Chapter 13
A Week Later
M y p h o n e w o u l d n ’ t stop buzzing. At first, I thought it was a dream, but by the third time, I cracked one eye open and reached over Kassim to grab it. He was knocked out in his bassinet like he worked a double shift, arm tossed over his head like he paid bills.
I answered without even checking who it was. “Hello?”
I looked at the clock and sighed. “Lady… it’s early.”
“Ny, you’re getting married in three weeks and some change,” she said, like that made it okay. “So I went ahead, helped out, and set up a few appointments for today.”
I sat up slowly. “Appointments for what?”
“Potentials. Carl’s friend is an officiant, and he’s agreed to marry you and Keon. He actually lives in East Hollis and knows of one venue for the wedding and the reception, a florist, and a cake lady. Everything’s booked.”
I yawned. “You booked all that for today?”
“I did,” she said, like it was normal. “Carl and I extended our stay. Got an Airbnb for another few weeks. I’ll swing by and get Kassim, so you and Keon can knock a few things out. You said you wanted luxe, right?”
“Of course.”
“Well, let’s get to it. I’m texting you the schedule now. Bella’s Cakery is first at noon. Don’t be late.”
“My girl, can you push it to one or two?” I yawned again. “Kassim slept in our room last night, and I’m exhausted.”
“Girl, hush. I’ll be there in an hour,” she said, hanging up.
I dropped the phone in my lap and took a breath just as the bathroom door opened. Knuck walked out, steam behind him, towel low, and his beard still wet. Just fine as fuck. I couldn’t help but stare.
He looked at me, smirking. “Why you sittin’ there like you just got some bad news?”
I held up my phone. “We got a full wedding agenda today. My mother’s already sending the schedule.”
He rubbed lotion on his arms. “She actin’ like she the one gettin’ married.”
Scrolling through the text thread between my mother and me, I told him the details about our scheduled day. “She’s got mood boards, color swatches, inspo pics… the whole nine.”
He chuckled and shook his head, pulling on some boxer briefs. “Long as she ain’t tryna dress me, we good.”
“I’m not ready for a busy day,” I mumbled, leaning back.
He dropped the towel and came over to me. “I’ma be by your side through it all.” He kissed my lips, sucking on my bottom lip, making me quiver. “Now get ready so we can eat cake.”
I rolled my eyes. “And eat the cake for real, too. Be interested and present, please.”
He smirked. “I’ma eat it. Just like I’ma eat somethin’ else later.”
I threw a pillow at him while he laughed and walked off. I looked at Kassim, still sleeping like he didn’t care about any of this wedding drama. “Let me get my life together.” But first, I snuck in my emails and socials to check in on my lash studio.