Page 28 of Dr. Bell

Wait, bruh.

Although I blinked a few times, I didn’t take my eyes off of Pretty. Before long, she stood in front of me, her lace veil partially covering the beautiful face behind it. Because this was our wedding, and I couldn’t resist, carefully, I lifted the veil to expose her to me. Her eyes slowly opened to peer at me under her long lashes.

“Pretty, Pretty, Pretty…”

Nervously, she smiled. Her eyes teared up, but she quickly pulled herself together. Taking her hands in mine seemed to offer her more courage. She took a deep breath, and her smile grew brighter.

Honestly, everything faded after that. Whatever blessings Pastor James bestowed over us were lost as I was in another world, dreaming of all the ways I would spoil Pretty. The minute Pastor gave me the go ahead to kiss my bride, I palmed Pretty’s face and eagerly joined our lips. I should’ve kept it short and sweet. However, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to taste her tongue. With a little urging, my tongue slipped between her lips.

Something I’d never felt in life laid inside Pretty. If there was any vulnerability inside me, she tapped into it. We had only just begun.

Aftercountlesspictureswiththe wedding party, we were finally escorted to the dining hall located at the back of One Bell Place. As we entered the hall, everyone clapped and cheered as if this event was something I’d planned months ago. Two people stood out, catching Pretty’s eye. She gasped, and her hand slipped from mine as she covered her face to hide the shock. Leaving my side, she went to Haven for an embrace that lasted several minutes. The two wiped each other’s tears and embraced some more. I walked up to Jabari and dapped him.

“Glad you could make it,” I stated.

He chuckled. “My wife would’ve disowned me.”

The music changed, and the chords of the song Pretty and I would share our first dance to, moved over the small crowd.

“Let’s give a round of applause to Mr. and Mrs. Adir Bell as they join together for their first dance as husband and wife.”

At the DJ’s request, the crowd clapped. Reluctantly, Pretty gathered her emotions, took my hand back in hers, and let me led her to the middle of the floor. I brought her close to my body as the live band slipped into a rendition ofSpend My Life With Youby Eric Benét.

I couldn’t lie to myself any longer. Having Pretty in my arms was just…right. Although I towered over her, we were perfect together. She wore high heels, and still, her head barely reached my shoulders. When our hands joined together… It was like fate. Like purpose. Like perfection.

“I can’t believe you got Haven and Jabari here.”

The water in her eyes compounded the fact that Pretty needed her people, not just me and mine. No matter how close she became to Bianca or my mother, she needed the people she was used to.

“What’s a wedding without ya people? I’ve told them that they’re welcome here any time.”

She grinned happily. “I wish things could stay this way.”

Slightly tilting my head as I smoothly transitioned to having one hand at the small of her back and the other still holding her hand, I said, “Why would anything change?”

“Because… This is all for show—”

“Ah… What if it ain’t, baby?”

She blinked a few times, then smiled. “I appreciate that you want me to forget how this all started.”

“Quickly,” I quipped causing her to giggle. “We have an entire future to be thankful for that night.”

My comment slowly sank in, causing Pretty to blush. For the remainder of the dance, we blocked everyone out and gazed into each other’s eyes.

COCO

Theweddingendedhoursago, yet I was still coasting off the kiss Adir laid on me. Not to mention the way he held me as we slow danced. Between the two, my mind and body were both floating in space. That man… He really was doing too much. We decided to hold off on our honeymoon for obvious reasons. When the time was right, we’d take it there.

“Okay, boo. Hear me out.”

I sipped some wine to hide the smile on my face. Haven’s tone was low and mischievous, although she and I were the only ones in the living room of the guest house she and Jabari were staying in while here. Haven and I’d had showers, dressed in pajamas, and giggled like schoolgirls the whole time. It had been so long since she and I behaved with such carefree abandon. For Haven it was work. For me, it was Quilo.

Adir and Jabari were out on the patio smoking. Honestly, I wanted to be nosey. Occasionally, their laughter spilled into the house.

“I’m listening,” I finally said to Haven.

She sighed. “You’ve been lying to me.”

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