Shooting for his Heart

1. Evonne Ross

As I finished my final client of the day, I twirled her chair around to the mirror so that she could admire my handy work.

My feet were killing me, and rightfully so, after being on them for the past few hours doing makeup for a wedding party of twelve.

That number didn’t include the doll sitting before me, gleaming with beauty and pride.

Tasha was marrying her high school sweetheart.

The love in her heart was apparent in her eyes.

“You look beautiful. Not that you weren’t absolutely stunning before I made my enhancements,” I said, complimenting her.

“Thank you so much. Girl… you’re gonna make me cry in my makeup,” she responded, fanning herself with the handheld fan I had given her prior to doing her face.

“Now you should already know I used waterproof mascara and eye makeup just in case.”

“Thank you, Vonnie. I don’t think I can say that enough.”

“You’re welcome, love.” I gave the blushing bride a soft smile.

“I’m so glad you could fly out to help make my big day special. I submitted your final payment this morning.”

“I wouldn’t have missed your big day for the world.”

Tasha and her husband-to-be were having a destination wedding on a beach in Miami. It was a short flight from my nearest airport with all expenses paid plus my fees for attending. I brought my girl, Jenna, with me to enjoy the rest of our weekend in South Beach.

It wasn’t often that I was able to take the weekend off.

Most of my workload was done during the weekend.

Since I was a makeup artist, I didn’t have the luxury of taking weekends off.

My makeup line was slowly gaining traction, but until I was making Rihanna and Kylie money, I did whatever I had to do.

“See you in a few, beautiful,” I said to the bride-to-be as I made my exit from the cabana.

The crisp beach air danced around my body, blowing my flowy dress between my legs as I walked down the wooden plank to join the other wedding guests in the designated area.

Tasha and Mike didn’t have a huge guest list for their wedding, but almost every seat was filled.

I smiled at Jenna as I joined her in the seat she’d saved for me.

“The bride’s mother looks so good, girl. You almost can’t tell she drank a fifth of gin last night,” Jenna said with a snicker.

Jenna and I became close through a mutual relationship with her sister. Since Jahnae uprooted and moved across the country with her husband and kids, Jenna and I had gotten closer by default. She was always my girl, so I was glad that she could make some of these trips with me.

“I know, right? Some of those bridesmaids still look lifted. I can only do so much,” I replied jokingly.

Soon, all chattering ceased as the music changed. Everyone looked on in awe as the groom and best man walked in to take their places. Moments later, I admired my work as the bridal party made their descent down the aisle.

“This is so beautiful, Vonnie,” Jenna whispered once the bride and groom stood before each other.

“I know, right?” I said with a soft smile.

I had to agree with my girl. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. Had I not seen fourteen other beautiful weddings this year alone, I might have been moved to tears. They were all lovely, but marriage wasn’t exactly my thing. I wasn’t looking forward to being a wife. I wanted to do my own thing.

I wanted to travel and make women feel pretty.

The idea of being tied down, living a boring life made me sick to my stomach.

My desire for freedom was the reason I worked for myself and started my makeup line.

My spirit needed a sense of freedom for me to thrive.

After dating losers for years, I had finally met a man who swept me off my feet and made me feel like a princess.

William and I had been dating for about a year, and for the past four months, I had been living with him.

Although I loved William, some things about our relationship didn’t sit right with me.

To him, being a wife meant being a housewife.

I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted.

As much as I had expressed wanting a rich man to take care of me over the years, the reality was that I valued my independence more than I realized.

“If only this were in the cards for everyone,” I added.

“What… marriage?”

“No. Well… yes… but I mean pure, unconditional love. I don’t want conditions. I don’t think that’s in the cards for me at this point.”

“Why isn’t it? You and William at odds?”

“On and off. He doesn’t want me to work.

He considers what I do a hobby. He thinks he knows best when it comes to every little thing.

Tasha says Mike gave her options about where she wanted to live and if she wanted to keep working.

He was completely fine with the fact that she didn’t want kids.

They just want each other. Will came to me with a whole list of expectations.

In a way, I get it. I wanted someone who checked my boxes, and he does. ”

“Does he, though? Yes, he has a little money and is willing to take care of you?—”

“And he’s sexy, black, and the dick is A-1.”

“But he’s an asshole. You know you don’t have to settle for him, Vonnie.”

“I’m not settling… I’m just venting. He pissed me off before I came here. You know he’s salty about me taking this trip in the first place. Who’s going to have his meals prepared when he gets home?”

“He’s sickening.” She rolled her eyes.

“He’s afraid of my need to have some independence.

He wants to be the provider, so he has the final say on everything.

He wants me under his thumb instead of thriving on my own.

He’s a good man in almost every sense of the word, but he is never going to let me be who I want to be.

Men want to control you and make you the background singer while they shine. The fuck? I’m Tina Turner.”

“Does he think he’s Ike? Is that fool putting his hands on you, Vonnie?”

“No, girl… I’m just saying I want to shine too. I just have to convince him.”

“Sis, why waste your good years trying to convince somebody what you deserve when there is someone out there who doesn’t need convincing?

Believe it or not, there’s someone who will love and support you without conditions.

There is a man out there willing to let you be the beacon of light you are, V. ”

“Girl, please.” I rolled my eyes. Jenna was such a sucker for those Hallmark movies that it poured through her personality.

Her standards were too damn high due to all those romance books she read, which was why she was single as hell while I had a dick to ride every night. “William will come around eventually.”

“And what if he doesn’t?” She posed and waited for my answer.

“He will,” I repeated since she seemed to have wax in her ears.

“Azriel, if you and them kids don’t stop all that running in this house, all y’all going in time out,” my girl, Jahnae, hollered before speaking into the phone.

“Still a party pooper, I see.” Jenna teased her as I chuckled.

“He makes me sick, girl. He’s worse than his big-headed son with all that playing. They just came in here and ambushed me with a pillow fight.”

“Girl, hush all that. You know you’re glad he’s home,” I added.

“That don’t mean all three of them can’t get these hands.”

“I miss you, Jah,” I grumbled.

“I keep telling you to fly out. We have plenty of space. I’m sure Will can spare a few days.”

“Hell, I already have to butter him up for the news I just got,” I mentioned.

Jahnae sighed. “I should have known a three-way call meant something was up.”

“I hope it’s a baby. I’m mad my niece and nephew are growing up without me,” Jenna said, complaining.

“You already know it’s not a damn baby, or I would have been hollering when y’all answered the phone.”

“It’s time for you to have a little one. You and Will haven’t started talking about kids?” Jah asked.

“He talked about kids, and I shut it down with a quickness.”

“Why?” they whined simultaneously.

“I’m focused on my career right now… which is why I called you two hens in the first place.”

“What’s up? How was the wedding?” Jah quizzed.

“It was beautiful. Wasn’t it, Vonnie? Did you see the pictures of the wedding party? They didn’t look anything like they did the night before.”

“Half of them were hung the hell over, including the bride’s mama.” I tittered, agreeing with Jenna.

“I’ll have to go online and check them out,” Jah said.

“Speaking of the wedding… somebody there thought so much of my work that they want me to fly out and work on a movie set!” I revealed.

“Girl, what?” Jahnae enthused.

“Yes! I’m so excited. I know William is going to flip out, though.”

“Girl, fuck him! That’s what you would tell me,” Jenna spat out.

“I know, right? This nigga is making me soft.”

“I like the softer Vonnie,” Jenna cooed.

“He does too.” It was my turn to whine. “It’s crazy that I can’t be excited about my news because I’m too worried about what he’s going to think.”

“If he can’t be excited for you, that’s unfortunate… but don’t blow this to soothe his ego,” Jahnae said, encouraging me.

“You have to tell him first. Give him a chance…” Jenna suggested.

I exhaled. “Girl, tell me why I’m so damn nervous?”

“Because you have the opportunity of a lifetime. I know you want to make the best of it. You work hard, Vonnie. You deserve this.” Jahnae reasoned with me.

“I know. Well, let me get in here and prepare for his return.” I sighed.

“Look at my girl… sounding like a housewife.” Jenna teased me while Jah laughed at her silliness.

“Go to hell.” I laughed, too, as I ended the call.

After a refreshing weekend in Miami, I returned to the home I shared with my boyfriend, William. William Wright was a well-known real estate agent in Lulaville. He spoiled me and treated me like an absolute princess. One of the only things we disagreed on was my job.