He pulled me closer to him, his hands running over my hips before squeezing my ass. “I keep telling you there ain’t a limit to what I’ll do for you. You said yourself that when you get all dressed up it gives you anxiety. The idea of getting all dolled up is ruined because you’re stressing about being on. So I wanted you to put that shit on without having to worry about other people. It’s me and you and these good folks who are playing DJ for us. We’re going to walk this carpet together, I’m going to admire your fine ass and be thankful for the trials that brought you into my life. Being able to see the sunshine in you and in Ami was worth the storm. So come on, walk like you know your man is watching, Ling.”
The way Aldrich bit his lip had me wanting to bust it wide open right now but I could tell he wanted me to do exactly what he asked so I did just that. Turning on my heel I started to walk beneath the lantern-lit path admiring the floral arrangements that lined the walkway. At the end of the path was a large wall of red roses with even more lanterns around the base. I put a sway in my hips feeling more emboldened knowing his eyes were focused on my ass as I could hear his footsteps behind me. I nodded to the people who were there playing for us and they smiled back but went back to playing as though they wanted to fade into the background.
I was grateful for the fur that matched my dress because the night was crisp and breezy but it felt so perfect for today.
“Pose in front of that wall of roses for me, Ling.” He called out his request from closer to me than I expected and I turned to see him with his hand out to take my handbag. It was a ridiculous confection in the shape of a sequined red rose bloom but I absolutely loved it when I saw it inFreeman’syears ago. It was perfect for tonight. I handed it over to him along with my fur and accepted the chill as he placed them on a little table I hadn’t seen that was carefully hidden by floral arrangements.
“I should’ve known you were going to have someone out here taking pictures.”
He winked back at me and pulled me close to him to ensure I didn’t get too cool and kissed my forehead. “Gotta give you the star treatment, Sterling. It wouldn’t be right any other way.”
“This is absolutely perfect, baby.” We swayed softly to the music for a minute and I just soaked in the moment of how this man so intentionally loved me. He saw me, all sides and was as thankful for me as I was for him. So few people had that, I never thought I would and yet here I was living an answered prayer.
“I wanted to ask you about something.” He kept swaying but was whispering into the side of my face as he did.
“About what?” I had my head rested on him thankful that I’d worn the makeup that was smudge-proof because I didn’t want to ruin his tux.
“It might seem controversial but I think you’d be down for it.”
I leaned back and frowned at the oddly worded statement he’d made. He was back to acting funny like he had at home and now my mind was wandering. “You’re not about to ask me for a threesome or something wild like that are you?”
Aldrich’s dimple popped out again his eyes soft as he stared down at me. “All I see is you, Ling, you know that.”
“Then what’s up, baby?”
“I just wondered if you were serious about making a clean break from your past.”
I giggled because he knew I hadn’t had anything to do with my birth family in a minute.
“I don’t talk to them people and I doubt they’ll want to talk to me after I left Denise in jail and she ended up onAthlete Dirt.”
My cousin being arrested of course made the gossip pages especially with the way she was throwing my name around trying to get herself out of trouble. Like a fool, she’d been bragging to one of the girls locked up with her that she would be getting out soon. She’d bragged that Parker Phillips of all people was going to help her out of this. That she was still under the delusion that man would forsake his fiancée for her was proof of her delusion. It, of course, didn’t happen and the family had to call in a lot of favors to get her out of jail. My mother had been pissed at me not doing everything I could to help her out and that was when I got fed up with her antics and blocked her. At the beginning of the year, I changed my number and I finally felt free to just live and be happy.
“That’s cool. You don’t need them when you’ve got your friends, the foundation and a daughter who adores you.” Heplanted a kiss on my forehead and my heart warmed at his mentioning Ami.
“And your family.”
He grinned and nodded because the twins couldn’t stop telling him that he’d chosen well with me. For someone who was rarely viewed as a prize, it felt overwhelming to be seen as one from so many people.
As Grams would say, Jesus was really on the main line that day.
“My family of course. The twins keep talking about the stuff you got them for Christmas.”
“Wegot them. The Dineros know they have stolen my heart. Everyone of you means the world to me. I have favorites of course.”
He rolled his eyes at me as we continued to sway to the music and I could hear the song composition start to shift. “I already know you’re going to say Ami.”
I played with the lapels of his tux because he knew me well. “Yeah, but Daddy Dinero ain’t too shabby. Especially when he creates moments like this that make me feel on top of the world.”
Aldrich’s face shifted as his brows rose contemplatively. “How would you like to become Mama Dinero for real?”
I giggled because he was acting like he’d forgotten that the paperwork had been completed before the end of last year. “What? I’ve already signed—”
I’d been confused but I immediately shut up when he dropped to one knee. When he pulled out a ring box my heart started to race.
“Sterling, you met me when I was a scared, distrustful man who thought he was at the lowest point in his life. The person you are allowed me to remember that there is good in this world. The woman that you are nurtured my daughter and watching how much you loved her made me fall even harder for you. Yourpatience, your holding me accountable when I was so close to fucking all of this up made me remember that love is a beautiful thing. I love you, Sterling, with every part of me. It’s not because of what you can do for me, but simply for who you are. You’ve held me while I cried, been a silent strength when I didn’t feel like I had any. When I’m not with you I’m worried about you and thinking about you and Ami and wondering how I can make life better for you both. I pray I get the chance to love you for decades to come. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
I couldn’t believe how perfect this moment was. I could hear the faint strands ofRibbon in the Skybeing played and it made me tear up even more, knowing how important this song was to him and his family.
