Slim
“How are you feeling, baby girl?” Mom asked, coming up behind me wearing the biggest smile I’d ever seen on her face. “Have the nerves kicked in yet?”
It was the night before the wedding, and we were due down for our rehearsal dinner.
Time flies.
A couple of days ago I had been back in Miami and stressing—trying to find the balance between my professional and love life. My businesses warranted my attention, but I needed him more.
How did I justify that? Wanting them both, but having no idea how to juggle. To love/hate anything that pulled me away from him.
Do I go or stay? That thought has plagued my mind since the moment my feet touched down on Floridian soil. And while I loved the 305, Chester was my everything. As corny as that sounded, that crazy, stubborn man completed me.
“Not at all. I’m happy and elated...ready.” My eyes met hers in the vanity mirror, and they shined with unshed tears. Same as mine. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I was born to be his wife.”
We’d spent the entire day lounging and having fun, sunbathing and playing with the jet skis the owner had graciously included with his gift. Everything he didn’t let me enjoy during our time alone. For those glorious two days where he kept me locked away and satiated.
Loved and truly well fucked.
“You love him.” It wasn’t a question.
“With every fiber of my being,” I answered anyway, letting the truth of my words hang in the air between us.
Mom nodded. “Today was nice. What Chester did for everyone was sweet.”
“Amazing.” In other words, we drank. Celebrated becoming one large family.
And secretly, while everyone else disbursed to rest, I gave my Cheesy the best blow job of his life in one of the open air showers. My man deserved that and so much more.
“Arianna, baby...”
“Yes, Mom.”
“He’s your other half. That one person created by God himself to fulfill every part of your life...love him without restraint. Give him all of you, and he’ll do the same in return.” She took the hairbrush out of my hands and began to comb back the salt-water-created waves. Pulled them back and into a high ponytail. Sleek yet fun, it complimented the white maxi dress I wore and my sun-kissed skin. “Chester reminds me so much of your father when we met...” a giggle escaped her “...determined beyond all belief. Stubborn man gave me no choice but to fall in love with him. No one else measured to him.”
“They are so much alike it’s creepy.” Cheesy would kill me if he heard me.
“Overprotective teddy bears.”
“Can I be a jaguar instead of a bear?”
“You scared me, mijo!” Mom gasped, her eyes widening while mine, mine were trained on my love.
He was dressed for the night in a pair of white linen pants and a light blue, long-sleeved shirt rolled up at the elbows. No shoes. Just him in all his sinful glory.
“Sorry,” Chester said, standing in the room’s doorway, trying to sound contrite but failing miserably. His smirk gave him away. Always so damn cocky, a trait I loved. “Those things are ferocious.”
“Docile as a pussycat,” Mom challenged, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep in the laugh that wanted to escape. His facial expression when she said the word pussy was priceless.
The man looked about ready to gag. Adorable. I’d never tell him that, street cred and all that bull, but he was.
To me anyways.
When it was just the two of us alone, he let his guard down. Showed me a side of him that no one else had the privilege to see.
Chester was a protector.
Took on the responsibility for our group to make sure we were all happy, taken care of, even when he was hurt by the actions of others.
Motherfucking Ashley being his biggest disappointment.
One day, I had no doubt we’d come face to face again. Had no choice since Tex had fallen for her. And while for the most part I understood his position, was his ear when he couldn’t express himself to Chester, he knew how I felt.
I was owed my moment with her. I’d get over my anger toward Ashley eventually for everyone’s sake, but not before she experienced a little bit of the pain she’d dealt everyone else.
“Why the face, babe? You okay?” Cheesy’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I smiled. He was always worried about me.
Standing up, I fixed my dress, walked over to him, and took his hand in one of mine. “I’m perfect,” I vowed while bringing it up to my lips. Kissed each knuckle while my eyes remained on his. Let him see just how much I loved him. “Just a bit impatient, to be honest.”
Cheesy closed the small gap between us. “What can I do to help?”
“Marry me now.” I’d take on the world for this man and was ready to start on that path now. This very minute.
“Oh no you don’t!” Mom’s small body pried us apart. I’d forgotten she was even in here, and by the look on Chester face, so had he. “Out.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Arianna Garcia.” Shit. She full-named me. That was never a good thing. “We’re late for dinner.”
Well, there went that idea.
I Love You...
“I’d like to make a toast.” Rick stood up from the table, tapping the side of his beer bottle with a knife. We’d just finished a fantastic dinner of fresh seafood—from pasta with shrimp to Lobster Thermidor—we were spoiled with the different dishes the island’s head chef created. “So listen up, people. This will be priceless...for those of you who can record this, please do.”
“Asshole,” Cheesy muttered under his breath and then smiled, all the while giving him the one-finger salute. Our parents laughed, already way past tipsy at that point to correct anyone’s language. To be honest, they were worse than us.
Rick heard him and threw a balled-up napkin at his face. “Take it like a man.”
“Let the man speak, Cheesy!” Heather giggled over the rim of her glass. “He’s been practicing all week for this moment.”
“Shut it, short stuff.” No one took him seriously when this ended in a small pout. Nope. Just served to crack the group up.
The servers entered the outside dining room then, some carrying trays with small covered dishes atop, and others with empty ones.
The latter made quick work of clearing our tables.
“Excuse me.” Pipo stopped a waitress. “What’re we having?”
“A surprise from the groom for his bride,” she answered as another woman set a small plate in front of me.
Turning to face him, I raised a brow. “What did you do?”
“Take off the dome lid and see.” Chester leaned over in his seat and pecked my lips. “Just a little something I had the chef create.”
“You didn’t!” Yeah, I was giddy. My man knew me all too well. Taking the lid off, I reached over and pulled him to me by the collar of his shirt. “I love you,” I breathed against his lips before taking them in a heated kiss.
The man had the chef make my favorite caramel flan. One of the few desserts I craved all the time. Not too sweet, but always decadent.
Around me I could hear the murmurs from our family—the laughs, and the very loud clearing of a throat. Money was on the latter being my father.
Slowing the kiss down to a few pecks, Chester laid his forehead on mine. “I love you more than anything and anyone. You’re my everything, Slim.”
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Will someone please separate these two long enough for me to give my damn speech?” Rick whined, the sound petulant and bratty.
Jesus, I couldn’t stop myself even if I tried.
“Is the poor little baby going to stomp his foot next?” Beside me Cheesy snorted, and it had a domino effect. One minute it was quiet, and the next we were all gasping for breath.
All except Rick. He watched me through narrowed eyes. “Cold, Ari. Real cold.”
“Thought it was hilarious.”
Tex, who was seated across from me extended his fist for me to bump. “Priceless.”
“I hate you all.” The overgrown man-child winked at me at the end; Rick had a good sense of humor, but I’d still watch my back. These boys held grudges. “As I was saying before being interrupted...” he dared us with his eyes to say another word “...I’ve known Cheesy for a long time. Have traveled the world with and been arrested with him.”
“When and why?” Pipo demanded. Nosy old man.
“Public indecency.” And Chester looked smug about it. “Back in ‘08 and we were in Spain at the time.”
“Those two were drunk off their asses,” Cris interjected, holding his fork up, “while I remained the designated troll patrol.”
“Don’t ask.” Had to add that and quick, knowing my family. They didn’t need to know that the boys once had a rating system or how one would make sure none went home with someone who would be messy.
No clinginess.
Wham bam, thank you ma’am only.
Dumbasses.
“Who dared them?” Yuli asked, already seeing the crux of the problem. Two drunks couldn’t say no.
“I did...” Cris stated without an ounce of shame “…had them run naked through one of the biggest plazas in the country. Cops on patrol didn’t know what to do. Two of them were fans—were star struck, while trying to corral two nude idiots. Shit made front page news everywhere.”
“Our label wanted to kill us, but then the numbers began to roll in. We topped the charts in four countries overnight.” Chester winked before taking a long pull from his beer.
“Fuck it. I’m going to make this short.” Clearing his throat, Rick held up a bottle. “Chester, I never thought I’d see the day that a woman would hold you by the balls.” My face grew hot while Cheesy just shrugged, not correcting his statement. “Since the night you two met, nothing in your life has been the same, and I’m here to say that I approve. You two have been through so much, and yet, always come out stronger. Don’t mess it up. You have three men beside you who will go to war for her. Love you, brother...be happy and worship her without any restraints.”
Love you too, I mouthed to him, and he smiled.
“To Cheesy and Slim.” Everyone raised their glasses. “May you always live in wedded bliss.”