A Love Worth Forever

Chapter 1

One

Recognition of what this really was hit her the moment they crossed the threshold.

Almost every person in attendance, including Shyriq, had their phones out, recording their entrance.

It wasn’t a regular date night like Cane told his girlfriend.

It was their engagement party. One he had been planning for months, and by the stunned expression on her face, it was all worth it. She was worth it.

“Watch him start crying with her,” Rush, Shyriq’s younger brother, teased, making him smirk.

The smooth sounds of Case’s “Happily Ever After” crooned through the speaker system before lowering to a faint volume.

On trembling legs that mimicked her hands, Autumn gripped Cane’s hand tightly as he led her to the middle of the sparkling white marble floor.

Tears dripped from her cheeks as Cane was handed a mic.

“Are you for real right now?” Autumn gasped, in desperate need of an answer.

It was evident, but Cane still reassured her. “Yeah, baby. All of our family is here. You ruining your makeup,” he chuckled as she fell into him.

“I can’t believe this,” she blubbered, squeezing him tightly.

Overwhelmed, excited, and damn near on the verge of a panic attack, Autumn told herself to calm down, but that didn’t seem to work. Cane’s comforting stroke to her back did the trick, especially once he whispered exactly what she wanted to hear in her ear.

“I know you wanna see this ring,” he said, making her laugh.

Lifting her head, Autumn gave him a quick kiss and patted her face with the back of her hand. Despite there being well over a hundred guests in attendance, all they saw was each other.

Cane cleared his throat before speaking into the mic. “We almost didn’t make it up here, y’all,” he said, and everyone laughed. “Baby had to be all dramatic and ask me a million-and-one questions, but we’re good now.”

Autumn swatted his arm before he took her hand in his.

She could feel his heartbeat through his palm, not out of nervousness but eagerness.

He’d been waiting what seemed all his life for this moment and had to make sure it was perfect.

Lovingly, he stared into her eyes and gave a speech that had Autumn ready to walk down the aisle that moment.

It was so him and that was why she loved him as much as she did.

“You know I’ve wanted to change your last name since I met you.

Make you really live the life of two seasons in one.

Everything about you was made for me. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful to God I am for you.

He sent you specifically to me for a reason, baby.

On your worst days, I want you to know that I’ma be there to cheer you up.

Even when I piss you off, I know it’s still all love because you cook for a nigga. ”

Autumn grinned and shook her head. She sometimes let him starve, but Cane wasn’t going to let everyone know that.

“You make life worth living, Autumn. I can’t see myself without you. You’re my reflection through and through. The reason everything in our world makes sense is because you’re in it, baby. I know we said for life, but that doesn’t really mean shit unless some action is behind those words.”

When he reached inside his pocket for the velvet box, lowered to one knee, and opened it, the hired photographer captured Autumn’s wide eyes and jaw-dropping look in 4K.

The diamond solitaire ring was one she’d been gushing over for months.

It cost a pretty penny but was nothing to Cane.

For her, she could have whatever, and that included his last name.

Baby girl already had the codes to the safe, insurance policy information, and his only son.

“Autumn Gaines, will you marry me and become Mrs. Winters?” Cane asked.

She nodded as tears continued to fall. So choked up, Autumn forgot to use her words.

“We can’t hear you!” a family member in the crowd yelled out.

“Yes. Yes! I’ll marry you!” she shouted into the mic he held out to her.

With her hand still trembling, Cane slid it on and stood to his feet. They embraced in a hug and kiss that made you think they’d just gotten married.

“Congratulations to Autumn and Cane!” the deejay said from his table. “Let’s give it up for the newly engaged couple.”

Shyriq took in the scene as rounds of applause, whistles, and chatter filled the 3,000-square-foot layout, and a pinch of regret settled in his chest. He wasn’t a jealous man, but seeing the love his best friend and fiancée shared reminded him of one he thought he’d had.

Putting his ill feelings to the back of his mind, he walked over with a grin to greet the couple.

“Of course, you knew!” Autumn greeted with a squeal and slap to his chest.

Gingerly, Shyriq rubbed his pecs as if she’d done damage. “Abuse the best man, why don’t you? Congratulations, sis. Let me see how that ring looks on you.”

Happily, Autumn popped her hand in the air and wiggled her fingers.

Pursed lips and a look that showed true love danced in her eyes as she showed off her new bling.

It was perfect for her dainty hand, yet still a statement piece that let you know Cane hadn’t or would never half step when it came to her.

Shyriq and Cane embraced in a brotherly hug, letting Cane know his boy was proud of him.

“You deserve this happiness, bro. Congratulations. Now, you can stop blowing my line down,” Shyriq jested.

“My man, uh hunnid grand, I appreciate you for everything,” Cane told him sincerely.

“Had it not been for you introducing us, this moment wouldn’t have happened,” Autumn said.

Cane cocked his head to the side. “Not in this manner, probably, but I was cuffing you for sure, Mrs. Winters,” he said, calling her by his last name.

“I know that’s right!” Autumn’s sister yelled out, overhearing him.

Grinning, Autumn smooched his cheek. “Right, because you just couldn’t leave me alone. I’m glad you didn’t.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever look at a woman the way you’re looking at her,” Rush said with a shake of his head. He sported a grin, but he meant those words.

“Yeah, until you are on a bent knee like I was,” Cane told him.

“Never. Congrats, though. Long as Autumn is happy, that’s what matters,” Rush said as he gave her a quick hug and dapped up Cane.

Shyriq could remember thinking the same thing, then found himself in the exact position Cane had just been in. Bended knee, professing his love for a woman he just knew he would spend the rest of his life with. It was funny how life worked out . . . or, in his case, didn’t.

As the couple made their rounds around the room, Shyriq made himself useful by engaging in conversation that he was fluent in.

No matter the occasion, talks of future business endeavors, ways to make more money, and giving back to his community were always discussions Shyriq found himself in.

Usually, he didn’t mind it. Tonight was different, though.

“I’m going to grab a drink from the bar. We can continue this conversation sometime next week,” he told the owner of Sip, a local coffee shop that Autumn loved and visited frequently.

Ever observant, Cane made it his duty to invite everyone he knew his woman would want to experience this moment. He’d picked her up so many cups of coffee from the place that over the years, Cane decided to become a silent partner in the company. Now, Autumn sipped for free and got paid to do so.

Making his way to one of the three bars stationed, Shyriq waited behind two other guests. On most evenings, especially recently, his nights ended with a strong drink on the rocks—preferably something dark. The duo ahead of him placed money in the tip jar before moving along.

“Hi. What can I get for you this evening? We have two signature drinks, or would you prefer something else?”

The woman’s chipper voice isn’t what caught Shyriq by surprise.

She was at work and had to be polite. At least fake like she was.

What had him not giving her an answer was her beauty.

He’d come across many beautiful women in his thirty-five years, but the one standing before him was rare, and he was intrigued.

His brooding eyes drank in her mocha-brown skin, tight, slanted-hooded eyes, and round button nose.

Her resting bitch face as she waited for his order made him wonder what she was thinking about.

Shyriq’s gaze was so intense that she was sure he already knew her thoughts.

They were as loud as the music playing over the speakers.

Her lips, ones that he could stare at forever, moved, but he had no idea what she’d said.

They were plump and perfect, as if she’d gone to the best dermatologist, but she never had.

Her top lip was slightly bigger than the bottom and shades darker.

They fit her triangular-shaped face to perfection and had Shyriq wondering what her favorite lipstick to buy was.

Shit he never before cared to ask a woman about suddenly had become relevant, and he didn’t even know her name.

He’d assessed her features from the chest up in ten seconds flat.

Her silk-pressed hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, showcasing a face he knew he’d store to memory for later use if need be.

As gorgeous as she was, Shyriq noticed the fatigue in her posture and eyes.

Though her eyes were naturally slanted, he knew what it looked like when someone hadn’t had any rest and needed it badly.

When his eyes did land on the embroidery on her crisp white button-down, Rush bumped into his arm. Shyriq slowly turned his head his brother’s way, snapping him out of the brown sugar haze he’d fallen into.

“Damn, what you order?” Rush questioned.

“He hasn’t ordered yet. Are you sure you need this drink?”

Shyriq’s right cheek lifted slightly as he captured her name. “I do, Nhuri. What do you suggest? I prefer dark and strong. Something that’ll make me feel the burn but goes down smooth.”