Page 111 of Cuffed By Your Love
Her laugh cracked open the night sky. “Then I guess we better give them a good sequel.”
The way she looked at me then, the string lights catching her tears, her lips trembling with the kind of smile that could resuscitate a dead man, I almost went down on one knee again, just to make the world stop and admire her.
Behind us, the chaos roared back to life. Jason had Dre cornered, grilling him like he was on trial. “Nah, bruh, you sayin’ you reformed? Let me see the background check.” Jonell, sipping her soda, just smirked at Dre like she might give him a chance if he survived her brother’s interrogation.
Leila was in the middle of the gym, waving a glitter-covered cupcake like a mic. “This ain’t Lifetime, y’all! This BET after dark! Somebody cue the Soul Train line!”
Jazz cackled so hard she nearly dropped her phone, then ended up shoulder-to-shoulder with Chambers, arguing aboutwhether Batman or Black Panther would make the better detective. Chambers swore it was Batman because “detective work is his whole thing,” but Jazz countered with, “T’Challa had Wakanda tech and intuition; Batman ain’t got vibranium, baby.” Their voices softened the longer they argued, that kind of playful back-and-forth that sounded suspiciously like flirting.
And through it all, EJ sprinted across the playground, cape flapping, Jason’s fitted hat too big on his head. His laughter stitched the night together, fast-fast-slow, like childhood was percussion he refused to miss.
Family. Loud, messy, ridiculous. Mine. Ours.
I turned back to Jonay, brushing my thumb along her jaw. The diamond winked at me again like it was in on the secret. “Come on, Mrs.-Almost-Edmonds,” I whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth.
She arched a brow. “Almost?”
“Temporary status. Soon as the paperwork’s filed, you’ll be official, baby. You ain’t escaping me.”
Her eyes softened, glassy again. “You think I’d even try?”
The weight in her voice pulled me under. I kissed her deep, not careless but deliberate, the kind of kiss that said vows don’t just happen at altars; they start in schoolyards with frosting on cheeks and family hollering too loud.
When we broke apart, Jason shouted from across the gym, “Yo! Y’all done with the rom-com scene? Somebody come taste this damn punch before Leila spikes it!”
Jonay groaned, burying her face in my chest. “This is my life now?”
I chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her curls. “Yeah, baby. Loud, loving, nosy, and forever.”
And under the string lights, with her ring glittering like evidence and her laughter tucked into my shirt, I swore I’d never let her forget it.
The cheering was still buzzingin the air when my phone vibrated against my palm. Mama. Daddy. Miss Elyse. My stomach flipped.
“Oh, Lord,” I whispered, clutching the phone like it might burn me. “They know.”
Elias grinned, dimples deep. “Of course, they know. You think I’d blindside your folks and my mama? Nah. They gave me their blessing weeks ago. They just had that trip booked before I even picked this date.”
I hit answer, and suddenly the screen filled with sunshine and ocean breeze. My mama was in a wide-brimmed sunhat, sipping a daiquiri the color of flamingos. Daddy wore a Hawaiian shirt, looking like somebody had dragged him intovacation against his will. And Miss Elyse leaned in between them, shades perched on her head, a big smile already shining.
“Baby girl!” My mama hollered, waving her drink so hard the umbrella almost flew out. “Yessss! Lord, I been waiting for this moment!”
Miss Elyse pointed at her son through the screen. “Elias Jamal Edmonds, you really gon’ propose while I’m out here eating jerk chicken on a beach? You are petty.”
Everybody around us burst out laughing. Jason bent over, clutching his knees, Leila fanned herself with a cupcake wrapper, and even Chambers had tears in his eyes, trying to hide them behind his phone camera.
Elias just squeezed my waist tighter. “I told y’all I wanted it simple. Just her, me, and EJ in that moment. No pressure. No big speeches. Just us.” He looked down at our boy, who was still jumping up and down, frosting smeared like war paint on his temple, proudly waving his crooked sign.
Miss Elyse’s voice softened. “Jonay, baby, I already loved you like my daughter. But now?” Her smile broke wider. “Now it’s official. You stuck with us for life now, sugar.”
I laughed through tears. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Daddy leaned closer, eyes squinting like always. “About damn time. Y’all better take this seriously. Marriage is a beautiful thing. It’s work. But…” He paused, that Marine’s nod was sharp and steady. “Looking at y’all, I believe it’ll hold.”
That sent a fresh wave of tears through me while Jason hollered, “Not you tryna cry in Jamaica, Pops!”
Mama sniffled so hard her daiquiri umbrella shook. “Mind your business, Jason!”
Leila shouted, “Cry louder, Mama J! We are crying here too!”
