Page 25 of Plea
“Straight like that,” Tristan agreed.
They trailed behind me as my focus lasered in on the room with “Bride Quarters” written on it. Tapping the door, I exhaled a long breath.
“This shit is crazy,” I said more to myself than anyone else.
When the door opened, Venus’s sister gasped. I couldn’t remember her name, but I remembered her from the party.
“Oh shit,” she whispered, stepping outside and closing the door behind her. “What can I do for you…, Carson, right?”
“Right. I need to see Venus.”
“She’s kind of busy right now.” She chuckled nervously and looked toward the door. “Can this wait untilaftershe’s married?”
“Nah, not at all. Can you get her for me?”
Sighing, she pushed her glasses up her nose, and the shit was cute as hell. “Fine, but if you ruin my sister’s big day and end up being a trash ass nigga, I will mutilate you. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I conceded with a smile.
“It’s always the short ones that wanna threaten a nigga,” Zander said as she slipped back into the room.
The seconds dragged on, but eventually, the door creaked open again. When it did, it was Venus. She gripped the top of her silk, red robe, eyes flitting from me to the men behind me.
“Carson,” she called carefully, like she had to process it was me. When she accepted that I was really here, she leaped into my arms and held me close. Held me tight. Before I could fully relax in the embrace, she pulled away and pulled her arms behind her back.
“I know I’m not the groom, but I wanted the first look.”
Her nostrils flared and eyes watered.
“We’ll give y’all some privacy,” Kaos said, and I nodded as they walked away.
She closed the door behind her. Her hair was done in deep waves and her makeup was flawless. It complemented her caramel skin perfectly and made her look like a bronzy goddess. I couldn’t imagine how beautiful she was going to look when she put on her wedding dress, even if she wouldn’t be walking down the aisle to me.
“You lookbeautiful, sunshine.”
“Carson, what are you doing here?”
“I just… had to see you one last time before you gave yourself to him forever.”
Her breath was shaky as she avoided my eyes. “I was sitting there talking to God,” she confessed. “I told Him that I needed a sign. I felt like I was making a mistake, but I felt like I was too deep in it now. Trevor has done so much for me and I just… didn’t want to embarrass him by walking away today. He’s spent a lot of money on this wedding, on me, and?—”
“How much?”
“What?” she asked, as if she wasn’t really paying attention to what she was saying.
“If you’re worried about the cost, how much? I’ll wire him enough money to cover it right the fuck now.”
Her laughter turned into tears before she tugged her bottom lip into her mouth. “You promise I won’t regret it?”
“I promise, baby. I promise I’ll spoil, cherish, and protect you for the rest of your life if you stay in mine.”
She wiped a tear away quickly before releasing another shaky breath. Looking down the hall, she giggled at the sight of my brothers looking at us. Zander waved, and she waved back before laughing harder.
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” she whispered, opening the door. “Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
“I ain’t leaving without you,” I guaranteed her with a grin.
“So?” Tristan asked.
