“Alise, are you okay? What’s going on? Why is Bruiser acting like that about the dancer?” Tameka was asking Alise as she followed us outside. “Are you two…?”
“No! We’re not involved in that way,” Alise answered.
“We’re not?” I asked, stepping in front of her.
The look in her eyes was asking me, ‘Bruiser, what are you doing?’
My reply was to seize her gently by the nape. Lowering my mouth to hers, I fully intended to ravish her lips, knowing they would be bruised when I was done. Despite what Alise wanted, our secret affair was out, my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see. That didn't deter me from my mission to prove I was in this, in 'us' for the long haul. Alise's hands fisted my shirt, dragging me closer to deepen the kiss until Tameka's gasp intruded on the sacred moment.
Coming up for air, I tipped my forehead to Alise's, whispering, "It hurt me to see that guy all over you, sweetheart."
Air sawed in and out of her lungs, her warm, minty breath fanning my face. She may have wanted to pretend there was nothing deep between us, but she couldn't deny how my kiss affected her in front of Tameka. "I certainly didn't want to hurt you, Bruiser, and I'm sorry I didn't think about how being just one of the girls tonight would make you feel," she whispered against my lips.
It wasn't an 'I love you' from her but just as good. She'd no longer discount my feelings after tonight. That was all I wanted... for now.
Tameka snickered. "We all know how you both feel after that kiss and about damn time my girl found herself a good man. Now, let the party continue!"
She pulled Jayne by the hand back into the room. A whoop from the crowd went up. Alise grinned from ear to ear. A man couldn't beat the kind of validation Tameka gave and Alise seemed to be acknowledging. I thanked Tameka for her part with a smile. She squeezed my bicep in a quiet 'you welcome. '
The music resumed. I went back to my position. The stripper kept his distance from Alise for the rest of the evening, which was just fine with me. Later that night, I loved Alise well into the early morning.
Chapter Ten
Alise
Wedding Crasher
12:52 p.m.
Done!
I walked out of the dressing room, ready for the ceremony to begin. Jeb and Tameka’s wedding was supposed to start in an hour. My hair was pulled up in a bun. The gold sequin maxi dress glittered with shimmer and hugged every curve on my body. This dress would make any woman feel like a star, and the golden pumps set the look off right. The gold contrasted with the barely-there makeup with gold accents had me looking like the star I was.
A month ago, I never would have imagined I would be standing here feeling this way. It was an exciting day for not only my best friend, but also for me. Bloggers, YouTubers, and even some TV shows were talking about me, the girl who they said came out of nowhere and stunned the musical world with my celebrity. On my way over to the wedding today, Monica had called me to tell me they were talking about the success of “Love Me Again” on Good Day Alabama.
I was walking down the hallway, checking my social media pages, and looking at all of the messages about my next single. People wanted to know when it was coming because they loved my last one. In those messages, I saw one from this sweet lady I had been talking to named Jessica Newman. I liked chatting with her, so I opened her message and excitedly began reading.
Jessica Newman:
--Hi Alise. I see that your music is rising in the ranks. You deserve it.
--Are you there? Write back.
--Alise?
--You don’t think my feelings matter, do you? Wow, just when you think you know someone.
--Come back to me. I don’t know what I did to make you leave me like this. I miss you.
--I just want to talk to you again. I want to take you out to dinner. I want to spend some time with you. We need each other.
--Sorry if I’m sounding too forward. I just want to talk to you again. That’s all I was trying to say. Write back when you get a chance!
--They did a great piece on you on Good Day Alabama. Congrats.
--You will pay for ignoring me. I’m not the one you should ignore. I am your forevermore, just like in the song you sing.
--You will see me soon!