to everybody sometimes, and that’s just not possible.” She threw up her hands.
“These are private discussions that us women have amongst ourselves,” she continued. “Just a room full of friends, drinking, discussing love and life.” He nodded in understanding. “She told us what a beautiful person you were – not just the physical, Nix, but the mental, and your heart! She looked at her engagement ring and said, ‘I hate to say this, a woman like me, but if I lost my man, I just don’t know what I would do… He’s incredible.’ She never believed in twin flames, twin souls, whatever the hell all that shit is, until she met you. I have never heard her talk about a guy like that, and I’ve known Yasmine most of our lives.”
“The same things she wants, I want too, Goldie. I want to travel all over the world with this woman. Spend the rest of my life with her. She’s my best friend. She’s the only person I can be myself with, with no concern about judgement. No, I wasn’t always eager to settle down. I had my reasons. But when Yasmine came onto the scene, that all changed. Sometimes, you just have to meet the right one, ya know?” She smiled. “And I am doubly lucky because not only is my woman mind-blowing, so is her family and she obviously has amazing friends, too!” He reached for her and gave her a big hug.
“I agree. I am truly amazing.” They both burst out laughing. “You know, Nix, when I first met you, I adored you! That phone call incident aside!” He grinned. “When we all met up for lunch that one day to get to know you, I watched her. I loved how Yasmine lit up. I always wanted her to have someone who understood her, who was funny and good for her. Someone who let her be her true, authentic self. And she wants the same for me. Let me tell you, being Black, headstrong, single and having all these degrees in this wild city makes dating hard, okay? But please understand something…” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t tell on my friends as a rule. In fact, I have never disclosed Yasmine’s secrets to anyone. Ever. But this one time… this one time, I just wanted the love of her life to know that we are all celebrating this union. That she endured something that could have broken her, but because she had a strong man by her side, who obviously gave not a single fuck,” and more laughter ensued, “things ended up on a positive note. She’s soooo grateful, but didn’t want you to worry.”
She looked into his eyes. “She knew if she told you everything, you’d demand to speak to Terrell and possibly go after Camden again. No! She couldn’t have that. Trust me, the firm is handling the situation and the necessary authorities are involved. She’s not going to have you jeopardize yourself anymore, Nix… your career and life that you worked so hard for, but she appreciates that you did, all the same. You’re a real man, to your core. Your woman was having a problem, and you fixed it. Yasmine deserves a good man, Nixon, and it definitely appears that you deserve my best friend, too… I love y’all together. Welcome to our family.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Out of the Blue…
I remember when I worked the associate summer program at the law firm. That seems so long ago. I’ve had over 3,000 billable hours over the last eight years, and my research and strategies have always been impeccable. My work ethic? Unparalleled. I’ve retained my clients and gained more from word of mouth. I’ve approached each workday like an adventure, my civic duty. And now, here I am, on my wedding day, in a beautiful dressing room standing half-naked, clutching a letter that Goldie grabbed out of my mailbox before we tore out of my driveway…
She swiped a tear from her eye. “Goldie… Goldie!”
Goldie came running in from a back area of the venue, still in her bra and slip.
“What, Yasmine?! This better not be another one of your meltdowns or a false alarm. You’ve been doing that a lot this week!” Goldie complained, one hand holding a rat-tail comb and the other one fisted.
Yasmine almost burst out laughing at how she was getting on her best friend’s nerves, but she was too excited to dwell on it much. With a shaky hand, she handed the woman