me & tomfoolery

Blushing Bride pt. 3 | Jonathan Kuminga Short Story

Watching her smile and take photos with her friends was one thing, but seeing her fiancé touch her was another. Trey's hand rested on her lower back as they greeted their guests.

That should be me he thought. He was angry that he let her slip away and now watched from a far as someone else prepared to change her last name.

"Jonathan, I must ask." Artemis' voice broke this thoughts, "How did you know she was getting married?"

"I got an invite in the mail mama." He smiled giving his attention to her mother. Artemis gave a small smirk before looking around the room. "My husband still hasn't noticed you yet."

"He's too busy kissing ass. Excuse my French."

Artemis laughs, waving him off, "I know you and him never got along. It's not because he hates you though."

Jonathan couldn't understand what that meant. He was always under the impression that Laurent hated him. "What was it?"

Artemis felt she said too much. "We'll talk later." She quickly walks over to Trey's mother. Jonathan stands there alone, feeling that people were finally starting to recognize him which he didn't need. He made his way to a quieter place to get some room to think.

"Jonny, I'm glad you got the invite." Asani smiled sitting next to him. She knew that he still loved her sister and that her sister still loved him.

"Why invite me if you knew she wasn't going to take me back?"

"That part isn't my job." She laughs, "That's up to you what you do with your time. All I know is she's marrying him for all the wrong reasons and because she doesn't 'believe' in love anymore, what reason would she need to stop herself? You need to remind her what love actually is."

"I've only got 4 days." He rubbed his hand over his face. "Well, you better get to work." Asani patted his shoulder before walking off, leaving him to think about what he needed to do next.

Adel yawned which caused Trey to frown, "How are you tired?" He whispered in her ear. "Because I did a lot today Trey."

"Well you didn't go to work, and you had brunch. That's not a lot Adeline."

She rolled her eyes, focusing on the fish in front of her. "I also had school work to finish. You remember that I plan on graduating right?"

Trey didn't care about her academic aspirations, she was about to be married to someone who could take care of her. She needed to act like it.

Adel needed a moment to breath and while Trey talked to their guests, she could excuse herself and run off. There was a breeze in the vineyard as she walked along the beach. Her intrusive thoughts were taking over and she cursed herself for thinking about him.

"Belle, why are you out here alone?" Jonathan asked approaching her from the other side of the beach. "Just needed to think."

"You wanna talk?"
"Not to you."

"I'll be on my way then, I'll see you tomorrow." Jonathan started to talk away but she called him back. "Yeah?"

"Walk with me, I wanna know what you've been doing."

Again, she had fallen victim to his presence, what could she do when the love of her life appeared out of thin air. Walking side by side they approached a dugout under the first surface of sand and decided to sit.

"What have you been up to?" She asked adjusting her dress. It kept riding up and it was annoying her. "I've been playing in the bay for the last two years."

"Congratulations." She knew that's where he got drafted. She kept up a few months after they broke up and then she couldn't do it anymore.

"Thank you. We won a championship last year. And I've been getting more playing time. Just trying to better myself." He noticed she was sitting a little further away from him than he would've liked. "You know you don't have to sit so far away."

"I think I should stay over here."

Jonathan swiftly lifted her onto his lap. "Why must you be difficult?"

"You're crossing boundaries." She removed herself from his lap but covered his thighs with her legs. The rain started to come down which let them know, they would be stuck there for some time.

"We crossed a boundary earlier, why not continue?" He traced her exposed skin.

Adel rolled her eyes but still allowed him to touch her. "I'm trying to be considerate of my future husband."

"I don't care about him. And you're not marrying him." Jonathan shrugged. If anything were to happen this weekend, it would be him making sure she didn't walk down the aisle.

"I don't have much of a choice okay. I rather not talk about it."

"You always have a choice. You should decide whether or not you spend your life with someone. Don't tell me it's because of your dad." Jonathan knew that her family came from an arranged marriage and eventually love was found, but who wanted to risk their happiness for financial security?

"I wouldn't have been in this situation if we were still together. Once I became single, I was up for grabs and someone grabbed me. That's what happens."

Jonathan understood that and that's why he was confused. Why would she let someone 'grab her up' when they talked about getting married.

"Why didn't you wait for me Adel?"

"I haven't spoken to you in two years, not a phone call, no mail and I was supposed to wait at the door, like a puppy?" The discussion was upsetting her and if she didn't care about appearances, she would run in the rain to go back to her room.

"No, I just expected for us to at least talk again before getting in new relationships and marriage." Jonathan sighed.

"Have you been with other people?" She asked, one of her most important questions.

He had but he didn't want to hurt her feelings by sharing that.

"I have." She lied. She hadn't been with anyone else, she wouldn't count the time she received from Trey. Terrible experience, 0/10 would not recommend.

"I can tell you're lying. You were never able to hide from me." He chuckled, "Nobody compares to you Adel." His fingertips played with the bottom of her dress.

"So there's have been others." She concluded, it hurt her a bit but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Like I said." His fingers moves her thong to the side. "Nobody compares to you."

"Sex isn't going to make up for what you did to me."she takes his hand from under her dress. "And now that the rain has stopped, I can go back to my room."

"Good night Adel." He watched as she walked away until she disappeared behind the the fence along the sand.