Chapter 15
Four Days Later
K n u c k a n d I slid out of his truck and walked into Royal Stone Jewelers.
The sales floor smelled like new leather chairs and fresh espresso, and every glass case threw back enough sparkle to light my lashes.
A tall black man in a navy suit greeted us with a smile so polite it almost looked painful.
I stepped forward first. “I need a wedding band for my fiancé, and I need it to look like nobody else in the city can afford it.”
Knuck laughed under his breath. “Talk that shit, baby.”
The clerk cleared his throat and led us to a velvet-lined tray of men’s bands. He laid out rows of platinum, yellow gold, and black titanium that could blind an innocent bystander.
Knuck leaned over the case, chain dangling. “Nothin’ skinny. My hands swing wide, so that muthafucka gotta hold weight, too.”
“Here you go…”
I nodded as the clerk set a broad platinum band with beveled edges before us. I lifted it, and the cool metal felt solid in my palm. Knuck raised an eyebrow. “How many grams that piece weigh, fam?”
The clerk checked a card. “Twenty-two grams, sir, and it is hand-brushed on the edges for contrast.”
Knuck slipped it on his ring finger, flexed once, and watched the diamond cuts catch the light. He smiled at me, and that grin did things to my knees. “This joint feels like it means business.”
I grinned. “That ring needs security, babe.”
The clerk laughed a careful laugh. “It does include lifetime sizing and cleaning, madam.”
Knuck tilted his head. “What else you got that says I love my wife, but I’ll still body a nigga?”
The clerk immediately started to sweat on his forehead, his hands shaking. Then, he produced a heavy black titanium band with a single narrow row of pavé diamonds running through the center.
Knuck slid that one on, and the dark sheen made the diamonds look like streetlights. He turned his hand, admiring the effect. “Yeah, this one hit different.”
I rested my elbow on the counter. “I like that it’s low-key flashy. Folks won’t see the ice until the sun hits.”
Knuck kissed my forehead. “I love this shit, baby.”
The clerk folded his hands. “Would you prefer the titanium over the platinum, sir?”
Knuck looked at me, and I could read the question in his eyes. I ran my thumb over the black ring on his finger, mouth twisted. “Well, titanium doesn’t scratch easy and you stay doing the most with your hands.”
He chuckled. “Facts.”
I met the clerk’s gaze. “I’ll take the titanium, and I need the inside engraved with ‘Ride or die, Ny forever.’”
Knuck’s eyes softened behind the hard grin. “And put the date so I don’t have an excuse to forget anniversaries.”
The clerk jotted notes. “Engraving takes two business days, but I will personally rush the job, ma’am.”
He quoted the price, and I pulled out my card like that number was a casual lunch bill. Knuck rubbed his hands together, nodding his head. “Wifey shit.” While the machine processed, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close against his chest. “I’ma suck that pussy tonight ‘til you cry.”
Heat climbed my cheeks, embarrassment mixing with affection, but I kept my voice steady. “Thank you,” I said to the clerk as he returned with a receipt.
Knuck tapped the top twice and nodded. “‘Ppreciate you.” We walked out of the store, hand in hand, and the future felt heavier and brighter than any metal in that store. “Aight, beautiful. You got that dress fittin’ at one, right?”
“Yeah, and I’m nervous as hell,” I answered, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“For what?”
“I mean… everything’s feeling so real now.”
He lifted my chin, kissing my lips. “Ain’t no turnin’ back.”
Right then, my mother pulled up with Kassim in the car. I watched her and Knuck exchange words and hugs before he got the carrier from the back seat. I kissed both of my boys and Knuck jogged to his truck.
I climbed into my mother’s rental car, nerves tangled in my chest. The drive to the exclusive bridal boutique an hour outside East Hollis felt like heading into a whole new world: the appointment clock was ticking and my whole future seemed balanced on today.
???
I s a t i n the passenger seat while my mother pulled into the airport pick-up lane, hands folded in my lap, staring out the window like I wasn’t internally spiraling. “Oh, Lord,” my mother said, glancing at me. “There goes Thing 1 and Thing 2.”
I chuckled just as the back doors opened and Sia and Mikki slid in on go mode. “Biiittccchhh,” Mikki screamed, arms wide, reaching for me. “It’s wedding dress day!!! Oh, hey Ma!”
“Hey, Ma,” Sia kissed her cheek. “Excuse her loudness.”
“Always.” My mother and I said in unison, and we all broke out laughing. “I’m so glad y’all flew out. I needed this.”
“Girl, please. You got us… especially since Knuck paid for first class.” Mikki snorted, and Sia slapped her five, adding her two scents.
“I don’t know how y’all turned it around, but I’m glad. Y’all are made for each other.”
“Turn what around?” My mother asked as she peeled away from the curb, glancing over at me.
I quickly replied, “Nothing. You know how Keon can be. We just had to come to an understanding that all that crazy shit needs to chill out.”
“And he actually listened?” she questioned, brows raised.
Mikki and Sia sat in the back, giggling and shit, while I exhaled deeply, looking out the window. “He didn’t have a choice.”
“I know that’s right,” Sia leaned toward the front and hugged me around my neck. “I’m happy for you, boo.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, and I meant it. Seeing my girls in person again hit different. It had been a little over three months since Kassim was born, and they stayed in East Hollis for a few days. Now, we were back together until the wedding.
“Where’s the other bridesmaids?” Mikki asked, applying her lip gloss with a hand mirror.
“Keema and Monae are outta town. She’s going through some shit with her baby’s father, so… yeah, they’ll miss the dress fittings but…”
“...but don’t you worry about that,” my mother cut in, glancing over at me. “Everything will work out just fine.”
“I know that’s right, Ma,” Sia responded. “So, you ready to cry, sis?”
“Ain’t nobody crying,” I said quickly.
Mikki cackled. “You are definitely crying today.”
My phone buzzed in my lap.
I shook my head, smiling to myself before I texted him back.
When we arrived, the boutique looked like a movie set. Valet stood out front of the stone building with huge bay windows. Inside, we were led to a private suite with plush seats, mirrors everywhere, and trays of champagne and mocktails already poured.
Mikki picked up a glass of champagne immediately. “Oh yeah. This is the type of place I was talking about.”
Sia raised her glass. “To Ny, finally getting her happily ever after.”
We clinked glasses, and my mother dabbed at her eyes. “And it begins…” The boutique owner, Chasidy, introduced herself and walked us through the process, then asked what I was looking for.
“I want something elegant but also fire,” I said. “I wanna look like a baddie but still timeless.”
Mikki jumped in. “She wants rich bitch vibes but also first lady vibes.”
“And she gotta be able to breathe,” Sia added.
I laughed. “That part.”
Dress after dress came out, and some were beautiful while others were ridiculous. One dress was so damn tacky we laughed for ten minutes straight. Every time I stepped out, my mother had an opinion.
“That one’s too plain.”
“That one’s too much.”
“That one is showing too much skin, don’t you think?”
“That one’s beautiful but not the one.”
By the seventh dress, Mikki was tipsy, Sia was annoyed by my mother’s pickiness, and I was exhausted. On the eighth try, it felt different. I walked out; everyone’s mouths dropped and eyes watered, including Chasidy’s.
My mother stood up slowly, covering her mouth with her hands. “Oh.”
Mikki blinked, dabbing at her eyes. “Yeah… that’s it.”
Sia nodded once, sniffling. “That’s your dress, Ny.”
I looked at myself in the mirror, and my chest tightened. They were right. I could see myself walking toward Knuck in it, and he’d be biting his damn lip just waiting for me to get closer. My eyes burned with tears as the words got caught in my throat. “This is the one,” I said softly.
My mother hugged me, crying for real now. “You look beautiful.”
Mikki cleared her throat as Chasidy took my measurements for the dress. “So, have you decided on a theme for your bachelorette party yet?”
Sia laughed, knocking back another glass of champagne. “Here she goes.”
“What?” Mikki shrugged. “She needs one.”
I shook my head and disappeared into the dressing room. “I don’t even know if I have the energy.”
Mikki scoffed as Sia added, “Okay, fine. How about something real low-key and chill with a few of your lash ladies and us? Games, confessions, drinks, food, and music. Nothing crazy… right, Mikki?”
Mikki rolled her eyes. “Boring.”
I laughed, finally feeling lighter. “You already know her ass is tryna have strippers jumping out of cakes on some wild shit,” I said as I stepped out of the dressing room. Chasidy guided us toward the bridesmaid section at the back of the boutique.
Mikki flipped her hair. “I mean… if the cake is big enough, why not?”
My mother gave her a dry look. “Because that is so played out, ladies.”
Sia shrugged. “Besides… Knuck ain’t going for none of that anyway.”
I laughed as the stylist showed off bridesmaid dresses. I wanted sage, and Chasidy pulled out some dope options. Mikki’s was silk, strapless, with a long side slit; Sia’s was silk, off-the-shoulder, with a back slit.
“Ooooh, this is cute,” Mikki said, holding hers up in the mirror. “I look expensive as hell in this color.”
“Because they are expensive,” Sia said, smirking. “They take payment plans?”
Mikki scoffed. “And you talk about me being extra…”
Shaking her head, my mother laughed. “I’m paying for all the dresses, girls.
Chasidy, come and take their measurements.
Then, ring up all three dresses and cut them off of the champagne before it’s too late.
” Mikki, Sia, and I damn near fell out laughing as Chasidy took their measurements before slipping away with my mother.
“So, back to this boring bachelorette party, Ny,” Mikki started up, scrolling on her phone. “I have been manifesting some good strippers and…”
Sia laughed. “Manifesting strippers is crazy.”
“Whatever. So, I guess it’s the ladies’ night in vibe?”
I thought for a second, running my hand over my growling stomach. “Honestly, yeah. I’m cool with that. I just wanna be low-key and chill. Food, music… everything Sia mentioned.”
“Period,” Sia nodded. “It’s giving classy ratchet, Mrs. Jones.”
We all hugged, and I found myself smiling as reality set in. I was really getting married, and for the first time in weeks, I felt at peace. I was surrounded by everything that mattered: love and loyalty.