I’m shaking my head before she finishes. “I feel like it’s more than just nerves. Something is telling me this isn’t what I’m supposed to do.”
She watches me suspiciously. Her brown eyes narrowed. “If you’re having second thoughts, tell me now. We can blow this place. I’ll have you down in Mexico in no time.”
This is why I loved this girl. She was truly a ride or die. She isn’t lying. If I told Nisha that I changed my mind, she’d have no problem going out there and telling everyone to go home and would stand up for me if anyone tried to say something.
But maybe she’s right. I’m only getting cold feet because this is a life changing event. I’m sure that when I say I do, and we kiss as husband and wife, I will feel better.
Shaking my head, I laugh. “I’m just being ridiculous. I think my nerves are getting to me.”
She looks at me before speaking. “Okay. But if shit doesn’t feel right, don’t do this. I know Aunt Angie preached and forced it down your throat that you should marry him, but don’t let her issue become yours.”
I take in her words, letting them register. Mother was a huge part in me agreeing to this marriage. Yes, I loved Jamieson, but I never had that itch to walk down an aisle. Mother repeatedly told us we needed to marry. So, when he asked, I just said yes.
“I’m good,” I say with assurance I wasn’t sure I had. “It’s just nerves.”
She and I talked for another ten minutes before the door opened again. My mother walks back in along with the rest of my bridal party. I had only six bridesmaids, including Nisha. Two were friends from college, one was a friend and employee, one was Jamison’s sister and the last was my sister. She was a favor to my father.
“Siah, you look so good,” Mallory, my old college roommate, gushes. Her sister locs are curled and hang down her back with one side pinned back.
“Thank you, Mal.”
“I don’t think I would have picked that dress. Not with that body type,” my sister says, looking down at her nails. “But it looks…. cute.”
Nisha takes a step toward her, but I put up a hand to stop her.
“Thank you, Rochelle. I can’t wait to see the dress you will wear at your wedding. When is it again?”
Nisha snorts before she chuckles. Mallory and the others cover their laughs behind their hands. Rochelle looks up at me and her eyes damn near spit fire.
Her fiancé called off their engagement months ago. It was a huge thing. Daddy even asked me to postpone my wedding because of it. That was the one request he nor my mother could talk me into. We still don’t know why her ex up and called it quits. I just know we all got the group text that said he was done with her.
A smile slowly lifts her lips. “We can’t all have a man that’s as good andfaithfulas Jamieson.”
Something about the way she saysfaithfulrubs me wrong.
I guess I wasn’t the only one it bothered because Lexus speaks up. “What are you trying to say about my brother?”
Rochelle didn’t answer her. Instead, she looks at me with a smirk.
Finally, she turns to Lexus. “Nothing. I’m just talking.”
“That bitch is going to make me drag her by them ugly ass fake eyelashes,” Nisha whispers in my ear.
I own and operate a beauty bar. For the wedding, I told all my bridesmaids to come into the shop and get their lashes, nails, facials and brows done. My sister was the only one who didn’t show up.
“Ignore her. She just wants to make me angry on my day,” I say.
This is very typical of Rochelle. She was that child who liked to blow out my candles on my birthday cake. She’s always wanted the spotlight.
The door opens once again, and my daddy walks in with Vanessa at his side. I immediately look over at my mother. Shetenses before looking away. This is the shit I didn’t want to happen today.
“Look at my baby girl.” Daddy coos. He walks over to me with open arms. I allow him to embrace me. His medium height frame dwarfed me in my flats. He smells the same as he has my entire childhood. Like spice and leather.
“You look beautiful, baby girl,” he pulls back and stares down at me.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
Vanessa comes up to me next. “Little Joy,” she sings, looking me over. “You are going to knock Jamieson over when he sees all those curves in that dress.”
