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SEPTEMBER 5th

"Can you believe your daughter is getting married?! Tomorrow?!" Nadira asked G as they all sat at the table together. Nadira had made breakfast for everyone and made everything Nayeli liked seeing as it was her special weekend.

"Hell no. I can't even believe she's 23, old ass girl," he chuckled.

"Daddy!" she laughed, throwing her head back. "I am not old sir, you are old, leave me alone," she giggled, cutting into her waffle.

"Nai, you gotta come visit like all the time, okay? And let us sleepover at your house," Sarai piped up from her seat.

"Yeah, we can have sleepovers and stuff and do girly stuff," Amani agreed. Before Nai could even respond, Ajani spoke as well.

"We not doing no girly stuff," he curled his lip up.

"Uh, who said you was invited, Ajani? I'm talking about me and my sisters," she quipped back matter of factly.

"She my sister, so I'm going too, right, Mari?" Ajani argued, looking over at his brother.

"Don't put me in it, she was gon pick me up and bring me over regardless. Me and my sister don't need to hang out with yall," he shook his head, making them argue some more.

"I'm gon lock y'all all in your damn rooms, then none of y'all can go nowhere how bout that? Quit fussing," Nadira said, and everyone quickly shut up, making G laugh. "Anyway, we're gonna miss you around here, Sweet Pea," she pouted.

"Aw mama! I promise y'all gone get sick of me the way I'm gone be visiting," she chuckled. "Ain't nothing changing but my last name, I'm still gonna force my way in here every chance I get,"

"You better. I'll come drag you out yo house," G joked, making all his kids laugh. "No, but I'm happy for you princess. You made your old man real proud," he smiled, not believing he was about to give away his first child. He couldn't have imagined this day coming, and now that it was tomorrow, he was in his feelings heavy.

"Thank you daddy," she smiled slightly, kissing him on the cheek. "I love you,"

"I love you too, babygirl,"

"I need you to stop calling my sis phone, sir. You not sneaking over here to see her," Bri spoke in the phone, while Lea and Nai were in the kitchen making snacks. They were having a slumber party at her parents before the wedding, and following traditions, Armani was not to see her for a whole 24 hours.

"Man, ain't nobody tryna sneak over there," Armani rolled his eyes on the other line, knowing that was exactly what he was trying to do. "Where she at, though?"

"In her skin, Armani," Bri laughed, making him suck his teeth, as Nai walked back in the room.

"That's Mani again?" Nai giggled. "Lemme talk to him," she reached for the phone.

"Hi baby, aren't you supposed to be out somewhere?"

"Hey mamas. Bri being mean to me," he started, making her laugh. "I am out, I just wanted to check on you, you know? See how you was doing and everything," he said, and Nai could hear the smile in his voice. She knew he was probably tipsy, he was always trying to swindle her into talking on the phone when he drank alone.

"Baby, the boys are probably waiting for you. You in the bathroom or something?"

"Yeah, but they ain't see me—"

"Nigga bring yo ass out this bathroom!" Nai heard Duck's voice and she immediately cracked up laughing. "You thought I ain't see you come back here? Come on," he chuckled. "Tell Nai bye, I'm confiscating yo' shit,"

"What if my mama call me or some—"

"You can talk to yo moms tomorrow. Let's go,"

"Fine, damn. See you tomorrow baby," he cooed in the phone. "I love you,"

"Bye, papa," she laughed again. "I love you too, see you tomorrow," she replied and he—Duck hung the phone up.

"He's a mess," Josefina shook her head, chuckling.

"He finna be Nai's mess forever after tomorrow," November stuck her tongue out, kicking her legs back and forth. "I can't believe my girl finna get married, bro!"

It hadn't hit Nayeli that she was about to be married either. She knew she was getting married, but for some reason, it all felt like a dream she'd be waking up from any second now.

"Yeah, I'm bout to be a whole married woman, that's insane," Nai breathed out. "I hope everything goes well," she pouted.

"Girl bye, you know TT gonna make sure nothing goes wrong. She don't play about her events, especially not this one," Amora said, sipping on a glass of wine.

"You right," Nai laughed. Everyone knew Nadira had such a good reputation because she refused to allow anything to go wrong. She was on top of every aspect of every single event she planned, every detail was planned meticulously by her and her only, nobody even knew why she had assistants.

The girls stayed up late that night in the basement, watching movies. Nobody could seem to sleep due to all the nerves, especially not Nai. She was glad to have all her bridesmaids around with her to keep her mind occupied, or she'd be going crazy right about now.

She couldn't help but think about Armani though, she had butterflies just thinking of seeing him on the other side of the isle waiting on her tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 6TH

"Alright boys! We finna go to the barbershop, y'all done eating?" Duck announced as Armani came down from his room fully dressed. He was glad he didn't have a hangover from last night when he and his friends drank at the bar and then drank some more at his house.

Drunk Armani made them all clean up the living room they messed up playing basketball with socks and an empty trashcan at 2 in the morning so Nayeli wouldn't kill them all next time she saw the house.

He slept extremely peacefully, but as soon as he woke up, his mind was working a mile a minute. He was thinking about the ceremony, about Nai and what she may be doing, thinking if he could slip past his friends and go get just a little kiss from her. But his friends complaining about being hungry took his mind off it as he cooked breakfast for them.

This morning, it was 9:30, and the boys were all due for cuts at Nai's Godfather's barbershop. They went early, because they figured he'd be busy any other time, and since the ceremony started at 2:30, they didn't have time to spare.

When they got there, they were shocked to see how many people were in there, and were even more shocked that when they went in that it was all Nayeli's family members. Her grandfathers, all her uncles, her cousins and her brothers.

"How the hell they get here before we did?" Tripp muttered under his breath looked around at them all laughing and talking.

"Wassup!" Xavier threw his hands up when he saw Armani. "We closed today for everyone except the family, that's why all these niggas in here, have a seat, kid," he waved Mani over and he happily walked over and got ready to get his haircut.

"That boy look sweet!" Duck gassed, as they walked back into the house. "Nigga look like he finna get married!" he pushed at Mani's shoulder, making all the other guys do the same. Armani just laughed at them and waited for them to stop hitting on him to speak.

"Thank y'all for being a part of this man, this means a lot to me,"  he said sincerely. "Y'all my bros for real. Even though half of yall is Nai's cousins, that's fine," he chuckled.

"He being soft," Josiah smirked.

"Shutup, dumb ass," he chuckled. "Go get dressed, get y'all ugly ass out my face," he waved them off, causing everyone to crack up everyone up as he headed up to the spare bedroom where his tux was.

He got dressed silently, just looking himself over in the mirror. He and Nai decided on black, gold and champagne for their colors, so his tux was all black. The guys were all wearing maroon suit jackets. The girls would be in black dresses and Samara wad wearing a gold one. Duck's tux was black as well since he was the best man.

Before he could tie is bowtie, and secure his cufflinks, there was a knock at the door. He glanced over at it, before going to open it, revealing Gionni.

"You look good, kid," G smirked, making Mani smile.

"Thank you, man. You do too, tryna steal my shine on my wedding day," he joked, looking G over.

"I tried to tone it down a lil for ya, I can't help it," he shrugged, and they both laughed. "How you feeling?"

"U-uh, I'm good. Great actually, it's been a long time coming," he nodded, rubbing his hand over his freshly cut hair. "I'm excited," he chuckled, biting a huge grin back. "How's she?"

"Over the damn moon. But I'm not here as Nayeli's dad right now. I'm here for you. I know it meant a hell of a lot when my dad got ready with me on my wedding day. I know I'm not your dad, but—" before he could finish his sentence, Armani wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.

He'd never say it, but not having any father figure in his life was something he had yet to get used to. He felt like he didn't have anyone to turn to, and G was his father in law, he had his own kids to worry about. But, he looked up to G so much, he was thankful to have someone who looked out for him in that way.

"Thank you, really. I can't even say how much this means, I—thank you," he said gratefully.

"It's what I'm here for," G smirked. "Now, don't tie this crooked, you got it laying all wrong. You don't wear bowties, boy?" he asked, and he was immediately reminded of his father trying to teach him to tie a regular tie, and he was smiling wide.

Music played loudly through the Cartier home while Nayeli and her bridesmaids got ready for her wedding.

"My bitch giving wife! Look at the beat!" Samara recorded Nai on instagram, making her pose, hair still in rollers. "These hoes could never see Mrs. Nayeli Dixon, let em see the robe, sis," she said, causing Nai to turn around, showing the gold embroidered 'Mrs. Dixon' on the back of the black silk robe.

"Period, suh!" Nai heard her cousins from across the room, and she cut her hand across her neck, mouthing the same thing to the camera.

They had been goofing off, dancing and singing since they woke up to make breakfast that morning, the happiness was obvious in the home, everybody was smiling and laughing, and Nayeli was on cloud nine.

"Okay, sweet pea, let's get you in this dress," Nadira grinned, clapping excitedly. "Y'all ready? I'm gonna try my best not to cry," she laughed.

She hurried into her old room, and her maid of honor and bridesmaid, Bri, helped her into it. They helped her take the rollers down from her hair, and slipped her veil, on and Bri was the first one to gasp when she saw her all dolled up.

"You look like a doll," Bri whined, pouting her lip out.

"You look gorgeous, sis," Samara grinned, wiping at her eye

Nai took a deep breath before turning to look at herself in the mirror. Her wedding dress was heavily inspired by her moms. One of her fondest memories was her mom and dad's wedding day, and nearly tripping over her own feet to see Dira in her dress. She remembered all the flowers and thinking her mom was the most gorgeous women in the world that day.

She knew she wanted to look that pretty on her wedding day.

"Oh my God..." she gasped, seeing herself. She immediately whipped back around to her friends, about to cry herself. "Wait, my makeup!" she whined. "Can y'all bring everyone else?" she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. They nodded eagerly and they left to fetch the rest of the bridesmaids and her mom.

"Nayeli! Oh my God!" Amora squealed. "You look so beautiful, cousin!" she cooed.

"Yall let me through, I wanna see my baby—oh wow," Nadira stopped short, seeing Nayeli in her dress.

She didn't say another word, she just walked over to Nai and held her hands in her own. You could see the tears in her eyes from a mile away.

"Mommy don't cry," Nai sniffed, lip quivering.

"I won't, I won't," she fanned at her face, taking a deep breath. "You look so beautiful, Nayeli. I'm so happy and proud of you my love," she held Nai's face in her hands.

"Thank you, mama," she mumbled, a single tear falling down her face. "I love you so much,"

"I love you too, sweet pea. Now let's go, before that limo leaves us," she giggled and the ladies all rushed downstairs to the car.

Nayeli sat in her dress at the chapel, eating grapes. Nadira and her assistant were doing one more run through to make sure everything was right, and there was currently ten minutes before showtime. Everyone was anxious, especially the bride herself.

"Nayeli, your daddy's here," her God mother grinned, peeking her head in the door. Nai immediately sprung to her feet, and so did the photographer to catch the precious moment. The last time Gionni saw her, she was stuffing her face with pancakes and bacon. She couldn't wait for him to see her in her dress.

She lifted the dress up and walked to meet him in the hallway, where she saw him, back turned. She reached out and tapped him, and he excitedly turned around to see his baby girl.

"Wow," he said simply, taking in her appearance. He took her hand in his, and pressed a kiss to the back of it, the tears clearly welling up in his eyes, making Nai's eyes water just as quickly. He covered his mouth with his hand, and she quickly walked over to him, hugging him tightly, trying not to cry with him. His hand held the back of her head and they rocked side to side like she was still a little kid in need of comfort from him.

"Daddy stop crying," she whined, finally pulling back to look at him.

"I'm trying," he chuckled, wiping his face. "You look gorgeous, babygirl" he looked her over again. "It's insane. I remember the day you were born, it was just me and you for so long. My little best friend," he laughed. "I just can't believe you're getting married, princess," he held he chin in his hand, seeing the tears well up in her eyes again.

"I thought we were supposed to stop crying," he chuckled, hugging her close as her shoulders shook a little. "I love you, Gianna,"

"I—I love you too, daddy," she cried. "Thank you for everything, I can't explain how much you mean to me, daddy. You're my hero, you know that? Superman ain't got nothing on Gionni Cartier," she sniffed, wiping her eyes, making him laugh.

"That's because I'm black, princess," he winked, making her laugh loudly and hug him close to her again. "You're my pride and joy,

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