Tears filled Layloni’s eyes instantly.
“Layloni…” My voice came out rough. “We started off playing childish games… but now all I want is big steps. Real steps. Steps that make our family solid.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks and I reached up, wiping them away with shaking fingers before pressing a kiss to her face.
“We gonna have ups and downs. I ain’t perfect… but on my son, I swear I’ll spend every day trying to be better for you.” My throat burned.
“I love you so much it scares me,” I admitted. “Thinking about losing you…” My words trailed off.
The lump in my throat exploded into tears that I couldn’t stop from falling down my cheeks.
“You helped me become the man I am today,” I choked out. “I don’t know where I’d be without you… and I don’t ever want to find out.” I laughed weakly through my tears.
“I got way more to say, but if I keep going, I’m gonna ugly cry in front of these niggas… and they’ll never let me live it down.”
A soft laugh broke through her sobs. I opened the box, hands still shaking.
“So on some real shit… please marry me, baby. Be my wife.” I said with pleading eyes.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
“Yes,” she cried. “Yes, baby, I’ll be your wife.” She screamed the words with tears blinding her vision.
I slid the ring onto her finger then stood to pull her in for a tight hug. I turned and nodded my head at Cream and Hussle. Quietly, they disappeared to grab the pastor.
I wasn’t waiting months, not even weeks. I was marrying her beautiful ass today.
“We doing this tonight.” I told her.
She looked stunned as the makeup artist popped up out of thin air to whisk her away to get dressed. I changed into my white tux and waited outside, heart still pounding.
I wanted our son to enter this world with two parents united as one.
When Layloni finally stepped back into the backyard…
I broke all over again.
She looked like an angel descending straight from heaven.
‘All My Lifeby KC & JoJo’ crooned through the speakers.
Girl, you are close to me you’re like my mother, close to me you’re like my father, close to me you’re like my sister...
I balled right there and couldn’t stop, as she made it close to me.
Said, I promise to never fall in love with a stranger... you’re all I’m thinking of I praise the Lord above... for sending me your love I cherish every hug... I really love you...
I mouthed the words, as she approached me. I couldn’t help but to embrace her as tightly. I rubbed her belly to let my baby know I loved him too. She smiled, and I felt my soul warm up.
You’re all that I ever know. When you smile, my face glows. You picked me up when I was down... and I hope that you do love me tooo....
When the song ended, we held hands tight, refusing to let go. The pastor held a black balloon in his right hand, bible in left hand. Cream stuck a needle in the balloon revealing that we were having a boy. Blue confetti went everywhere. I dropped to my knees and kissed her stomach as I rubbed it.
“My boy...”
I smiled with pride, I bit back my laugh. Layloni squinted her eyes at me and giggled at my theatrics. My momma would kill us if she knew we both knew the sex of her grandchild for months without telling her.
We grounded ourselves after receiving a bunch of congratulations from our friends and family. Next the pastorproceeded with wedding us. We went through our vows and when we said, “I do,” I felt like my whole life was now complete.
