“Shit let us get some of this too.” I heard Torrence say before I felt more arms join around me in a big ass group hug. I heardcameras clicking like crazy capturing this sentimental moment between us.
“A’ight, that’s enough of this sentimental shit, got me feeling all warm and fuzzy.” I laughed because I knew that was Anthony’s crazy ass.
When the hug was over everyone dispersed around the large changing room talking and mingling. I was in the mirror making sure my hair was brushed right, and that my velvet double breasted, emerald-green tuxedo jacket didn’t have lint on it. While I was making sure my black tuxedo pants weren’t wrinkled, I heard a throat clearing behind me. I looked up in the mirror and saw Dante standing there with his hands in pockets.
“Can I have a moment?” He asked, and I nodded my head before I turned around to face him.
“Look, I know you know you love my sister. I watch how you adore her and make her smile, and I know she’s in great hands with you. That’s why I want to apologize for how I reacted to the news that you two were engaged. I love my sister with every piece of me and besides my brother, she’s best friend. And at that moment, I just felt like you were taking her from me and for that, I apologize. I can’t think of a better man for my sister than you. Welcome to the family, T,” he finished, and my throat was clogged with emotion again. I cleared it several times before I could finally speak.
“Thank you, Dante.” That was all I could get out as we gave each other a brotherly hug with a hard pat on the back.
“Here, take a shot, so we can go get you married,” Travis said, bringing us a shot of Crown Royal.
“Salut!” Travis shouted, and each of us repeated it as we held our shot glasses up and drank our shots.
“Let’s get Titan married!” Torrence yelled.
Titan
WEDDING DAY
“Where the hell she at, Tore?” I asked him what felt like the thousandth time as my suede green loafers wore a track onto the marble floor. He smiled and put a calming hand on my shoulder, and I shook it off irritated. He was my best man, and he was trying to calm me down, but nothing was going to calm me down until I saw Bailey walking her ass down this aisle.
“Ty, you have to relax. It's only five minutes after the start time, Traci said Bailey had to get her makeup put back on because she’s been crying.” I stopped my pacing immediately when I registered what he said.
“Why is she crying? She’s upset? Worried?” Concern filled my voice, and I was ready to go to Bailey’s changing room.
“What? No, neither of those things. She’s a woman about to get marriedandyou knocked her up. She’s just emotional; please calm yo’ big ass down, you’re going to break the floor with all that damn pacing,” Torrence said, and I had to chuckle.
“Look one of the wedding coordinators just gave the band the music cue for her bridesmaids to come down the aisle.” When I looked up the musicians started playing a classical rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You,” by Alicia Keys.
Shortly after that, my sister came down the aisle in a one-shoulder gold dress, followed by Ciara, and Giada, who was wearing the same dress as my sister. They took their seats at the front because the stage I was on with my dad and Torrence wasn’t that big. When Marlow came down in her emerald gown, my heartbeat started to pick up because I knew my baby was coming soon. My brother helped Marlow up the small steps, so she could take her place on the stage. Then I smiled as I watched Haylee and my bestie Rylee, walk down the aisle in their gold gowns, tossing flower petals over their heads. After they took their seats next to Ms. Reneé, the staff that worked for the venue closed the double doors.
Suddenly, my palms were sweaty, and my heart was now galloping in my chest. I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, and took deep breaths, so I wouldn’t pass out. When I opened my eyes, I saw my brother Trent helping Kiara onto a small stage in the corner near the front of the room. When he nodded his head, the live band started playing the intro to “Spend My Life With You,” by Eric Benét and Tamia.
I heard Trent’s smooth voice start warming up by hitting the falsetto notes at the beginning of the song, then he sang when the beat dropped, “I never knew such a day could come…”
I damn near buckled at how hard that one line hit me in the chest. I pulled my handkerchief out and wiped my face as Trent floated through that verse but when Kiara started singing Tamia’s verse, my eyes widened. Her voice was beautiful; who knew such a lovely voice was in that tough exterior and Trent smiled wide because he finally knew someone who could out sing him.
When they started harmonizing the chorus is when I saw the double doors open at the back of the room, and standing there looking like an angel in emerald and gold was the love of my life. I zoned out and couldn’t focus on nothing as I stared ather walking toward me with her brother’s on each arm. My face must have looked like someone threw water on me because I was crying so much with each step she took.
This was the moment I waited my whole life for, and I couldn’t wait to spend my life with her. When she was in front of me, I helped her up the small platform to stand in front of me and my dad, who was officiating our nuptials. When I leaned down to kiss her, I felt his strong hand against my chest.
“Not yet damn,” he said with a laugh, and I nodded because he was right. I was just ready to say I do and go back home. When Trent and Kiara finished singing, everyone stood and applauded and whistled. The loudest whistle came from Anthony who was staring at Kiara, from his seat in the front row.
My dad breezed through the ceremony and added his personal stories, and when he added jokes about me, I rolled my eyes because this man swore he was a comedian.
“Titan and Bailey have opted to write their own vows,” My dad said and handed Bailey the microphone. She cleared her throat, and I held her hand tightly to lend her some of my strength, even though I knew I wasn’t going to be any better when it was time for me to read mine.
“Titan Rutherford?—”
“Rutherford?!” I heard everyone from Bailey’s side shout in unison. Marlow, her husband Rodney, Giada and Devin, Kiara and Ciara, and Dante and Anthony. I looked at them with my eyebrow raised and they all raised their hands as a silent apology and mouthedsorry.
“Titan Rutherford Browning,” Bailey continued once she stopped giggling, and I squeezed her hand.
“The moment I met you, I was immediately drawn to you. I even thought of you as a chocolate Adonis.” I chuckled at that.
“You’re presence overwhelmed me, and for the first time in a long time I was unsure of what to do with a man like you who was a natural leader and exuded such confidence, power, and respect, while also being thoughtful and attentive to my needs. What I didn’t know was… subconsciously, I was giving you my heart to take and to hold. My soul trusted you from the moment I saw you and tied itself with yours before I knew what was happening; that’s why when you’re not around, I find myself feeling anxious or I can’t go to sleep until you whisper you love me at night. You have shown me in such a short time what it means to be loved, honored, respected, and cherished. Titan, you are the definition of, if he wanted to he would, that’s why I’m honored you have chosen me to spend your life with. I promise that as your wife, I will honor you, respect you and love you, until there is no more breath in my body. You are it for me Titan Browning and there is no one else I would rather call my husband than you. I love you so much,” she finished, and her voice was wobbly as she talked through tears. I was a mess and when I leaned down to kiss her, I felt my dad’s strong hand again.
