Chapter 20
brION
Hymn walked into the bathroom as I was outlining my lips with my favorite pencil. Greece was absolutely beautiful. I lowkey wished I could stay longer, but I was ready to get home to my babies. I had never been away from them for this long. I had two more days in Greece.
“Damn,” he licked his lips and ogled my behind in the white dress that I was wearing.
There was a chef downstairs preparing dinner for us and even though we were staying in, I wanted to be cute.
Once I left, Hymn would be alone in the Airbnb for two more weeks, and it was huge.
Six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a stunning pool.
I had never in life seen something so gorgeous and breathtaking.
I had probably taken more than one hundred photos.
I hadn’t posted any pictures of Hymn on social media, but I wasn’t hiding the fact that I was with a man.
Not just any man. My man. It got annoying when people that had known me for a while assumed I was still with Corey.
Anytime they mentioned him in a comment I wasted no time correcting it.
I smiled at him through the mirror. Since being with Hymn, my ass had put on about ten pounds of happy weight, but I didn’t even care. I mean, I wanted to be healthy and in shape but for the moment, I was just basking in the bliss of it all.
“I can smell the food all the way up here. By the time I leave, I will have gained another ten pounds.”
Biting his bottom lip, Hymn pressed into me from behind. “I have a way you can work it off.”
I turned around and shook my head. “I don’t think that way is working.”
The doorbell rang, and my brows furrowed. “You expecting somebody?”
“No. Unless someone is helping the chef. Hold on.”
Hymn left the bathroom, and I put the finishing touches on my lips.
Of course, I had to take pictures in my outfit before we ate.
As I sprayed perfume I strained to hear.
I didn’t hear anything, so I assumed that maybe it was just someone for the chef.
I hadn’t talked to my mom, Josie, or the girls all day.
Grabbing my phone, I tried to facetime my mother, but she didn’t answer.
I was trying not to worry, but I had been talking to them at least twice a day since I left. Walking down the stairs, I decided to try Josie. “I ca” my words halted when I reached the bottom step and lifted my head.
Shock had me frozen as my parents, Josie, Divine, Mark, Huncho, and Hymn’s grandparents stood in the living room.
I wasn’t sure how any of this was possible.
My heart hammered in my chest, and everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Of course, I was happy to see the people I loved, but how was this happening?
“Wait,” I came to my senses. “Where are the girls?”
Hymn stepped forward. “At the Airbnb with a nanny. I wanted your family here, but I wanted to respect your boundaries about when to meet the girls. I just didn’t want to put this off any longer.” Hymn got down on one knee, and I almost fainted.
“Most would probably think I’m insane because we haven’t known one another that long but I feel like when you know you know. I don’t think there’s anything you could say or do to make me regret moving so fast. And before I meet your children, I want you to know that I’m for real about us.”
I was so glad I had opted not to wear makeup because the way tears were streaming down my face, it would have been ruined.
I was crying so hard I couldn’t even say yes, so I simply nodded. Hymn slid the most breath taking pear shaped diamond that I’d ever seen on my finger, and everyone in the room clapped and cheered. Josie was the loudest for sure. Just as another thought entered my mind, Hymn whispered in my ear.
“Alisa couldn’t make it on such short notice, but your mom has her on facetime.”
I swear, I started crying even harder. How was this man so perfect?
The fact that he flew the most important people to me out to Greece was insane.
My daughters? The tears didn’t stop until they were good and ready.
When he finally let me go, it was everyone else’s turn to hug me and gush over what a good man Hymn was.
“Ma, tell the nanny to bring the kids. I want them here,” I stated wiping my tears.
“Okay. They can walk over. We’re literally three houses down,” my mother laughed. “You know how hard it was traveling on that long flight and not being able to talk to you. I just knew you were going to start freaking out thinking something was wrong.”
“You know me well.”
I couldn’t wait to see my babies. Since they were here, I’d stay another day or two. The moment the nanny walked into the house with the girls in tow, they all ran toward me screaming. “Mommy!”
Crouching down, I opened my arms and welcomed all of them in. “Mommy, we got on this huge plane!”
“Mommy, mommy, we’re staying in a biggggg house just like this one!”
The girls were all talking at the same time. It was safe to say they were thrilled.
“You guys know how daddy has a girlfriend?”
The girls nodded.
“Well, mommy has a boyfriend. And we’re getting married.”
Star frowned. “When did you get a boyfriend?”
“It’s a long story, but his name is Mr. Hymn. He plays football. Remember the game we went to? He was playing.”
Serenity’s eyes widened while Star gasped. Hymn stepped forward, and the girls all looked up at him. “Hi, I’m Hymn. And you are?”
“Star.”
“Serenity.”
“Sky.”
“If I mix you up, will you get mad?”
“No,” they giggled.
“Bet. It’s nice to meet you.”
We all piled into the kitchen to eat before the food got cold.
Everyone stayed at the Airbnb until the wee hours of the morning.
I felt like a kid on Christmas day. Everything had lined up so perfectly and so right.
I couldn’t have asked for a better trip or proposal.
That night once I made sure the girls were good and asleep, I sexed Hymn like I hadn’t ever sexed anyone.
Crazy how I was with a man for seven years, and the sexual experience I had with Hymn that night moved me to tears.
We made love on another level. A level I hadn’t ever felt before.
That was further proof that it didn’t matter how long you knew a person, if they weren’t the one for you, time wouldn’t change anything.
Me, the girls, Josie, and my parents got back from Greece on a Saturday.
Me and the girls pretty much slept all day on Sunday.
Monday, I got them off to school then went to the makeup bar.
I had two hours before my first client of the day, so I was going to work in my office for my paralegal job.
Josie was going to be my maid of honor of course, but Alisa was a bridesmaid for sure, and her and Josie were already trying to plan and do the most. Alisa and I were having dinner later, because she wanted to throw my bridal shower.
Josie’s crazy ass wanted to be in charge of the bachelorette party.
I didn’t want a super long engagement, but Hymn and I did need to continue getting to know one another a little better.
I suggested premarital counseling, and he was with it.
Once the honeymoon phase ended if it ever ended, I wanted Hymn and I to possess the tools that we needed to weather any storms. I had a lot to think about, but I didn’t want to overwhelm myself.
I wanted to time the wedding, so we got married right before my lease ended.
It would be hard, but I didn’t want us to live together until we were married.
That would also give the girls time to get acclimated with Hymn.
The bell above the door chimed, and I walked out of the office to see who it was.
When my gaze landed on Corey, I couldn’t keep the disdain I felt hidden.
I doubted we would ever get to the point where we could coparent peacefully.
There was no use in me asking him how he knew where I worked because if I wanted clients I had to advertise.
It didn’t matter if I blocked him on social media.
Just like a female, Corey found ways to snoop.
When he found out the girls were in Greece, he texted me talking all kinds of shit.
His orbs darted to my ring finger, and his jaw muscles flexed. “You really gon’ marry that nigga? This soon? That nigga playing with you, and you’re too green to see it.”
“Green?” I drew back.
“Yeah green. You’re pretty, Brion, and all men want a pretty, wholesome woman.
They wife the good girls and fuck the bad bitches with the BBL’s and big ass titties.
You’re so busy trying to make me jealous that it’s clouding your judgement.
Maybe it’s the money, but I’m telling you it’s not worth it. ”
Calmly, I stared at Corey. I stared at him for so long that his brows hiked.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I was lowkey mad, sad, and offended.
“You have some nerve,” I finally replied in a low tone.
“Men wife the good girls but fuck the bad bitches. Maybe because that’s what your shallow ass did, you lump all men into the same box.
You’re getting way too comfortable insinuating that I’m not good enough for a man like Hymn to be faithful to.
I don’t need a BBL or big boobs to be appreciated by a real nigga.
Maybe you needed to prove to yourself that you could get that kind of woman because you needed validation.
I sincerely hope you got it, and I hope it was worth it. ”
“I’m not letting my daughters live in the house with another man.”
“You don’t have a choice. Since I left you, you haven’t even bought the girls anything. You’re inconsistent with the custody agreement, and you had my kids witnessing a domestic violence dispute. Take me to court and see what judge grants you anything other than a child support order.”