Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
“Wait, what now?” Alex exclaims as she rushes into the living room, buttoning the top of her pajamas.
“If you were on time like the invite stated, you wouldn’t have missed the juicy story,” Giselle scoffs.
“Don’t do that. It wasn’t intentional. Royals business ran over but I’m here. I have my pajamas on and I’m ready to catch up. Now, who was dragging who?” she says and I just laugh.
Tonight is my last night as an unmarried woman and Giselle has planned the perfect send off.
Since I’m marrying the man of my dreams in his family’s cabin in less than twenty-four hours, my bestie rented a cabin three doors down for my bridal/bachelorette party.
It’s an exquisite, three-level, wood crafted cabin situated in the midst of ginormous trees and filled with my three besties, Lexie, Sade, Alami, my mom, Shuga, and a sleeping Niya.
She’s on the top floor, away from our shenanigans.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by two sexy, chocolate men dressed in black silk pajama pants and nothing else and champagne glasses filled with bubbly and strawberries.
Giselle presented everyone with an engraved lavender duffel bag for the night.
Inside were lavender silk pajamas and robes for them—white for me—personalized matching bonnets and eye masks, fluffy slippers, a can of Velvet Buzz, a hangover kit, and a game packet for the fun stuff.
There’s a buffet of all my favorite foods in a large kitchen with a wrapping bar area and a variety of decadent mini desserts in the perfectly placed dining room that opens to the lovely living room we occupy.
Everything is just gorgeous, especially the stone gas fireplace with a theater size TV positioned above it.
The best part is that our food and drinks are all served by more fine ass, shirtless, Black men.
I honestly didn’t expect anything less from Giselle.
“Get a drink and I’ll start over,” I tell Alex.
“Do I have to get up or will his fine ass come to me?” she asks.
“Tell the bride-to-be to ring her bell,” Giselle says and I dramatically pull out the crystal bell included in my duffle bag.
“I love that bell already,” my mom says.
“Honey, me too,” Shuga adds and they clink their glasses of sangria and laugh.
It has truly been a blessing watching those two bond in such a short period of time and to know Shiro was the catalyst makes it even more of a blessing.
Together, they handled all the food for tomorrow, even the cakes.
Neither Shiro nor I had preferences, so we left the flavors, design, icing, everything up to them and they loved every step of the process.
Mr. Chocolate Bartender walks over with the pitcher of The Bride, the signature drink of the night, a pineapple jalapeno margarita. He refills my glass and Lexie’s and takes Alex’s whiskey order. Just because I can, I ring it twice for the food servers and the cute one with the locs strolls over.
“Now, I need a damn bell,” Alex says with a grin.
“Two rings are for food. What do you want?”
“I didn’t even look at it all,” she says, then looks at our plates. “Oh, guacamole and chips and two of those shrimp and grits cups, please.”
“And for you?” he asks.
“I’m all good for now. Thanks,” I tell him.
“Now, finish the story. I’m ready to play the first game. I have some cute ones for us,” Reya says.
She’s been trying to play one of her games since we arrived.
She already knows what happened between Shiro and Raquan.
I told her the next day after Shiro and I checked out of The Metropolitan.
The intent of my call was to voice my instant regret at suggesting he and I spend the week apart before the wedding but we ended up discussing the incident.
“I’m ready to play too. I’m trying to win one of those prize bags,” Alami says as she stares at the four large cream and lavender gift bags lined along the fireplace mantle.
“Me too,” her friend says. Because I wanted Alami to be comfortable, when she asked if she could bring her friend from Thanksgiving, I agreed.
“Who dragged who? Focus, please,” Alex says with a grin.
“Damn, okay.”
I grin at Alex’s persistence then restart my story with Raquan’s unexpected pop up, detail his audacity and request, then end with Shiro’s sexy intrusion.
Sexy is the perfect adjective because when he busted into my office and yoked Raquan up, I was turned on, shocked but definitely turned on.
He was forceful and demanding and the heat emitting from his brown eyes could be felt under my damn skin.
I wasn’t even upset that we drew a small crowd in the lobby.
My man was there, protecting me and ready to beat Raquan’s stupid ass. I saw nothing wrong.
“Girl, I hope you put it on him in that hotel after that,” Alex says. “Oh shit!” she quickly adds. “Sorry moms.”
“We are all grown in here,” Shuga says and my mom just nods.
“I did,” I mouth to Alex and she smiles.
The bartender returns with her drink and Reya happily eases off the large sectional and walks to the front.
She’s due next month but still carrying more in her hips and ass than her perfectly round and moisturized stomach.
As promised, it’s out and showing. Only the first two buttons of her pajama top are buttoned, so her basketball belly is on full display.
“We have four games planned out tonight and it’s time for the first one,” Reya says with a smile.
“You each have an envelope in your game packet. In it is a picture of Kyrah. When it’s your turn, you will have two minutes to recreate the picture.
You can get help from anybody but you will only win if Kyrah correctly guesses where the picture is from.
If she doesn’t guess correctly, you and anyone who helped you will have to take a shot. Who’s going first?”
“I’m definitely going first,” Alex says, then hops up.
We are all competitive but Alex is for sure the most. She solicits Giselle’s help and they recreate my high school prom picture. Giselle poses as my date, Kevin Redmond, and Alex poses in front of her as me. I guess almost immediately.
“That was too easy,” my mom says. “I knew that one right away. I want to go next.”
My mom’s is definitely not easy. She keeps doing something weird with her arms and I’m clueless.
I laugh more than I guess. My guess is wrong and she rolls her eyes as she takes a shot of bourbon.
One by one, everyone participates, even Giselle, and I laugh my ass off because some of their poses are ridiculous.
Alami ends up winning and she rushes to grab her gift bag.
She screams when she pulls out an autographed Jabari Hicks Royals jersey.
Alex clearly helped Giselle with the gifts.
“Do we have time for another?” Reya asks Giselle.
“Actually,” she begins but the sound of the door chiming stops her. “We don’t.” Giselle stands. “Ladies, get ready for the second surprise.”
“Strippers!” Alami’s friend, Tameka, utters and Alami shrugs.
“I hope so,” Sade says with a smile.
As Giselle walks to the door, I finish my drink and sit up. I’m sure I’m smiling from ear to ear because I’m having a blast. My besties really outdid themselves and the evening is just getting started. I’m sure who or whatever is at the door is only going to make tonight better.
“Ladies, say hello to Men of Premium Touch,” Giselle announces and we all turn to see a parade of tall, sexy, Nubian men walking in.
They are dressed in black satin robes, holding black massage tables.
“They are here to massage every ounce of stress and tension from your body. They are going to set up in the lower level. It’s been transformed into a relaxation room.
Go take off your pajamas, leave your panties on, and tie on your robes.
Meet us down there in thirty. Kyrah has first choice of the therapists. ”
“I know who I want,” my mom says.
“Momma,” I gasp playfully.
“Girl, I’m about to enjoy this. You see them. Besides, you’re getting married, not me.”
She laughs as she gets up. Giselle leads the therapists to the stairs and everyone hops up to change except Reya, she stays back with me as I linger.
“You’re not getting a massage?” I ask.
“Oh yes. I’m definitely getting a massage. Two of them specialize in mommy massages. I’m ready. I was just about to grab another of the cream cheese stuffed strawberries before I change.”
“That sounds good. Let’s both grab one,” I suggest. After we grab two of the delicious strawberries, we go to my room for the night to change. “Have you heard from Quintus?”
“I told him not to bother me but he did.” She smirks. “They are still at the casino. Did you call Shiro?”
“No. I’m trying not to. He’s with his brothers and friends having fun. I don’t want to bother him.”
“Girl, I’m sure he wants you to bother him. Call him. I’m going to relieve this full ass bladder and change. Call your man.”
When she walks into the bathroom, I pull out my cell. I have a missed call and two texts from him. He’s been thinking about me.
Him: Have fun tonight, baby.
Him: What you doing?
Smiling, I press his contact. In the middle of it ringing, I get a FaceTime request from him. Of course, I answer.
“Hey, handsome,” I gush. “Where are you?” I ask because a marbled beige and black wall is in his background.
“In the bathroom. It’s loud as fuck on the floor. Baby, you in pajamas already?”
“Yes, we all are. That’s the theme tonight but I’m about to take them off for my massage.”
“Massage?”
“Yeah. We’re about to get massages downstairs. I just wanted to see your handsome face and see if you missed me.”
“I miss you anytime I’m not with you. You know this week almost killed me.”
“Me too,” I admit. “I only fell asleep after we talked at night. But just think how amazing it’s going to be when we see each other tomorrow.”
“Nah, when I touch your fine ass tomorrow,” he corrects before flashing his beautiful smile. My inner thoughts fall off my lips instantly.
“God, I love you.”