Nichelle POV

I was having an anxiety attack. That's exactly what this was. It couldn't be anything else.

"Nichelle, it's okay to be nervous"

"But this is the greatest decision you're about to make. Don't let your fears ruin this beautiful day" my mama said comforting me.

"But mama-" she shook her head "no ma'am, no buts"

"If we were ever too afraid to take risks some of the greatest things wouldn't happen in our lives. You have to trust that you're making the right decision. You wouldn't have said yes if you thought he wasn't husband worthy"

She was right. "Fall free in the love God has given you baby."

"Okay" my chest was still tight.

"Nichelle!" I hear Zach yell from outside. Making my heart speed right back up.

"That man cares about you so much" my mama chuckled. "Breathe, okay? I'm sure your dad is out there calming him down" she was rubbing my back such a soothing way.

"I won't leave until I know she's okay" I hear him say loudly. I sigh. Dang I done scared this man halfway to death.

"Let me go calm him down" my mama said getting up.

"No mama, let me see him" this was the only way to calm us both down to be honest.

"Are you crazy? You're never suppose to see the bride before ceremony starts"

"Cover his eyes then" she shook her head "yall are crazy but let me find something" she left the room and while she did, I practiced my breathing.

I closed my eyes and began affirming myself
"I can do this. He loves me and he loves all of me. He has proven it over time."

"I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't think he loved me enough."

The door opened "Nichelle" I heard Zach say. I immediately got up. My dad was leading him in blind folded.

He looked so good, my stomach got knots in it all now.

"Baby, let me feel you" I came close to him and gave him a hug. It was something I knew I needed. My dad had left to give us space.

"You scared me ma, thought you was getting cold feet on me" I pulled back from the hug.

"You not regretting this are you?" I could see some fear in him. He probably needed just as much assurance as I did.

"No, I just got a little nervous"

"Shit me too" he confessed.

"We've never done this before, so let's learn to do it all together" I nodded forgetting he's blindfolded.

"I love you with all my heart Zachary" I said honestly. Maybe if everyone was in the room they'd flip out but I kissed my man and he kissed me back passionately.

We didn't stop until the door opened. "Oh hell no!" I turned to see my friend Chantel. My mama pinched her. "We in the house of the Lord"

"I just did her hair and Zach done messed it up" she complained rubbing her arm.

Zach chuckled "sorry"

"Y'all couldn't have wait until after" my mama said shaking her head but with a little smile.

"Sawry mama, I was just tryna give her a preview" Chantel rolled her eyes shaking her head.

"Well now you can go while I fix her hair again"
He started walking and my momma went over to help him out.

"Sorry Chantel"

"Yea yea now get out" I laughed at that. Those two were something.

****

"Zachary, I will never forget the day you thought we could be a couple. I really thought you were joking and I really didn't think you'd commit to wooing me for 2 weeks... because honestly that's how long your past relationships would last." I joked and everyone laughed.

"But when the two weeks were up, you kept going as if the challenge was still active. Even when I was your girlfriend you kept surprising me and showing up for me and loving me. Even down to this day, you are committed to loving me."

"So I promise to always be there for you, when you need a shoulder to cry on, when you're overwhelmed, I'll pick up where you left off."

"I always use to tell my friends that I will never love another man the way I loved my last boyfriend. But I make a new vow with you today, I'll love you way more than I ever have loved someone else"

"Zachary, you're the greatest form of God's love towards me and I promise to submit to you because you are fit man of God and I trust you to lead this family well. I know there might be hiccups along the way but we will recover together as I'm vowing to love you forever"

For the first time I was seeing Zach cry.

"I want y'all to know, several months ago Nichelle would NEVER admit this all to me so don't judge me for crying right now because I'm just as shocked as you" they all laughed including myself. He wiped his tears with the tissue his groomsmen gave him.

"Nichelle, maybe you don't remember this. There was a day I was failing all my classes and I was in the library and I literally decided to give up. You came to my table and said" he cleared his throat.

"you're not dumb you know, you just need to stop dealing with so much-" he looked at the pastor and said "forgive me pastor"

The pastor was confused as he continued "-hoes and focus on your school work." He mimicked me.

First of all my voice does not sound like that.

Everyone laughed including myself. I definitely remember, that was the first time we met.

"That's literally when I knew, it was gone be you. It had to be you. You didn't care about the money, the family name, none of that phased you. You called me out for what I was and I wasn't used to that. You still don't like when I buy you things but that's okay"

"I vow to do it anyway, I vow to love you until you can't remember the past heartbreaks and if you do you'll be grateful it happened because it led to this beautiful moment right here. I vow to protect you with my life. I vow to help make sure your dreams come true and to give you that big family"

"I vow to hold your hand all through this journey and to lead this family in Christ"

"I love you Nichelle, I vow to love you till until we grow old and I could still tell the story of how I fell in love with you to my great grand kids" I blushed and now I was the one crying.

"It's forever for me" he said and with tears in my own eyes I repeat what he said "it's forever for me"

"Well then, will the ring bearer present the rings" our ring bearer came and we took the rings.

"Wear these rings as a reminder of the vows you just said to one another" the pastor said.

And we placed the ring on each other's finger.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride"

"Alright now" Zachary said before pulling me into him. He cupped my face and kissed me.

Whew. I'm glad we were married now because he really caused some moisture down below.

Though I was nervous because this would be my first time. Zach was so patient he said that he would wait until I was ready.

******

Return of the Mack was blasting through the venue and we were all partying.

We were having such a great time with all of our family.

Mr. Anderson came over smiling with his wife.
"Hey guys, congratulations once again. It's lovely to officially have you apart of our family Nichelle" he hugged me.

He had become like a second father to me. He was looking out for me all the time, giving me advice about my relationship with Zach. Just where he can, he would help.

"Son, congratulations to you both! Take the whole month off and spend time with your wife" he nodded "thanks dad"

His wife stayed silent until I visible see Mr. Anderson lightly nudge her.

She sighed "Son, if this is what you want, I'll accept it but it doesn't mean I agree" she said making him nod. We've really learned to disregard her comments at this time in life.

She was never going to accept this relationship and we were okay with that. I wish it was different.

I never wanted to have this kind of relationship with his mother because I want to feel comfortable coming over for dinners but I guess we gone have to be like this.

"My condolences" she said. Triggering me to become angry.

"Maira!" Mr. Anderson said.

"You know, this is how I know I won at life. That even in my greatest accomplishment there's still something that you find faulty. Haters remind me that I'm heading in the right direction."

"Thank you for inspiring me in this moment to love your son to the best of my ability" I smiled at her as she gave me a mean look before walking away.

"I'm sorry about that. She'll get over it someday, enjoy the rest of your honey moon. I left a gift in your hotel room" he said smiling before he walked away.

Zachary looked at me and smiled "we gone be alright" he pulled me into him and hugged me.

I chuckled. His momma better not catch me on the wrong day.

"Don't let her ruin our day" he said before releasing me.

"C'mon dance with me"
Rock with you by Michael Jackson came on and he started dancing just like him. He was so stupid.

"C'mon girl" he said pulling me into his shenanigans.

It was 1 in the morning and I was tired as hell. Zach noticed all my yawning and decided to close the party out.

We got into the limousine and headed to the hotel we were staying in.

As soon as we got into our penthouse, I immediately wanted to see a bed.

We got in and the room was decked out in rose petals and candles and heart balloons.

There was music playing in the background. There was champagne in a decanter.

"Wow" I breathe out. Any girl would trip out for this

"You too tired for a drink?"

"Nah I can get one in"

We both headed over to the couch, sat down and popped the red wine open.

He poured it into our glasses.

"To forever?"

"To forever" we raised a toast and drank it.

"I meant every word I said to you Nichelle. I can wait for you"
But I wanted him now. I just didn't know how all of it would happen.
I wanted it to flow.

"Alright, I'ma let you get ready for bed while I clean this up" he said getting up and taking our glasses to the kitchen.

Speechless, I didn't know how to say that I want to because nobody ever taught me how to initiate this.

I got up and head towards the room and stopped midway.
I didn't want to end the night like this.

"Zach?" He turned around in the kitchen "yea?"

"Can you help me.." he looked at me with desire.

"I can't unzip my dress"  he slowly walked over to me.

I faced forward as I felt his presence behind me.
He moved my hair to the side and placed a kiss on my shoulder and another a little lower.

He unzipped the dress slowly. "There" he said in a husky voice. I was holding it up but once he was done I let the dress fall and turned around so he could see my corset.

"Nichelle..." he shook his head and breathe out.

"I want you Zach"

"I want all of you" he looked at me as trying to see if I was serious and I was very serious.

He pulled me into a deep kiss.

A passionate kiss that led to a night filled with passion.

******

"Baby" I heard him call for me.

"Baby" he called again but this time he nudged me.

"Mhmm"

"Open your eyes" I forced them open.

"I made breakfast for you" he had a tray with heart shaped pancakes and fruits on the side. My heart warmed at the gesture.

"Thank you husband" he leaned over and placed the breakfast in my lap when I sat up.

"No problem wife" he leaned over and kissed me.

"Ima go freshen up" I nodded "alright"

"Unless you tryna freshen up with me" I shook my head.

"I'm good and sore" he chuckled "I got you, I'll take care of you after you eat"

I went ahead and posted on social media.
I'm a whole wife now. I'm excited.

Not in competition with no one. I'm already his. 💍🤞🏽

What no one prepared me for was some of the things married couples endure...