Finding Joy

Chapter 29

"Girl if you don't hurry up and get dressed!" Erin said snappily.

"Calm yourself. The party isn't going anywhere." I said.

"It's gonna be packed and I want good seats." He whined.

"I want to look good." I said.

"What's wrong with the dress I made?" He asked.

"I'm gonna look lumpy and I don't want to be that big girl at the club." I answered.

"Oh please! Put on a good spanx and let's go." He said

I rolled my eyes, grabbing some shape wear from my closet. "You gonna stop rushing me." I said.

"Mmhm. Let's go. Choppity Chop." He said.

"You sure I don't look bad in this?" I asked Erin as I came out in the dress he made me.

"You look sexy. " Erin said looking over me.

"Thank you but why am I getting so dressed up?" I asked.

"Quit asking me damn questions. Look I'm about to take you out. I'm here in town for a shoot I'm doing for the plus size model magazine and Jacob called me telling me you were in a funky mood because Devin hasn't called so instead of being a terrible friend and spending time with my husband I came to take you out and take your mind off of things." He said sincerely.

I sighed and nodded my head. "Screw it. Let's go have fun." I said

"That's more like it bitch. Come on it's this rooftop party I heard about and it's gonna be off the chain." He said.

"Grab my blazer. It's gonna get a little cold." I said.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed my blazer. "We gon shake ass or shake asś tonight"

I laughed at him and continued on my way downstairs.

Once we got inside of Erin's car, he started to play my favorite ratchet music. It's best before work and before you're really about to turn up at the club.

"Hey Jacob." I said as we finally got to the venue of this party.

"Hey girly." He said. "You look beautiful." He said kissing my cheek

"Thank you." I smiled and grabbed both my guys locking arms with each other them. Erin on my left, and Jacob on my right.

Once we got inside I noticed it was a good amount of people here. They were nicely dressed and the venue is of course beautiful.

"So, before the party we are gonna get some drinks. Those are down here." Erin said.

"I need a drink or two." I said.

"Rough week?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. No calls from Devin and it's getting to me." I confessed.

"Did you ever call him?" Jacob asked.

"No." I answered.

"Maybe he's tired of always making the first move and taking the initial step to make everything right." He said shrugging

"How about we not talk about it." I said turning back towards the car.

"Yeah, we not gonna talk about it. Lauren I know the bouncers that's running this party upstairs so you order us drinks while we try to find good seats because it packed. " Erin said sipping from his drink.

I nodded. "Okay cool but in trying to shake something tonight." I said hopping up in my seat a bit.

"Ohh shoot lemme find out." Jacob said looking at me.

I laughed. "Yes let you. Jacob go with Erin because Erin will see somebody and get sidetracked." I said.

"But I don't even like him."Jacob whined.

"It's not about you. It's about cheering Joy up. Trust me I don't like you either." Erin said walking away.

"Be nice." I said kissing Jacobs cheek and passing him his drink as I waited for mine.

"How may I help you?" The bartender said.

"Can I have a love potion?" I asked.

He smiled. "Sure." He said and started to pour and measure the Peach Schnapps and Almond liqueur.

One he had mixed everything up he shook the drink up, doing a few tricks while occupying all of my time. Gosh, Erin and Jacob are probably chewing each other's heads off

"Here you are. I hope you enjoy " He said placing the drink in front of me as he winked and bit his lip admiring me. I blushed mildly and smiled.

"Thank you. Have a good one." I said taking te drink making sure I left him a tip.

Once I got to the last floor the elevate took me to, I could hear the music thumping loudly. This party is in full effect. As I went on, sipping my drink, I noticed quotes were on the walls like 'Keep Choosing Joy' and 'I am truly glad because their is wonderful joy before me.' I laughed at that.

This is a super set up. As I continued, I read more quotes on my way. 'Today, I choose Joy.' The last one read and I opened the door, leading out to the roof. I stepped up on the few steps and saw the whole roof lit, and music off with Devin standing in the middle. This is not what I expected.

"Devin. What are you doing here?" I asked him.

He smiled and looked around breathing in the cool crisp New York air.

"You know four years ago on this exact day I was supposed to board a plane and come get you back?" He asked.

"Were you?" I asked.

"Yeah, and you know I didn't. But over the years, I was always trying to find my happiness and what would make me a better man and I realized that I had to fight for my joy. All those quotes in the hallway I read and lived by. Constantly being a better man, taking care of my daughters, building my career and loving on my family and friends but still I hadn't fully reached my joy. Every since a young age, with experiencing my mother go through being a single parent and struggling to being a lawyer, a black one at that truly fighting and standing up for what's best I always found myself doing just that. Fighting so I finally decided after reading a quote that said that Joy is a weapon, and if we are going to fight we have to make sure we fight life battles with Joy I knew I had to do two things, find my joy and fight for it. I knew all along what and who was my joy and that just so happened to be you, Lauren Joy so here I am fighting for the last piece. The last piece to my heart, the last piece to my love and the last piece to my joy." He told me coming closer to me. "So right now, I'm demanding one thing, that you leave with me to Texas or where ever you'd like to go as long as you and I are together, and asking two things. First, will you be my joy and secondly, will you marry me?" He asked dropping down to one knee.

I gasped covering my mouth. "Are you serious?" I asked.

"No, actually I'm not. I'm demanding it all. I'm demanding you pack up your things, and come home with me because I know that you want to come home and be with us. I'm demanding that you be my joy because I know no one else can and I'm demanding you marry me because I love you and you love me and I don't ever want to spend another day without you or rush you ever getting away from me." He said.

I put my hand over my mouth as he slid his hand in his blazer pocket and pulled out a ring box, he opened it and it revealed the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.

I shook my head, laughing and crying all at once. "Devin..."

A/N

Yes, I really did do that to y'all lol

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