Page 128 of A Kingpin's Weakness
That was it. The moment he asked, my voice cracked, and the tears dropped before I could stop them. My ribs were gone, and I felt betrayed by the universe.
“I ordered ribs, and they delivered them to the wrong address!” I cried, my words coming out all broken and wet with sobs.
Seth looked at me like he didn’t know whether to laugh, hug me, or grab his keys. “Stormi you’re crying about ribs?”
“No! I’m crying because I’m hungry!” I snapped, clutching my belly like it could feel my pain. “And I was being patient. I didn’t ask you to stop building the crib. I didn’t ask for a foot massage. I didn’t even ask you to come eat with me! I just wanted my damn ribs!”
“Okay, okay, baby. I’ll go get them. I’ll drive to Smokey’s right now”
“No!” I shouted, dramatic as hell. “Go find those ribs. I waited forty-five minutes for those.If you go to Smokey’s, that’s another hour. I can’t wait another hour.”
Seth blinked once, twice, then nodded like a soldier heading to war. “Say less. I’ll find the ribs.” He grabbed his keys, slipped on some shorts and his Nike slides, and was halfway out the room when Bray buzzed us from the gate.
Seth checked his phone and frowned. “Wait, someone just pulled up.”
“Is that the ribs?!” I gasped, hope flooding my chest so fast it made me lightheaded. I wobbled down the stairs as fast as my swollen feet would take me, Seth trailing behind me like my shadow.
Bray was already at the door, holding my Smokey’s bag like it was a holy offering.
Seth took it from him, but before he could even turn toward me, I snatched it out his hands like a mama bear reclaiming her cub. “Yes, Lord!” I mumbled, doing a little two step dance as I waddled back upstairs, clutching the warm bag like it was my firstborn. Seth followed me up, quiet and smiling, laying across the bed like he was watching the best show on earth. I sat down,popped that Styrofoam open, and didn’t even offer him a bite. He just stared at me, amused, chest rising and falling like he was trying to hold back a laugh.
“Nah,” I said, mouth full. “Don’t even look like you about to ask for none.”
He held his hands up. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good. ‘Cause this baby and I are sharing these, andyouare not invited.”
“Marry me?”
Seth’s voice hit my chest harder than I expected. I blinked twice, thinking maybe I ain’t hear him right. He was serious. eyes locked on mine like he already knew my answer, but needed to hear it anyway. I lifted my left hand slowly, letting the ring he gave me a few months ago sparkle under the light.
“Ummm… I am,” I said, a little confused.
He didn’t flinch. “No, today.”
I sat up, rib bone still in my hand. “Huh?”
“Let’s go get married.”
I stared at him like he was crazy, like maybe the waves I had my fingers all in earlier messed with his brain. “Where, Seth?”
“Vegas.”
I blinked again. “Vegas? Like hop on a jet, say our vows, come back married today, Vegas?”
“I don’t wanna go another day with you not officially mine. Not when I know you already my forever,” he said, leaning in and kissing me like he meant every damn syllable. “You already act like my wife, might as well be her.”
I couldn’t help it I laughed, shook my head, damn near cried. I was sitting in sweatpants, a sports bra, hair wild, stomach full of ribs and baby, and this man was trying to wife me rightnow. Not in some future fantasy. Not when the baby came. Not after some big-ass wedding. Now.
“Can I finish my ribs first?” I asked, voice cracking through a laugh.
He smirked. “Yeah, baby. Finish your ribs.”
I looked down at the plate, then back at him. “Seth you deadass right now?”
“Deadass. I’ll get the jet fueled, pack up the fam, and we out. Me, you, S3, Mama, Jo, Noah, Rich, Southside, RJ, Ari that’s all we need. Nobody fake. Just our real ones.”
“But I can’t fit nothing, Seth. What I’ma wear?”
