Chapter Three

My Man

Chapter 3 Part 1

Ding dong

“Damn, he’s here already,” I whispered beneath my breath. I brushed my dreads back in place once more and hurried downstairs to the door. I could see him through the window, looking yummy as ever. He licked his lips and looked down at his watch as he raised his arm to ring the door bell again. There was a slight look of irritation on his face, and when he made eye contact with me I smiled, and he let his arm drop to his side.

“I thought we had to be there at 11:00.” He muttered as soon as the door swung open.

“We do baby, It’s just 10:25 and the drive is only 10 minutes I said stroking his arm then leaning in to hug him.

I felt the tension in his body ease as my arms held him to me. I couldn’t resist it and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“No, not now. You know D’Angelo hates being late.”

I pulled back and rolled my eyes, when back and side and picked up my purse. I hated when he didn’t let me have my way, and loathed when he talked about himself in third person.

“Ok babe,” I said faking a grin, “Let’s go.”

We pulled up to the festival site, and just a few others were there setting up. We weren’t starting until noon, and all the big set ups had been done.

D’Angleo had agreed, as the point guard of our team, to sign autographs for the freshman. Erica and I were going to run the booth, and keep everyone in line. Especially those hot in the tail females who I KNEW would be trying to push up on what was mine. Almost officially mine.

I smiled as I gazed down at the engagement ring on my finger. I was happy knowing that before the end of the year I would be his wife, even if the proposal wasn’t the one I had always dreamed of.

“Baby, these ribs are good,” D’Angelo said licking his fingers. “Your cooking has always been on point though.”

“Thank you D,” I smiled kissing his greasy cheek. Even though I was a practicing vegan, I knew he wasn’t, and since I had grown up eating meat, I had learned sitting on my moms countertop as a little girl how to cook everything under the sun. I resisted the urge to immediately take his plate to the dishwasher, squeezed his hand, then turned my attention back to the movie.

“You know,” he started, “D’Angelo been thinking, and well I think we should go ahead and do it.”

“Do what baby?”

“You know, get married.”

It was more of a statement than a question. I just nodded.

“Yeah, after we graduate, we talked about all this baby.” I answered.

“Yeah, I know. Hold on.” He stood up and pulled something from his pocket, sliding it onto the table.”

“There, it’s a ring. I hope you like it or whatever. I missed practice to get it.”

My mouth dropped open as he picked up his coke and took a seat returning to our movie. I looked at the ring in awe. Did that really just happen? I asked myself, blinking back tears. I slid the ring on my finger, not knowing whether to be happy that it had finally happened, or to be upset that he hadn’t even thought to ask me properly.

Just as I was about to let my flood of emotions overwhelm me, he did the only thing that granted him a little reprieve. He took my hand, and pulled me onto his lap, lacing his fingers in mine and giving me a kiss on the lips.

“I love you Kenzie,” he said to me softly. “I’m not good at all the romantic stuff, but I do want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Not knowing how to react, I just buried my head on his shoulder.

“I love you too D’Angelo.”

“Babe,” D’Angelo said interrupting my thoughts. “Where’s your girl?”

I looked at the time and true enough, Erica was late. I shrugged.

“She’s probably on her way.” I bit my lip and wondered what could be keeping my usually extra punctual friend from being here.