To Love a Man (33 page)

“She is just trying to get under your skin.”

“Yeah well it's not her that I am worried about.”

“Then what are you worried about?”

“Ramón and I have been arguing about her. He says she means nothing to him one minute then the next it's let me handle her I never got over her and when it comes to my daughter let me handle it. I thought we were a team. I thought we were in this together. But apparently we are only in it together on things that have nothing to do with his life.”

Desiree walked to the room and the girls followed her. Britney started to help her unbutton the dress and Nikki sat on the bed.

“Desi you need to understand that it's not as easy to let go for men as it is for us. Charles screwed you over and yet you are open to loving someone new but that took time.”

“He had longer than I did to get over her and I am not gonna sit around and wait for him to leave me for her.”

Britney sighed.
“You really think he would?”

“How am I supposed to know? I am so scared that all this might not be anything anymore you know.”

“He wants to marry you that’s something.” Nikki urged.

“Until something better comes along.”

“Desiree my brother loves you he wouldn’t dream of hurting you ever don't let some stupid nobody ruin what you two can have.”

“I am so afraid that my happiness is about to leave at any moment. I don't want it to leave. I want to be happy. I want this love I feel for him to immolate the love he feels for me.”

Desiree placed the dress back on the hanger and gave it back to Britney. She proceeded to get dressed. Britney smiled.

“I know it seems hard to read my brother but he does love you so much. All he is asking is for you to be with him and I know that. You want to be his wife right?”

“Of course I do. He is the one and I know that but I don't want to be hurt.”

“Where’s my wifey?”

Ramón walked into the room, and Desiree screamed as she and Nikki blocked Britney who was holding the dress.

“Ramón go away.”

“What’s going on?” he asked peeking his head into the room.

“You can’t see my dress
what are you doing home?”

“Oh you found one? Let me see.”

“Didn’t I just tell you, you couldn’t see it? Go away.”

“Come on one little peek.”
He tried to stand on his tippy toes to see the dress.

“Leave!”
Ramón moved closer but Desiree pushed him out the door. And shut it behind her.

“Forget the dress you and me need to talk.”

“Talk about what? I just came to get my clothes for tonight I forgot them.”

Desiree
placed her hair behind her ears. “Kim came by today. For you.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Really that’s all you have to say? This woman comes to our house and all you can say is what does that have to do with me? Unbelievable.”

Desiree stormed away and Britney opened the door.

“You are a complete and total idiot.”

She smacked him on the shoulder.

“How could you say that to her.”

“What did I do?”

“Why are you ruining your relationship?”

“I’m not.”

“Come on you are allowing Kim to cause problems all Desiree wants to know is that she means so much more to you than Kim and that you want to start a family with her. You are naive if you think Kim is gonna let you get married without a fight. She isn’t and you need to realize that no matter what you think Desiree should feel she is never going to be ok with you and Kim.”

“What am I supposed to do?”
he asked frustrated at the whole situation.

“I don't know
but what I do know is you need to go upstairs and talk to her. How would you feel if Charles was around and being shoved in your face all the time. And I need you do it now so we can hide the dress.”

“What would I do without you sis?”

“I don't think you wanna find out.”

Ramón walked up the stairs and walked into the room. Desiree looked up and walked over to him.

“I am so sorry.”

“No baby I am sorry.”

“No Ramón I need to have faith in you and trust in what we have. And I do I am just a little scared of losing you.”

“You won’t I love you.”

“Yeah that’s what you keep telling me. But it's hard to believe it when you act like this. It's hard to understand because you’re a man but when you just put something off cause it doesn’t matter to you it hurts me.”

“Ok I get it. If we are gonna be man and wife then your feelings need to matter.”

“Exactly. I love you.”

Ramón pulled her close.

“You know we don't have to meet up with everyone for another two hours and I am sure I can be a little late…I think we need to makeup.”

“No.”

‘No?”

“We are not making up until after we are married. We have put if off this long.”

“Come on it's been almost a month I miss you.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”

“Ramón I know you don't understand but humor me ok?”

She kissed him passionately then took his bottom lip between hers and sucked it before letting it go. She smiled at him then walked away.

“Evil seductress.”

Desiree beamed at everyone as the rehearsal wedding and dinner got underway and everyone talked amongst themselves. She walked over to her mom and dad.

“So mom how are you feeling?”

“I'm gonna be honest I didn't think you could put this wedding together such little time but I am pleasantly surprised. And Ramón is a wonderful man.”

“So where is Remmi?”

“She is around. I think she has made friends with a Quincy Brown?”

“Oh Lord I better go save him.”

Desiree walked right into Kelli and Remmi talking to Ramón’s teammates Quincy and Jonah.
Desiree smiled.

“Excuse me guys didn't mean to interrupt.”

“Oh gentlemen can you excuse us for a second?”

Remmi and Kelli pulled Desiree over to Britney and Nikki. Desiree smiled.

“What’s going on?”

“We need to head home and get changed because we are going out.”

“Out? Out where?”

“For your bachelorette party.”

“I told you I didn't want to go out. Plus what about the bridal shower? I thought we were doing it at home?”

“Look we got it all under control now are you gonna come with us or do we have to force you kicking and screaming?”

“Fine.”

She turned and walked away. An hour and a half later, they walked into Plex the hottest club in Charleston. Desiree frowned and Remmi looked at her.

“What’s wrong big sis?”

“You guys know this is not me. I love you guys I do but can’t we go to the house or something.”

“You said you would go with the flow so come on.”

Desiree followed Britney, Nikki, Remmi, Kelli, Gia and few other friends of hers pass the dance floor and to one of their VIP rooms. Desiree smiled as she saw the Light blue and Gold balloons and one table full of gifts and another full of sandwiches and chips and drinks. Desiree gave a wide grin.

“You guys did all this for me?”

Nikki hugged her.

“Nothing is too good for you. First we open gifts then we party.”

Remmi lead Desiree to a chair and placed a sash over her shoulder that read bride to be and then placed a crown over her head that read the same thing. She grabbed the first gift and handed it to Desiree.

“Desi this is from mom and dad.”

Desiree opened it and saw a canvas pack picnic basket for two. It consisted of melamine plates, goblets, flatware and napkins for four, plus a bread knife, wooden cutting board, salt and pepper shakers and a sommelier's corkscrew and a detachable wine cooler and gray felt blanket. She smiled as she noticed it was personalized to her and Ramón. Nikki smiled.

“And I will be borrowing that.”

Desiree
tilted her head.

“Nope it's personalized therefore hands off.”

Remmi handed her another gift.

“This is from Britney and her husband.”

Britney smiled.

“Don’t worry I picked it out and wrapped it. I loved the one I got so thought you would love this.”

Desiree opened it and gave a devilish smile as she opened the Champagne and Strawberries Treasure Trove. The kit included strawberry-flavored body dust that could be applied with the feather tickler applicator, and to stimulate mind, body and spirit it had strawberry and champagne oils of love and strawberry and champagne pleasure balm.

“Wow now this is a bridal shower gift. Thanks Brit.”

Kelli grabbed her gift and handed it to Desiree.

“Now this isn’t as inventive as Brits but it will go along with it very well I hope you like it.”

Desiree opened a sheer red seductive style baby doll nightgown with an opened back with a v-string.

“Ohmigosh are you serious?”

Desiree laughed.

“This is not me at all and I love it.”

“That’s not fair I got you the same thing except in black.”

Remmi held up her gift and all the girls laughed. After all the gifts were opened and the party was underway Desiree couldn’t help but feel sad. She missed Ramón. It just didn't feel right having fun without him. She looked at her phone and wished Ramón would call. Remmi sat next to her and held her arm.

“What’s wrong bigs?”

“Nothing lils.”
Desiree said laughing at the nickname they had given each other a long time ago.

“Come on I know you. You miss your hubby don’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“Cause I miss me some fine basketball players too.”

“I know his friends and they have strippers on the brain not that I don't trust him I just I don't know.”

Remmi stood and clinked her glass.

“Ladies, ladies I think it's time to bring in the last gift.”

Desiree looked up.

“What last gift?”

Nikki smiled.

“I think it's time we bring in the guys.”

“Guys? Wait no you know how I feel about that.”

“Come on just go with it. Close your eyes.”

Desiree smacked her teeth and did as she was told. Someone placed a blindfold over her eyes.

“Hey no one said a blindfold.”

“Just go with it.”

Desiree sat back down as the music started. She suddenly became aware of someone behind her. He started to caress her arm and she pulled back. The guy began to dance around her and she immediately felt like she knew him. He pulled her to him and began to nibble on her ear she smiled to herself as she inhaled. She knew Ramón anywhere she took of her blindfold and pulled him in her arms. Ramón smiled.

“How did you know?”

“Baby I would know you anywhere. I am so glad you are here.”

“It didn't seem right celebrating my last night of freedom without you. So care to join me for a dance?”

“For the rest of my life.”

He kissed her and Nikki looked at Aj.

“So how much did he complain before you told him you were coming here?”

“Up until we got out the car. He loves her.”

“And she loves him.”

***

Desiree felt sick to her stomach; the butterflies had been doing summersaults all day. She looked in the mirror and she suddenly felt fat and hideous. She turned towards Nikki her matron of honor and Britney one of her bridesmaids.

“I can’t do this. What was I thinking? I can’t marry Ramón.”

They pulled her from the mirror and began to finish buttoning her dress. Desiree looked over to where Gia, Kelli and Remmie were adding the finishing touches to their dresses. Nikki patted her shoulder.

“Why are you so nervous? You weren’t this nervous when you married Charles.”

“What if I get down the aisle and he realizes he has made a huge mistake?”

Britney laughed.

“One thing you need to learn about my brother, he is very selective on who he lets in his life. He made the mistake once of not trusting himself. He loves you and Zack and he knows you love him and Maddie. What are you afraid of?”

“Kim ok! I am afraid of Kim.”
Desire threw her hands on her hips.

Nikki laughed
“Come on she has nothing on you.”

“Nikki she is Maddie’s mom.”