Page 45

Titan

I held Bailey’s left hand as I drove us to her mother’s house.

Feeling the weight of her engagement ring against my hand made me smile and I lifted our joined hands to kiss the back of hers.

I felt like the luckiest man in the world.

After me and Bailey celebrated our engagement with multiple rounds of the best sex I ever had; I showed her the footage of what happened when Eva came to visit me at my office.

We had a long ass talk and she was ready to beat Eva’s ass, but I promised her Eva wasn’t worth her going to jail, even though I would spare no expense to make sure she wouldn’t serve any jail time.

I promised her I was going to get Eva’s ass out of our lives for good and I loved that she trusted me.

“You nervous?” I asked Bailey, bringing myself out of my head as we turned onto her mother’s street.

“I thought I would be, but surprisingly, I’m not.

It’s not like I didn’t have plans for you to meet my mom but with her traveling schedule.

Chile, I’m surprised she had time today.

Her SkyMiles love to see her coming.” She laughed and I smiled.

Bailey was right, anytime we tried to set something up with her mom, that woman was out of the country.

She and her mother watched Anthony’s kids when he was out of town on assignment so, when her mom didn’t have the girls, she was on a flight seeing the world.

“We’re late but we’re here,” I said, parking in her mom’s driveway. I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips before looking her over again. “Have I told you how fuckin’ beautiful you look?”

When I saw Bailey come out of her bedroom with her thick hair straightened, wearing a strapless denim jumpsuit and a pair of white Air Forces, I tried my best not to let my dick think for me.

My eyes slowly admired how the jumpsuit hugged her body but when she turned around to pick her purse up off the table, and I saw the way her ass was sitting up, my caveman instincts took over and I had her ass naked and bent over her couch in under ten seconds.

After that spontaneous session, Bailey had to shower and put her clothes back on.

Hence the reason we were late and why Bailey’s hair was now slicked up into a top bun instead of the sleek and straight blowout she had an hour ago.

I gave her another kiss on the lips and stepped out to go open her door.

When I helped her out of the car; I saw her wince as she stood up.

“Judging by the ache between my legs right now, I got the message loud and clear how beautiful you think I look today,” she said with a smile on her face, and I grabbed her ass as I bent down to whisper in her ear.

“Didn’t nobody tell you to start throwing that pussy back on me like you didn’t want me to pull out.”

“Will you behave? I’m a good Christian woman and I do not engage in throwing back any pussy as you say.” She pretended to clutch her pearls and put her head in the air like she was offended, and I burst out laughing.

“Let me get away from you before lightning strike you down for telling that lie,” I said quickly walking away from her and Bailey was laughing as she jogged behind me.

I waited until she was next to me before I took her hand, and we walked up the three large steps that led to her mom’s porch.

When Bailey reached to put in the code on the keypad near the lock, the large wood door swung open.

“It’s about time you two got here!” My eyes widened at the woman before me dressed in a multicolored kaftan, wearing fuzzy house shoes, with her hair curled in layers around her shoulders and face.

She looked exactly like Bailey if Bailey were a couple inches taller.

They literally looked like sisters, the only thing that aged Bailey’s mother was the small amount of gray hair around her hairline and lightly scattered throughout her hair.

“Hey, my beetle bug!” She squealed as she pulled Bailey into a tight hug, and I smiled at the nickname because of course I’m going to tease her about that later.

“Hey boo butt!” Bailey said, and I burst out laughing.

Boot butt?! Hilarious. I thought to myself.

When Bailey’s mom looked at me over her shoulder and smiled at me, again I was taken aback because her smile was exactly like Bailey’s, down to the way their noses wrinkle when they smile wide.

“And who is this tall drink of water?” She asked as she backed up to let me and Bailey inside.

“Titan, this is my best friend, my mom Reneé. Mom, this is my fiancé Titan.” Bailey introduced me right before she tightly gripped my hand.

“Fiancé?!” Reneé and a deep voice from down the hall yelled in unison. I looked up and saw Bailey’s brother Dante coming from the kitchen. Her other brother Anthony was right behind him with a smirk on his face.

“I knew I couldn’t miss the looks on your faces when she told you,” Anthony said, chuckling.

“You knew? And didn’t tell us? Matter fact, you didn’t try to beat his ass.

I mean, behind. Sorry mama,” Dante said quickly, looking at his mom like she was about to smack the hell out of him for his language.

Obviously they didn’t know Anthony and I already had our run in a week ago but if he didn’t say anything, neither would I.

“I was there when he popped the question yesterday in front of an auditorium full of people,” he said when he pulled out his phone. “See?” He held his phone out to his mom, and she snatched it and her, and Dante quickly walked to sit down on the sage green couch in the living room.

I took that time to look around the beautiful craftsman home.

I took in the modern yet traditional design.

The large linear gas fireplace was the focal point of the living room and the built-ins on each side of it held dozens of pictures.

I let go of Bailey’s hand and crossed the room to get a closer look at the pictures of Bailey at different stages in life.

Her grade school pictures where she was missing her front teeth but was still smiling brightly made me laugh.

Her prom picture made my body fill with jealousy because she was with another guy.

I was going to find a way to get rid of that picture.

When I heard sniffling behind me I turned around. Bailey was now sitting on the right side of her mom, and I saw Ms. Reneé dabbing her eyes.

“That was such a beautiful proposal. Let me see the ring, girl!” She said, snatching Bailey’s left hand and let out another squeal.

“Dayuuuummm! This ring is gorgeous, dahling! You did damn good, Titan!” She exclaimed before she stood and came toward me.

When she opened her arms I leaned down and accepted her warm embrace.

“Welcome to the family, Titan, congratulations!” She cheered, sounding like she was about to cry again.

“Is no one going to say how quick this was? I just briefly met Titan like three months ago, now he’s engaged to my baby sister?” Dante said with a frown.

“Boy, hush. Me and your father, God rest his soul, dated six months before he proposed to me.” Ms. Reneé said, admonishing her son.

“I dated Kayleigh, God rest her soul, nine months before I proposed; it would’ve been sooner, but I was deployed.

” Anthony shrugged. “When you know, you know; besides, I had a one on one with Titan. I believe he will make Bailey happy and love her like she deserves. Isn’t that what matters?

” Anthony said, looking at his older brother and the sincerity in his voice surprised the hell out of me.

Dante was quiet for a moment and when he stood up, I thought he was about to leave the room, but he stood in front of Bailey and pulled her from the couch and into a big hug.

“I’m happy for you, sis. I love you so much, congratulations,” he said, and Bailey burst into tears. I knew how close her and her brothers were, so their blessings meant a lot to her and to me.

“Thank you, Tae Tae. I love you too.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and then came to me and held out his hand. When I grabbed it he pulled me into a firm hug and whispered in my ear.

“You take care of her like your life depends on it.” He gave me an intense look and I understood the not so subtle warning.

“Hailey and Rylee, come down here please!” Anthony called up the stairs and seconds later her nieces came running down the stairs.

I chuckled because they were dressed like mini versions of Ms. Reneé in their colorful kaftans.

“Tell your auntie B congratulations, she’s getting married to Mr. Titan,” Anthony said, once his daughters were in the living room.

I covered my ears as they let out ear piercing screams and ran to Bailey.

“Congratuwations aunt B,” Rylee spoke, and I smiled at her mispronunciation, “I’m happy you marrying my best friend.” Rylee beamed as she left Bailey’s side and came over to me. “Now we’re friends for life!” She said excitedly and I laughed as I picked her up to give her a hug.

“That’s right. BFF’s for life!” She giggled and I kissed her cheek before I sat her down.

“Are we going to be flower girls?” I heard Hailey ask.

“Of course, but we have time to discuss that sweetie,” Bailey said, grabbing her hand and walking to the kitchen.

“I’m surprised but I promise I’m so happy for you two and beetle bug I can’t wait to help you plan this wedding.” Ms. Reneé said, wrapping her arm around Bailey’s shoulder as she walked with her toward the kitchen.

“It’s going to be lit!” Hailey shouted, and we all laughed.

The rest of the evening went amazing once the initial shock of our engagement wore off.

Ms. Reneé and Anthony grilled filet mignon, lobster tail, and asparagus.

Dante made garlic and herb compound butter to put over the meat and lobster, and Bailey made chocolate chip cookies with her nieces from scratch.

I helped where I was asked, choosing a wine for the adults and making sure the sparkling grape juice was chilled to perfection for the girls.

I saw throughout the night the love and happiness in Bailey’s family, and I couldn’t wait to officially be part of it.

When it was time to go, I almost had to pry Ms. Reneé and Bailey apart because Ms. Reneé made sure Bailey wouldn’t leave without making several promises that they would get together and start wedding planning.

I laughed because if this was her mother’s reaction, I knew when we told my family tomorrow after my keynote speech, my mom and sister were about to be a thousand times worse.