“It’s going to be a special night for me,” Mark told her quietly. “In more ways than one. Sure, it’s going to be a formal affair but it’s also going to be about family, and friends. People who’ve meant something to me at points in my life. For a long time I’ve been away from home, and some days I never even dreamed I’d make it back in one piece. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for and I really wish you’d be there to share it with me.”
Keyonna pushed her fingers back through her hair and let out another deep-seated sigh. “Okay. I’ll be there. What time does it start?”
“It starts at seven,” Mark said, and then added in a deeper, husky tone, “I really, really missed you, Keyonna.”
“I missed you too,” Keyonna said, biting her lip and despising herself for lying. After all, for most of the last two years, it had been a classic case of out of sight, out of mind for her. Just like she believed it had been for him.
Keyonna barely even remembered much about his appearance, come to think of it. His image was a faded photo in her memory and she couldn’t help feeling a pang of guilt.
She did recall though that Mark had a look that most of the girls found irresistible. She’d always felt proud having him as her boyfriend especially since she’d been the envy of her pals for getting the hottest guy in their circle of friends back then.
Keyonna hung up from the unexpected call with a lingering feeling of dread. She was not looking forward to coming face to face with an ex she’d all but forgotten even existed. At age twenty-six, Keyonna Hayes was now one of the youngest and fastest rising interior decorators in the city. Her eclectic, cutting-edge designs had caught the eye of many top industry players ever since she was in college. She’d had a dream job waiting for her when she graduated, interning for the hottest name in the business and building up her own considerable portfolio in less than three years.
Keyonna knew she had a lot to be proud of though when it came to her personal life, she couldn’t say she’d been in much of a winning mode. Wrong choices in men had burned her more times than she cared to admit. She’d dusted herself off again and again and now, she wasn’t up for romance or love. All she cared about was her career and for the next couple of years to come, intended on rising to the very pinnacle of her chosen field before even thinking of finally settling down for the family she’d always dreamed of.
Keyonna had always been idealistic – well, before she’d ended up kissing too many frogs to make her lose her taste for finding her prince.
Now she couldn’t help but cringe as she thought of one of the conversations she’d had the last time she’d been with Mark before he had to be deployed back to Afghanistan, almost a lifetime ago.
They’d sat on a beach, staring at the ocean with Mark’s big arms around her shoulders as she leaned her back against his chest.
“I’ll be back, baby,” Mark had said softly as she’d sniffled into her knuckled fists, devastated he was off on yet another assignment. “Right now there’s a war going on and we’re the only ones ready to fight it. But soon, I’ll make the time and we can work on our plans to get married, have kids and a home.”
Keyonna had lifted misty eyes to his. “Let’s get married now, Mark. This week – tomorrow. Right now. Let’s just elope somewhere and make it official. I’m scared I’ll lose you and we’ll never get this chance to make our dreams of forever after come true. So let’s not wait a moment more. You love me, don’t you?”
Mark had kissed the top of her head warmly, tightening his hold around her. “You know I do. But my life is not mine to organize the way I want and it would be unwise to jump into marriage so soon. You’re barely twenty-three and I’m just two years older. We need to make sure we know what we’re doing and I need to give us time to find our feet. My family may be rich but I feel I need to at least try to make something of myself. And so do you, my love. It would definitely be a mistake to jump into marriage right now.”
Keyonna had turned round to spear him with a scowl in the moonlight. “Cut the crap, Mark. We both love each other and we’re full grown adults. Marriage would be the right step for us. I’m old enough to start having babies and you know how much I love them and can’t wait to be a mother. Just tell me if you aren’t ready for the commitment.”
He’d frowned at her accusing tone. “That’s not it, Keyonna.” His firm, reassuring tone calmed her as his hands which patted gently through her hair. “If you really think about it, you’ll know I’m suggesting the right thing. You’ll just have to wait for me, sweetheart. You will, won’t you? Promise,” he’d said with a half-teasing frown as he plucked on the tip of her nose.