Page 99 of Devanté
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
When me and Blake got back to my house, we climbed in bed and went to sleep. We were drained. I thought I was going to talk to her about the house in LA but turns out, I was going to watch the back of my damn eyelids.
When I woke up the next morning, I heard Jill Scott and smelled pancakes. Blake was downstairs cooking. It was college all over again except I didn’t have to walk to her apartment to get my plate. I didn’t even have to put on a shirt.
I grabbed the gift I never gave her from my top drawer and put it in my pocket. Then I went downstairs in a pair of basketball shorts and nothing else. When Blake saw me, she stopped singing along toHe Loves Me, and bit her bottom lip. “Damn, Devanté. Can I get your number?” She giggled and handed me a plate before standing on her tiptoes to kiss me.
“Nah, shorty. I’m taken. My girl likes to cut people so I’d watch out if I were you.”
“Well, taken doesn’t mean married,” she purred, turning around and pushing her ass against me. I sat my plate down and held on to her round hips.
“What if I told you she was my fiancé?” I asked, my voice sobering.
After all the drama that happened yesterday, I never got to give Blake her gift. It was now or never.
She turned around and looked at me with a question in her eyes, and I had the answer in my pocket. I lowered to one knee and she slapped her hands over her mouth to muffle the gasp.
“Oh my god,” she whispered through her fingers.
“Blake Remington, I wanted to do this when we were alone because…it’s always been me and you against the world. I know you’re not flashy so, I didn’t make this a flashy moment.” I pulled the box from my pocket and her eyes got wide, then she smiled and even behind her hands I saw it. “Will you marry me?” I put her engagement ring inside a Ring Pop shaped box. It was supposed to be a Valentine’s candy holder but I found it in the clearance section and I knew exactly what to use it for. I opened the bright pink top and inside was a five-carat diamond ring.
“Jesus that’s huge!” She squeaked, peering at the ring.
“Come on, Blake, are we getting married or not?” I sighed playfully.
“Horrible idea, Jodeci,” she smiled. “Yes. Of course, I’ll marry you.” I slipped the ring on her finger and closed the candy shaped box putting it back in my pocket. “Wait, I want to keep it,” she pouted, holding out her hand.
“Seriously?” I chuckled, standing to my feet. I wrapped her in a hug, locking my fingers at the small of her back.
“Yes. I’ve never seen a box like this. I love it so much.”
“Did you also notice the five-carat diamond on your finger, Blake?”
“Oh, this little thing?” She flashed her hand at me and the corners of her mouth twitched with a smile that she finally let blossom on her beautiful face. “I kinda noticed it.” She draped her arms around my neck and we swayed to Jill Scott while I found her soft lips with mine.
“Is this what you wanted to talk to me about yesterday?” She asked.
“Yes and no. I was going to propose when we got away from our families but I was also going to ask if you wanted to…move in with me when I move to LA.”
“Well, it makes sense if we’re engaged and all.” Her eyes dropped to the ring on her finger. “Plus, you know what? It’s time for a change, Devanté. I’ve been in that house for nearly eight years. I want to start some new memories with my best friend.” I sat down at the table and pulled her onto my lap.
“You mean your fiancé?” I slipped my hand under her shirt and squeezed her love handles. I swear, I could not keep my fucking hands off her.
“Wow, that sounds so…”
“Weird?” I asked.
“No. Amazing.”
It did sound fucking amazing. It would sound even better when I could call her my wife.
…
