Chapter 4 #2
“You like it, baby?” Trey asked as he held out his hand for her to join him on the gold fabric under his feet. “I’ve been planning this whole thing for weeks.”
Lorielle didn’t realize she was crying until she felt a tear roll down her neck. She was thankful one of the staff members was handling the recording from the stairs, because she wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to keep it together.
“Trey…” Jo could barely stand. Trey had to hold her up. “I’ve been so angry at you. I don’t deserve this.”
“You do, baby. I know you were only upset because you care, and I want to show you how much I care for you.” Trey made sure she was good standing before he kneeled to the ground. He removed the Lorielle approved ring from his pocket.
“Joann Denise Collins, simply, you’re the love of my life, but if we want to go into detail, you warm each day no matter how cold you are to me.
” Everyone laughed. “I can always count on you whether I have one dollar or a million. You’re strong, but you allow, or should I say trust, me to lead us down a righteous path filled with love, laughter, and longevity.
I love you and I pray you accept my proposal and vow to be my partner for life. ”
“Yes! Yes, Trey, I’ll be your wife!” Jo squealed.
They all clapped and screamed as Trey pulled the ring out of the box and placed it on Jo’s finger.
Trey stood to his feet, taking his fiancée’s lips in a passionate kiss.
Lorielle looked at Benny. “We did it.”
“Yeah, we did.” He was looking at her longingly. His head seemed to descend. She kept her eyes on his, hypnotized by his stare.
“All right. Save some for later,” Mrs. J said. That caused Lorielle to turn her head. Though she was looking forward to Benny’s kiss, now was not the time. She knew that they had gotten caught up in the moment, but their time would come when they could be alone.
“Yeah, we have to get a move on,” Mr. B added.
Jo was still in shock. “Y’all knew about this?”
“Yes, and you owe us for being a b—” Gavin coughed. “An unstable creature to us this whole time.”
Everyone laughed except Jo who punched her brother in the arm.
“Aye, chill! This is all on camera,” Gavin said, dodging more blows.
“Come here.” Trey pulled Jo into his arms, sharing a few more kisses before he said, “You have two hours to get back here and marry me, woman.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Oh God.” Jo looked at Lorielle. “Elle?”
Lorielle knew what she was thinking. “You know I got you.” Lorielle had everything Jo would need in a bedroom on the main floor of the cabin they would stay in.
The event coordinator had been a big help to her and the family.
“Everything is already taken care of. You’re going to be a beautiful bride. ”
Jo snatched her into her arms. They hugged and cried until Mrs. J had to usher them to their cabin to get ready.
Two hours went by like two minutes, but they were able to get Jo ready and down the aisle. In front of friends and family who had arrived a little later after the proposal, Trey Walker and Joann Collins became one. Now it was time to celebrate.
Drinks were flowing, bodies were moving, and the air around them was infused with joy.
Lorielle and Jo held down the small dance floor in the center of the room most of the night.
Trey had created a playlist of all of Jo’s favorite songs.
She and Jo had the same taste in music, so they were getting down to every song that came on.
Only when “What You Tryin’ To Do” by Jagged Edge played did they separate. Trey came over, stealing his wife away.
“Sorry, my love. He’s stealing me away,” Jo said as Trey pulled her into his arms, laughing at their interaction.
“Go ahead, I’m tired.” Before Lorielle could make it off the dance floor, Benny stepped in, sweeping her into his arms. Throughout the night, she had danced on Benny, but it was friendly since everyone was grouped together during that time. However, it was just the two of them now.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you looked tonight?”
Her chocolate dress was backless, only held together by the ties around her neck. During the ceremony outside, she wore a fur coat. Now her luscious, light brown skin was on full display.
“A few times, I believe, but I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of hearing you compliment me.”
“Stay in my room tonight and I’ll pay you compliments all night.”
She snapped her eyes shut, thinking of Benny praising her, talking her through each climax.
“It’s a little soon for that, don’t you think?” she asked as they swayed to the beat.
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s been a long day. We should get some rest.”
“Assuming again? Someone has a dirty mind. I was talking about just holding you in my arms. It feels so good right now holding you against me. Then the first night… I play that over and over in my head at night. It gets me through until I can have you there permanently.”
“You’re so sure of this.”
“You should be too.”
The song transitioned into a more upbeat tempo, and she pulled away. “I’m going to get some more food.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The rest of the night went by smoothly. She and Benny sat at a table eating. Jo ended up pulling her back out to the dance floor a bit after that.
It was truly a night to remember.
Later in bed, Lorielle laid awake, craving Benny’s arms around her. She tossed and turned until she eventually fell asleep.
When morning came, everyone met downstairs for breakfast, except the newlyweds. They were getting ready to head out for their honeymoon.
“How’d you sleep?” Benny asked when they bumped into each other in the kitchen.
Terrible. “Fine. You?”
“Would have been better if you were in my arms.”
During breakfast, Lorielle cursed herself. She could have been where she wanted to be if she wasn’t so afraid to let go, but she had done that, and look how that had turned out.
Benny is not him. He’s never been him, and you can’t go around thinking he’s going to transform into someone else. Trust yourself.
After breakfast, it was time to say goodbye to the bride and groom.
Jo squeezed Lorielle tight before pulling back. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever ask for.”
“Alright now, don’t get mushy on me,” Lorielle teased.
“I’ve been crying for weeks and after yesterday, you would think I would be out of tears. When I come back, though, I’ll be back to my normal self.”
“I guess.” Lorielle was now fighting back her own tears. “What am I going to do for two weeks without you?”
Jo snorted. “The way my brother hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you since we’ve been out here, I wouldn’t worry about being bored.”
She looked back, and sure enough, he was staring at her.
Lorielle turned back to her. “He’s not letting up, Jo.”
“Then fall, girl. He’ll catch you.”
She released a light chuckle as she brushed away the tear that escaped. “Don’t worry about us.” She pushed Jo toward the car that would take them to the airport. “Go enjoy your trip.”
“Why did you let him pick Iceland? It’s cold enough here. We were supposed to go somewhere tropical.”
She shrugged. “He said he wanted something different.”
Jo rolled her eyes. “Leave it to Trey, but I love him.”
Talking him up, Trey moved in their direction. “Alright, it’s time to go.” He grabbed Lorielle’s hands. “You know this makes us best friends now.”
The group of three laughed. Jo was laughing the hardest. “You and Benny are some haters. This is a two-person friendship. Get your own best friend.”
Trey threw an arm over her shoulder, kissing the top of Jo’s head. “Seriously, Elle. Thank you for everything.”
She stylishly saluted him. “It was no problem. Anything for my girl. Now, y’all go on. It’s honeymoon time!”
“Ayyyeeee!” Jo did a little dance, shaking her ass.
“Jo!” Her mother crossed her arms.
Jo straightened, laughing. “You ready, baby?”
“Hell yeah. We’ll see y’all in two weeks!”
He waved at everyone before helping Jo into the car. He followed in behind her and the driver closed the door behind them.
Lorielle watched them pull off, feeling a little bit of sadness, but she knew the feeling would only be temporary. However, what was she going to do without her best girl?
Lorielle felt a hand on the middle of her back. She could tell from the sensation that traveled through her body who it was before he spoke. “You okay?” Benny asked.
She looked up into those deep brown eyes, getting lost in them. “I’m better now.”