Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
The Scot blocked my view from the door. Lachlan grinned. “So, you offered your best mate—me—a five-dollar funeral, in the event Natasha’s dad murdered me at the altar.”
“And?”
Lach glanced around the party as if the free-flowing champagne alone made his point.
I blinked.
“Is Big Country chained in the cellar, muttering, Marriage is the Sunken Place? Did Montana finally repossess his body? Because no version of you pulls this nonsense for a woman. I would. You? Nae.”
“Lach, bruh.”
“Explain the madness. Next thing I know, we’ll be ring shopping.” His blue eyes lit up.
“First,” I whispered, “you owe me bodies. I come to collect. Just need help with one.” Maybe. If I couldn’t get to Edwin.
“Chat after the party?” he replied under his breath.
I nodded.
Then he beamed, rubbing his hands together. “But where should we go ring shopping?”
“Bruh, I’m not going ring shopping with you.” I snatched a passing chocolate truffle and tossed it back like a shot.
He scoffed. “Ye said that the last time too. Still helped me pick Natasha’s ring.”
“And watch you cry over a cushion cut again?” I shot back just as Natasha walked up, her brows climbing. Yeah. She heard.
I shrugged, keeping a straight face. Dude was my brother. I was allowed to fabricate an entire emotional breakdown if it amused me.
“Did you really cry over the ring?” she whispered as I walked away.
I approached Momma as she sipped the Mardi Grits like it was communion. I’d almost settled on “Montana’s Manchac Midnight” for a signature drink. It fit my brand, sounded smooth—but, nah. Had to remind Zuri of her stealing grits. Her drink “Zuri’s Kiss” had strawberry puree, gin, and rosewater. Auntie Peaches clutched a drink in each hand, worried the open bar would end. Mental note: tell servers to cut her off before those feathers made her believe she could fly.
“Where’s Tex?” I asked, glancing around. That fool hadn’t answered me since pissing off his twin.
Washington walked up, holding a powdered beignet as if it were evidence. “He went MIA after our chat. Momma, he call you?”
“Non.” She rubbed her index and thumb together like she was counting sins.
“If he does something stupid”—Washington bit the beignet—“I’m gonna—”
“Hush,” she muttered. “He’ll be here.”
I rolled my eyes when Darius shot off, a thunderclap.
I turned around.
Zuri.
Time folded right here. The music, chatter, laughter—all of it faded. She stood beneath the draped archway. The purple gown hugged her like sunlight over deep water, gold glittering where it embraced her curves and caught the light of her skin—rich and radiant. She’d done her hair up like God Himself shaped it into a crown with patience and pride. Every curve of her? A prayer answered.
My chest tightened. This was love. The thunder in your chest. The stillness that humbled you. Like watching royalty walk in.
My soul whispered, God have mercy!
Darius tugged her hand, brontosaurus bouncing in his other hand, its little mask still taped on. We had to rig it. When we hatched this plan, Little Dude brought out the pop quizzes. Had me remembering the names of ten different dinos. If I forgot, I’d have a special mask for Brody. Hell, I hadn’t forgotten, but he’d stared at me like he could toss some craps.
Now the little bébé was dragging my big bébé toward me. Her hips swayed as Darius had her move faster than the brass band.
“So.” She grinned. “You love Valentine’s Day enough to throw a party?”
“I don’t give a damn about anybody enjoying this party. I just had to show you off to the people I love—some of em? Just a little.” I measured with my fingers.
Tennessee shouted, “Dude used money to outdo me, Zuri!”
“Yeah, definitely in front of that one. Ten, you better loosen them cornrows! He thought since he saw you first, he might have dibs. Ain’t nobody got rights to you but me, Zuri,” I said, voice steady but rough around the edges. “I could’ve asked you anywhere. But here? With my family standing around. My roots. Where I can show you who I am and take off my mask.” I removed my mask and handed it to Darius, just like we practiced.
He fumbled with it. Least it wasn’t glass like Zuri’s. He snatched off his mask and threw it on the floor.
My head tilted. Little Dude?
“Oh, oh, I didn’t forget!” Darius held Brody high, tearing off the dinosaur’s mask.
“Hold up there, bébé,” I told him before he threw away what was underneath the mask. I removed the diamond ring from the tape, letting it fall onto my pinkie finger. “Now you know this part was his idea.” I handed the dinosaur back to him and helped her remove her mask. She held it to herself nervously.
“What are you doing, Montana?” Zuri’s gasp fluttered through her lips.
“My bad. Dinner was supposed to come first. But I saw you. Couldn’t wait for this part.” I dropped to a knee and held up the ring, the diamond on fire beneath all the light.