Page 94 of Awakening
“If This World Were Mine” by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn filled the air, lush and warm. I held Ajaih first, then reached for Knox’s hand, where we moved together, in sync, slow and sure, as if the three of us had been born dancing. Everyone watched, misty-eyed and grinning.
Then came the speeches.
My father was up first. He stood first, looking at me with trembling pride. “I wasn’t the father I should’ve been. I missed out on so many precious moments to celebrate you, honor you, and uplift you because I leaned on my ego instead of leaning on the word of the Lord. Oftentimes, we lean into Ephesians 6, telling our children to honor their parents so their lives will be fruitful and full, and skip right over the following part of that scripture that says not to provoke your children to wrath but to bring them up in the love and admonition of the Lord. Mav, I didn’t honor and love you the way that you deserved, but still the goodness of the Lord dwells so deeply in your beautiful spirit that you saw fit to give me a chance to heal what I hurt and love the man you are right now. Thank you, son, for giving me a second chance. Because this second chance is not in vain. To be so blessed to witness you be loved the way God intended, fully, wildly, unapologetically. Watching you with Ajaih and Knox, it’s like seeing joy tailored just for you. Knox, Ajaih, thank you for catching my baby boy when I’d fallen short. Thank you for giving him the lovethat he deserves. That love taught him to never settle for a lesser love, not even from his own parents. I love you, Maverick Carter-Fairfax, and I pray for your union a lifetime of new adventure, boundless love, and joy so abundant it overflows into every aspect of your life. Cheers to the Carter-Fairfaxes!”
“CHEERS!” Everyone yelled through their tears as my father made his way to me, wrapping me in his arms as he told me again how much he loved me, as I let my tears flow freely.
“I love you, too, Dad.”
Yanna got up next, wine in hand. “Okay, so Nurse Maverick Carter, formerly Winston Hills Memorial’s most desired bachelor. Fine, mysterious, always in those damn anime scrubs like he wasn't snatching hearts with every walk down the hall, while never giving anyone the time of day.” She winked at me. “And now we know why.”
Laughter erupted.
“But seriously, thank you, Mav. For loving my best friend and Knox the way you do. For letting love live in your heart and not putting it in a box, because now, I’ve gained two new besties in you and Knox, and I’d fight for y’all with earrings off and Vaseline ready.”
Then she turned to Ajaih as everyone finished laughing. Her voice softened.
“You, JaJa, I don’t have enough words. I’ve watched you transform, not just into a woman who found love, but a woman who faced herself and came out stronger. The sadness that once lived in your eyes has been replaced with triumph. The nights you confided in me that you didn’t think you’d ever heal and be happy, I got the pleasure of watching you prove yourself wrong. The self-discovery that you seemed unsure about, you now thrive in. You did the work, you took control of your healing, you peeled back the armor and let yourself bloom. You are limitless, JaJa, and I am so damn proud of you.”
Ajaih’s lip trembled, and mine did too. Finally, Knox’s dad, Carlos, stood up, grabbing the microphone.
“Now, I’ll admit, I didn’t know what to expect when I met Ajaih and Maverick. But after five minutes? I knew they were trouble, in the best way. Maverick’s got that quiet storm energy and has since the day Knox brought him home for Thanksgiving, his freshman year, professing his love for Maverick before they ever professed it to each other. And Ajaih? Lt. General, if ya nasty, she walked in like she owned the room. I remember when Knox called home, telling us that Maverick had met a woman, and he was scared that Maverick wouldn’t be able to love him and Ajaih, nearly in tears. I’m standing here today to tell you, Knox, boy were you wrong, and I’m so glad you were, because the way you both love my son? Man. We can’t wait to see this forever in motion. Just don’t forget to call us on holidays!”
The crowd cheered and clapped.
While people danced, I nudged Knox and tilted his head. “Look.”
Following my gaze, it landed on James Jr. at the bar talking to Caleb’s sister Calla, and not just chatting, flirting, showing teeth, pulling out his best lines, and more than likely his worst jokes. He leaned in close. She laughed softly. Then they slipped out the side door together.
Knox grinned as Caleb and Ahmir strolled over to us. “So, when do we place our bet?”
Caleb chuckled, “Calla about to give ol’ JJ the blues.Baby sis is in her ‘Hot Girl Summer’ bag, whatever the fuck that means.”
“I like beating the odds, so I’ll put 10 bands on JJ sitting her down, in 6 months or less,” Ahmir wagered.
“I’ll put 10 the other way then,” Caleb countered, “Calla Black about to have JJ crashing out behind her. She’s quiet; those the ones that’ll have you singing One Wish in the rain like Ray J. Look at how Yanna had me.” causing us all to laugh loudly.
I clinked my glass against his. “I’mma roll with your odds then, Black, because Yanna will have us looking for water while we stand by the ocean because she said it’s a special kind only available at a certain time of the day. All she has to do is smile sweetly.”
The night was full of dancing, laughter, stolen kisses, and champagne flutes emptied under moonlight. And the best part? It was only the beginning.
“Ahhhhhhh mmmmm,” I moaned, “Fuck me, harder,” I demanded. Knox buried deep in my ass, and Maverick deep stroking the sugary walls of my pussy.
I never imagined feeling this full, not just physically from all the dick buried in me at 2 a.m. Not just from the incredible food Knox insisted on cooking at 1 a.m. when he claimed he needed “one last midnight snack for his forever people.” Not just from the laughter echoing in my chest, from Lena’s dancing, from CJ’s ridiculous toast, or the sight of my father wiping away tears when I said, “I do.”
I feel full in the soul-deep, heart-bursting, world-tilting kind of way.
We were finally home, not our usual place in Winston Hills, but the coastal estate where we’d spent the past week wrapped in celebration. The air still smells like sea salt and roses from the thousands of blooms Yanna insisted on filling the space with.
My gorgeous wedding gown is long gone, taken back to Winston Hills to be safely packed away in tissue paper, and in its place, I wear a silk robe the color of champagne.My curls are pinned up, loose strands framing my face, my bare legs curled underneath me on the giant velvet chaise that sits in front of the fire.
Knox enters first, barefoot, shirt unbuttoned, his smile wide, lighting up the room, and his gold chain catching firelight. Behind him, Maverick, already shirtless, in drawstring linen pants, his deep dark-brown skin still glistening slightly from the shower, and Dapper body oiled I’d rubbed all over him.
They both just stopped as their eyes landed on me, and it’s not lust at first, not exactly.
It’s something softer, more tender, like they’re still trying to comprehend that we made it. That I’m theirs, and they’re mine, legally.
“You’re staring,” I whisper.
