Page 68 of Off the Charts
Jersei’s lip was turned into the cutest pout as she walked the space. I knew everybody was here, but I was laser focused on her. Even the sounds of the violin had faded. Watching her walk down the small aisle gave me a clear vision of the day she’d be in a fancy ass white dress coming toward me. That shit made more tears fall.
Jersei made it in front of me, and I grabbed her trembling hands in mine. I kissed them both. “What are you doing?”
“Locking down what’s mine, J.” I took a deep breath watching her bottom lip shake. “I had some shit written for this moment, but every moment we’ve shared has been from the heart, so this shit will be the same. I want to thank you, J. First for being what I needed, but for allowing me the pieces of you that you felt were broken. I don’t even know if you realize that you were never broken. You only needed someone to hit the switch. You are the most amazing, nurturing, funniest, most beautiful human I’ve ever encountered. I’ve never been able to be myself until I met you. You made me believe again, Jersei. Impossible shit became normal to me, and you were the cause of that. As long as I live and even after that, I promise to give you every part of me. Not only that but the world and everything inside of it that you even think you desire.” I paused because my throat got tight. I got tired of fighting the shit, so I let the tears flow. Fuck it. Jersei’s thumbs swiped across my skin ever so gently.
“I remember telling you I was ready to flip the page and start a new chapter. I’ve written a whole new book since you’ve been in my life, J. Nothing but beautiful, high quality ass pageswith sketches of my heart on them. You are carrying our second son, Jersei and although you’ve expressed that this pregnancy is different than your first, you’ve handled it with nothing but grace. You’re a queen Jersei. My queen. You’ve taught me the love of God, self, others, and you. Today, I want to start a fresh chapter with you ‘cause after today, everything between us changes,” I lowered myself to one knee. “I don’t want to go another day without showing you exactly where we stand. I’ve had a lot of honor in my life, but most of it don’t mean shit,” I opened the box revealing the custom cut ring and the diamond sparkled immediately.
“A true honor would be to have you as my wife. Jersei Monroe Lane, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she sobbed. “Yes, I will marry you!”
I released the biggest breath of my life and grabbed the ring from the box. The multi-diamond marquise cut ring slid on her finger perfectly. I stood and pulled her body into mine. The kiss we shared made the air around us feel thinner. Neither of us gave a fuck who was watching as our tongues engaged in a wrestling match. My right hand traced the side of her face until my fingers were pressed against her scalp.
“Vayce Denver. You keep knocking me off my feet,” Jersei held her ring out and gasped. “Oh my gosh. That cartel money gone do it every timeeee!” She did a dance, speaking low for only us to hear. I laughed so damn loud. “Thank you for your love. For being so intentional with me from the first day. I admire your patience. I love everything about you outside of some of your smoothies,” she joked, wiping a tear from my eye. “I prayed for days like this and since you have come into my life, I promise the days feel like a fairytale. Thank you for the love you give. Thank you for seeing and loving me when I struggled to do that shit myself. I promise to be the best version of myself to you and our little ones. I was picked over and overlooked for so long and Ithank you for choosing me, baby. I can’t believe God favors me this much to send me a man like you. I cannot wait for spend my life with you.”
Neither of us could stop our tears. “In every lifetime Jersei, it would’ve been you. I promise.”
Thiswas the second best yes I prayed for, and I got it.
Hand in hand we went to the front where our family was. Everyone took turns congratulating us and Zion ran up to us last.
“Mommy and Pop sitting in the tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g! I told you she would say yes!” he squealed, hugging Jersei. She placed kisses all over his face as he congratulated her then kissed her belly. “I’m so happy for you two. My favorite googly eye couple.” His arms extended and he embraced us both. “And Pops, thank you for claiming me in front of the whole family.”
I knew that shit meant something deeper, because in these nine months the only thing his sperm donor had done was pay child support. To our knowledge, the nigga fell into a depression after his nigga left him. A child shouldn’t suffer for your fuck ups, but he would miss out, not Zion.
I placed a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll claim you in front of the world, kid. Love you.”
We did our handshake that we did a million times a day. “Love you Pops! Love you, Mama!”
“I love you more, baby,” Jersei ruffled his curls before he ran over to Jade, and they danced.
We’d taken countless pictures together and with our family. Not having a DJ didn’t matter. Jersei’s building came with integrated speakers. I synced my phone going to the album itself since this CD wasn’t available as a vinyl. Track eight was the one.
The first time the song played, we rested our foreheads against one another's, allowing the words Monica sang to settle. It was like she was speaking directly to us. Jersei and I silentlycried, sharing kisses, and gazing into each other’s eyes. This was the perfect ending to the dream. The mental notes I’d taken from her, the growth we made individually and together, and every moment we spent was all for this very moment. It was worth every fucking second. My everything was in Jersei and as the song said, I wasn’t trading her shit.
The second time the song played, we sang every lyric from the heart. Our family joined in, hyping us up and singing along while recording. Holding J’s hand up in the air, she turned in a slow circle while dancing to the beat.
“You got my back and baby I got yours,” I pointed between us, rapping the lyrics to her.
“Now I got everything. I got a good man! I’m making wedding plans! Yeahhh!” Jersei damn near shouted and held her left hand in the air. “Even though it took a lifetime to get here, now I finally got everything, it’s you.”
The lyrics faded and we reentered our own dimension again. Jersei palmed the sides of my face. I rested my forehead against hers. I wanted to feel and so did she. My hand moved from her hip to her stomach where I knew our son was resting. He’d already proved to us that he wanted to eat and sleep, nothing in between. Shit, I couldn’t blame him. Pregnancy was beautiful and I trusted that God would allow him to be delivered safely in four more months.
“I love you.”
“I love you, J, with everything in me.”
I pulled her body closer if that were even possible. I don’t think I would never not want her damn near in my skin. I kissed her exposed skin watching as the line of goosebumps appeared as we swayed to the music. I was in love. Deep in this shit too. Soon, we’d be delivering a baby and after that, we’d be walking down the aisle. When you know, you know and there is no timeline to the matters of the heart.
I think I heard some of the students at the school say,God did His big one.I had to use it this once, because He did.
For years I thought I knew exactly what peace was. I prided myself on obtaining it when others were still in search of it. The truth was, there were levels to this shit. I’d found peace within myself years ago, but Jersei planted the peace of being able to give myself without wondering what the fuck was on the other side. Love was a lesson she so easily taught better than any teacher that ever graced the halls of Sweet Pea Academy.
This shit felt like something you could only dream about, one I didn’t want to wake up from if the other side of it wouldn’t lead me back to Jersei Monroe. She was my everything. God’s most beautiful creation. Tears fell down the sides of my face as I looked into her eyes. I couldn’t help but melt my lips into hers. The world went silent when ours met. There was no greater feeling than being chosen. There was no greater love than God’s and the one He allowed Jersei and I to give one another. My wounded heart threw in the white flag of surrender. Love was possible and I got it in Jersei. I indeed got everything I wanted out of this season. My greatest love came unexpectedly, whole, andOff The Charts…
THE END!
