Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Noah opened the front screen door, making it screech. Interrupting his thoughts. Caspian closed the ring box and looked up at the sky, squinting at the sun. When he finally broke his gaze from the brightest star of all, he checked his cousin out from over his shoulder. Noah looked handsome and dapper in his black tuxedo with green and purple paisley silk vest. A purple rose sat in the lapel.
“Hi, Caspian.” Noah smiled down at him, his cheeks plumping.
“Hey, cousin! Don’t you look nice? You tryna be a model or somethin’?” he teased.
Noah got a kick out of that. “No, but… thanks. So do you… look nice I mean. Are you uh, nervous?”
“No.” Caspian reached down and swiped his hand across his black and purple spectator shoes. “I think I’ve been waitin’ for this day for a while now, Noah. It feels good to be in love.”
Noah nodded in understanding.
“Carlita comin’?”
Carlita was Noah’s girlfriend. He’d met her at work.
“Yes. She should be here soon.”
“That’s just fine. Good. Glad she could make it.” Noah had gotten his license and bought himself a car—a used Toyota Corolla with hardly any miles. It was a good deal.
Just then, Legend and Axel pulled up in Legend’s baby blue 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible. The car’s paint job glistened like it was wet, and sparkled as if it were made of stardust. The music blared out of the bastard’s speakers: ‘Stop Snitchin’,’ by YG and DaBaby.
“Oh, God.” Caspian shook his head.
“Are ya thirsty?” Noah asked out of the blue.
“Sure. I could use a Coke.”
His cousin disappeared back inside of the house. Caspian had been starting to get the impression that Noah was intimidated by Axel and Legend. They were big guys with big personalities, but he’d reassured Noah many times that they saw him like family, too.
Caspian slipped the ring in his pocket and got to his feet.
“You ready to go, man? Sign your life away?” Legend teased as he got out of the driver’s seat and leaned against the car, a cigar in his hand. Smoke eddied around his face and there was a mischievous sparkle in his greenish-golden eyes.
Caspian waved at them to wait, then stepped away to open the screen door.
“Noah! I’m headed out. Don’t worry about the cola! When Carlita gets here, bring ’er down to the church.”
“Okay, Cas! I will! I love you!” the man called out.
For some reason, those words stopped him in his tracks. Noah was always loving and affectionate, but he couldn’t recall the man saying often that he loved him. It felt new. It felt good, like he was needed.
“…I love you, too.”
Legend slipped back in the car and beeped the horn. Caspian made a mad dash to his brothers. Axel popped out the passenger seat, opened the door for him to take his place, and slipped into the back in his matching tuxedo. Legend turned to another song: ‘E-ER,’ Featuring Ski Mask The Slump God, Danny Towers, & Lil Yachty. The punishing beat blasted and rocked the streets as they rolled out, bobbing their heads, smoking and laughing all the way to the church…
The renowned First Lutheran Church was a majestically regal building located on 417 E Broadway. It had a long history in the city. Grandmama had been a member at this majority White church. Azure had been surprised that her grandmother had attended such a place, rather than the small Black Lutheran church she’d grown up in most of her life, but the woman loved the people here, and ever since she’d attended with a friend many years ago, she’d stayed for good.
Azure stood inside the beautiful place, dressed in her long ivory gown with a green and purple petticoat.
Her clear heels echoed against the wooden floor as she took each step, and the sounds of the organ reverberated while the singers warmed their voices and practiced with the band. Her bridesmaids were laughing and chatting in the back, until the wedding coordinator approached and stated that Caspian was on his way, so it was best that everyone take cover.
“Just one more minute.” She held up a gloved finger, motioning to Justine, the coordinator. “I promise I won’t be long.” The short Black woman, who was dressed in a lilac pantsuit, corralled everyone to leave.
Azure took in the large, beautifully arched windows and admired the decorations. She’d gone with mostly ivory flowers wrapped in purple and green ribbon, placed at the ends of the pews and the doors and windowsills all over the church. Daddy approached, looking gorgeous. His girlfriend offered a little wave from her position close to the back doors. Azure smiled at Deborah and waved back.
Daddy blinked back tears and wrapped his arms around her.
“I love you. You look beautiful!” He kissed the top of her hair, which was pulled back taut with green and purple ribbon woven through her locs and a hanging jewel on a thin silver band, right in the center of her forehead. She’d spent quite a bit of time on her tresses, as well as her makeup, going for a neutral look with the eye shadow and cinnamon brown matte lipstick. Natural and classic.