"Surprise."
Everyone screamed as the group stepped foot in the private room in the restaurant.
Desmond and Jaden stood hand in hand looking at Marquis, who was truly surprised. They invited him out for a quiet dinner with their usual friends.
"Happy Birthday, babe." Dakota, Marquis' girlfriend, said in a thick accent.
The modelesque woman strutted over to him with a box in her hand. She stood at 5'10 and weighed maybe 125 lbs. She was from Trinidad. Marquis had been seeing her for two months. They met at the park one evening, he went walking to clear his mind and he spotted her working out.
He loved the fact that he could look her in the eyes without looking down to her and was also infatuated with her long chocolate-toned legs.
She handed him the emerald green box and he opened it up to see a Gold Yacht-Master Rolex.
"Yo, what?" Marquis gazed at the gift, in awe. "You did this for me?"
"Yeah, silly." She smiled widely and took the watch out the box so he could put it on.
He took off the Gucci watch he was wearing and slipped it into his pocket.
Desmond smiled seeing his friend so happy.
The women had finally grown close once Dakota had given Jaden a chance. At first, Dakota was hesitant because she felt that Marquis and her were too close. Marquis spoke so highly of Jaden. She was a real sister to him, but Dakota wasn't buying that 'play sister' shit. She didn't understand Marquis had been through some things, and Jaden was the one he could confide in and was helping him through the trauma.
"Thank you y'all. I really appreciate this." Marquis thanked everyone.
They all sat at the extended table and talked and laughed and enjoyed the evening together. It was one of the first times everyone was together when it wasn't about business.
"Ummm excuse me, D, what is that on your finger?" Erica, Donte's fiancé asked, looking at Desmond's wedding band.
Donte broke into laughter, "if anyone was gon say somethin, it was gon be yo nosey ass. Damn."
Desmond chuckled, before explaining. "Jaden and I got married the other day. We just felt like it was time."
"Awwwww. Jaden King. I like the way that sounds! When you gonna post it?" Erica asked.
Jaden laughed. Erica and her follow each other on Instagram, and even though Erica liked to post everything, Jaden was still reserved. Only posting her view, dinners, and her shoes. She still hadn't posted her pregnancy.
"Girl, you got nearly twenty thousand followers, you need to monetize that page. The people wanna see you more, and by the people, I mean me." She laughed.
"I'll think about it," Jaden told her.
"Her and Desmond are too much alike. He don't post neither. Most of his pics are her anyway." Donte laughed.
"Must be nice." Erica rolled her eyes.
Desmond stood up holding his glass, "Anyway," he cleared his throat. "My dawg. You twenty-seven bruh. We been boys for so long. I couldn't imagine it any other way. Seeing you grow, I'm happy God gave me a second chance to witness it. No homo, I luh you, boy." He raises the glass.
Awws erupted throughout the room.
Marquis wiped a fake tear, "I love you, man. I'm proud of the man you've become, we been through so much shit together, it don't make no sense." everyone laughed as he continued,
"Seriously, you're a husband to a wonderful woman with a beautiful soul. Y'all finna have a beautiful baby, who's gonna be surrounded by love. I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of us. The world is our oyster." He tipped his glass, "To life!" He drank it down.
"To life."
♟••••♟
YOU ARE READING
All the King's Men ( An Urban Love Story )
General Fiction*COMPLETED* CURRENTLY EDITING "I'll go to war with God behind you." Desmond King grew up a product of his environment. With street smarts and a little book smarts on his side, he found a way to survive and feed everyone around him. He's been able t...
