Page 79 of Maceo

“I love you, Shar,” he whispered in my ear.

“I love you too.”

“I didn’t do this right the first time, so I had to come correct.”

The blindfold was removed from my eyes. When I opened them, my hand flew to my mouth. We were standing in Salima’s place, and the space was fully transformed. White and red roses and candles were everywhere. The spot we stood in was decorated with a white, rose-covered, heart-shaped arch with red rose petals littering the floor. Bouquets of roses sat on pillars and with more candles lining the walkway. AMarry Me?sign was displayed in big light up letters.

“Maceo…” I whispered.

Footsteps caused me to turn around. I gasped as our families poured into the space, dressed to the nines with smiles on their faces. I turned back to my man in disbelief.

“Let me try this again,” he said, winking. Clearing his throat, he grabbed my hand. “Sharina Nicole Gladden… my baby. My best friend. My rider. I wasn’t looking for love when we crossed paths. Neither of us were.”

“Damn right about that,” Deuce said, making everybody laugh.

Maceo chuckled. “There was something about you that I couldn’t put my finger on. Now, I might have been a little thirsty in asking my sister to get your number for me?—”

“Nigga, you were parched!” Smoke hollered.

His mother slapped the back of his head. “Let my baby finish! Go on, sweetheart.”

We both couldn’t help but to laugh.

“All jokes aside, I found everything I didn’t know I needed when I found you. You are the light at the end of every long day. Peace in the midst of a storm. Happiness when the world around me is falling to pieces. The way you love the people who love you is the single greatest thing I’ve ever witnessed and gotten to experience.

“I’m not the most religious man, but I thank God for you every morning I wake up to you, and every night I fall asleep next to you. You’re the person I can’t wait to come home to. I know when I walk into that house, my entire world is waiting to greet me with open arms. I never realized how much I needed that until you.

“Marriage… kids… happily ever afters? You made me want that. You give me something worth living for. I don’t know how many days I have on this earth. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I know that I want the rest of my days to start and end with you.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. Lifting the lid, he presented me with the most beautiful ring that had me tearing up and thankful I’d forgone makeup tonight. Dropping to one knee, he pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it.

“Sharina Nicole Gladden… will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I nodded through my tears. “Yes…” I whispered. “Yes.”

He pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on my finger. The moment he stood to his feet, I was on him, crashing my lips into his. Our family clapped and cheered as our tongues wrestled.

“That’s my nigga!” Smoke yelled.

“We next!” Kilow added, causing us to break our kiss. We looked back to see him holding hands with Deja.

“Don’t make me jack your little ass up,” Maceo threatened.

Deja rolled her eyes. “Worry about yourself.”

Maceo looked back at me. “I’ma fuck your little brother up,” he declared.

I giggled. “Leave my baby alone. He’s a good boy.”

“He’s a menace.”

“You’re a menace…” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “But you’re my menace.” I grinned. “Mrs. Maceo Dillinger… that has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

He mirrored my smile. “It damn sure does.”

TWO WEEKS LATER

“I can’t believey’all muthafuckas got engaged two weeks ago and getting married today,” Deuce fussed, adjusting his tie. “I know this shit with them niggas is pressing, but goddamn.”

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