Page 41 of Memphis

Ugh.

“And Miss Boss, do you take him as your husband?” Gianluca asked me.

“Hell no,” I said under my breath, causing Bo to squeeze the fucking life out of my hand.

“Ow! Damn! Yes, I do!” I shrieked.

“You can put the rings on your fingers and shit,” our officiant advised us.

Bo dug three rings out of the front pocket of his black slacks, handing his to me. The bridal set he slid onto my left ring finger was nice and expensive looking.

As was right and proper.

In kind, I slid the simple platinum band onto his finger.

“Okay, so boom! You’s married and shit! You can kiss the bride, Boss!”

In response, Bo kissed me so long and hard and deep that I almost forgot my damn name.

22

After she acted like she didn’t want to marry me, I drove us to the airport to board my jet. No security, just me and my wife flying off to our honeymoon spot. She was quiet, probably a little regretful, but I didn’t give a shit. This was what she wanted, what she’d always wanted, whether she was willing to admit it to me or not.

“Where’d you say we’re going?” she asked, her eyes still outside the window.

“It’s a surprise,” I answered.

“I don’t like surprises.”

“I know, but you’ll be a’ight. You’re gonna like this one.”

She huffed, and I smiled.

“Hey, when you gonna tell your family?” I queried.

She finally gave me her full attention. “Same time you tell yours. I’m sure Mama Pierce will be elated.”

Cocking my head to the side, I said, “I don’t give a fuck how she or anybody else feels about it. Not their business.”

“Hmm,” she hummed as she returned her gaze to the window. “I wish you’d felt that way back in the day. Might’ve saved me a lot of heartache.”

“I…didn’t have a choice. You know that. I never wanted to marry Layla. I never loved her.”

“But you made a baby with her after telling me you didn’t want any children.”

“I didn’t. Still don’t.”

“So, it just…‘happened’?”

“Actually, yes.”

“And your son?”

“What about him?”

She shook her head while releasing a wry chuckle. “Okay.”

“King, don’t try to start some shit with me. This is our honeymoon, and I’ma enjoy itandyou.”

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