Epilogue #2
The answer was yes, and he hadn’t even asked her yet. She should have known when he asked her to be his woman months ago that that was only the beginning. Being his girlfriend wasn’t enough. He touched her hand, forcing her to turn and face him.
“Baby,” she whined as he caressed her arms.
“Can you stand up for me, Pretty Girl?”
She nodded, and he held both her hands, helping her stand to her feet. Orielle looked up at him with her mouth ajar and those damn tears in her eyes that made him want to shoot everything moving. Everyone was safe today, though, because they were tears of happiness. Najee smiled.
“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, eyes locked on his handsome face.
Oh, my gosh. This man wants to marry me. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. Oh, my gosh. I wonder if my breath stinks. He doesn’t care. He literally holds my hand while I shit. He’d wipe my ass if I let him. Yeah, he loves me real bad. Oh, my God. I’ma have a husband.
Orielle’s thoughts were going haywire, and every emotion was written on her face. Najee saw it all in her eyes.
Leaning in, he kissed her lips. “I know. You were expecting something else, huh?”
She sniffled and nodded. “Yes. I... oh my gosh.”
Orielle was too choked up to speak. When Najee lowered to one knee in front of her, she covered her mouth and nose with both hands. Grinning underneath them so big, her cheeks hurt.
“Move your hands, baby. It’s a nigga around here somewhere taking pictures.”
She giggled and dropped her hands.
“Okay, okay,” she said, fanning her hands, trying to shake her nerves away.
“In front of all of our family and friends, I’ma keep this shit real sweet with you, baby. Yeah, they’re in another room across the restaurant,” Najee explained, when her eyes widened.
That’s why everyone has been acting weird and why he didn’t want me to go to the main restroom. Ooooh. He’s too smooth, she thought, grinning.
The entire staff was in on this moment, too.
Najee had to request things last minute and adjust under pressure.
He hadn’t thought about her having to use the restroom and possibly spotting a family member, and almost gave himself away, but like always, he made shit shake.
Their family and friends, closest to them, were watching a live recording from a camera that a technician had discreetly set up.
“I love you,” Najee began, and Orielle swallowed hard, mouthing I love you, too .
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life not knowing what that feels, sounds, tastes, hears, and smells like if it’s not with you.
You activate every sense. You’re the consistent air I love breathing in, and the sweetest girl, I love savoring when this bitter world gets cold with a nigga.
You push me into becoming the best man I can be without saying much.
You’re just you, and I love that about you, RiRi. My Pretty Girl.”
Orielle blushed.
“I can’t promise you perfection, but I am promising my presence.
Every day from this moment forward. My loyalty.
My safety. My encouragement. Them soft landings on my chest when you need them the most and even when you don’t, just lay there.
I’ma choose you every day because that’s what I want to do.
Every version of you is who I need and crave.
In every season, even when you catch your attitudes.
You gave my heart a home to heal and grow in, and I vow to protect that home with everything in me. ”
Najee pulled a black box out of his pocket, courtesy of Naaz, and opened it. Orielle didn’t even care what it looked like, but gotdamn did it almost blind her. The oval seven-carat, 24K, white-gold ring was absolutely gorgeous and was going to look even more stunning once he slid it on her finger.
“Orielle, my Pretty Girl, Summers, will you please do your man the honor of marrying me and changing your last name?” Najee asked in only the way he could.
And she accepted him just as he was. Like she always had.
“Yes,” she said quietly, then louder. “Yes, yes, yes. Oh, my gosh. Put it on.”
Laughing, Najee slid the ring onto her finger, and before he could stand up, she flung her arms around him.
Orielle hugged him so tightly, he could hardly breathe.
He didn’t even care. If he died right then, he’d die happily knowing that it was in her presence.
They kissed passionately, and he tugged the hem of her dress down before standing them up.
“Do you know what you just did?” Orielle asked, grinning.
He smirked as their people started to rush the room. “Nah. What’s that?”
“You made it so you can never get rid of me. You were serious when you said you hadn’t stamped being my man fully, huh?”
“Absolutely. And I’d never want to get rid of you. You know why?” Najee asked.
She shook her head, grinning, and ignoring the tugs on her arm. “Why?”
“Because you make it so easy to get lost in you, baby. If I get rid of you, that means I’m getting rid of me, too.”
She tugged at his chin hair and smirked. “We can’t have that, can we?”
“Nah. Not at all. We’re not going out that easily, especially after all we’ve been through. We deserve everything good around this mothafucka.”
“And I deserve you,” Orielle said confidently. Possessively. “All of you.”
Najee nodded. “I’m glad you know, baby. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”