“Bentley?” she breathes as I stop before her.
“Hey, Zah.”
I can’t take my eyes off her face. Zah has the clearest skin I’ve ever seen. Her dark-brown complexion has this glow about it. It looks like the purest dark chocolate kissed by hues of bronze and gold.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, looking up into my eyes, searching.
“You’re getting married. My family was invited.”
“Coswell, I wasn’t expecting you. This event is by invitation and RSVP only. I don’t know that there’s a place for you tonight,” Gilbert says with a smug grin on his face.
“Oh, that’s not a problem. My mother RSVP’d. I’m her plus-one,” I reply, returning his smile with a shit-eating one of my own.
“Oh. My. God. I should have known our mothers were up to something. Gilbert, I’m so sorry about this.”
“What is there to be sorry about? We grew up together. Gilbert and I were once friends. I don’t see the problem.”
Zahirah sighs and rubs her temples. “Bentley, can you and I do this some other time?”
“No, not if it means you’ll be married to someone else.”
She looks at me with wide eyes. “Are you serious?”
I give her a pointed look. Gilbert moves her behind him and steps forward to get into my face. I roll my shoulders back.
The nerve of this asshole. I’ve always known he’s wanted Zahirah. He’s not who she thinks he is.
“Maybe you should go. She doesn’t want you here and after tomorrow, I don’t want you around my wife.”
“Gilbert,” Zah gasps. “Can I talk to you?”
I release a grin. Gilbert growls in my face but takes a step back and Zah tugs at his arm.
Pussy.
“I’ll be waiting right here for my turn,” I say as they begin to walk away.
Gilbert stops and turns toward me with his fists balled. I don’t even flinch. I will lay his ass out if he jumps at me. Gilbert ought to know better.
While we were once friends, I’ve kicked his ass more than once. I’d be happy to do it again.
I can’t believe he went after my girl behind my back. I’m not surprised. He has always been a pretentious asshole.
I can’t begin to fathom why Zah has gotten involved with him. He’s not her type. The jerk has to be putting on airs to get her to fall for his shit.
Gilbert opens his mouth to spew some crap when a loud cry fills the air. We all turn to see what’s going on. I sprint into action as soon as I see what’s taking place.
My heart is in my throat. This can’t be happening. I stop breathing until I make my way over to my mother, sisters, brothers, and ...
“Mom?” Zah cries as she drops to her knees.
Zahirah
“Mom? Mom,”I cry as my mother lies on the ground.
My ears are ringing, and my heart is racing. What is going on? I can’t lose my mom.
“She said she wasn’t feeling well in the car and passed out as we were making our way inside,” Mrs. Coswell says as she wrings her hands.
