“And RiRi,” she repeated, giggling. “Um, right now we’re in the bathroom of Geona’s because I had to pee, and of course, I can’t do that alone. So, here you are with me.”
Najee chuckled. “You ain’t tell me to get out. Plus, I was making sure there wasn’t anybody in here on some weird shit.”
“Always my protector.” Orielle melted more into him.
Najee kissed her cheek. “Always, baby. I’ma do that for life.” He smacked her on the ass and stopped recording, then washed his hands. Walking to the door, he used the foot hook to pull it open, and Orielle walked ahead of him.
When they made it to their table, Najee’s key lime pie was waiting for him. Orielle barely glanced at it before sitting in her chair, and Najee took his.
“I don’t see why they call it the key lime special. What’s so special about it?” she asked, taking a sip of her water. Picking up the plate, Najee handed it to her.
“I don’t know. Look at it and tell me,” he encouraged.
Wanting to cure her curiosity, Orielle grabbed the plate. Flipping it around, she said, “They wrote something on?—”
Gasping, she damn near tossed the plate in the air when she finished reading what the words in chocolate sauce said. With trembling hands, her chest hiccupped as she looked across the table at Najee, who was smirking. On cue,To Love and Be Lovedby Annie Tracy floated through the speakers.
“I got you, huh?” Najee asked and stood up, walking around to her side.
Orielle nodded, unable to contain the tears pooling in her eyes. She hadn’t been expecting Najee to propose to her at all. Especially not this soon. Najee knew he wanted her to be his wife, but more than anything, he wanted to be Orielle’s husband. It wasn’t too soon in his eyes. He’d spent years with someone for it to go nowhere, so time meant nothing to him. He knew what his heart felt and what his gut told him, and he led with that. He always had.
Orielle wanted to glance around the room they were in, but she was frozen in place. Her body had literally locked up from shock, and her hands were trembling. Doing some deep breaths, she told herself to relax, and she was finally able to lower the plate.
This entire time, she thought he just wanted to celebrate, but this man had actually planned a whole, intimate proposal. No crowd, no family or friends yet, just the two of them for now. Najee only wanted her presence and for her to focus on him. Orielle expected the writing on the plate to say something like ‘Congrats’ or even ‘Enjoy,’ but she never thought it’d say,‘Can I Change Your Last Name?’
The answer was yes, and he hadn’t even asked her yet. She should have known when he asked her to be his woman months ago that that was only the beginning. Being his girlfriend wasn’t enough. He touched her hand, forcing her to turn and face him.
“Baby,” she whined as he caressed her arms.
“Can you stand up for me, Pretty Girl?”
She nodded, and he held both her hands, helping her stand to her feet. Orielle looked up at him with her mouth ajar and those damn tears in her eyes that made him want to shoot everything moving. Everyone was safe today, though, because they were tears of happiness. Najee smiled.
“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, eyes locked on his handsome face.
Oh, my gosh. This man wants to marry me. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. Oh, my gosh. I wonder if my breath stinks. He doesn’t care. He literally holds my hand while I shit. He’d wipe my ass if I let him. Yeah, he loves me real bad. Oh, my God. I’ma have a husband.
Orielle’s thoughts were going haywire, and every emotion was written on her face. Najee saw it all in her eyes.
Leaning in, he kissed her lips. “I know. You were expecting something else, huh?”
She sniffled and nodded. “Yes. I... oh my gosh.”
Orielle was too choked up to speak. When Najee lowered to one knee in front of her, she covered her mouth and nose with both hands. Grinning underneath them so big, her cheeks hurt.
“Move your hands, baby. It’s a nigga around here somewhere taking pictures.”
She giggled and dropped her hands.
“Okay, okay,” she said, fanning her hands, trying to shake her nerves away.
“In front of all of our family and friends, I’ma keep this shit real sweet with you, baby. Yeah, they’re in another room across the restaurant,” Najee explained, when her eyes widened.
That’s why everyone has been acting weird and why he didn’t want me to go to the main restroom. Ooooh. He’s too smooth,she thought, grinning.
The entire staff was in on this moment, too. Najee had to request things last minute and adjust under pressure. He hadn’tthought about her having to use the restroom and possibly spotting a family member, and almost gave himself away, but like always, he made shit shake. Their family and friends, closest to them, were watching a live recording from a camera that a technician had discreetly set up.
“I love you,” Najee began, and Orielle swallowed hard, mouthingI love you, too. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life not knowing what that feels, sounds, tastes, hears, and smells like if it’s not with you. You activate every sense. You’re the consistent air I love breathing in, and the sweetest girl, I love savoring when this bitter world gets cold with a nigga. You push me into becoming the best man I can be without saying much. You’re just you, and I love that about you, RiRi. My Pretty Girl.”
