I glance at myself one last time in the mirror, making sure my dress and makeup looked alright. I was wearing a long silk sage green sleeveless gown that fell to the floor. I got it at a clearance sale almost 2 years ago and I have been waiting for the perfect time to wear it.
After checking myself out, completely satisfied with how I looked, I head out of the bathroom into the bedroom where Nayel was getting ready.
Nayel was standing in front of the mirror fixing his tux, I lean against the wall admiring him. My boyfriend is so hot, "Buy you a drink hotshot?" I tease him.
Nayel chuckles turning around to face me, "Fuck look at you" Nayel ogles my body. I smile biting my lower lip as I give him a twirl.
"You like?" I ask.
Nayel grins grabbing me by the waist, "Let's skip the wedding" Nayel whispers kissing my neck.
I giggle, "It's your brother's wedding, you're the best man!"
"Fuck it, I just need to take you out of this dress and make sure no one sees you in it" Nayel bites my earlobe as his hand cup my ass.
I grin but he can't see it, "I'm starting to see more of your possessive side lately, I don't know if I hate it or if it turns me on"
Nayel licks my collarbone, he was about to speak when his phone started vibrating in his pocket. He groans moving away from me and answering it, "Yeah? Okay. We'll be there in 20. Yup, yup. All in control don't worry. Yeah, bye" Nayel hangs up.
"We need to go" Nayel frowns his eyes looking me up and down.
"I promise I'll let you take this off when we're off." I get on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek, "Might even give you a show" I smile moving away from him.
Nayel growls fixing his tie and turning away from me to look at himself in the mirror one last time while I put on my shoes and fill my tiny clutch purse with my essentials.
....
I wipe the single tear that rolls down my cheeks as Olivia reads her vows to James. James was staring at her with nothing but love, his eyes were tearing up with every beautiful word coming out of Olivia's mouth.
I was so busy staring at the beautiful couple I didn't notice the best man's eyes were locked on me. I sniffle smiling at him. He was grinning, his head tilted as he was staring at me in amusement watching me turn into a mess over someone else's wedding vows.
We just stared at each other communicating with our eyes without saying or mouthing a word. Nayel was judging me for being so emotional and I was in return being snarky and telling him not everyone can be as cold-hearted as him. After what felt like hours Nayel lets out a soft chuckle shaking his head and still looking into my eyes.
Our lingered eye contact breaks as we hear loud cheers. I look to see James and Olivia lip-locking now with everyone looking at them in awe and clapping for them excitedly.
Shortly after, we all left the church and made it to the reception. Nayel and his family were still at the church taking their family photos so I ended up going to the reception where everyone I knew was absent but still I managed to chat with a few of Nayel's relatives and family friends. They just spent the entire time telling me stories about him which I could honestly hear forever.
"Aunt Robin, lovely to see you!" I hear a voice behind me. I see Nayel grinning at his aunt.
"Nayel! Look at you!" She embraces him in a hug.
"I swear you get more beautiful every time I see you" Nayel smiles. I rarely get to see Nayel's charismatic side but when I do, it makes me swoon.
"Stop it!" His Aunt Robin hits him on the arm, blushing slightly, "Your girlfriend is an absolute sweetheart by the way" She gestures to me.
"She is isn't she?" Nayel smiles glancing at me, "Do you mind if I borrow her for a bit?" Nayel asks her.
"Of course not, she's all yours" Aunt Robin turns to me, "Looking forward to seeing you at the next wedding Maria, hopefully, you'll be the bride" she winks at us as Nayel kisses her on the cheek and intertwines our fingers together walking us away.
"Hi" I smile as Nayel stops outside the tent.
"Hey, baby" Nayel smiles moving a strand of my hair out of my face. His smile and the way he was looking at me just made my knees give in.
"How're you doing? I know we left for a while and you don't know anyone else here, you should've just stayed with us-"
I cut him off, "I met several of your friends and family. They were all very nice. I had a great time talking to them"
"I forgot how much you love talking to strangers" Nayel rolls his eyes playfully.
I hit him on the chest making him chuckle, "What? You do!" He exclaims.
Nayel smiles wrapping his arms around my waist, "I saw you bawling like a baby at their vows" Nayel smirks.
"What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic" I shrug.
"I hope my vows make you sob the way Olivia's did" Nayel jokes but I felt my heart stop.
"We'll just have to wait to find out I guess," I say softly and Nayel presses his lips onto mine.
.....
My head was resting on Nayel's naked chest as he stroked my hair. Our legs were sprawled together underneath the covers as we lay there in silence.
"You up Ria?" Nayel asks softly.
"Yeah," I say but don't turn my head to look into his eyes.
"I need to tell you something" Nayel pauses, "Something, I probably should've told you long before" I could hear the nervousness in his voice, "I just don't like talking about it"
I furrow my eyebrows as I lay beside him and he turns to face me, "What is it? Is everything okay?"
Nayel moves a strand of my hair from my face, his whiskey-colored eyes sparkling in the darkroom, "I used to be married" Nayel says.
"Wha-What?" I ask in disbelief.
"I know, I'm sorry I never mentioned it before. It happened when I was very young and ended badly, which is why I didn't date anyone again until you." Nayel says staring into my eyes, trying to read me.
Nayel gulps, "We met in law school when we were both 24, we got married at 25. It was a rocky, on-again-off-again relationship throughout essentially but then we officially got divorced when were 30."
"You were married for 5 years?" I ask softly.
"Legally yes" Nayel sighs, "But we spent probably only 6 months where we were actually a functioning couple" Nayel licks his lips.
I sit up and lean against the bed frame, "Umm, wow" I say staring at the ceiling.
"Are you mad?" Nayel asks.
I turn to him, "No, not at all. Just a little shocked and maybe hurt you didn't mention this until now"
Nayel grabs my hand, "I know, I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot. I almost brought it up so many times and I didn't know how. But this weekend we've made several comments about our future and our life together and I can't keep something like this from you." Nayel kisses the back of my hand, "You have every right to be mad at me Ria, I'm really sorry to spring this on you out of the blue but that marriage was a scam. It just ruined my 20's if I'm being honest. We were so wrong for each other and now that I've found you, I can't believe I even thought whatever we had was love. This thing between us, it's real" Nayel presses his lips together, "I didn't think I would ever look at a girl again let alone think about getting married again until you walked into my life. Funnily, the day you interviewed was the day I finalized the divorce." Nayel says.
Nayel cups my face, "I want everything with you, Ria, I want to marry you, I want to be with you until I take my last breath. You're all I want." Nayel kisses my nose making me giggle.
"I think I would like those things too," I say making Nayel smile as he pushes me onto the bed climbing on top of me and making me giggle.