11. Rayzor
Iwalked into Morrison’s office despite his secretary telling me he was in a meeting. That nigga was always in something, especially my fucking business. It’s been a few days since the exploited pictures of Eris swarmed the internet, and I was in the background trying to get all that fixed.
“…and we’ll have it handled and an answer to you by the end of the business day,” Morrison said into his phone.
He held up a finger with his hand over the bottom of his phone like that’ll stop them from hearing.
He let out a hearty, fake ass laugh before they ended the call.
He dropped his phone on the desk, sitting back in his seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket.
“Mr. Kirkland, just the man I wanted to…”
I slammed my phone down.
“What the fuck is this shit?”
He barely had time to glance down at it as he wiped his forehead.
“That’s your supposed fiancée, isn’t it?”
I took a seat in front of his desk.
“I wanted to talk to you about Eris,” he said.
“She ain’t no concern of yours.”
“Technically, yes and no. But listen, Rayzor, I think we can flip this and turn it into something great if you’re engaged.”
“My life ain’t no fucking publicity stunt.”
“I’m not saying it is but listen. You’re the hottest boxer out right now, and honestly, you’re on the hot-headed side, but you’re… what’s the word I’m looking for? Plain.”
I dropped my leg from on top of my knee.
“Plain?”
“Nigga, you were just having them spray-paint tattoos off me and shit, and now I’m plain?” I retorted.
“Not like that. I mean, you treat your career as that. The people barely see you unless it’s charity or you’re spotted somewhere; other than that, it’s nothing.
No clubs, outbursts or anything. It’s not clean-cut, but it’s not spicy either.
We can use this to our advantage because whether you believe it or not, you were supposed to be my star bachelor. ”
“And I’m not, nigga, now what? You ain’t about to use my life as your paycheck. I do what I love, and that’s it. That’s all you get paid for.”
“But we can sell this… You and Eris on magazines. Make you the newest, hottest couple. It’s already been in the making. They’ve always gotten you two in blogs, but magazines can turn into interviews, and next TV, and the sky is the limit from here.”
“You must got a fuckin’ hearing problem. My life ain’t your movie, nigga.”
“So, are you denying that rock on her finger because it wasn’t there just last month?”
I stood up to leave because this mothafucka was annoying me, and I wasn’t about to sit here and beat a dead horse when I already told his ass what it was. That’s why I kept shit professional with Morrison because he was always trying to turn piss into lemonade.
“Get this shit off the internet,” I warned before grabbing my phone from his desk and heading toward the door.
“You’re making a big mistake with this, Kirkland. This could be your big moment, and Eris’s too!” he yelled as I walked out, leaving his office door wide open.
I walked into the house. Eris was coming out of the kitchen, snacking on a cucumber.
Levi was running around the house, and I assumed Erin was in the room.
I grabbed Eris’s hand.
“Let’s get married.”
“You already asked me that baby,” she said with inquisitive eyes.
“Nah, like now. Fuck that three-month shit.”
“Huh? Why so early?”
I dropped her hand and headed to the kitchen.
“I don’t wanna wait no more. And with everything coming out about the engagement, I feel like Morrison wants to use this as a payout.”
Morrison didn’t force my hand; he made the anticipation of making E my wife more prevalent.
I opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, popped the top and threw the cap on the counter.
“What? I thought you were getting him to fix it.”
I turned around.
“I’m making it happen on my end, but he ain’t gon’ do shit. He wants this to be the highlight.” I put the beer down and went for Eris. “I’m not trying to put you or our family in the spotlight.”
She grabbed the side of my face. “I know you’re not, baby.”
A heartbeat felt like eternity.
“Every day is a new day. Being with a celebrity is a challenge, but through it all, the lights, glitz and glamour- I know you’ll protect us. As long as they stay away from the kids, they can take pictures of me all they want.”
“I don’t like that shit, E. I’m trying to be as private as possible.”
“You can’t control that.” She smirked. “You’re the hottest nigga around.”
“I love you.”
“I love you right back. And because I love you, I say let’s get married.”
“For real?” I asked, feeling my heartrate increase.
“Yes, for real. We’re already staying together, have a baby on the way, and our family is complete.
What’s the difference between today and three months from now?
Besides, I already have my dress, and I don’t wanna be big in my pictures.
Right now, I can get away with it. So, yes, Courtland, let’s get married. ”
I grabbed her and picked her up. She screeched with laughter.
“I fucking love you.” I kissed her lips.
“I love you, too.”
The kids were running into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Erin asked.
“We’re getting married.”
“We know, E.” She playfully rolled her eyes.
“No. Like sooner than we expected.”
“Really?” Erin’s eyes widened.
“Yes.”
I placed Eris on her feet.
“But look… for the next few days you gotta stay off social media. Matter fact, off the phone.”
Eris looked around, confused.
“But why?”
“It’s some things we can’t explain, but we have to keep this private, okay?” Eris explained.
She held out her hand.
Erin didn’t want to give it up.
“Come on, lil’ bit. Afterwards you can get it back.”
“I can just delete all the apps from my phone,” she whined, holding it to her chest.
“You know that ain’t good enough.”
“Does that mean y’all can’t have yours either?”
“Erin,” Eris said with authority.
“Okay.” She smacked her teeth and handed her the phone.
Eris powered it off.
“Thank you.” She hugged her.
Levi was standing in the background watching the exchange.
“I don’t have a phone, Mommy.”
“I know you don’t, baby.”
“I can give you my tablet.”
“That’ll work just fine.”
He took off to the back of the house to grab it. Eris came over to, handing me Erin’s phone. I put it in my pocket.
“I hope she doesn’t hate us for this,” I murmured.
“It’ll be okay. I have to grab all her devices and power everything off until after the wedding,” she explained.
“Yeah, we gotta lay low, make moves and play slow.”
“Whatever you think is best, I’m standing beside you.”
I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on top of her head.
“Let’s do this shit, future Mrs. Kirkland.”
* * *
Forty-Eight Hours Later
A destination wedding to Cancun. That’s where my baby wanted to be married, so daddy made it happen. Nothing was too much for her. I wanted this to be everything she wanted.
City dusted off the shoulder of my suit as we stood at the archway on the beach.
“Damn, nigga, you’re really about to tie that knot.”
“Hell yeah. I gotta. It’s been too long not having her as my wife.”
“I wished I knew what that felt like,” he replied.
“You already do. But y’all keep playing.”
The sound of Kenny G’s flute serenaded the beach, and my stomach went to twisting and all kinds of shit. I couldn’t tell if I was nervous, excited or what, but I knew my ass was happy. I wanted to see E at the end of that strobe.
Everything from the décor to family and friends being in our presence was cool, but I came for the main attraction; fuck me. I wanted to see my wife do her lil’ one through the sand to get to me. It’s been a long time coming.
Then she arrived in an ivory number that swept the sand as she walked.
Levi threw soft baby pink petals as she took her time getting to me.
I wasn’t even trying to be a real nigga in that moment because seeing her at the end, knowing she’d be my wife in less than a few minutes, made my heart skip a beat.
I couldn’t even hold back the tears as I pulled my handkerchief from my pocket.
Levi gave me a thumbs up as he got closer.
“She looks beautiful, right?” Erin snuck in with a small nudge.
“Yeah, she does,” I replied.
“You two belong together,” she said.
“Thank you, peanut.”
Suki stood on the bride’s side crying. She damned near drowned out the music. You’d think she was losing somebody instead of gaining a new member of the family.
“You better take care of my best friend. She’s the only one I got, and I’d hate to be smiling in my mugshot because you can’t get your shit together, alright?” she threatened.
I chuckled. “Aiight, Suk. I got her. I promise.”
“You better.”
Eris’s train grazed the sand as Rhea held it for her and made her way to me. When she got close enough, I felt it in my heart that this was the right direction. She carried a baby-pink and purple boa big as her body but intricate enough for detail.
Her makeup was breathtaking. Light but enhanced in the right places.
“You look so damn good,” I complimented.
“I was excited to see you. If all these people weren’t here, I’d ride you in the sand.”
“We can say fuck ‘em, all but the kids, and you can still ride me.”
She giggled.
“Let’s say our nuptials first, sir.”
“I know that pregnant, married pussy about to be a beast. I might gotta get you double pregnant.”
“Please, Courtland.” She laughed.
“We’re gathered here today to celebrate this joining union of Courtland Kirkland and Eris Richardson…” the Justice of the Peace began.
“The bride and groom have prepared their own vows.”
I shook the nervousness off as she placed her hands in mine.
“Man, what do I say to a woman that saved me?”
Eris gasped. “Oh, Lord.” She started getting emotional.
“Eris, I know this ain’t been easy. You’re seeing the good, bad, ugly and the unknown with me and you still chose to love me.”
Her eyes began to water. The words that hadn’t even been formulated had knots in both my stomach and my throat.