Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Carson
Two Days Before Valentine’s Day
“Fuck it. We should crash the wedding, bruh,” Zander said, and his serious expression made me laugh.
They knew Venus was getting married tomorrow, and they were hovering over me today like I needed to be on suicide watch or some shit.
I appreciated their care and concern, but I wasn’t planning on doing anything crazy.
I’d made it clear that I wanted her, but I couldn’t force her to be with me.
Venus was a grown woman. If she decided to marry a man that wasn’t truly meant for her, that was on her.
“I know I’m usually the logical one, but I agree,” Tristan said. “I saw the way you looked at her. The way she looked at you. That shit was magical, brotha.”
“I agree,” Kaos added. “You know how we come behind our women and anything else we want. I respect you for being a gentleman about this shit, but I believe you’ll regret it if you let that man have your girl.”
“I can’t force Venus to be with me.”
“Why the hell not?” Zander asked.
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Look, I appreciate y’all for real, and I won’t deny that I want her.
If she chooses someone else, she has that right.
I’ve made it clear I’m going in all gas and no brakes if she gives me a chance, but it’s on her at this point.
She has to invite me to initiate, and I’ll take it from there. ”
Zander sucked his teeth while Tristan nodded his approval.
“I can respect that, but let me ask you this,” Kaos said. “Have you considered that she’s waiting for you to make her feel safe enough to do so? She’s giving up a lot, risking a lot, if she leaves him for you.”
“I told her the last time we saw each other I’d make it worth it if she did. It’s on her now.”
“Give it one last shot,” Zander urged. “I know I’m the one that don’t really care about love, but I know what I saw when I saw y’all together, C. She’s yours.”
“What do y’all want me to do?” I damn near yelled. “I don’t have her personal number, just the salon’s, and I know she ain’t working today. I don’t know where she lives and—”
“Nigga, we employ private investigators for this very reason,” Kaos interjected.
“That’s true,” I grumbled, pulling my phone out.
I scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Gino’s name.
After asking him to get me all the information he could on Venus, I told him everything I knew about her and sent him the picture of her so he could cross reference her image on his software.
I’d never been a man afraid of rejection, so I didn’t mind putting myself out there once more.
But if she was dead set on marrying this man, I couldn’t blame her.
We’d seen each other a handful of times and she had a foundation with him.
It may have had cracks in it, but it was a foundation, nonetheless.
Did I really expect her to leave history based on our chemistry? I guess I’d find out soon enough.
The Next Day
“Ooh this is about to be fun,” Zander almost sang, making us laugh.
“Be on your best fucking behavior, brotha. We can’t get put out,” I urged.
“Ain’t nobody gon’ put us out. Not until you get your girl,” Kaos said.
“Straight like that,” Tristan agreed.
They trailed behind me as my focus lasered in on the room with “Bride Quarters” written on it. Tapping the door, I exhaled a long breath.
“This shit is crazy,” I said more to myself than anyone else.
When the door opened, Venus’s sister gasped. I couldn’t remember her name, but I remembered her from the party.
“Oh shit,” she whispered, stepping outside and closing the door behind her. “What can I do for you…, Carson, right?”
“Right. I need to see Venus.”
“She’s kind of busy right now.” She chuckled nervously and looked toward the door. “Can this wait until after she’s married?”
“Nah, not at all. Can you get her for me?”
Sighing, she pushed her glasses up her nose, and the shit was cute as hell. “Fine, but if you ruin my sister’s big day and end up being a trash ass nigga, I will mutilate you. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I conceded with a smile.
“It’s always the short ones that wanna threaten a nigga,” Zander said as she slipped back into the room.
The seconds dragged on, but eventually, the door creaked open again. When it did, it was Venus. She gripped the top of her silk, red robe, eyes flitting from me to the men behind me.
“Carson,” she called carefully, like she had to process it was me. When she accepted that I was really here, she leaped into my arms and held me close. Held me tight. Before I could fully relax in the embrace, she pulled away and pulled her arms behind her back.
“I know I’m not the groom, but I wanted the first look.”
Her nostrils flared and eyes watered.
“We’ll give y’all some privacy,” Kaos said, and I nodded as they walked away.
She closed the door behind her. Her hair was done in deep waves and her makeup was flawless.
It complemented her caramel skin perfectly and made her look like a bronzy goddess.
I couldn’t imagine how beautiful she was going to look when she put on her wedding dress, even if she wouldn’t be walking down the aisle to me.
“You look beautiful, sunshine.”
“Carson, what are you doing here?”
“I just… had to see you one last time before you gave yourself to him forever.”
Her breath was shaky as she avoided my eyes.
“I was sitting there talking to God,” she confessed.
“I told Him that I needed a sign. I felt like I was making a mistake, but I felt like I was too deep in it now. Trevor has done so much for me and I just… didn’t want to embarrass him by walking away today.
He’s spent a lot of money on this wedding, on me, and—”
“How much?”
“What?” she asked, as if she wasn’t really paying attention to what she was saying.
“If you’re worried about the cost, how much? I’ll wire him enough money to cover it right the fuck now.”
Her laughter turned into tears before she tugged her bottom lip into her mouth. “You promise I won’t regret it?”
“I promise, baby. I promise I’ll spoil, cherish, and protect you for the rest of your life if you stay in mine.”
She wiped a tear away quickly before releasing another shaky breath. Looking down the hall, she giggled at the sight of my brothers looking at us. Zander waved, and she waved back before laughing harder.
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” she whispered, opening the door. “Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
“I ain’t leaving without you,” I guaranteed her with a grin.
“So?” Tristan asked.
“She’s coming with me.”
As they clapped, hooped, and hollered, the commotion caused Trevor and everyone else in his room to step outside.
“The fuck are you doing here?” he asked, and my brothers wasted no time making their way back over to me.
“Getting my woman. I’ve let you waste her time long enough.”
“You must be out your motherfucking mind if you think I’m going to let you anywhere near my wife.”
“I’m tryna figure out why you think you have any say in what I do. Or, should I say, what I’ve done. She’s leaving with me, and it ain’t a damn thing you can do about that.”
“What the hell is going on?” an older man asked, and I didn’t bother to respond.
Venus stepped back out, dressed in sweats and a hoodie. Her eyes widened at the sight of Trevor, but she took my hand into hers and pulled in a deep breath.
“I’m really sorry to do this but…”
“No,” Trevor roared, cutting her off. “Whatever you’re about to say, don’t.”
“Trevor, please. Just let me go.”
“Let you go?” he repeated as Tristan and Kaos made their way in front of us while Zander stepped behind Trevor.
I didn’t need them to protect Venus or me for that matter, but I knew there was nothing I could say to make them stand down.
“You’re my wife. I’m not letting you go. We’re literally about to get married.”
“I can’t marry you, Trevor. I love you, but I’m not in love with you. I don’t feel comfortable committing my life to you. Things have been off between us for a while, but I’ve been pushing it down and dealing with it. I-I can’t do that anymore. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” he asked with a laugh.
“Let’s go,” I said, done with the conversation. At this point, I knew there was nothing she could say to make him okay with this.
“Venus!” he yelled as we left, and she didn’t look back. In fact, she squeezed my hand and looked up at me with a smile. “Venus!”
“Is it wrong that I feel bad but also don’t care?” she asked.
“Not at all. I hate causing him pain and maybe even embarrassment, but for you, I’d do a hell of a lot more.”
Scooping her up bridal style, I smiled when she giggled and tightened her grip around my neck.
“My bags are in the limo. Grab them and take me somewhere. Anywhere.”
I agreed with no hesitation. Quickly, I grabbed her bags and put them in my trunk.
I told the crew I’d check in with them and let them know where we ended up when we got there.
On the way to my home to pack a few bags, I said a quick prayer to God that He’d equip me and make me everything this woman needed.
She’d just left one version of her life behind for me, and I’d be damned if I let her ever think it was a waste.