“You are supposed to be in hair and makeup, and you, Dru, next in the barber’s chair.” She tossed Dru’s clothes to him on the bed before walking out of the room. She couldn’t tell if her mother was pissed or amused. Marli didn’t know what was more mortifying: being late for her sister’s wedding preparations or having her mother catch her in bed naked with Dru. Either way, she had no time to think about it. Turning to Dru, she attempted to speak. It was time to do the awkward goodbyes; instead, he met her with his lips.
“Don’t overthink it. We’ll talk later,” he said, climbing out of the bed. Marli sat there for a minute, staring at him. She was speechless. If today wasn’t so important, she’d ask him what he meant, but she had to get going. They had to get going. The sound of her phone vibrating broke her out of the trance she had fallen under. Her sister’s name beamed across the screen.
Twin: Nothing is going right! Everybody is drunk and hungover!
Twin: Where are you?
Twin: This was a stupid idea!
Twin: It’s bad luck because I let my husband slut me out in them people club last night.
Twin: I’m sending mama.
“Oh my God! Kay!” she shouted as she read the messages. Stumbling out of bed, she darted past Dru to the shower. At that point, the only thing on her mind was getting to her sister. She’d missed all this the first time. She wasn’t going to miss it again, and Kay needed her.
Jumping in the shower, Marli washed her body. Her night with Dru was on replay in her mind. He had snatched her ass up from outside the club and fucked the shit out of her, all night into the morning. She was in a state of disbelief, but the throbbing in between her legs was the evidence. She had never been fucked the way Dru had fucked her last night. He had given her the type of dick she ran from because she knew it would have her sitting outside his house at four a.m., singing Monica. It was why Janel had been his glorified fuck buddy for umpteen years. Dru was dangerous, and he messed with her already conflicted and confused brain. Cutting off the water, Marli stepped out of the shower and quickly dried her wet body before entering the bedroom. Her eyes searched for Dru, but she knew he was gone.
“I sure hope this means another wedding is in the works, and y’all are done playing those silly childish games with each other.” Her mother’s voice startled her. Marli didn’t realize her mom had come back. She was hoping to avoid this uncomfortable situation altogether, but she should have known better. Her mother was not the one to hold her tongue. Marli moved around the room briskly, throwing some items in a tote bag. Maybe her mom would get the picture that her only focus right now was getting to Kay.
“Marli Iman Martin! I know you hear me speaking to you!” Her mother stood from her seat and approached her.
“I… um… it’s not like that with Dru and I.” Marli attempted to clean things up. The last thing she wanted to do was go into details about her slipup with Dru. Marli was open and honest with her mom about a lot of things, but her sex life—she didn’t get into the details of that. Her mom didn’t agree with the way Marli ran through men. Like any normal mother, she wanted to see her daughter settled down, married, and in love. Her mother was old school. She believed that a woman should be modest, and that logic was something Marli had thrown out a long time ago.
“Not like that? I’m old enough to recognize the remnants of sex, Marli.” Loretta waved her hands through the air. Marli rolled her eyes slightly as she slid on her bridesmaid’s robe and slippers.
“I know you are, Ma.” Marli could barely get her words out before her mama was going upside her head.
“Don’t you get smart with me, got damn it!” Marli rubbed her head where her mom had hit her.
“I’m sorry, Ma!” Marli shrieked.
“Sorry, nothing. Now I don’t say much. I mind my business,” Loretta started. No, you don’t, Marli thought as she side-eyed her mom.
“But chile, I know I raised you better than to keep continuously letting these men use you for sex. You’re a beautiful girl, Marli. You deserve better.”
“I use them for sex, Ma!” Marli blurted right before her mama smacked her across the head again.
“Same damn difference. I wish you would just get into a committed relationship. Those boys don’t need to see you parade all these different men around… and don’t start that bullshit about not wanting a relationship. You aren’t fooling anyone but yourself.” Marli let out a deep sigh. She had this same conversation a million times with her mom. It wasn’t that she wasn’t listening, but her mama didn’t understand. Like most people, she thought Marli’s sleeping around meant something was wrong with her, that she must have low self-esteem or something. Those ideologies were the exact reason Marli was the way she was. Society raised women to aspire to be the perfect mate for a man, but then raised men to be flawed and promiscuous. It didn’t make sense. It was why so many women got their hearts trampled on. Marli wasn’t going for that.
“But I don’t want a relationship, Ma.” It was a half-truth. She didn’t want one until she met Dru. Now she was just scared.
“And why not?” Loretta placed her hand on her hips. It didn’t matter what Marli said, her mother would disagree.
“’Cause the women that are in the relationships are the ones that must endure the most of a man’s crap. I’ll pass.” Marli finished putting the last of her things in the bag. She was just about ready to head out, but she could feel her mother’s eyes burning a hole in her.
“If you believe that, baby, I failed you somewhere.” Her mother’s voice was laced with so much sadness it made her feel bad. Slowly, Marli went and sat next to her mom. The last thing she wanted was to insult her parenting.
“It has nothing to do with—”
“Your daddy was a good man. He loved me with his whole heart, and I ain’t have to endure a damn thing. He never cheated, never put his hands on me. He loved this family. Loved his girls.”
“Ma, I didn’t mean…” Marli dropped her head. She didn’t have anything to say.
“And your sister has found real love. They celebrating five years of marriage today. That man gives her the world and shows her nothing but love and respect. Society has its narrative to what black love is and should look like, but baby, everybody ain’t suffering from struggle love. There’s a man out there who will love and worship you. Don’t get caught up in society’s narrative.” Marli couldn’t do anything but let her mother’s words sink in. She didn’t agree with everything her mother said, but one thing she knew for certain was that her dad had loved her mom, and Blue loved Kay. She couldn’t dispute that, but Marli wasn’t naïve enough to think that it was every woman’s narrative. She surely had no hope it would be hers.
“Dru is a good man, Marli. I know y’all young and think y’all just having fun, but you love that man, and he loves you. Everybody can see that.” Marli’s breath hitched at the thought of Dru being in love with her. She’d never considered it. A while ago, he’d mentioned being in a relationship, but Marli didn’t take him seriously because he was still sleeping with Janel. It was why she never cut off Max. Love was never on the table for her, so she never even once thought about the fact that she may indeed be in love with Dru. She was speechless.
“Now, I’m not saying you need a man, but baby, having someone who loves and protects you will allow you to thrive in your softness. The boys need a real father figure and you need someone that you can grow old with. That’s something I would love for you to experience because I had that, and it was so special, baby.” Loretta touched her daughter’s hand. Marli could feel the love in her mother’s words.
“I hear you, Ma, I do.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.
“Now, hear this. I think you may have that in Dru, baby. Don’t be so scared of getting hurt that you miss out on real love. Although I got the feeling that, when he’s ready, he’ll come get you.”
Marli shook her head at that last part. What does she mean come get me? Her mom meant well, but Marli wasn’t sold on the whole relationship, love, and marriage thing. Her mom had, however, opened her mind up to the fact that she may be in love with Dru.
“Oh, there y’all are!” Nesha barged into the room, breathing hard. Both Loretta’s and Marli’s heads turned in her direction. They already knew why she’d come.
“Kay is freaking out!” she blurted, making both women stand to their feet.
“Come on. Your sister is acting like she ain’t already married this damn man. She wasn’t freaking out when she married the damn man after only knowing him a few days!” Everyone in the room burst out laughing as they walked out of the room, rushing to get to Kay.
“You look stunning, sis.” Marli swiped a piece of hair out of her sister’s face as she stared at her in amazement, tears rising in both their eyes. Marli didn’t realize how emotional seeing her twin sister as a bride would make her. Kay was stunning, her hair flowing down her back in tight pin curls. Her makeup was soft and elegant. Kay looked as if she had walked right out of an Instagram wedding post, and Marli couldn’t take it. The whole thing had a bunch of emotions rising in her. This was the moment the two sisters had often dreamed about with each other when they were little girls. Marli smiled at the thought of the two of them dressed in blankets and marrying their stuffed animals. Everything had come full circle, and even though Kay was already married, seeing her finally get to have the wedding of her dreams with her friends and family was exciting.
“Now don’t you start crying too. Mama has enough waterworks going for the both of us.” Kay fanned the air in between them. Marli chuckled. Their mother had been a sobbing mess all morning, carrying on about finally getting to see her daughter as a bride.
“I almost can’t help it, sis. You look so radiant. This dress was the perfect choice.” Marli held up Kay’s hand and twirled her around. Kay ran her hands down her blush pink, beaded, mermaid style gown. Kay’s curves were going to be the talk of the night.
