When Sara was finished, we all raised our glasses and toasted the couple. I drank some of the expensive bubbly.
The maid of honor handed Travis the microphone. He stood center stage looking comfortable before the large audience. I always pictured him in a dark room only illuminated by the glow of several computer monitors. A social phobic like the movies always portrayed. However, that’s not what Travis exuded. I shoved aside the image of the teenager I knew and looked at him with the eyes of the other women in the room who didn’t know anything but the man that stood before them.
His voice was deep and smooth. I could imagine a voice like his whispering naughty things to a woman at night. It would be as inciting and intoxicating as aged scotch. The thought caused my body to heat up as if I’d actually drank some of the potent alcohol. I crossed my legs and sipped more champagne.
“Ronnie and I have been friends for years. We met in the seventh grade. I’ll say we were a pretty odd pair. He’s black, I’m white. He was a star community basketball player and eventually at our high school too. Me, I was a little nerdy.”
A sharp laugh broke from my lips. Everyone turned to me. Shocked at my outburst, I slunk low in my seat.
Damn it. I could see my mother at the parent table shaking her head at me. I could almost hear her thoughts ‘Don’t embarrass us, Kamari.’
Looking away from her disapproving gaze, I focused my attention back to Travis, hoping the rest of the guests would do the same.
Travis had a small smile on his face as he looked at me. I was glad he didn’t look offended; I wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings.
“No worries everyone. Kamari knew me then and is just verifying that my words are true. Ronnie and I are different. However, Ronnie looked beyond all of that difference and accepted and supported me. I’m not a woman, but if he isn’t the kind of guy that will make a perfect husband for Faith, I don’t know what is? I hope when I finally have the woman I love, I’m half the man he is.” Travis shifted his gaze from the crowd to my brother and his bride. “So, Faith, you have a stand-up guy who is dependable and kind hearted to a fault. Blessings and best wishes on your future.”
“To the Bride and Groom!” The room cheered as they held their glasses high.
I found myself gulping down my drink. Travis’ speech had caused my body to start tingling all over and my heart was racing. Something about his sincere honesty about who he was and his relationship with my brother had me close to tears.
In my angst against the nerd he was, I forgot he was a really great friend to Ronnie. When Ronnie had broken his leg in high school and was out of school for weeks, Travis was the only friend who came by the house. He not only brought my brother’s school work every day, but Travis hung out with Ronnie. None of my brother’s team mates ever once darkened our doorstep.
I saw Travis take the stairs off the stage and head toward his seat at the head table as the music started up again. Maybe I’d been a little small minded about him.
When he passed his seat and continued toward my end of the long table, I sat up a little straighter. Oh, Lord, he’s going to call me to task for laughing at him.
“Look, Travis—”
“Kamari, how about another dance.” Patrick stepped into my line of sight, practically cutting Travis off in the process.
However, Travis was still two bridesmaid’s seats away from me. Hell, I didn’t even know if he was coming to me.
“Um, sure.” I rose and gave the man before me my full attention. “Yes, I mean. Sorry, I was lost in my own head for a moment.” I pasted a big smile on my face so I wouldn’t scare off the man whose attention I was attempting to have solely on me all day.
“Alright, let’s do this.” Patrick waited on the other side of the table until I came around.
I purposely didn’t look at Travis. Not understanding the odd feelings I was having about him, I wanted to keep my distance.
Back on the dance floor I wasn’t happy that it was another fast song, but at least it wasn’t rap. It was a Top 20s hit I frequently sang and rocked to in my car.
The first song flowed into another chart topper and I found myself enjoying my time on the floor with Patrick and had almost completely dismissed Travis from my mind. As the song began to fade, I could hear the notes of a slower tempo song coming up.
Yes, finally.
“Excuse me, Patrick, I’ll take the next song with Kamari.” Travis stepped between us and pulled me into his arms.
Before I could even say anything or Patrick could object Travis had me whisked to the other side of the smooth wooden floor. Patrick’s form blurred as I was turned and pressed tightly to Travis’s hard body.