It felt like home.
Jackie’s eyes panned the dance floor. Antonio was dancing with Celeste, twirling her. The older woman was all giggles as he dipped her, and she playfully swatted at him when he lifted her up.
Jackie shook her head. “Let him have his fun. I’m going to rest my barking dogs.”
“Suit yourself,” said Mya with a shrug. “But don’t ask me to save you a piece of the groom’s cake. I’m still shocked it came here in one piece.”
Gideon’s groom’s cake, shaped like a classic Jordan 1, shipped from Atlanta to Costa Rica in one piece, along with a four-tier wedding cake. Tanika had convinced Gideon to go for red velvet instead of carrot cake, much to everyone’s delight. It was clear that Tanika was a good influence on Gideon, getting him out of his comfort zone. Sometimes a good partner did that. Jackie caught eyes with Antonio, who gave her a wink. Her heart did a somersault.
Jackie was reaching down to unbuckle her sandal when a shadow appeared above her. She didn’t have to look up to know who it was. His cologne gave it away.
“I know you didn’t leave Celeste hanging on the dance floor.”
“Celeste is fine. Stu cut in on the salsa track.” Antonio knelt down, removing Jackie’s hand and unbuckling her shoe. “Plus, I saw you over here struggling with these. Your toes are killing you, aren’t they?”
Jackie groaned. “Yes. I knew I should have picked a more sensible shoe.”
Antonio and Jackie looked at each other and burst out laughing. He shook his head. “When it comes to shoes, ‘sensible’ doesn’t even belong in your vocabulary.” He removed Jackie’s sandal and rubbed her aching arches, then moved on to her pinky toe. Jackie couldn’t help but moan. The man, as usual, had the magic touch.
Antonio bit his lips as his fingers rubbed. “These pretty-ass toes. And you had the nerve to paint them green. You know that’s my favorite color.”
“Don’t start nothing up in here,” Jackie warned. “I don’t need my friends knowing what kind of freak you are.”
“Trust me, they know what kind of freaksweare. The walls of this resort are thin. PeeWee’s snoring did very little to mask our noises the other night.”
Jackie let out a horrified gasp. “Oh God! Don’t tell me that…” She took a big sip of her champagne, the fizzy bubbles burning her nose.
“Yep,” Antonio said, his hands moving on to her big toe. “They heard us. PJ asked if he was going to going to be a big brother.”
Jackie nearly choked on her champagne. “Ant,no! I’ll never be able to look him in the eye.”
Antonio chuckled. “He’ll be alright. And I told him that we are too old for more kids. He’s more than enough.”
“Yes, he certainly is. Do you know he wanted me to write a social media clause in his next contract because he wants to avoid bad selfies?”
Antonio laughed, “He would add something like that!”
Bronwyn came over carrying a small, silk bag. She shook her head. “See, I told you to wear the flats Tanika gave us in our welcome bag. But no, here you are with a swollen pinky toe.” She handed the bag to Antonio, who pulled out the foldable flats.
Jackie frowned. “Bron, those are hideous.” But Jackie didn’t object when Antonio slipped them on her feet. She wiggled her toes and instantly felt relief. She had to admit, they felt like walking on clouds. These flats didn’t convince her to leave her life of stilettos behind, though.
Bronwyn rolled her eyes. “Jackie, you are three apples tall. No one is going to see your feet.” She cut her eyes to Antonio, a knowing smile on her face. “Well, except one person. I’ve been told that Sagittarius men really love foot play. Kenny is an Aquarius, so he’s all about roleplay. You know, Antonio, I bet—”
Jackie held up a hand. “Bronwyn, please don’t go there.”
Antonio chuckled, quickly standing up. “I’m going to go get a drink. I’ll bring you another one, Lucky.” He kissed Jackie on the forehead and made his way to the bar.
Bronwyn took a seat next to Jackie. She sighed, her bangles making noise as she shook her head. “I swear, I don’t get why folks are so uptight about sex. We are adults, for Goddess’s sake! Everyone has their thing that makes them a little freaky!”
Sara rushed over to Bronwyn and Jackie. Her perfectly curled tendrils were sticking to her face from perspiration after grooving on the dance floor. “Jackie, why are you sitting down! Tanika is ready to toss the bouquet.”
Jackie sucked her teeth. “Why is she doing this? She knows there are only three of us who are single here!” She did air quotes around the wordsinglebecause she didn’t feel like she qualified. She was with someone.With someone. She’d needed to get used to saying that.
“Doesn’t matter! C’mon! You’ve been summoned.” Sara grabbed Jackie’s hand, pulling her out of her chair and leading her to the middle of the dance floor. She looked over her shoulder, mouthinghelp meto Bronwyn, who simply shrugged and waved with a smile as Kenny and the rest of the Carter clan joined her to watch what was sure to be a disaster.
Jackie folded her arms and huffed as the DJ started playing “Single Ladies,” the unofficial bouquet-tossing anthem. Honestly, she would have much rather he played “Knuck if You Buck”—but hey, it wasn’t her wedding. She looked over to see Sara stretching in her dress, comically doing squats. Mya was looking just as uninterested as Jackie, scrolling on her phone instead of readying herself for the toss.
Tanika had changed into a shorter, sleeveless ivory dress with custom retro Pumas that saidMrs. Mileson the side in blue. She looked stunning with her gray-streaked hair blown out and flowing down her back. “Alright! Y’all ready? Mya! Get off the phone!”
