“I can’t understand it. He loved KOC.”
“He loved his beliefs more. When he had to make a choice, and his son betrayed him, I bet it was a no brainer.”
“Maybe.” She sighs. “Either way, we don’t need to talk about it. Tell me what you plan on wearing to this impromptu wedding.”
I smile. “I have no clue. I’m going to go shopping for everything once we get there.”
“You better face time me!”
“You know I will,” I say.
We continue to chat until Shadow returns to grab her for dinner. I’m lucky to have good friends, it’s a rarity in a world where people turn on one another like dogs fighting for a meal. I pull into the city of sin and as always, I’m mesmerized by the flashing lights. I use my navigation system to take me to the hotel and park. I run my fingers down Echo’s face. “Babe, we’re here.”
He s
tirs in his sleep. His eyes pop open and he yawns. “I slept the whole time?”
“Yeah, I think maybe you needed it. I booked us a room, and we get married tomorrow at one o’clock at the Flower’s Chapel.”
He sits up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say grinning.
“We’re finally doing this thing?”
“Unless you’re getting cold feet.”
“Don’t play. You’re lucky I’m not taking your fine ass through a drive thru wedding joint right now.”
I laugh. “I think I can wait a night for something a little more upper scale.”
“Oh, excuse me,” he says, distorting his voice.
I giggle. “You feeling okay?” I ask, gently prodding.
He sighs. “No, and I don’t think I will for a long time. Let’s check in, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re laying on the bed holding hands.
“So what happened, babe?”
“You know how I asked you why my father was so racist?”
“Yes,” I say.
“You know the black heroin addict who shot his father?”
“Yes, I’ve heard the story.”
“Well, what he didn’t tell anyone was that was his father.”
“What?” I ask, floored.
“Yeah, you think you’re shocked,” he replies.
“How…why?”
“Stone dug it up. He’d been having him checked out since he started to suspect him being crooked. Turns out my grandma had an affinity for not just cheating, but African American men.”