Page 15 of Allure

“Oh, Dad, don’t start that or you’re surely going to get me started,” I told him, wiping the corners of my eyes as moisture built.

I turned to face my mother, who was crying just like my dad, and Mahalia’s eyes were misty as well. My mother held my veil in her hands and a few other things. I glanced down as she walked over with a blue pin with studs to put into my hair. I dipped down so she could slide it into my hair.

“This pin has been passed down from bride to bride in our family. I figured it would satisfy something blue and something old. Even though we don’t assign ourselves to many traditional things. We can’t be too careful,” she commented with a smile.

I nodded as a knock sounded at the door. My dad walked over and opened it.

“It’s time,” Joy said with a smile. “Let’s get this veil on you,” Mahalia said.

She walked over and placed the veil so it was secured. I released my breath as everyone left the room, leaving behind my father and me. He held his arm out for me and I intertwined mine with his. He helped me out of the room, and now I was truly nervous. Mahalia and my mother had already gone inside of the ceremony. Joy walked over and she had a walkie-talkie in hand.

“Good luck, honey. Trust the process and everything will be perfectly fine,” she said.

I nodded as “At Last” by Etta James, the instrumental, played. We had gotten someone to play the cello and the piano. I released a breath and looked at my dad as both doors opened. He mouthed, “You got this.” I nodded and looked into the hall and my breath was stolen.

It was as if my feet didn’t want to work. My eyes widened slightly as my dad began walking, giving me no choice but to follow. Everyone was on their feet, staring in awe. I was just as in awe of the beautiful way they’d decorated the hall. But nothing compared to the man smiling back at me at the end of the aisle.

Before I knew it, he was coming down the few steps toward us with his hand extended. My father shook his and placed my hand into my husband's. The feel of him caused a shiver to run down my spine. I could moan aloud from his touch alone. There was a pull I couldn’t explain, but I identified immediately.

Just as the music ended, we stood in front of each other, unable to take our eyes off each other. It was as if the vows portion flew by. We had exchanged rings and the ring he bought for me was exactly what I would have picked. It was a ring that resembled a rose with diamonds wrapping around the band and within the rose. It was now time for him to lift my veil and kiss me. I had thought this moment over a few times, whether I wanted to kiss him. But, without a doubt, I was going for it. We chose not to do special vows, but I was glad we didn’t because I wanted to reserve those moments for each other in private.

The moment he lifted my veil, I heard a thick tone in the distance say, “Damn,” causing everyone in the audience to laugh. Both my husband and I looked over my shoulder at a man who looked very similar to him, so I assumed it was his brother. I smiled and turned back to face him.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

He lifted a brow at me, questioning whether it was okay without saying the words aloud. I nodded, and he leaned forward, kissing me so deeply, it took everything in me to pull away. The moment I did, we stayed in that position for a moment and he looked up into my eyes with a smile.

“At last,” he said.

I didn’t comment as we turned to face our family and friends.

“I now pronounce you, Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood.”

THE RECEPTION

After the ceremony, we took our pictures and then she wanted to go back to her dressing room to switch into something more comfortable, which was cool with me. We hadn’t had time to talk as much as I would like and without too many ears close by. I knew they had ushered everyone into the ballroom and were waiting for our arrival. I stood outside of the room she had gone into with her friend.

A few moments later, she exited out of the dressing room in a satin champagne-colored dress that hugged her curvy frame. She had taken her hair down and now her hair fell past her waist in curls. I held my hand out for her and she smiled, placing hers in mine. I led her to the ballroom, which was in the same building as the ceremony.

I mentioned to Kole to tell the DJ which song I went with. When they announced our arrival, “I Will Be Loving You” by Jesse Powell played.

I led her to the center of the dance floor. I couldn’t see anyone but her, and that was all I needed. I pulled her close to me as our bodies swayed together to the music. I leaned in close to her ear to be sure she would be the only one to hear me.

“I knew I would get the chance to feel you in my arms again. I guess fate has a way of bringing us back to where we belong,” I said against her ear.

She exhaled at my declaration. I wrapped my hand in her long tresses, fighting the urge to pull it just a little.

“Damn, your hair has gotten long, Lore,” I said.

She tilted her head back to glance up into my eyes. That familiar burn I felt the moment I laid eyes on her some years back came rushing back. There was always something about this woman. We met a while ago while I was in my first year of playing professional ball. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on her in that nightclub.

A few years earlier…

The club was packed and I didn’t know why I allowed my teammates to convince me to come out here. If it were up to me, I would be looking at tapes and enjoying the comforts of my home. It wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy a good night out, but they were acting like we hadn’t lost a game last night. Losing was not an option for me, even if it was for them. I was going to do everything I possibly could to change that.

Shit, not to mention, being the son of a pro-Hall of Famer who didn’t respect losing, I wasn’t down for it. I only came out because my brother Kole came down to visit and talked me into it. He didn’t care whether he lost or not; this man just wanted to be in between a pair of thighs.

I leaned back against the seats of our section; they had all different kinds of women of all colors and sizes swarming the area. Even a few had come over to me, but I wasn’t interested. I drank my cognac and bobbed my head to the music.

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