Free Bedding the Best Man by Yvette Hines Page A

aunt would not let it go if I
didn’t give Travis a moment of my time, I turned and said, “Okay,
Auntie, where is he?”
    Smiling, she pointed across the room. “Over
by the punch bowl talking to Howard.”
    Of course, Travis wouldn’t be hanging out
with the frat men, because unlike Ronnie and Patrick, Travis hadn’t
pledged. “Figures, he’s talking to dad. Bet they’re going on and on
about business and network systems. Notice, no one else is around
them. He’s boring, Aunt Renee. Is that what you want for me?”
    Looking up at me, from her five-four
stature, my aunt gave me a small smile. “No, sweetheart, I just
want you to be happy. A man who is grinning in the face of every
woman at the wedding reception is going to be nothing but your
heartbreak.”
    Not if I keep him
satisfied. “Not with the right woman.
Which I am.”
    “ Yes, you are. However, he
is not the right
man for you. Let Serita have him.”
    “ Serita?” She was my first
cousin; my mother’s brother’s daughter. We had gone to college
together and had been fighting over men since Ken Barbie. The salon
owner had already been married once and divorced two years later.
She had her chance. “Why aren’t you talking to her about
Travis?”
    “ They wouldn’t fit. We all
know Serita isn’t ready to settle down, again . She likes keeping a string of
men. Patrick and she would do well, if they haven’t already
done it .”
    I covered my laugh with my hand, trying not
to draw attention to my loose-tongued aunt. “Oh, Auntie. The things
you say.”
    Holding my stomach, I took a few breaths to
calm myself and glanced back at Travis. I had to admit that Travis
had changed since college. His physique was noteworthy in the
tuxedo. He had always been tall, but the skinny boy with shoulders
that looked like a coat hanger beneath his shirts now was broad
shouldered and filling out the suit nicely. He’d had a head full of
unruly curls even in college, but his coal black hair was now
shorter and tapered.
    My father must have said something humorous
because Travis tossed his head back and laughed. The smile showed
off perfect white teeth. I remembered he was still sporting braces
during that spring break, which he hadn’t even gotten until college
sometime.
    As if feeling someone staring at him, Travis
turned his head and looked directly at me as he listened to my
father. My heart leaped.
    What the hell was that?
    Even from the other side of the room I could
feel the intensity coming from his eyes as he looked at me.
    Feeling flustered I looked
away. I didn’t want him to think I was checking him out, even though I was. Only because your aunt demanded you do it,
Kamari.
    “ Okay, I looked. Done.
He’s passable,” I mumbled, still feeling a little out of
sorts.
    My aunt pursed her lips, as if she were
disappointed in my assessment. “Really, Mari, sometimes I think I
should have Dr. Rockell check your vision.”
    “ Did someone call my
name?”
    I turned and discovered mister hottie doctor
standing behind us. “Patrick.”
    Aunt Renee had both hands on her hips now as
she began, “Nobo—”
    “ Are you enjoying the
wedding reception?” I spoke over my Aunt Renee. When she didn’t
care for someone, my aunt had no problem telling them. I wasn’t
going to have her ruining my chances with Patrick.
    “ It’s great. You know what
they say ‘you been to one wedding, you’ve been to them all’.” His
grin was tilted to one side, and seemed a little cocky to
me.
    Self-assured, Kamari. There’s nothing wrong
with a man who knows he looks good.
    His comment about weddings didn’t sit well
with me either, but I pushed it away; most men didn’t find weddings
romantic.
    “ Can we help you with
something?” Aunt Renee asked.
    “ I was hoping that Kamari
would dance with me. I love this song.” He nudged his head in the
direction of the dance floor where a lot of people were moving to
the new release of a popular female rap artist.
    I hated