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2 months later....
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EMERY: SOMEONE’S BIG day is tomorrow.
MIA: And I’m going to cut up.
RYAN: I got everything ready. I got my knees right and everything. Lol
ISLA: Don’t come in here tomorrow talking about you need help. Tell Darnell not to lay it on you tonight. I need you sis.
The group text had been live and in full affect since the Mexico trip. All of the women knew about Mia leaving Neil and were supportive in whatever decision she decided to make.
RANDI: I’m bringing my plus one. I’m so glad you decided against us getting together tonight. I needed to get myself together.
RYAN: Don’t be walking sideways tomorrow because we know how you get down. That man needs his rest girl.
ALL: LOL!
RANDI: Go to hell. I’m saving myself for my wedding night.
MIA: Go to bed.
The ladies continued their conversation well into the morning when Ryan finally told the women to put their phones away and go to sleep.
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8 A.M. THE NEXT MORNING came fast.
Isla stretched out as she tried to reassure herself that this was the last few moments that she would be single.
“Good morning,” her mother smiled as she entered her bedroom.
“Good morning,” she smiled back.
“Alright this is it. Are you ready?” she asked sitting down on the bed.
“I am,” she answered sitting up.
“You aren’t my baby anymore.”
“Don’t start. Please let me get to the hall before you start crying.”
“I’m sorry,” she laughed wiping her eyes. “You’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yes ma’am. The last two months have really prepared me for this. I’m sure now. If you would have asked me a few months ago, I would probably would have said nope but we had a conversation about it and we’re both ready.”
“As long as you’re sure. I have my pistol in my bag. I don’t mind setting it off today.”
“Mom!” Isla laughed.
Her mom shrugged her shoulders, “you know I always come ready. They won’t catch me slipping,” she answered tapping the bed.
“I can’t believe you got that gun.”
“I don’t know why not. You know I’ve been wanting one for a while. I got it to protect myself.”
“From what?” Isla asked getting out of the bed.
“From these crazy men. They swear I’m younger than I look. It’s only right to flash the handle real quick to get them off of me.”
Isla fell out laughing. “Let me find out you got stalkers.”
“Yes, several.” Her mother laughed before giving her a hug.
“I’m going to be fine. Now that Emery on the other hand, you might want to check on her.”
“She’ll call when she’s ready,” her mother stated tapping her on the shoulder.
Emery was having a hard time reaching out to her mother since she decided to stay with Kent because her mother didn’t approve of the relationship they had in the past.
“Give him a chance. I think it’s better now.”
“I’ll see. I can’t give something a chance that I don’t know anything about. But don’t worry about that. It’s your wedding day. We need you ready and energized.”
“Ha, I’m ready but not energized.”
“I got something for that. Get dressed so we can get to the wedding hall.”
“Dang, you switched up on me quick.”
Her mother laughed before leaving the room. “You know I’m quick on my feet.”
“You got that right. Nothing has changed with you.”
“You better say that again,” she stated closing the bedroom door.
Isla looked out the window and noticed a few more cars in the driveway than it was when she went to sleep last night.
Probably some of mama’s friends. I swear she has so many, she thought as she went to get dressed. She wasn’t getting fully dressed until she got to the wedding hall.
The ladies showed up around 12 for the 2 o’clock wedding. Randi of course came in ready.
“I know you’re ready for this. Where that handsome fella of yours at?” she asked smiling.
“She’s a clown,” Ryan laughed. “You know they can’t see each other before the wedding.”
“My bad. Don’t mind me. That’s what great sex the night before will do,” Randi smiled.
“Get somewhere,” Mia nudged her.
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t,” Mia laughed. “I was in my bed last night.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Anyways, Isla are you ready?” Emery asked.
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
“Well you look beautiful,” she answered brushing her hand against her chin.
“You do too,” she replied.
Emery and Isla locked eyes before Emery started crying. They placed their foreheads onto each other and smiled through their tears.
“We always dreamed of this moment. You getting married and then me afterwards. I’m proud of you,” Emery whispered and kissing her on the cheek.
“I love you. You’re next.”
Emery started laughing. Wiping her eyes as the tears flowed so freely.
“Alright ladies,” Ryan joined in. Can I cry too? You know I love you both,” she asked smiling.
Both Randi and Mia walked up and they hugged each other as the others in the room looked on.
“You are my everything. My laughter. My tears. You erase my fears. You massage my ego even when I need to sit down somewhere,” Isla laughed. “I think my mother is excited to see me being well taken care of. She’s probably more excited that I’m out of her hair now.”
The fifty guests started laughing.
“She’s not lying,” her mother answered.
“Edwin it’s your turn.”
“I’m nervous. I don’t know if I can top that,” he smiled and wiped his face.
“The day I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special. I didn’t know you would be that special person for me until you let me take you on a date. Despite our doubts and fears, we are here. Standing before our family and friends. You are my rain on the rainy nights. You are my crutch when I can’t walk. You are a breath of fresh air even when you have morning breath.”
The guests started laughing again.
“And you’re my person. The one that knows what I need or want even without me saying a word. I love you and this is to us,” he continued wiping his eyes.
“With that being said. You may now kiss your bride.”
The guests went wild as the two kissed and then jumped the broom.
Isla smiled and held her new husband’s face in her hands. “We did it,” she whispered.
“Yes we did.”
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SOMEHOW DURING THE reception the ladies managed to find each other and grab shots to make a toast.
“It wasn’t easy getting here. Two months ago I almost called off the wedding. But guess what bitches, I’m no longer single,” Isla smiled.
“Hush because I am,” Mia stated.
The ladies raised their glasses and took the shots.
“To eternity.”
“And everlasting love.”
“With great love making,” Randi added.
“Randi sit your ass down somewhere. Always talking about sex.”
“Oops, that’s my prayer,” she laughed placing her hand over her mouth.
“I’m not debating it though. You better make sure your sex is great,” Ryan laughed.
“It is,” Isla answered.
“She finally got it, y’all.” Emery blushed. “We need another round.”
They took another shot and then Isla disappeared into the crowd.
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RYAN WALKED OVER TO Darnell who was laughing and smiling with Kent.
“Man you know these women about to have this reception looking like a college party.”
“Excuse you?”
“Yes, excuse you.” Emery stated.
“We were just playing. Don’t think nothing of what we just said.”
“There isn’t a we in that. That was all you,” Kent denied.
“Ah man. You’re just going to throw me under the bus like that?”
“Yeah, man. I don’t need to sleep on nobody’s couch tonight. I need a warm booty-body and a bed tonight,” he laughed.
“You still aren’t getting any booty,” Emery laughed. “Are you ready to go?” she asked looping her left hand into his right.
“I am if you are.”
“Let’s go then.”
“You don’t have to help clean up?”
“No. Mr. Edwin has people to do that. We don’t have to lift a finger.”
“Let’s roll then. I’ll see you later, Darnell and Ryan.”
“Yeah. Next time I’m going to make sure you’re the one getting in trouble and not me,” he laughed.
Emery hugged Ryan before heading out. “Don’t be too hard on him,” Emery whispered to her.
Ryan smiled. “I won’t.”
Both Ryan and Darnell watched as they left the building.
“Are you ready for therapy next week?”
“I am.”
“Are you really?” she asked again.
“Why is it so hard to believe that I am?”
“Because you haven’t mentioned one thing about it.”
“I’ve been trying to process everything. Those vows I just heard were exactly what I needed to keep me going. We haven’t quite failed each other yet.”
“Not quite but give it a little more time to soak in or we are done.”
Darnell took her left hand and looked down at her ring finger. “We’re locked.”
“Not quite locked but we could be embedded with each other,” Ryan laughed.
“Forget you man. You’re always clowning my words.”
“Just speaking the truth. You need to hear it.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes but let’s go and speak to Mia one more time before I head out.”
“Don’t take too long. It’s already pass 6.”
“It’s over at 7. Don’t rush me,” she smiled leaning in for a kiss.
“Oh so now I get sugar. Oh hell, that means you’re about to be gone until it’s over.”
Ryan started laughing and walked off, “no I’m not. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m giving you five minutes and then I’m out.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I am,” he laughed.
“Hey, Mia.”
“Hey boo. What’s up?” she asked nonchalantly.
“Are you good?”
“Yeah. I’m heading out now.”
“Are you sure? I saw that Randi came with a plus one. You don’t need to leave with us or anything right?”
“No ma’am. I’m straight.”
“Alright now. Don’t hesitate to call or text me.”
Mia started smiling. She already had after party plans and it wasn’t sitting at home crying about a man that didn’t want her.
“Trust me. I’ll be in great hands.”
“Well bounce back then.”
“I plan on it,” she laughed.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. Don’t hurt your husband tonight.”
“Whatever happens he deserves every bit of it.”
“Oh it’s one of those nights. I see you,” Mia waved at Darnell who was staring them down. “You better gone ‘head, husband doesn’t look like he’s playing tonight.”
“I don’t care about what he’s talking about.”
“Alright now. I bet you won’t say that to him.”
Ryan started laughing, “call me if you need me.”
“I’m not. Enjoy your evening.”
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“THIS WAS A SUCCESS,” she whispered leaning back on Edwin’s chest.
“I agree. The love flowed and I’m so happy to finally be here.”
“I love you,” Isla whispered and closed her eyes.
“I love you too,” he answered holding her hands.
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LATER THAT EVENING...
“Hold on. Stop. Stop.”
“What?” she asked.
“Slow down. I’m not ready yet.”
Mia started bouncing again.
“I told you to slow down.”
Mia sped up and two bounces later, she was finished.
“You know you’re wrong for that.”
“Not this time. I was on a mission,” she rolled over smiling.
“I guess that’s fuck me then.”
“You got it. No need to deny it. That was a great ride though. Appreciate ya.”
Lucas looked down at his socks and shook his head. I guess I’m back here again, he thought.
“Only if you want to be,” she tapped his shoulder.
He rolled over and fell asleep.
I’m back like I never left, she thought as she smiled in her sleep.