9. You’re The Moonlight… #2
I’d read his text twenty times mainly because of the last message.
I couldn’t wait to be flipped, reversed, and tossed in the air like a fresh flapjack off the griddle.
I couldn’t decide on what to wear. Placing my hands on my hips, I looked over the five outfits that were spread across my bed.
Three of them required heels, so I hung them back up.
The other was a cute two-piece workout set.
I was hoping he wasn’t going to have us jog up any more mountains and to prevent that, I folded that up and settled on the spaghetti strapped black sundress with a slight flare that ended just above my ankles.
Most important of all, it was all black, Vayce’s favorite color on me.
It was perfect too because we were in the part of summer that made you want to live right to prevent going to hell.
“What I got will make you spend money. And do,” I sang along as I put on some deodorant, a step niggas seemed to always miss. “All night long.”
I slicked my hair into a low bun with dramatic edges and dabbed some oil on my pressure points before sliding my feet in a pair of cute red sandals that matched my purse. I hadn’t packed a spennanight bag since college, so I did a little twerk when I draped it on my arm.
Zion was spending the weekend with Solomon’s little sister, Inez.
He was so excited to go and if it was any different, we both would’ve been staying home.
When I dropped him off earlier, I made it clear to Inez that Zy was to not be around Victor.
She was aware of her brother’s lifestyle and understood my standpoint.
It didn’t have shit to do with being bitter but everything to do with the respect of our child and I didn’t give a fuck who didn’t agree with it.
My phone rang with a Facetime call. I started scrambling as I answered, but when I looked down, I couldn’t see anything.
“Hello? J?”
“What am I looking at?” I quizzed, throwing two bottles of wine in my bag.
“Huh?” he lowered the phone. This man had it to his ear at first. I hollered while he sucked his teeth and adjusted the phone but even then, I could only see his nostrils. He was such a senior citizen. “Man, I’m outside.”
“I’m coming,” I giggled.
After setting the alarm, I locked up and walked out.
Vayce was in his big truck tonight with the music thumping, playing the perfect song.
Outside of his amazing qualities, one of the things I admired about him was that he was also a music head.
I did the electric slide to the beat, leaning down to smack the concrete.
“You let my love fly freely,” I sang as I danced my way to the truck.
He hopped out, grabbed my bag, setting it on the hood, and spun me around.
This wasn’t an ass throwing song, but I still bent over and threw it against him, feeling him hold onto my hips and dance against me.
We both laughed, singing loud as hell. Vayce pulled me up and I wrapped my arms around his neck, placing a firm kiss against his lips.
“I’m caught up in the rapture of love,” we sang between kisses.
“When I feel the magic of you,” he finished, holding me tighter. “The feeling’s always new.”
“This my shit! What you know about that? Ayeee,” I continued dancing, making him laugh.
He was dressed in a black oversized designer tee with some black jeans.
His accessories were simple, diamond earrings, chain, with a watch.
He didn’t have to do too much, making it easier to look at him all damn day.
“Hiii handsome. I missed you,” I giggled, pinching his cheek.
“What’s up, baby? Look at you,” he held my hand in the air to spin me around, slapping my ass when it was toward him. “Mm. Mm. Mm,” he shook his head. “You look so fucking beautiful in black, J.”
“I like to think that it’s our color,” I winked, accepting his hand again. As always, he lifted me into my seat then jogged around and climbed effortlessly into his side. “Thank you, Vayce.”
I still had no idea what he had planned, and honestly, I didn’t care because my brain went on autopilot the second he told me he was outside. That’s how I knew my trust had grown, because I didn’t think about shit in his presence. I only had to breathe. He handled the rest.
We spent the drive singing and talking about small things.
About ten minutes later, we pulled into a subdivision right outside of Edgewynne.
We turned in front of a gated home and I wasn’t surprised by the elegance of it after learning about their real estate company.
Vayce’s home was almost opposite of the cabin, but it was clear that it was built from the ground up.
Grabbing my hand, he led me inside and I gasped.
His ceilings were high as fuck so much so that I had to turn my neck to get the full view.
You could tell this was his haven from the childhood pictures to the plants in the corners.
Like the cabin, most of the furniture was black with hints of muted colors for the pictures.
My favorite was how the crisp air smelled like eucalyptus with woody notes.
His home carried a peace you couldn’t explain, you had to experience, much like him.
“This is beautiful.”
Vayce looked around like it was his first time here too. “This ain’t my shit. It’s an open house.” My head snapped in his direction making him laugh. “I’m just fucking with you. ‘Preciate it. V did most of my decorating. Don’t take your shoes off yet. I wanna show you something.”
He locked our fingers, leading me through the living room to a back door. We walked past a large, covered patio and down a set of stairs. I gasped looking over at Vayce once we reached the bottom. I stopped walking and he turned to me, smirking.
“C’mere. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“Vayce,” I gasped again and followed him.
Surrounding us was a pathway of candles leading to a deck that had lights and flower petals around it.
There was a projector in the distance that read Under the Stars with J .
My cheeks burned from smiling. The closer I got, I saw a blanket laid out in the grass with two wine glasses, a bottle of tequila, and two bouquets of flowers, one of black roses, the other of my favorite.
Magnolias. There was also a card with my name written in the middle.
“Wow,” was all I could say.
He flashed a smile then licked his lips.
He talked about me bouncing my leg, but any time Vayce got nervous, he licked his lips, and it was the cutest thing.
“I hope this doesn’t feel selfish since I brought you to my crib.
I made us reservations for dinner but had no energy for a nigga to be constantly asking if we needed a refill or hearing somebody ugly ass, crying ass baby.
” I chuckled seeing that he was irritated at the thought alone.
“So, I did this at the last minute. If you not fucking with it, I can push through that shit and ma?—”
I placed a hand on his cheek. “Vayce, this is beyond perfect. I love intimacy and thoughtfulness. You hit the nail on the head. Thank you so much.”
He studied my face for a minute then sighed. “Aight. You’re welcome, J.”
Kicking my shoes off, I stepped onto the blanket, loving the feeling of the plush material. He helped me sit then placed a kiss on my forehead.
“You straight?” I nodded. “I’ma go get the food.”
“Can you get the wine out of my bag too?”
He nodded and jogged into the house. While I waited, I took pictures of every detail down to the tea candles around me. I was floating. The sun was setting on our way to the house, so the ambience was perfect. I opened the card addressed to me.
J,
Stars represent hope, guidance, and new beginnings.
Each of these, you’ve provided for me, and I pray that as time continues, you will start to notice them within yourself.
I don’t think you realize how bright you shine so tonight will serve as a refresher.
When you look up, I hope you are reminded how one light can illuminate the world and that’s how you make a nigga feel, J.
So…cheers to being loved, catered to, fucked good, and treated in ways you didn’t know existed.
-Vayce
I held the card to my chest as if keeping it there would help the words transfer onto my heart. Wow . I hated using the word perfect but was it okay to say that Vayce lacked many flaws? Waiting for a man like him made every tear and heartbreak of the past worth it.
In the distance, the door opened and closed. I quickly swiped the tears from my eyes just as he returned with a black bag as well as the wine. He settled on the blanket, laying out the food.
“The card was beautiful. I can’t thank you enough for all of this.”
“It’s from here,” he tapped his chest. “You’re welcome, J.”
I was about to pour the wine, but he took my hand and placed it back on my lap.
“I got this,” he mumbled.
I laughed, letting him do this thing. Along with the three-course dinner from Ashwood Prime, he had a charcuterie board with a side of wings. Everything looked amazing. When my stomach growled, I knew saving my cheat day was the right move.
“Let’s bless the food,” he reached for my hands.
We interlocked fingers and bowed our heads.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being able to come before You. Thank You for the meal we are preparing to receive and for the love You give us. Allow us to have a beautiful night and thank You again for giving me J.” My breathing caught at the mention of my name. “Amen.”
“Amen,” I opened my eyes. “Again?” I repeated.
“Again,” he forked some of my salad. “I’ve thanked Him for you every day since the evening we spent in the garden. I will continue until we’re old and gray up in the cabins sitting in those same rocking chairs, we sat in almost every night this summer. That was the start of our forever.”