Chapter 16
Sixteen
It had been such a dreary day with thunder crashing in the sky.
Rain fell by the gallons as Irish laid in her bed.
Ever since her miscarriage, she hadn’t found any reason to leave her bedroom.
All she could think about was the life that once grew in her stomach.
It had been a painful loss, and the worst part of it all, she had no one to confide in.
Irish got up and walked inside her bathroom. Her oncoming tears were on the way and she preferred to cry inside the shower. Thirty minutes of boohooing had drained her. How would she move on? What would happiness feel like again? Would she ever be able to experience motherhood in the future?
After showering, she wrapped her body in a towel and went back into the room.
“Arrrghhh!” she hollered, clutching the towel. “Jovanis, what the fuck? When did you get here?”
“A minute ago. My bad, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Irish exhaled, hoping to get her heart rate back to normal rhythm.
Wordlessly, she moved around the room, avoiding eye contact with Jovanis.
He had been so hurtful within the last few months.
The news of her pregnancy didn’t go over well with him.
He shamed her for allowing another man to impregnate her.
They were supposed to be in this fake relationship to protect his image.
Jovanis had been cool with her dating others but creating a life with another man was a violation.
“How you been feeling?”
“Like you care.” She scoffed, putting on a nightgown.
“Why would you say some shit like that to me? You know I care about you, Irish. You're the only person I love.”
“It’s funny you say that but I haven’t felt love from you in months.”
Jovanis scratched the back of his neck. “I can admit that I been wildin’ but what you expect? You got pregnant by another nigga. You should've known I wouldn’t take that shit lightly.”
“Well, it’s over.” She plopped down on the bed. “You can go back to your life now.”
“You are my life.”
Irish rolled her eyes and turned over. She felt his hand land on her hip as he scooted his body behind her.
“I’m serious, Irish. You my baby and I love you. I’m sorry for icing you out, and I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Don't say shit you don't mean.”
“I’m serious… I want to make shit better for you. I don't want you to be sad no more. Let’s get married.”
Irish flipped over to face him. Her face was skewed, unveiling how crazy his proposal sounded. “Married? For what?”
“I love you and I can’t think of a better woman to be my wife than you.”
“Van, you like niggas.” A dumbfounded expression covered her features. “What would be the point in me marrying you?”
“Look.” He studied her brown eyes. “I’m in The Legacy Mafia now.
I’m ‘bout to start making big bank. I want you along for the ride. You can still date, and I’ll do my thing, but we’ll be married.
That way we’ll never be apart. Plus, I can invest in your clothing line.
Shit, we can go buy you a new car if you want. ”
She gawked at him. “You wanna invest in my clothing line?”
That was the line that made her interest pique. Irish had dreamed of starting a clothing brand.
“Yeah, baby. I believe in you.” He touched a strand of her hair. “I’m trying to give you everything you want. A house, new car, businesses. Shit, everything and you know I’m good for it too, Irish. Just marry me so I can be certain that you’ll always be in my life.”
“But I told you I would always be here. My word should be enough.”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “I need it to be official. Be my wife. Prove you’ll be here by marrying me.”
Irish looked into his eyes, spotting the desperation he often tried to hide. Jovanis had abandonment issues. He held onto people who gave him love and Irish was his person. Their bond was cemented but Jovanis always needed assurance.
“Okay.”
His lips parted as his eyes widened. “You for real?”
“Yeah, as long as you do what you just said. Give me everything and I’ll give you loyalty.”
He grinned and hugged her tightly. “I got you forever, Irish. I mean that shit.”
Irish peered into the mirror as her reverie took her back to the place when she was first proposed to.
It was so unconventional and lacked romance that she cringed at the memory.
She recalled her and Jovanis going down to the courthouse, dressed in regular clothes to get married.
Afterward, they went to the bar to celebrate with drinks and wings.
Irish chuckled at the recollections while questioning her sanity at the time.
How could she lower her value and marry a man who was attracted to other men?
At the time, she really wanted her clothing line and a home to call her own.
Jovanis had delivered on both and even included a Mercedes truck.
Irish was happy in the beginning but loneliness came and held her hostage for years to come.
Now, she was on a private island, sitting in a hotel room.
Irish opted to wear her hair pinned back to showcase her unique features.
Her face had just been beat by the makeup artist and the wedding coordinator had delivered her dress.
She wasn’t sure how Noble was able to pull this off.
Irish didn’t have to make a single decision.
She was only summoned to get pampered before she married the man who’d saved her from a lifetime of gloom.
A knock at the door ceased her thoughts. The door opened and Cali stepped inside carrying a box. She wore a backless coral dress that complemented her cacao skin tone to perfection. Her pixie was slicked down with soft waves framing her face.
“You look so beautiful,” she gushed. “Noble is going to lose his shit.”
“Thank you,” Irish bashfully replied. “I really can’t believe I’m about to get married. It feels like the first time.”
Her previous marriage was a literal contract.
Yes, there was love within her and Jovanis.
They had a bond that was unbreakable but there were so many cracks in their foundation.
It wasn’t built with cement butt with undercover lifestyles, secrets, and lies that didn’t have sturdy groundwork.
With Noble, their bond was constructed with love.
Their marriage was a result of the adoration between them.
She had never experienced anything that felt so right.
The life he breathed into her made Irish feel like she could conquer anything. He was her forever.
“I know right.” Cali took a seat on the vanity. “Now that I know your first marriage wasn’t real.” She did air quotes with her fingers. “I’m sure this one feels like a fairytale.”
“Yeah.” Irish wiped a smudge from her lipstick. “I’m waiting on somebody to wake me up. Like this has to be too good to be true, right?”
“Wrong. You went through the trenches with Jovanis. Noble is the one for you. Embrace it and know that you're deserving of this.”
Irish smiled at her. “If you weren’t here, I swear I would’ve canceled all this shit.”
Cali chuckled. “No, you wouldn’t have to do all that ‘cause as soon as Noble said y’all were going to Nirvana Sky, I went to pack my bags before he could extend the invitation.”
“I bet your thirsty ass did.” She snickered then suspired softly. “You wanna help me out with my dress?”
“Of course.” Cali hopped down from the vanity.
Irish grabbed the garment bag and pulled the cream-toned dress out.
She loved the simplicity of the mermaid style with a sweep train.
Earlier, she’d put her shapewear on before her hair and makeup were done.
Irish slipped into the dress and Cali zipped it for her.
The visual provoked her to beamed at her baby bump and cup it.
She was relieved that she didn’t have to hide it anymore.
“Hold on, you're missing something.” Cali walked over to the box and pulled out her bouquet. “Now you're flawless.”
Irish grabbed it, grinning so hard her cheeks ached. “Ugh, I’m trying not to cry.”
“No tears until we get there. Then, we can fuck up our makeup.” Cali snickered. “Me and Ivory got a bet on who’s going to cry the hardest. I think it’s going to be her.”
“I agree.”
“Alright.” Cali adjusted the strap to her dress. “You ready?”
Irish nodded. “I am.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
The two exited the suite then boarded the elevator.
Irish blew out a deep breath, hoping her nerves settled.
A car awaited them and they got inside. The short ride lasted about five minutes when they arrived at the beach.
Irish stepped out the car, feeling so anxious that her limbs vibrated a bit.
The nighttime sky was the perfect backdrop for her nuptials.
“Oh, my God,” she uttered when she saw Noble talking to the officiant.
He looked delectable in a linen suit with a black lapel.
His haircut was always fresh, and the opening of his collar shirt provided her with a beautiful preview of his chest. His gaze found her, making his words vanish immediately.
The awe in his eyes made her grin even harder.
Ivory looked back and gasped at Irish. Even Kenji and Amare gushed from her appearance.
“Ooh, Irish, you look pretty,” Kenji complimented her.
“Thank you.” She smiled at him.
“Girl, that man so hooked on you,” Cali whispered to her.
Irish chuckled as Noble walked toward her.
Cali went to take a seat next to Ivory. Noble’s scent was filled with bergamot and cedarwood as he approached her.
Irish felt like she had been created just for his enjoyment.
When Noble peered at her with his dark velvet eyes, she felt like the only woman in his world.
“I can’t even describe how gorgeous you look to me, Pumpkin. I’m speechless, baby.”
She grinned, rubbing her glossy pink lips together. “Thank you.”
“You ready?”
Bobbing her head, she confessed, “I’ve never been more ready for something in my life.”