He positioned his fingers on the keys, getting a feel for the unfamiliar sax. Moments later, he started playing Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee.” For an entire summer, the song could be heard coming from his sister’s bedroom twenty-four seven.
As he serenaded the couple, his eyes found Phylicia. She sat with her elbow propped up on the table, chin in her hand. A wistful smile graced her lips.
Jamal was suddenly struck with a sense of déjà vu. It was in an atmosphere like this one that he’d first started to fall for her. He hadn’t even known her all that well at Mya and Corey’s wedding, yet he’d been drawn to her. Later that night, as they’d talked about every insignificant thing under the moon, he’d realized that she was the type of woman he could easily see himself spending the rest of his life with.
He blew out the last few notes of the song, shrugging off the bevy of applause from the audience with a modest wave. He leaned over and whispered something to the band leader before walking over to Lauryn and his new brother-in-law. He enveloped them both in a hug and kissed his sister’s cheek.
God, she looked happy. He could only hope to find such happiness one day.
With that thought in mind, Jamal headed straight for Phylicia.
“That was lovely,” she said.
“Thank you,” he answered. He held his hand out. “This next dance is for us.”
She tilted her head to the side, her brows raised in question. As the song he’d requested started, a slow smile spread across her face. She captured his hand and allowed him to guide her onto the dance floor. Phylicia rested her cheek against his shoulder as they swayed back and forth.
“This is the song that played for the bridal party dance at Mya and Corey’s wedding,” she said.
Jamal nodded. “It was the first song we ever danced to.”
“I can’t believe you remembered that,” she said.
“That song played in my head for days after the wedding. I couldn’t get it out of my mind.” He pulled slightly away and peered down at her. “You really don’t have a clue how much you affected me that night, do you? I fell for you. Hard. And I’ve been falling ever since.”
She stared up at him, her eyes filled with the same emotion that was tightening his chest. “I’m falling too,” she admitted in a soft voice. “I’m not sure I can fall much deeper.”
The air between them vibrated with an intense energy. It was as if everyone else had disappeared, leaving the two of them to savor this experience in their own private universe. This song, this place, this moment—it was just for them.
“I’m in love with you,” Jamal said. He hadn’t meant to say it; the words came out involuntarily. But now that he’d put them out there, he wouldn’t take them back.
Phylicia just stared at him, her expression unreadable.
Something close to panic clawed up Jamal’s throat. It was too soon. She was good and spooked; he could feel it in the way her body stiffened against him.
She dropped her gaze to his chest. “If I tell you the same thing, you have to promise you won’t hurt me,” she whispered, her soft voice saturated with uncertainty.
“I told you before that I would never hurt you, Phylicia.” He captured her chin between his fingers and lifted her gaze to meet his. “I’m not Kevin. Don’t make me pay for his mistakes.”
“No, you’re not Kevin,” she agreed. “I know you would never hurt me the way he did.”
The song ended, but Jamal didn’t move. He refused to leave this spot until he knew how she truly felt about him.
When Phylicia’s gaze met his, the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes caused his throat to painfully constrict. The vulnerability radiating from her was such a contradiction to her usually tough exterior.
“I think I’m in love with you too, Jamal,” she finally said, then shook her head. “No, I don’t think it. I know it.”
His chest expanded with the deep breath he heaved, the swell of emotion threatening to overwhelm him. Jamal leaned forward and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to her lips. He wanted nothing more than to stand in this one spot, kissing her forever.
“Will Mother have another wedding to plan soon?”
A smile crept up the sides of Jamal’s mouth as he turned to his sister, who stood a few feet behind them.
“You’re such a brat,” he teased. Still holding on to Phylicia with one hand, he brought his sister in for a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Did I tell you how amazing you look today? I’m so happy for you, Lauryn.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “My day would not have been complete without you.”
Swallowing past the lump of emotion lodged in his throat, Jamal smiled and said, “Thank Phylicia. Somehow she managed to convince me.”
