No Place Like Home (Complete)

Put On a Show

With a fresh silk press straightening your mane to fall to your bra strap, you look fairly different and it’s not that you don’t like it, afterall it shows off your length. You just prefer your hair to be wide and full to balance out the fullness of your curves. Of course Jamira never did care for your naps. She demanded that you straighten it before her wedding and rather than argue, you just got it done. You could always wash it out. Erik went with you, calling an uber to get you to the salon. He withheld his comments, but you could tell he liked your thick cloud of coils better.. even though he’d said you look beautiful either way. Back in the room, you put your bridesmaid dress in the closet.

“It need to stay there,” Erik quipped almost making you snort. It wasn’t a bad dress given the circumstances, but then it was not something you’d rewear. Still, you’d paid for the dress and you planned to find an opportunity to wear it again.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, is it typical for all this shit to happen three days before a wedding or were they supposed to prep some of this in advance,” Erik asks poised on the higher bunk of your childhood bedroom. He’s way too big for that thing. You’re too big for it, but it’s going to have to work for the next three nights.

“I’m not experienced with weddings so I can’t really say, but I personally wouldn’t wait. I don’t wanna sound bitchy, but if I’m gonna host events meant to be memorable for a special day, I’m gonna put more thought into the planning so that it’s not tacky and chaotic. There’re enough last minute details as it is.. and I couldn’t imagine rushing my own wedding activities..”

“You want a wedding?” His legs dangle off the edge as he watches you wrap your hair in the dresser mirror. Meeting his eyes in the glass, you shrug. You don’t typically let your mind drift in the direction of weddings and marriage or commitments. With marriage comes the responsibility of another person’s needs and desires, which isn’t a bad thing.. but people get married and they’re no longer themselves. They compromise and bend and sacrifice..

“I don’t wanna be stagnant.. I don’t want to compromise my career, my lifestyle, and all the things I’ve worked for to be saddled into a life with my dreams on the backburner like what happens in so many marriages. I wanna grow into myself freely.. like a bonsai that hasn’t been tied down.”

“Complicated answer to a simple question.”

Your eyes dart to his in this mirror and they’re alight with humor. He’s obviously messing with you.

“Okay smartass,” you smirk, “Maybe you could answer it better. Do you want a wedding?” He throws his head back in a scoff.

“I’m the one remember? I marry you. That’s how this ends.”

“Oh that’s what we’re pitching? I’m with it. When do we tell everyone we’re engaged?” You stress the last word, fanning your fingers imagining a flashy ring. Your head scarf is finally tied allowing you to face Erik fully now.

“Maybe tomorrow after tonight’s show.. You up for what we discussed?”

Ha! You cackle at the thought of your family’s sour faces, a wicked grin brimming from within. You can’t help the shimmy of your shoulders and he shakes his head fighting a smile as the right side of his mouth quirks. The energy is contagious.

“How are we going to do this, do you beat the wall while I moan or do we both grunt close to the door like cavemen? Which way makes them think I’m getting my vagina smashed like a cupcake?”