Our Promise

Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

Couldn’t We be Happily Ever After

He was a married man.

Scratch that, Benny was a happily married man that had been sexed up all night. This morning, he was walking on cloud nine.

He explored the estate completely at peace. He had never felt like this in his entire life. That’s how he knew he did the right thing getting married to Lorielle. There was so much clarity.

Benny wanted to tell the world Lorielle was his wife. He knew he needed to start with his mother first. She was going to be upset that she missed it, but he loved that it was just him and Lorielle. Yesterday would forever hold a special place in his heart.

She’ll understand. Benny hoped Jolen Collins would understand why he eloped.

He pulled out his phone and called his mother. She answered on the second ring. “Good morning, baby Bernard.”

She knew. She couldn’t know, but she hadn’t called him that in so long. He became suspicious.

“You still there?” she asked.

“Yeah, Ma. You just haven’t called me that in a while. It threw me off.”

“Maybe I should save it for my grandson. I know you and Lorielle are away enjoying some alone time.”

“Mama.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

He did ask Elle to have his baby last night. Had they created a child?

She laughed. “Okay, how is your trip going?”

“We got married.” He rushed his words out, then waited for her response. He didn’t have to wait for long.

“Benny! I’m going to kill you! Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Lorielle and I tied the knot.”

“Benny!”

“What, Ma?”

“Did you feel you had to sneak off and get married and to Elle! We love her! We could have done something nice where everyone could see.”

“I just did what I felt was right. We can have a big wedding later.”

“How is Elle holding up? You were just trying to convince her to even be with you. Now y’all are married?”

“What can I say? Your son just has game like that.”

“Whatever. Well, I’m going to let you go, but as soon as you and Elle get back here, you better be pulling into my driveway.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I love you and give Elle my love as well.”

“I will. Love you too. Bye.”

Benny chuckled.

When he moved back to the way he came, Benny spotted Lorielle gliding down the path. She was looking at the beauty around her, but he saw the beauty in her. He couldn’t resist pulling out his phone and taking several pictures of her.

He took to social media, posting his favorite photo, captioning it, ‘Finally got my Mrs.’

Benny watched her pull out her phone. She peered down at it, and within seconds, she looked around. He smiled, resuming his steps.

“Benny!”

“You must admit it’s a beautiful picture of you.”

“That’s how you want to announce our marriage?”

He shrugged. “It was just a spur of a moment kind of thing.”

“The picture or the marriage?”

“Definitely the picture. I planned to marry you the first day I met you. I just didn’t know how to get you to agree.”

She looked up at him affectionately, then she paused, her face going into a frown. “Jo is going to kill me!”

“She’ll just think I’m talking shit.” Benny pulled her into him with her back to his chest. “Only my mother knows we actually got married. She just talked to her.”

“Same for my mom.” She relaxed in his hold. Where his arms were crossed, she wrapped hers around him, loving his embrace. “You don’t think this is moving too fast?”

“The question is, do you? Do you feel anxious? Do you feel heavy?”

“You know, I felt those things in my first marriage. Everyone said it was just nerves, but yesterday I wasn’t nervous at all. I met you at the altar, confessed my love for you, and have been enjoying myself with you. Honestly, I’m looking forward to building a life with you.”

“You know my favorite part of your vows yesterday? When you said I showed my age wasn’t a factor when it came to love. It just proved I was right the whole time. You were using it to push me away. Damn, y’all are going to have to start calling me Big Benny.”

Claiming Elle’s heart after being pushed away at every turn made him feel like he won the championship belt.

Lorielle turned in his arms. She placed her left hand on his chest, and with the right, she took a picture. “I’m about to send it to Jo, then I’ll post it.”

“You’re finally going to let the world know you’re mine?” he teased.

“Just something slight.” She typed on her phone. “My caption says, ‘What a wife I plan to be to this man! Mrs. Lorielle Collins has a ring to it.’”

He beamed with pride.

“Oh, she’s calling!” Elle answered, putting the call on speaker. “Hey, Jo.”

“My brother gave you that ring?”

“Yes. We’re married.”

“Get the fuck out of here, Elle! You were just crying about not knowing what you wanted to do with him.”

Lorielle looked up at him with guilty eyes. He kissed her. She was right to be confused. None of that mattered now that she was wearing his ring and had his last name.

“Elle, are you serious?” Jo asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you have me on speaker?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Whose idea was this? I know it was yours, Benny. To get married and I wasn’t there! I’m your best friend and hell, Benny, I’m your sister.”

“I couldn’t wait, Jo. Nah, I’ve been waiting for five years.”

“Well, a few more days wouldn’t have hurt. I should kill you for asking her to marry you while I’m away. Then I should kill you, Elle, for accepting.”

“What was I supposed to say? Let’s wait until Jo gets back?”

“Yes, exactly.” They laughed. “I’m shocked. I won’t believe it till I see y’all in person. But, Benny, that ring is spectacular. How much did you spend on it?”

His sister had no shame, but he spent a pretty penny on it. But Lorielle was worth every dollar. He verbalized that to Jo.

“I can’t believe you got married again, and to my brother! How do you feel?”

“I feel so many things, but simply joy.”

Benny couldn’t have described the feeling better than that.

After three months of marital bliss, Benny and Lorielle chose today to celebrate their marriage with friends and family.

They were at his parents’ house, partying in their basement area.

It was the perfect spot because the sliding doors led outside, so it was two spaces in one.

The DJ was outside on the patio playing all the hits, and a spread of their favorite foods were inside close to the open bar.

In a couple of minutes, around ten o’clock, he would herd the crowd outside for the fireworks.

Benny watched Lorielle on the dance floor.

She wasn’t in white, instead she wore a light mustard yellow, wide-legged jumpsuit with a deep vee, showing off the curves of her beautiful breasts he liked to suck on.

The top of the suit was spaghetti strapped with lace trim around it, showing off her toned arms and smooth shoulders.

He loved to kiss her right where her shoulder and neck met.

“Three months down, a lifetime to go.” Benny’s friend, Marvin, came over first, then another of his buddies, Ed, followed. Trey was already standing with him, watching their wives act up on the dance floor.

Benny made introductions before he addressed Marvin’s remark. “Been the best three months of my life.”

“You really did your thing with sis. Way better than Tara,” said Ed.

“I couldn’t stand Tara,” Marvin grumbled.

All Benny could do was laugh. “She wasn’t that bad.”

“Man, you a good dude. I would have nothing nice to say after she cheated on me.”

“When you let go of all the pain and hurt, you don’t care about none of that. Plus, look what I moved on to.” Benny chose the wrong time to point out Lorielle. She was straddling the floor, shaking her ass. Benny was enjoying the view until Jo climbed on top, matching her moves.

He frowned. “Go get your wife,” he said to Trey.

“Aye, you knew they were like this before you got with her. They are wild as lionesses and thick as thieves. No ring is coming between them.”

“That’s true, that’s true,” Benny mumbled as he looked at the text that came through on his phone. The fireworks were about to begin, so he moved to the DJ and announced for everyone to move outside to the patio for a toast and fireworks.

Benny pulled Lorielle to his side. She clung to him, and he smiled. His wife had a few shots of tequila, so she was feeling nice. He loved that for her and him. She got real nasty when she was off the alcohol.

“Hey, everybody,” Benny started, “I want to thank you for coming out to celebrate Elle and I getting married. I know a lot of you wish you could have been there, but it was perfect how it was. However, we hope this celebration makes up for it, and if it doesn’t…” He shrugged.

Laughter followed his statement, but he was serious. They had been married for three months and didn’t plan on having another ceremony until year one. Even Jo and his parents had gotten over not being there, so whoever was still holding a grudge could kick rocks.

“I would like to say a few things to my wife before the show.” He faced Lorielle, taking her hands in one of his.

“You made me the happiest man in the world when you accepted my ring, but when you took my last name, I knew nothing would ever top that moment. You are the love and light of my life. The best three months of my life went by so quick. The only thing I pray for these days is for time to slow down so I can spend more time with you. I love you, Lorielle Elise Collins.”

He pecked her on the lips. Everyone clapped and hollered around them.

It was Elle’s turn now. “Benny, my life is complete now that you’re in it. I’ve felt nothing but love from the moment I stepped into your family, thanks to Jo.” Elle winked at her.

“See, she’s your wife and you still can’t steal my best friend,” Jo taunted Benny.

He glared at his sister. “Whatever.”

The crowd laughed at their banter, but Elle got back to her speech.

“Honestly, I’ll love Jo and Trey forever for what they did for me, but I’ll love them more for introducing you into my life.

I never knew a love like this, and now that I’ve found it, I’m never letting it go.

These have been the best days of my life, and I look forward to more days, growing in life and in love. ”

This time when they kissed, it was much longer and more passionate.

The event coordinator had to step in to tell them to prepare for the fireworks. It could only be delayed for so long.

“The show will begin in… five, four, three, two, one.”

Fireworks exploded behind them as they locked lips again. He made love to her mouth like he planned to do to her body that night. When he finally could pull away, he turned them to watch the remaining fireworks.

His phone vibrated heavily in his pocket. He checked and the unknown number had called him three times in the last minute. Just when he was about to tuck the phone away again, the same number popped on the screen. He answered.

“Hello?”

“This is a beautiful view.”

“Tara?”

That caught Lorielle’s attention. She pulled back and stared at him. Her eyes were like daggers, pinning him in place.

“That was supposed to be me, Benny. I was supposed to be your wife. Now you’ll suffer. You all will suffer.”

“What are you talking about?” He looked around, and when he didn’t see her, he started making his way around the house. Lorielle followed, and that caused Jo and Trey to move with them. “You better not do anything crazy.”

He turned on Elle abruptly. He motioned for her to hand him her phone. She pulled it from the pocket of her jumpsuit. He began to record the conversation after placing his phone on speaker.

“Are you threatening me, Tara?” Benny mouthed for Elle and Jo to get everyone in the house. Trey moved with him to the front.

There was no sign of Tara.

Where the hell is she?

“You want to know the view I’m talking about?

It’s Cup of Jo. It’s burning to the ground as we speak.

It’s such a beautiful view, Benny. Blending right in with the fireworks I’m sure is coming from your little celebration.

Do you think the fire department will get there in time to salvage anything? ”

Hearing that, Trey ran off. Benny was sure to alert his family of the new information.

“Tell me you’re joking.”

Benny was wondering why he wasn’t getting any alerts.

“You don’t believe me? Oh, you thinking about your little alarms? Well, your little wife isn’t the only one in tech. I know a guy. He shut all that down before I took a match to that bitch!” Tara snarled.

The more she talked, the more furious he became.

“Tara, why would you do this?”

“Why? I want to see you hurt like how I was when I got the word that you were married to the woman you told me not to worry about. You made me feel like I was crazy. I wasn’t crazy!

You wanted her this whole time. Me cheating gave you the escape you needed to run off into the sunset with her.

You don’t get to have a happily ever after without me! ”

“Everything with Lorielle and I happened after us. You broke us up long before she was in the picture.”

“Liar! When you couldn’t have her, you came to me, except you didn’t give me your all. That’s why I cheated.”

“Benny!” Jo burst through the front door. She stopped when she saw he was still on the phone. His father and mother rushed around her. Trey and Elle were close behind. They made their way to his side.

“We called the police,” Trey whispered.

His parents were leaving, but there would be nothing they could do once they arrived. They were too far away. The damage had already been done.

“You mad?” Tara taunted.

Jo snatched the phone from him. “You’re going to jail, bitch!” she spat.

“And I’ll be smiling in my mugshot.” Tara laughed. “Congratulations, Bernard.”

“You better hope the cops find you before I do.” Jo was normally rowdy, but Jo on liquor was ten times worse, and with Lorielle feeding off her energy, she grabbed the phone.

“’Cause we’ve been waiting to lay hands on you. You’re a weak ass, jealous ass bitch that wants what she can’t have.”

“Just remember, I had him first.”

“You know better than that. That’s why you’re mad.” Lorielle ended the call. “Let’s go.”

Benny couldn’t get his feet to move.

A night that was supposed to be for celebrating had turned into a night of mourning.