Page 34 of Cherry's Jubilee

“I love you too, Jubilee.”

“Slide down this dick and ride me.”

And I do

“Damn, girl,” Ginger says after I turn around for her.

She’s been here for the past few hours while I got ready for this stupid wedding. The only positive thing is the shopping spree I went on courtesy of my boyfriend. Solange couldn’t go, but Ginger couldn’t stay away if she tried.

“You like?” I ask as I spin for my friend in the long, figure-hugging, strapless red dress with a sweetheart neckline. The dress is long and flares at the bottom. Instead of straightening my hair for this occasion, I decided to go natural and let my tight curls shine.

Ginger whistles and says, “I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Chanel. Your man is going to have a heart attack.” She helps me put onthe diamond earrings and matching bracelet Daniel gave me yesterday. After putting on my rhinestone-covered open-toed heels, I finally turn and look at my reflection in the mirror. I smile in satisfaction as I run my hands over my hips. “And where is your man?” Ginger asks.

As the words leave her mouth, the bedroom door opens, and he walks in, still wearing shorts and a tee. He stops short when he sees me.

“Cherry Bomb,” he says, as if he’s in awe. “You look so beautiful.” He approaches and looks down at me.

“Um, is this what you’re wearing?” I ask.

“Give me fifteen minutes to shower and dress,” he says as he peels off his t-shirt.

Ginger pretends to be shocked and closes her eyes tight.

“Honestly!” I say as he runs from me and shuts himself inside the bathroom.

“Your parents are here?” I ask, stunned when Daniel leads us to a pew only to see his mom and dad. They smile and wave at us. His dad stands and kisses my cheek, and his mom does the same. I look around and spot my parents, along with Kirby and Solange. My mom and Solange are all wearing pink, along with every other woman here other than me. I stand out like a sore thumb in my red dress and wouldn’t change anything about it.

We’re barely there five minutes before the wedding begins. It’s a large affair with eight bridesmaids and groomsmen. There are four junior bridesmaids and two adorable ring-bearers.

We stand when the wedding march begins, and Ashley and Uncle Whit come out. She’s in a big poufy ballgown, and her veil covers her face. Rob stands at the altar with his brother as his best man.

When the vows are exchanged, Daniel holds my hand, and I rest my head on his shoulder. The wedding is a beautiful and grand affair, and if it hadn’t been Ashley’s wedding, I would have had a much better time.

“You look phenomenal,” Solange whispers. “I love the red. Karen is already giving you the death glare from across the way.” I turn my head to find her glaring at me. I grin and promptly give her my back. “She almost choked each time you got in one of the family pictures. I wish you had told me so I could have worn red too.”

“You’re too nice,” I say back to my sister.

“And look.” She points at Daniel’s parents, who are talking and laughing with our parents. “This is going to kill that bitch.”

I roll my eyes. “I can’t wait until this wedding is over. Daniel is going to reassign Ashley to another executive,” I whisper. “Because I told him I don’t trust her not to spit in my coffee.”

“Good. He really loves you, and we have work until the new year.”

Daniel invited my family and Ginger to his dad’s yacht the day after Dad's birthday. Upon hearing about Solange and Kirby’s business, Josephine Jubilee hired them to cater one of her charity lunches. Mrs. Jubilee introduced them to her other friends, and since then, they’ve been getting steady work.

“Oh, God. The groom and his bridezilla are working the room now. I will reluctantly admit that Ashley looks pretty today,” she whispers.

“I won’t,” I say back, but she does. I just refuse to say it.

I look around for Daniel, who I find at the bar. He’s in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and no tie. The bartender hands him two drinks and when he walks over he gives me one.

“Your parents invited mine over for dinner next weekend,” he says, and I almost choke on my drink. “They’ve accepted.” I try to picture his parents, who lived in a mansion with an indoor pool, sitting at my parents' kitchen island.

“Well, okay then.” I sip my drink and put it down on our table.

My parents and his join us just as Ashley, Rob, her parents, and sister approach. When Ashley narrows her eyes at me, I make sure to give her a big smile. Daniel puts his arm around my waist, and I swear I see steam shooting out of the top of her head.

“Congratulations, Ashley and Rob,” Mr. Jubilee says, and Ashley smiles warmly at him. She only gives my mother a dismissive look when she congratulates her.