Chapter 1
chapter one
donavan
The white long-stem roses I carried to the bridal suite were heavier than usual, my feet weighed a ton as I dragged them across the pristine marble floors. If I looked hard enough, I could see my sunken expression.
I should have been happy for my best friend; she was getting married to the love of her life. They had been together since college, so my heart knew that this was coming.
Shaking my feelings off, I lightly knocked on the door. My aunt Emerson was inside with the bride to be. Our families had been close since we became friends in high school.
“I know that’s you Dj, didn’t I tell you that I wanted you to be surprised?
You’re lucky auntie just finished my makeup.
Close your eyes and no peeking.” Ivory’s sweet voice teased.
You would think after fifteen years, her effect on me would have dissolved, but it only intensified as our friendship grew stronger.
I was a grown-ass man in all the ways that mattered, but she still made me feel like a kid with my first crush. Shit, she was my first crush.
“My eyes are closed, Poison Ivy, stop playing with me. You know I been waiting to see you in this dress for months.” I closed my eyes, willing my heart and body not to react at the sight of her.
Ivory would make the most gorgeous bride; I didn’t need to see her to know that.
“Auntie?” Ivory questioned; she didn’t believe me. We had a very playful friendship, one of us was always pulling a prank on the other.
“His eyes are closed, dear, come out so we can get you down the aisle for your special day. I’ll be back, I’m going to go and check on everyone else.” The door clicked shut behind her.
“Come on, Ivy, the anticipation is killing me.” My hands were clenched, relieving some of the pressure in my chest, it’s been tight all morning.
Ivory’s signature scent wafted in my nose, right to my heart; she always smelled like mangoes.
“Open,” she whispered, sounding as nervous as I felt.
Slowly, I peeled them open to see – just as I suspected – she was fucking gorgeous.
Ivory’s hair was cut into a short, ginger pixie cut, she was nervous about it, but it only put all her beauty on display.
The tiny floral diamond incrusted headband was a nice touch, and she opted out of a veil.
The cream wedding dress was tight and laced, it wasn’t the one from her wedding book she made. Ivory was absolutely stunning.
I smirked at her as she searched my eyes for my reaction. Grabbing her, I pulled her over to the mirror.
Standing slightly behind her, she melted into my arms, closing the distance between us.
“You smart,
You loyal,
You grateful.” I started our usual chant, “I appreciate that.” She joined in, quoting Dj Khaled’s “Hold You Down” song. We have been obsessed with that song since it came out in 2014.
“Donavan, stop playing, please; how do I look? Do you think she’ll cry when I walk down the aisle?” I couldn’t believe she was questioning herself right now.
“Poison Ivy, she will be weeping when she sees you and if her ass doesn’t, you better believe, I’ll be starting that song over until she does.” I kissed her on the cheek and put some distance between our bodies before mine told on me.
“Donavan, your mother needs you very quickly. Ivory, we will be right back.” Jennifer, Emerson’s wife, said from the doorway. I didn’t even hear her come in.
“Get out of your head, Ivy, today will be perfect.” I squeezed her hand and followed Aunt Jennifer out the door.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me into another room where Ivory’s mom and sister were waiting, along with almost my entire family.
The looks on their faces indicated that something was wrong, and my mom’s tearful eyes were pulling at my heartstrings. Emerson handed me a letter; my heart broke at the words written.
Ivory,
I thought that I could do this, but I can’t.
Sorry.
-Acacia
“W-where did you get this?” I kept looking at the words, praying they would rewrite themselves. I needed them to transform into something else, anything else, because Ivory deserved better than this sad ass excuse.
“Her mother handed it to me on their way out the door. I should have slapped her for raising that damn girl.” Tracey Matthews turned into a momma bear real quick when it came to her cubs. Ivory spent summers at our house growing up, she was a part of my family.
“Baby, calm down, we figured it would be best to come from you, Donny. You know her better than all of us, get her out of here. We already cleared out the guests and the cleanup crew is on their way to get rid of everything.” Elijah, my dad said. He was the fixer of the family.
“Umm, ok I will be in contact with you all. Fuck.” I mumbled that last part under my breath. The elders in my family didn’t play that game.
On my way back to the room, I thought of how I had to be the one to break the news to her. All I ever wanted to do was shield her from any pain, and here I was with it fresh off the platter.
Ivory was taking pictures when I quietly came into the room. Her expression was so bright, I wasn’t ready to dim it.
“Are they ready for me, and where are my bridesmaids?” I said nothing, just looked down at my shoes, searching for the words that wouldn’t break her.
“Ivy, I-, umm, here read this.” Acacia was lucky I didn’t believe in putting my hands on a woman.
Ivory’s eyes went from the letter to my face for a few seconds before she shook her head side to side in denial. We’d watched enough romance movies to know what this letter meant.
“Dj, read it, please.” The tension in the room was so tight, it was hard to breathe. I loosened the tie around my neck.
Clearing my throat, “Ivory, I thought I could do this, but I can’t. Sorry.” Two fat tears rolled down her cheeks.
Immediately, I pulled her into my arms before she could fall to the floor. Ivory was diagnosed with epilepsy during our senior year in high school and stress was a major trigger for her.
I hugged her with all my might, “God’s got you, Poison Ivy, I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I promise he does.” Ivory trembled in my arms, the low cries falling from her lips shattered my soul.
Carrying her over to the bed, I gently sat her down and began to unhook all the contraptions of this dress. We were leaving everything that had been assigned to this day right here in this suite.
Her sister, Iris, brought her a sweatsuit to change into on the way to the honeymoon. We’ve seen each other half naked plenty of times, so it was nothing to quickly change her and grab her purse along with my things and rush out of the hotel.
Valet brought my car around, and I guided her to the passenger side, securing her seatbelt. Ivory was still crying, and there wasn’t anything I could do to make this hurt less.
I was determined to try, though.