Chapter 18 Taylor #3
and Austin continued to their table, which had been placed on a raised platform.
“I don’t know if I like sitting where everybody can see me,” he said.
She laughed. “You know how I feel about all this attention. Just put me in a corner and I’m good. I hope I can eat with all
these people staring. By the way, where are Shawn and Giselle?” Taylor noticed the two empty seats at the family table.
“I have no idea. They were supposed to be here at least an hour ago. I hope they’re okay,” Austin mumbled as he pulled out
his phone. “And I thought Giselle was coming to hang out with you, Kam, and Chanel beforehand.”
“So did I.” She tapped him on the arm mid-text and gestured toward the entrance. “There they are, and Shawn doesn’t look too happy.” Neither did Giselle. She wondered if they’d had an argument or something, especially considering how far apart the two were walking.
He sighed. “I really hope they don’t get into it today.”
“Do they argue a lot?”
He shook his head. “Nah, but there have been a few times they’ve come to the house in a bad mood and barely talking.”
“Well, like you said, I hope they table whatever is going on between them until the reception is over.”
After dinner, the next item on the program was the bouquet and garter toss. “Should we do like Tariq and Kam and just hand
them to Vincent and Chanel?” Austin asked with a laugh.
“You know, I thought about it, but since they’ve only been dating a couple of months, I don’t want to scare her off. However,
I don’t have a problem accidentally throwing it wherever she happens to be standing.” Taylor wiggled her eyebrows.
He burst out laughing. “I like the way you think. And baby bro is so far gone, he doesn’t even realize it. Check out the way
he’s staring and smiling at her and touching her.”
She followed his line of sight. “It reminds me of the way you look at me sometimes.” The passion in his gaze and the subtle
caresses clearly indicated that Vincent had eyes only for Chanel.
“Exactly my point. So if Chanel happens to catch your bouquet, that garter is going straight into Vince’s breast pocket.”
Austin moved closer. “Speaking of garters, I’m going to enjoy every moment of searching for it.”
“You’d better behave.” But even as she said the words, she knew he’d do whatever he wanted.
“Okay, everyone, it’s time for the bouquet and garter toss,” Kamryn said, standing next to the DJ and gesturing Taylor to
the chair in the center of the floor.
True to his word, Austin took his time caressing Taylor’s legs and setting her body on fire. By the time he came away with the garter, she wanted to skip the reception and have him take her home and finish what he started.
Austin opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Kamryn stepped up to the mic again.
“Is anybody else a little warm after that?” Kamryn fanned herself. “We’ll let the heat cool down for a minute before tossing
that garter. So, all the single ladies, come on up.”
Taylor and Austin burst out laughing when the DJ played the intro to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Austin said, “I mean, it’s
appropriate . . . well, at least until it gets to the part about leaving the club.”
“Yeah, no. He should just keep it right here.” Thankfully the young man looped the intro until all the women were lined up.
Taylor noted Vincent playfully pushing Chanel toward the center of the room, and she stood slightly apart from the fifteen
or so women, as if she didn’t really want to participate. Taylor smiled. Yep. She’s getting this one. She walked out to the floor and saw a few eager faces. “Ready?” A chorus of yeses sounded. Turning her back to the ladies,
she shifted slightly and sent the pink roses sailing directly to her target.
Mama Yvonne let out a loud whoop. “Yes, another daughter-in-law!”
Poor Chanel looked embarrassed, especially when Austin, Tariq, and Shawn stood and cheered. Taylor went over and hugged her.
“Welcome to the family,” she whispered.
Chanel gave her a sidelong glance. “I don’t know about all that. We’ve only been dating a short time, and I really don’t want
Vincent to think I’m trying to push him toward marriage or something.”
“Girl, he knows you aren’t. That’s why he chose you.
And take a look at his face. He doesn’t seem bothered in the least.” In fact, he seemed to be rather pleased.
Taylor shared a look with Austin, who winked and shot the garter like a slingshot straight to Vincent.
She chuckled. If things worked out, Mama Yvonne might get that fourth daughter-in-law after all.
Out of the corner of her eye, Taylor noticed Shawn and Giselle on the far side of the room in what looked like a heated discussion.
After a few seconds, Shawn threw up his hands and strode out the side door. She hoped it wasn’t anything serious. Part of
her wanted to go find out, but Taylor reminded herself that this was her day, and she wasn’t going to mess it up by getting
into the middle of whatever issues they had. Austin came to claim her for another dance, and the smile on his face reinforced
her thoughts. Nope, today is all about us.