Chapter 16

I don't knowwhat I did to deserve Jacob, but I thanked God, my lucky stars, and Arranged Hearts for putting him in my path. I couldn't believe he'd bought us a home… my dream home at that. When I saw the property on Zillow, I immediately saved it to my favorites to show him. Now that we'd toured and our offer had been accepted, I was excited to start packing up my apartment. This place had been my home for the last six years, and I would miss it, but it was time to go.

It was Saturday, and I was currently in my bedroom with Jessa and Myra, preparing for my post-bachelorette party. They'd been here for about two hours now. The first hour we spent taking shots and getting lit in the living room with Jacob serving as our bartender. He'd even made us a few party snacks to soak up the liquor before we went out.

I'd been a little nervous to introduce him to Myra. When she knocked on the door, I'd given him a speech before I even opened it.

"Please don't take anything she says to heart. She's very honest."

"I like honest people."

"And she's protective."

"I don't mind protective. If someone loves you that much, they can't be that bad."

I smiled. "I really want you two to get along. She's important to me."

"Baby… open the door. Everything will be fine."

I sighed heavily as I went to open the front door. Myra stood there plucking with her phone. When she looked up, she smiled.

"Just so you know, it took every ounce of restraint not to barge in here like I normally do."

"I appreciate that." I pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek. My… this is Jacob. Baby, this is my best friend, Myra."

Jacob smiled and extended his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Myra. I've heard a lot about you."

She slipped him her palm. "It's nice to meet you, Jacob. Damn girl, he's much finer in person. They did you good! You got a brother? A cousin? Do you need a stepmama cause I know your daddy has got to be fine."

Jacob chuckled. "I like you already. No, I don't have a brother. I have a younger sister. Though they aren't happy with me right now, my parents are happily married. I do have a few cousins I could introduce you to."

"Well, hey cousin-in-law!" She pulled him in for a hug and quickly pulled away. "Fair warning, you hurt my sis, and I will cut you."

"I don't want no smoke. I promise she's in good hands. I ain't playing about her."

He pulled me into his arms and kissed my lips, causing me to blush.

"Jess should be here in a little bit. I made you ladies some drinks and a few snacks. Help yourselves."

"Oh he's hospitable!" Myra exclaimed. "Okay, boo. You might have a good one. Let me see what these drinks are hitting for."

She sashayed into the kitchen, leaving Jacob and I alone.

"I think I made a good first impression," he said.

"I think you did."

When Jessa finally arrived, one couldn't tell that we hadn't known each other our whole lives. We were laughing, dancing, and just having a good time. She and Myra clicked immediately, and I think it was because they were so much alike, even with the eight-year age difference.

"Oooo girl! That ass is fat!" Jessa declared, grabbing a hand full of Myra's ass.

My girl was wearing a backless halter top and a pair of distressed shorts that my grandma would have dubbed coochie cutters, and a pair of strappy heels. My bitch looked good, and she knew it.

"Ain't it, though?" she said, winding her hips. "I'm trying to hypnotize me a nigga tonight."

We shared a laugh. I could admit, we all looked good as hell. Jessa sported an all-white, strapless catsuit with white strappy heels. Her hair was done in fresh faux locs that she'd been swinging since she got here.

I'd chosen a black, jeweled corset top, with a pair of hunter-green cargo pants that hugged my curves, and a pair of black stilettos. I styled my natural curls into a faux-hawk and accessorized with gold jewelry.

"If somebody wasn't married to my brother, we'd be thirst-trapping tonight," Jess said, with a giggle.

I rolled my eyes. "Just know I get to come home to my man."

"Here she goes," Myra said. "She's gonna my man, my man, my man us to death."

"And is!"

We shared a laugh before snapping a shitload of pictures. They packed their bags and placed them neatly in the corner of the room before we headed into the living room. Jacob was in the kitchen cleaning up and made his way over when we appeared.

He frowned when he saw Jessa. "Where yo' clothes at?"

"On my damn body. Don't start your shit, Jake. I'm fully covered."

He gave her a side eye before turning to me. A grin broke out on his face, and he licked his lips.

"Damn, Mrs. Mitchell. You look good as fuck. Come here."

I blushed as I went into his arms. His hands went to my ass, and his lips to mine. Right in front of his sister and my bestie, he tongued me down like he was ready to rip me right outta my clothes.

"Damn! Do y'all wanna go get one off before we leave or what!" Jessa exclaimed.

"Hush, girl," Jacob said, glancing over at her. "Let me love on my wife in peace. You look beautiful, baby."

"Thank you, baby."

"Are y'all ready to go?"

"Yes. We have everything."

"Myra mentioned where you all were going, so I got you a VIP section."

He reached into his pocket and produced a card, handing it to me. When I looked down at it, I saw that it was his bank with my name printed on the front of the card.

"What's this?" I asked.

"You've been added to my accounts. Feel free to swipe it whenever you want."

"Jacob—"

He put a finger to my lips. "Love… we've had this conversation. What have I told you?"

I sighed. "You're my provider. What's yours is mine."

"Alright then." He pecked my lips and grabbed my hand. "Let's get y'all to the party."

I looked back at my girls, and they were both smiling and making goofy ass love faces. I shot them the bird with a smile on my face as I followed my man out the door.

Fifteen minutes later,we were pulling up in front of The Pivotal Point Bar and Lounge. I was giddy with excitement. Myra knew this was my spot. It was always a vibe in here. Jacob pulled into a parking space and walked us to the front door. Once we were checked by security, they opened the doors to let us in.

"Have fun and be safe," Jacob said, cupping my face. "Call me when you're ready to leave."

"I will."

He pecked my lips several times, garnering a round of awwws from a group of on-looking women.

"Go on," he said, gently ushering me toward the door but not before smacking my ass. "I'm on that ass as soon as you get home."

I blushed as those same group of women hyped us up. Myra and Jessa grinned and shook their heads.

"Y'all are too fucking cute," Myra stated.

"It's almost sickening," Jess added with a grin.

"Don't be hating," I said as I followed them inside.

They laughed it off as we made our way to VIP. I gave the bouncer my name, and he let us through and led us to our section. Much to my surprise, there was a big ass bouquet of red roses and two bottles of my favorite wine on the table.

I smiled. "Awww, My! You're so sweet!"

"As much as I would like to, I can't take credit for this. That's all your man. Get in there and let me take a picture for you!"

I didn't hesitate to sit down and pose for the picture with the flowers in my hand. I had the perfect caption in my head. After snapping the pictures, the girls joined me. We ordered two bottles of vodka, a couple shots of tequila, and a large order of honey and lemon pepper wings.

Myra turned to me once our server left.

"So… I have a something to tell you."

"What?"

"You know I only meddle because I love you. Now I would never disrespect your parents and say the shit I wanna say the way I wanna say it. Fortunately, I can fight, and I don't give a fuck about your sister's feelings."

"Myra, what did you do?"

"I made an appointment with her at financial firm and cursed her ass out."

"Myra!"

"What! I needed her to know she had you fucked up for not being supportive when you kept her elopement a secret. To this day, your parents don't know she was married for a whole year before their actual wedding. You better than me ‘cause I would have aired all her shit out."

Jessa held up a hand. "Wait, she eloped, but she couldn't stand beside you on your wedding day? Oh, I would have snitched like the cops came knocking. That's crazy."

"It is, but Kachelle has never been one to do people like they do her. Her heart ain't built like that. Me? I don't give a fuck."

Jesse slapped her five. "Period!"

"I said what you wouldn't, and she heard me loud and clear. That might be your sister, but she knows how I'm coming about you. I'm not saying I punked her, but she didn't want any problems."

Now I really felt bad that I left her out of the marriage process. Knowing Myra, she would have addressed every person in the room who had a sour look on their faces. Hell, she probably would have squared up with a few too.

"I like you," Jess said, tipping her drink to Myra. "You seem like you stand on business."

"Always boo. That's why I'm so upset that your sister-in-law kept me in the dark."

I hung my head. "I'm sorry, Myra."

"I know you are. I'm not gonna hold it over your head forever, but you will know when I feel hurt about it. I love you, and the next time you doubt my support for you, it's on and poppin'."

She kissed my cheek, then pulled me in for a hug.

"Awww!" Jessa cooed. "I feel like the little sister watching my big sister get in trouble by the bigger sister."

We both looked at her and laughed. The server returned with our liquor and let us know the wings would be out shortly before she left again.

Myra cleared her throat and picked up a shot. "Alright! Enough mushy shit. We are celebrating my girl and her nuptials. Chelly… you are most deserving of love. You have one of the purest hearts I've ever seen. You're sweet, funny, smart as hell, and a badass bitch. Even though you left me on this single train by myself, Jacob is lucky to have you. I've only just met him, and I can tell he adores you already. I pray that you two have a long, happy, healthy marriage that will birth me a shit load of beautiful godbabies. I speak love and blessings over you in abundance. May your love grow stronger, your ass get fatter, and your coochie stay wet."

I couldn't help but laugh as we clinked our glasses and took the shots to the head. The DJ started playing "Wanna Be" my GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion, and I swear every female in the lounge was rapping along. At that point, it was fuck the wings. We downed every shot on the table and moved to the dance floor.

Jessa was dancing on Myra while Myra was dancing on me. Ass was thrown in a circle. Ratchet shit was happening all over the dance floor. We went from dancing to drinking to dancing some more. At one point, all three of us were standing barefoot on the seat in our little VIP, drunk and lit as hell.

By two a.m., I was done. We were all tore the fuck up. Drunkenly, I sent Jacob a text to come get us. He must have been waiting because he let me know that he was outside and making his way in. Not even five minutes later, he walked his fine ass over to us shaking his head.

"Hey, baby!" I squealed, jumping into his arms.

He caught me effortlessly. "You good?" he asked with a grin.

I stroked his cheek with my fingernail. "I am wonderful. I feel fabulous!"

"I bet you do." He grabbed my shoes from the floor, never faltering in holding me up. "Let me get y'all home. None of y'all better throw up in my shit, either."

Jessa kissed her teeth. "We can hold our liquor," she slurred, stumbling a little.

"Your ass is gonna hit the floor. Give me your hand."

"Sir, yes sir!" she said.

She gave him a stern salute and then broke into laughter with Myra cackling behind her. Jacob shook his head as he reached for her hand, and she reached for Myra's. He made his way through the crowd carrying me as though I were featherweight.

People watched as he led the three of us out of the club. A few of them whispered and pointed.

"It's okay!" I yelled. "He's my husband! See!"

I held up my wedding ring and that caused Jessa and Myra to fall into yet another fit of giggles. When we finally made it out to his truck, he placed me in the front seat and strapped me in. Jessa and Myra was falling over each other trying to get in the back seat.

He chuckled as he moved to help them both. When he finally got in the truck, Jessa had connected her phone to the Bluetooth and put on "No Panties" by Latto. As soon as she started rapping and dancing, he turned it off.

"Hell no! Sitcho' ass back and chill. The turn-up is over. Turn yo ass down."

Once again, she and Myra were cackling. Jacob shook his head as he pulled into traffic. The ride back to my apartment fell silent about ten minutes in. When I looked back, I found both of my girls knocked out.

"Finally," Jacob mumbled.

I giggled. "Don't rain on our parade, babe."

He reached for my hand and kissed it. "I'm glad you had fun. Y'all gon' sleep good tonight."

"I'll sleep good once you put me to bed."

Unhooking my seatbelt, I leaned across the center console and started kissing on his neck.

"I missed you, baby," I whispered in his ear.

"I missed you, too. I need you to put your seatbelt back on, though."

I sighed as I reclaimed my seat and did as he requested. As I relaxed into the soft leather, I looked over at him. I watched the slight flex of his muscles as he maneuvered the steering wheel. I watched his skilled tongue trace his bottom lip as he licked it.

My thoughts were flooded with all the time I'd been spending with him… the peace and comfort I felt with him. There was no way it took marrying a stranger to find a good man. Yet here he was… here we were. I didn't have the chance to picture life with him and now, I didn't think I could picture life without him.

He pulled into the parking lot of my complex and shut off the truck. I reached back to tap Jessa and Myra. They woke up a little groggy but made it out of the truck in one piece. Jacob rounded the passenger side and scooped me out. I rested my head against his shoulder as he carried me to the front door of my apartment.

Much to my surprise, when we walked in, there were two twin blow-up mattresses on the floor outfitted with blankets and pillows. Even though the girls hadn't planned to sleep over, they were too drunk to drive home. When they saw the setup, each of them immediately flopped down on a mattress. Within seconds, they were knocked out again.

Jacob carried me into my bedroom. He placed me on my feet and undressed me down to my underwear. Going into my dresser, he grabbed one of my t-shirts and slipped it over my head. Briefly he disappeared into the bathroom and returned with my make-up wipes, a warm soapy rag, and a plain warm rag.

I smiled drunkenly as he removed my makeup and then washed and dried my face. After tossing the wipes in the trash and the rags in the laundry basket, he pulled back the covers and motioned for me to climb into bed. Once he closed and locked the door, he stripped down and turned off the light before climbing into bed with me.

I snuggled up next to him and rested my head on his chest. My eyes were already heavy as hell, and being next to him was about to have me down for the count.

"Jacob…" I mumbled as the heaviness thickened.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

That was the last thing I said before sleep came and held me captive.