Page 69 of The Prodigy 2: Rise of a Queen

I looked her over. “Maybe just some foundation.”

“And some shadow and blush and lashes,” Jaz said. “And gloss.”

Dionne shot her a look, but she didn’t say anything.

While Bianca did Dionne’s makeup, the rest of us watched Chase spin around in circles. Jaz lasted about thirty seconds before she got too bored to pretend any longer.

“So, I just wanna tell you…my mom is out there.”

“I know. We invited her.”

“Okay, but she’s…her outfit—”

“You know what?" I shook my head. "Nothing you say can surprise me. It’s my day, so I’m just gonna ignore her foolishness. I’ma do like you do.”

“Well,Ibeen doin’ it for twenty-four years. You don’t have as much practice as me.”

“I’m telling you. She’s gonna be invisible to me. Just watch.”

She said, “O-kay,” in that sing-songy way people do when they know they’re gonna prove you wrong. But with my sister and my nephew here, and my husband out there waiting for me, nothing could bring me down.

Okay, I lied.

I almost just fought this bitch in the church vestibule.

Gabrielle Windermere showed up to my motherfucking wedding in a skintight black mermaid dress and a black hat with a black fishnet veil attached and hanging over her face. The bitch came to my fuckingweddingdressed for a fuckingfuneral. And her dress…it was basicallymydress, but black. Who the fuck told her what my dress looked like?

“I know,” Jaz said as the music started. “Don’t give her the satisfaction.”

And then Jaz was gone, headed down the aisle. Dionne was behind her, then Chasey-poo with the pillow. Nay’s daughter Nia was the flower girl, and she brought up the rear.

My turn.

I could see Gab standing against the wall in my peripheral vision. You couldn’t miss the bitch. But I ignored her, the pounding of my heart, and the anger coursing through my veins. It was about me and Kari today. Nothing else mattered.

He smiled when he saw me coming. Good lord, he looked so good in his tux. His brothers and Joe were to his right. Jaz and Dionne were on the other side. The numbers were off, but so what? It was my day.

Pastor Franklin was efficient. The ceremony lastedmaybetwenty minutes. And that was fine. I was ready to celebrate. With my husband. For real, not just technically.

“You may now kiss your bride.”

Kari took my face in his hands and stared into my eyes. He hesitated, just for a moment, before saying, “I love you.”

I smiled. “I love you, too.”

We kissed, and the music blared through the speakers, celebrating our love.

It took almost two hours to take pictures. Kari told me I didn’t have to have Gab in them if I didn’t want, but I wasn’t about to let her think she was bothering me. So I called her over and gushed over her dress. Told her she looked amazing. I very much enjoyed how disappointed she was.

We were finishing up when Jaz pulled me to the side. “Hey, I need you to come with me for a second.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She started walking. I glanced over at Jakari, who had his hands up. I shrugged and followed Jaz back to the bridal suite.

Inside, another surprise. My daddy was seated on the couch.

“Oh my—what are you doing here?”

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