Even if me and you don’t make it, just know you deserve the world.
Don’t ever settle for shit when it comes to a man.
Even when it comes to me. Don’t ever accept anything less than what you’re worth. ”
“I swear it feels like we’re always in sync. I’ve been wanting to tell you I loved you for a little while now. I didn’t because I know men take longer to fall. I didn’t know if you were there yet, so I never said it.”
“I was there before you, love. You came into my life and had my attention ever since. Before you came along, I told myself I would never trust or love another woman the way I once did. I no longer trusted my judgement when it came to women. Women are quick to say all niggas are the same, but at times it feels like all women are the same as well. You made me believe otherwise. You’re different in every way.
You got a nigga thinkin’ about marriage,” I said before kissing her lips.
“Marriage? You wanna marry me?”
“Hell yeah. Marrying you gives me the right to live in your skin. Once a nigga is your husband, there won’t be shit you can do to get rid of me.”
“I would never want to get rid of you. You’ll get tired of me before I get tired of you,” she said, running a hand down my face.
“Even if I got tired of you, there’s no turning back after you have my last name.
You have from now until we walk down the aisle to change your mind about us.
Once you say ‘I do’, it’s over. If you wake up one day and decide I’m no longer what you want, then you gon’ have to take that up with the good Lord.
I got one marriage in me. I’ll give you a hundred and ten percent of myself.
If you think I won’t be enough, let me know now. ”
“On your worst day you’d still be more than enough.”
“Marry me,” I whispered.
“Okay.”
Grabbing her by the hand, I led her out the pool and back into the room.
I dug around in my suitcase until I had what I needed.
Right there, I did what I felt was right.
Dropping to one knee, I held Celeste’s hand in mine and continued to speak from the heart.
Right now, I was winging it, but I’d never felt so sure about anything.
“Celeste, baby…I swear I didn’t bring you here to do this.
I’ve been carrying this ring around for a few weeks now.
I’ve been waiting for the perfect time, but the way you make me feel is unexplainable.
When I saw myself getting down on one knee, I imagined us on the beach in front of your mother and friends.
Countless flowers and rose petals surrounding us.
I can still do that if you want. Right now, I just wanna let you know how much you mean to me.
“Every day, I watch you give so much of yourself without complaining. I know all the transitions have been mentally taxing, but you get up every day and do what you need to do. You inspire me to go harder. You’re naturally nurturing, so I know you’ll be a good mother when the time comes.
Whenever you laugh, I feel it in my soul.
My biggest goal when it comes to you is to see you smile every day.
That lets me know I did my job as your man.
Your creativity is unmatched and I know Luxe Addiction will have opportunities you never even imagined.
“The way you throw down in the kitchen and cook for me, even after a long day of work. I appreciate it all, baby. I want that for the rest of my life. I want you for the rest of my life. So, I’m asking you, right here, right now, Celeste Lashay Peterson, will you marry me?”
By now, silent tears rushed down her pretty face, partially because she was in shock.
Hell, I was just as surprised as her, but knew this day would come sooner or later.
The day I’d gotten the ring, I thought I was pushing it.
Celeste and I hadn’t been together a full year yet, but it only took a few months for me to realize I wanted to marry her.
My hands became sweaty and my anxiety kicked in with each passing moment of silence.
The large, two carat, radiant and emerald diamond ring still sat in my hand.
It wasn’t until this moment that I took into consideration that Celeste didn’t feel as deeply about me.
“Yes…of course I’ll marry you,” she finally answered between sniffles.
I let out a breath of relief before pulling the ring from the box and sliding it onto her finger.
I was a firm believer in the ring a woman had was a direct reflection of how her man felt about her.
I had truly outdone myself when I got this ring made.
That rock couldn’t be missed and that was what I wanted.
I needed everyone to know how I was stepping when it came to my woman.
Once the ring was on, I kissed her finger and stood.
“This is crazy, Shane. I can’t believe this shit just happened. It feels like a dream,” she said as she stared down at the ring.
“It’s real life, my love.”
“Every time I think I’m sinking, you find a way to pull me back in.
Most days, I operate on autopilot. There’s been so many times I thought you’d break up with me because of everything I have going on.
Since we’ve met, I’ve been so consumed in my own shit that I haven’t been able to fully focus on us.
I promise I’ll do better,” Celeste expressed as she wrapped her arms around me.
“Don’t apologize for taking care of business.
Luxe Addiction keeps food on the table and you only get one mother.
If anything, I’d be lookin’ at your ass sideways if you put a man over the important shit.
Being here and helping you carry the load is something I’ll never get tired of.
I know exactly who I’m marrying and what comes with that.
If it was too much for me, there would be no us.
I want you to keep doing exactly what you’re doing. ”
After a while, Celeste and I decided to get back in the pool.
Only this time my Bluetooth speaker played slow jams to fill the silence.
Now that I’d asked her to marry me, everything about us felt different.
Our connection already felt stronger and our lovemaking once we were out of the pool felt more meaningful.