Page 5 of Ghetto Heartstrings

After all the graduates were announced, he made his way to the center to meet up with Brook’Lynn.

He didn’t want to be rude, but he didn’t have time to talk; they had a flight to catch, and they needed to go.

Picking her up and spinning her around, he kissed her lips gently and congratulated her again, as he gave her the roses he’d been holding for her.

“Aww, thank you, baby,” she blushed, wiping her tears of joy. “Nigga, we made it!” She balled her fist up, lightly pounding it against his.

She shook her head and removed her cap from her head, so she could fix her wrap and stroke her hair back into place.

“No baby, you let me aggravate you all of those late nights and early mornings. You dealt with me depriving you of sex because I had to study. You ate hot dogs plenty of nights because I didn’t have time to cook.

You let me examine all kind of shit on your body, even when you didn’t want to be fucked with.

” She took the time to reminisce. “So, like I said, nigga, we made it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

He noticed the shift in her eyes as she scanned the room; he knew she was purposely trying to procrastinate.

“Did he come?” she asked, referring to her daddy. Although they had a rocky life together, it was every girl’s dream to see her daddy in the faces of the crowd on special occasions and this was definitely one.

He hated that he had to answer that, but he did. “No baby, he didn’t show up, but don’t worry about that shit though. I’ma show you the time of your life. You’ll forget about that shit in no time.” He said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door.

“Wait!” She stopped and pulled away. “Let me go say goodbye to Marley and let them know we won’t be joining for dinner.

” She rushed off, as Perfect stood there watching her interact.

He watched her talking to her classmate who’d turned into more of a friend over the years and couldn’t figure out where they connected.

Like straight up, Marley was pretty, but she was green as hell, just a straight up good girl and kind of lame in his eyes.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and recognized his nigga, Boom, calling him. “Asalamalakum, my brother,” he answered, stepping out the door.

“Mualaikumsalam, my nigga,” Boom replied. “The fuck is you at man?”

Perfect frowned, knowing that Boom should’ve known better. One thing he didn’t do was tell niggas his every move… he didn’t care who it was. “Handling business,” he told him. “Talk fast, what up?” He said, watching Brook’Lynn on the other side of the glass doors searching for him.

Boom could be heard laughing on the other line. He knew how this nigga, Perfect, was, so he didn’t even trip. “Look, you need to stop bullshitting around and talk to Rasta, like ASAP.”

Perfect sighed and took a deep breath. Whenever he had to go see his and C2’s father, Rasta, it normally didn’t mean shit good. “I’ll go as soon as I handle this little business,” he replied, wiping his hand down his face. He’d been trying to push this shit back as long as possible.

“Did you tell Brook yet?” Boom asked.

“What?” Perfect frowned. “Man, fuck no. I’m not trying to have that talk with her; let me see what Rasta’s talking about first. Look, I gotta catch a flight, so I’ll hit you when I get back. Ya’ll niggas be safe out there.” He rushed Boom off the phone.

“Aiight man, tell Brook I said what up and make sure she call Yaya’s ass when she has time. That crazy bitch and her attitude about to make a nigga kill her ass,” he sighed.

Perfect laughed to himself. Yaya was Brook’Lynn’s bout it ass home girl and Perfect tried to tell Boom that bitch was too much for him, but he just had to sample the pussy and been stuck ever since.

“Man, I don’t even have a comment for that, but aiight.

One.” He hung up just as Brook’Lynn walked out.

“Perfect! I thought you left me!” She yelled, making her way to him.

“Never,” he replied, leading her to the car service waiting for them.

The Next Night

Las Vegas

“Meet me at the altar in your white dress, we ain’t getting no younger, we might as well do it. Been feeling you all the while girl, I must confess. Girl, let’s get married, I just wanna get married.”

Brook’Lynn turned around in front of the Eiffel Tower at Paris, a spot in Vegas, in pure shock while hearing Perfect singing to her.

Placing her trembling hand up to her lips, she tried hard not to cry.

No wonder he wanted them to dress alike, as they both wore all-white.

Perfect was on one knee, holding a velvet box with a 7-carat engagement ring inside of it that the night lights glistened flawlessly on top of.

“I… I… Perfect, baby… what are you doing?” She cried, still trembling.

Her mind was trying to process what was happening; she’d wanted this so bad, for so long.

Since they were teens, she knew that she wanted to marry this man, and over the years, he stood up to his name. She had no reason to deny him.

Perfect didn’t look nervous at all. As a matter of fact, he looked at peace and that brought peace upon Brook’Lynn because it showed her that he was one hundred percent comfortable with what he was doing.

Smiling and ignoring the ongoing stares, he did what he came to do; he proposed to his girl.

“Brook’Lynn Regina Walters, I’ve loved you since the day I met you and I’ll love you till the day I die.

On this night, I want to ask you… will you be my wife, baby girl? Will you marry me?”

The fact that he did all of this for her and even sang the tune to her, knowing he wasn’t a singer and didn’t care what anybody said, she couldn’t deny the man who’d loved and took care of her.

It wasn’t a chance in hell that she’d say no.

Slowly walking toward him and getting down on bending knees with him, she looked into his eyes and gave him her answer.

“Yes! Hell Yes!” She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

“Whoo whoo!” The drunken onlookers clapped and cheered for them both.

Two shirtless white men stood there with Mardi Gras beads around their necks, having a drunken conversation.

“Bro, I think I’m going to ask the stripper to marry me,” the taller one said.

“Totally dude, that would be so rad.” The other one said, giving him a high five.

The taller one took a swig from his beer bottle and belched loudly before tossing it. “Eh, come on, let’s do it.”

They both walked off leaning on each other for balance, as Perfect and Brook’Lynn laughed at them before focusing back on each other.

Perfect lovingly looked into her eyes. “So, you sure you ready to be tied down to a nigga for the rest of your life?”

Smiling, she nodded her head and answered him again. “Yes baby, always and forever.” She kissed his lips and hugged him for another two minutes before letting him go.

They spent the next two days in Vegas before heading back home.

Brook’Lynn had an interview at the hospital, and Perfect really needed to holla at Rasta.

Although they both wished they could’ve stayed a little longer…

the real world didn’t wait for nobody, and realistically, they both had shit to do.

Only they’d be doing it as an engaged couple now and Brook’Lynn couldn’t wait to start planning her wedding.