“Oh,” she breathed.
“Better?”
“Yes, thank you, baby.”
“This is not going to work,” he said into her hair.
“You don’t know that. I’ve been dancing all night.”
He laughed warmly and held her a little tighter. They swayed together in the middle of Paige and Giovanni’s night, unbothered, the two of them in their own small quiet while the world celebrated around them. It was always like that.
“You scared?” she asked after a moment.
He was quiet long enough that she knew the answer.
“Yeah,” he said finally. “A little bit.”
“Me too.” She lifted her head and looked up at him. “But I’m glad it’s you.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then his arms tightened around her, and his lips pressed to the side of her head.
“Me too, baby,” he said. “Me too.”
They stayed like that until the song ended. When they finally pulled apart, Rolani looked down at her stomach with a look that was equal parts love and warning.
“Aight, li’l man. You can come out now. We ready.”
Kennedi laughed. “That is not how it?—”
“A’ight, a’ight!” The DJ’s voice cut through the music. “It’s that time, y’all. All my single ladies, get on the dance floor. Paige is about to throw the bouquet!”
The crowd cheered. Women started gathering—cousins, friends, a few aunties who were here for the fun.
“That’s you,” Shadow said, pushing Kennedi toward the group.
“I’m engaged.”
“You’re not married yet. Get up there.”
“Shadow—”
“It’s tradition!”
“I’m nine months pregnant, what the hell do I look like fighting over flowers!”
“Waddle your ass up here and quit fussing.”
Blake laughed and took her other arm. “Stand in the back. You don’t have to catch it.”
Kennedi let herself be dragged to the edge of the group, standing behind the eager single women who actually wanted the bouquet. She caught Rolani’s eye across the room. He wasn’t laughing.
“Aye,don’t get too rough with the pregnant woman. I’m wit da shit if so.”
Giovanni and the men laughed,but he didn’t find a damn thing funny.
Be careful, he mouthed.
Paige stood at the front of the dance floor, bouquet in hand—a gorgeous arrangement of white roses and eucalyptus. She turned her back to the crowd, looked over her shoulder with a mischievous grin.
