Anna and Jackson

by Tigris Eden

  Jackson made his way over to her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist. She didn’t fight him or try to get away. She let out a breath and relaxed into his embrace. He kissed the side of her neck, then nibbled her ear.

  “I should have talked to you first before inviting them,” he rumbled.

  “Yeah, you should have. But it’s a bit too late for that now.”

  “It’s never too late, Anna. I spoke with my mother, and she assured me she was going to be on her best behavior. Vivian knows if she even steps out of line a little, I will make her life miserable.”

  “Maybe that’s exactly what Vivian wants. Bottom line, Jackson, you should have talked to me, not to get permission, but for us to come to some sort of agreement. We’re about to get married, and we can’t go around making decisions without talking to each other. That’s not what I signed up for.”

  Jackson kissed the side of her neck before turning her to face him.

  “You’re right. I should have come to you with this before doing anything at all.”

  She watched him with wary eyes before planting her head on his chest.

  “You’re not alone anymore after today, Jackson.”

  “I wasn’t alone yesterday, Anna,” he countered.

  “That’s not what I meant. It’s not just you that you need to think about anymore. You have Ava and me, and you need to understand, we’re a team. The three of us.”

  “It’s my job to make sure this family is taken in the right direction.”

  He was a man. The one that provided. She didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to. Didn’t she get that?

  “I see we should have taken some marital counseling before getting married.” She sighed and took a step back. Jackson moved with her.

  “No, stay there, I need you to hear me.”

  He walked closer, pulling her back into his arms.

  “I can hear you fine right here.”

  “I need you to take this seriously.”

  “I am, and I do.”

  “No, you’re going all caveman. All you Jane, me Tarzan mode. Jackson, you don’t get to make choices for us. We make decisions as a team. Husband and wife, team AJ.”

  Team AJ?

  “Excuse me, that should be team JA. Jackson and Anna.”

  “Um, no, that just sounds strange,” she countered.

  “JA.”

  “AJ.”

  “JA”

  “Team Jacan,” Anna decreed.

  “That’s even worse, you nut.”

  She laughed, and he knew things were going to be okay if she was laughing.

  “You don’t want to be like Brangelina, or Bennifer?”

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about, goof.”

  She snuggled deeper into his arms and sighed.

  “One wrong move, Jackson. I will unleash the Lola.”

  He squeezed her as he tried not to laugh. The Lola. That was funny shit.

  “Thanks, babe. I know my mom’s a pain in the ass, and Vivian really shouldn’t be here, but it would mean a lot to me. Not for Vivian, but for my mother to be a part of this wedding. She needs to get used to the idea of you being her daughter-in-law. Whether she wants to or not. “

  That made Anna giggle.

  “I can already see the look of horror on your mother’s face tomorrow.”

  “She’ll be fine, Anna. Everything will be okay.”

  He really hoped he wasn’t lying to her.

  “I’m holding you to that, Jackson.”

  “Hold me tighter.”

  She did.

  Until Her: Chapter 27

  The Wedding Day

  It’s a beautiful day. The perfect day to marry Jackson Storme. I slept apart from him last night and roomed in a suite on the other side of the hotel. Same side as his mother and ex-fiancée. Bertrand put me in the equivalent of a presidential suite, which was somewhat like a mini apartment.

  I’m getting married in less than two hours. I have three dresses to choose from because Jackson thought of everything. He’d sprung the wedding date on me so suddenly, I didn’t have time to truly make a decision. So what does my man do? He goes back to the store that I was in and tells the lady at the counter that he’ll take all three dresses. And to have them altered to my specifications in such a way that they could easily be adjusted right before the big day if necessary. He even made sure to have a seamstress on hand for me at the resort. You are one lucky girl. That I am.

  The sky is a beautiful, calm and blue, there’re maybe one or two puffy clouds in the sky. The ocean is calm too, and the waves lull me deeper into a sense of satisfaction and relaxation as Indi struggles with my hair.

  “Whose idea was it to have you go natural?” India asks me.

  “Mine,” I say proudly.

  “Chanty, get over here and do something about this mess.”

  I turn in the chair and look up at India with a determined look on my face.

  “You said curly was the best bet for the dress I chose.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe I was wrong,” she mumbles.

  She better not be. The dress I picked will only look good with my hair up.

  “Figure it out, I’m not wearing it down; I don’t care if it’s a messy bun. Jackson won’t care either. But it’s going up,” I say seriously.

  “Move your ass out of the way, India, and let the pro take over,” Chantelle says irritated.

  My cousin Chantelle works at a hair shop, so I know if anyone can get this done, she can. India just wants to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch, and I appreciate it. So far, there hasn’t been any drama. Corrine behaved last night at the rehearsal dinner, and Ava was so excited to see her mother, she kept Vivian occupied with her tales of building sandcastles. There were some forlorn looks here and there from Vivian when Jackson would walk by, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one at the dinner who could feel the tension clogging the air, but for the most part, we worked it out.

  My dress is a spaghetti-strap, backless, summer beach number made out of lace chiffon. The back opening of the dress is more than a bit provocative, and I was worried at first that it was a bit much, but my mother said it was perfect. It showcases my peacock down to the tail, and the dress’s scoop ends right where the indent of my ass starts. It’s chapel length, so it isn’t overly long—just long enough, and because we’re not technically getting married on the beach, I don’t have to worry about the dress dragging in the sand. Though my long-time photographer friend and ex-classmate, Nita, is here to take pictures of my day, and has assured me there will be a time when we will head out to the beach.

  She’s snapping pictures now.

  But you don’t even know she’s here, she’s so quiet.

  “I see you over there, Nita.”

  “Well, keep on seeing, I’m capturing everything.”

  “How much is my brother paying you?” Joey asks.

  Nita looks up from her camera lens.

  “Nothing, I’m doing this for free. He did pay for my flight and expenses, but other than that, I’m here strictly as a friend and for moral support.”

  Nita and I don’t get to hang out often. She and I both travel a lot for our jobs. She’s a petite, dark-haired beauty all the way from England.

  “I love hearing you talk. Keep talking, English,” Chantelle says as she tugs on my hair.

  “Dude, seriously, do you have to pull so hard? I’m not a rag doll you know,” I growl.

  “For someone with hair like yours, you sho’ do have a lot of it. Girl, your kitchen is just all over the place. This humidity isn’t doing it any better. But don’t you worry. I brought some of my oils with me, and I got some stuff that will keep your edges just right.”

  Of course, she does.

  Chantelle has flattened her hair straight. India is all-natural and has big beautiful curls with a gorgeous, turquoise-painted orchid hanging out on the side of her head.

  Chantelle is only gone for a m
oment and then she’s back. My cousin knows how to do hair, and by the time she’s done smoothing oil, edge cream, and spraying gloss in my tresses, you’d never know I had any type of problem.

  “There. Now that’s a ‘do,” she says, turning me to face the mirror so I can see for myself.

  “Thank you.”

  The camera is going off in the background as Chantelle and I share a moment.

  “All right, move out of the way. Y’all go and finish getting dressed, and let me finish doing her makeup,” India yells at the rest of my bridal party. My mom is sitting on the couch with Ava, who is wearing her robe. I promised her that she could slide into her dress the moment I slide into mine.

  “You okay over there, Ladybug?”

  Her little feet are swinging back and forth. She’s fidgety and impatient.

  “Yeah, but I want to see my mom,” she says, looking up at me with her big beautiful eyes. I look at my mom and she nods her head.

  “How about Pearl takes you to go see your grandma and mom?”

  Her face lights up instantly.

  “I will be back before we have to put on our dress, okay, Mommy.”

  “I know, honey. If you want, you can bring them back here with you, and your mom can help you look like a princess.”

  India gives me a don’t you dare look.

  She’s probably right. But I don’t want Ava to feel like she has to worry about her mother and me, and I’m hoping that Vivian will act like she did last night. Quiet.

  “If that girl does one thing to ruin your day, Anna, she’s going down,” Lo says from the other side of the dressing room door where she’s getting ready.

  The girls are wearing different variations of peacock colors. India’s dress is long and strapless, and is an ocean green-blue. Chantelle is in a greenish gold, Joey is wearing an almost verdant green, Lola is in a lime green, and my mother is wearing a vibrant blue. Their dresses are in different lengths and all chiffon. We all opted to get our feet and nails done the same, which is a pale blue. Even little Ava has her toes and nails a pale blue. Her dress is indigo purple, but the skirt of the dress is a mixture of faux peacock feathers that set the stage.

  My mother takes Ava out of the room, and that’s when the chatter begins.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Chantelle asks, yanking me on my shoulder to turn me to face her.

  “What? It’s her mom, she misses her, I’m not about to let Vivian ruin today for me. She can try, and if she does, well, it won’t be a pretty sight.”

  “Damn right, it won’t be. I’ve been waiting to crush that hag under my boot since she stepped foot in our town.”

  “Lo, you’re in Shreveport.”

  “Don’t give two fucks. Your hood is my hood.”

  “Damn straight,” Chantelle tosses out. She’s got both hands on her hips, and I swear any minute, the neck roll will be coming. They care about me. I get it. But, seriously, Vivian knows what will happen if she steps out of line, and really, who’s that nuts?

  “I think if we all work together to ensure she doesn’t try to go crazy, we can pull off a successful wedding and reception,” India says, trying to calm everyone’s nerves. She’s mellowed a bit since partnering with me. But I know there will always be that brash straightforwardness that she’ll unleash at a moment’s notice.

  “Sic the boys on her,” Chantelle suggests.

  “What boys?” India says, getting protective. She must think Chanty is talking about the twins.

  “What boys do you think I mean?”

  “Well, as long as it isn’t Finn and Sawyer.”

  “Speaking of Finn and Sawyer, was there a late-night fuck fest going on down in your room or what, Indi?” Chantelle asks her sister.

  We all start laughing because, apparently, not only was she loud, so were Finn and Sawyer. Joey mentioned it to me in passing this morning when we were eating breakfast.

  “None of your damn business.”

  “It is when the entire set of rooms can hear it. Girl, Dad was pissed. I think he might have even banged on your door.”

  “Nah, girl, that wasn’t Lester, that was India getting banged. Yo’ head okay?” Lola walks over and pretends to inspect India, who swats her out of the way.

  “Y’all need to mind your business. So I was having me a little something, something.”

  “More like two somethings,” I say, smirking.

  “How does that even work? One watches while the other waits?” Lola asks.

  We all turn to look at Lola at the same time, because out of all of us, Lola is the biggest freak.

  “You are not serious?” I say.

  We all know the twins do not watch each other, more like help each other, help Indi get off.

  “I am. I know she’s not taking two dicks. Are you, Indi?”

  I cough.

  Chantelle chokes.

  Joey tries to hide her snort, and India just winks.

  “You little skank!” Lola screeches. “You mean to tell me you riding dirty like that? Oh my weezy, somebody please, please call this child’s momma and get her some act right. Yo’ daddy is gonna kill them white boys,” Lola says, shaking her head.

  “I’m a grown ass woman. I can do what I want.”

  “But with two cocks?” Lola asks.

  Now she’s interested.

  I turn and look at Nita, who’s gone red in the face. I mouth the words “sorry” as I try not to laugh. Nita just shakes her head like we’re all mad.

  We probably are.

  “I let Jackson put his fingers in my ass.”

  “I don’t want to hear this,” Joey yells, shaking her head.

  “Y’all are just ratchet,” Chantelle says. Lola mimics after her, but then we all stare at each other and bust out laughing.

  “Hot mess. All of you,” India says, going back to do my makeup.

  “Whatever, just tell me their stroke is strong, and long, and just woo.” Lola fans herself. “Those are two hot something or others. I got one cousin marrying the most wanted dick in all the parishes, and another cousin who’s getting two for the price of one grand f—“

  “Lola!” I gasp. “Hush your mouth.”

  I say it just in time, too, because my mother and Jackson’s mother return along with Vivian.

  “What?” Lola shrugs, and we all burst into a fit of giggles

  “All right, everyone, places. We’re starting in five,” India said inside Jackson’s dressing room. The guys stood around with their celebratory drink in hand.

  “Looks like we’re up,” Catch said, placing his tumbler on the counter behind him. It’s the first time Jackson’s been able to take a true breath. He has always breathed easy with Anna, but at this moment, it felt like everything was right where it should be. Treat was at his side, and Jackson looked over to him, giving him a head lift.

  “You got the rings?”

  “Yeah, man, I got the rings.” Treat patted him on the back and leaned in close. “I know I don’t have to tell you this, but since you were nice enough to do this for me, I’m gonna give you the same courtesy.” Treat smacked him on the back. It was a playful gesture, but his eyes were serious. “You fuck this up, man, I fuck you up. You’re marrying my sister. Anna is the best thing that could have happened to you. Even I know that, and if you screw this up for her, well, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”

  It made Jackson a little pissed, but he understood where Treat was coming from. He felt the same way about him and Joey. So he’d let it go. This time. He gave Treat an irritated look before he looked at the rest of his groomsmen.

  “You heard India. Take your places.”

  Treat was walking Anna down the aisle. It had been a last-minute change and request. Pearl thought it was a great idea. Originally, The Mayor was going to walk her, but he understood the importance of the message Treat was trying to convey. He wanted his sister to know that even though they were just now finding out about each other, he’d always be there for
her. To Jackson, that was more than satisfying to see his best friend and brother-in-law take something that meant so much to Anna in a way that was more than accepting.

  “What dress do you think she chose?” Oliver asked, straightening his tux. They were all in suits that were an ivory color with the shirts matching the bridesmaid they were walking with. It made for an interesting choice of colors, but everything fit so well. It wasn’t overly formal, but just the right side of class, with more than enough comfort. Jackson wasn’t a fan of stuffy suits, and Anna had given him carte blanche on his apparel. He was thankful for that, as well because the tailor in town had custom-made each outfit to fit each of them to perfection.

  “Not sure, she had three to choose from, and I didn’t look at any of them, just had the lady at the shop have them altered and then sent here.”

  “Somebody is pussy whipped,” Dorian said bumping Finn on the shoulder.

  “Do you see me complaining?”

  Dorian didn’t say anything.

  “Exactly. Now shut the fuck up and get out there. Aren’t you like an usher or some shit?” Jackson asked.

  “Fuck off, man.”

  Everyone filed out of the room and made their way over to the back of the house where the wedding was taking place. They’d opted for a tent for the reception so they could eat outside, but not get overexposed to the sun. India had an arch brought in that was made from local wood on the island. There were orchids weaved in and around it until not a stich of wood showed. She’d done an excellent job. There were even peacocks walking freely among their friends and family as they were seated.

  “Indi’s thought of everything,” Finn said at Jackson’s side. He was right, she had. Ava was the only little person, besides Xavier, who was being held by Jackson’s mother. Corrine looked like a different person holding his nephew. There was a true smile on her face, and it reached her eyes. When she looked up at him, her eyes were still warm before her lids shuttered. Then the cold stare he always received returned. Whatever. He’d done all that he could for her. Corrine didn’t have to like him, or even love him. He was past that. If she couldn’t pull her head out of her ass, that was her problem. He’d still be the bigger person.