Page 19 of Surrender

I smiled as he opened the suitcase. He began pulling items out, which included matching pajamas, body wash, lotion, socks, and a silk bonnet, amongst other things. We decided to shower and get comfortable for the night. The entire time I was in the second bedroom’s shower, I wondered how the night would end.

I was both anxious and nervous.

For months now, I’d tried to imagine my husband. I had this idea in my head of what he’d be like, and I was so ready to know Jacob. While this entire situation was so completely left of my norm, I was ready to surrender and challenge every inhibition, every doubt, and every fear that told me this was a mistake. I had faith that if we did the work, we could have a beautiful relationship.

After my shower, I took my time moisturizing my body. Jessa had gotten some amazing skincare products that left my skin feeling buttery soft. I slipped into the pajamas she’d gotten. They were kind of a snug fit, but I didn’t mind. I made my way out of the room to the living room. Jacob was seated on the couch on his phone. He looked up at me with a smile and motioned me over to him.

When I was within arms reach, he pulled me down onto his lap and kissed my cheek.

“Y’all are too cute already.”

I turned my attention to the phone to see Jessa on FaceTime.

I blushed. “Thank you.”

“I was just telling my brother you all missed the argument between our parents. I don’t think your people will be a fan of Jacob for a while.”

Jacob shrugged. “I’m sure Mom and Dad aren’t too happy with me right now either. I’m not concerned. I’d almost rather none of them had shown up if they were going to be sour or negative the whole time. You’d think Kay and I getting married was the end of the world.”

I smile at him already giving me a nickname.

“They are gonna drag it for a minute,” Jessa said.

“Well, while they are dragging it, we will be on our way to our honeymoon,” Jacob stated.

My head snapped in his direction. “Honeymoon? That wasn’t part of the package, was it?”

“It was,” he confirmed with a grim. “No way we could get married and not celebrate.”

He reached under him and produced an envelope. My brows furrowed slightly when he handed it to me. I hadn’t even thought about a honeymoon. I’d taken a few weeks off from work to settle into newlywed life, but a honeymoon was the last thing on my mind.

Hesitantly, I took it from him and opened it, finding two plane tickets. My eyes widened as I read the destination: Santorini, Greece.

“We’re going to Greece!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet.

“We are.”

I couldn’t help but to jump on him and smother his face in kisses. All he could do was laugh. Greece was on my bucket list of places to travel. My heart was happy as hell to be going.

“Thank you! How did you pull this off?”

“After we were matched, I told Chance I wanted to take my wife on a honeymoon. He looked back at your file and saw that you mentioned Greece as a place you’d love to visit on your initial questionnaire. Since I didn’t know your name, I had him book the flight. He gave me the tickets this morning.”

Tears swelled in my eyes. Maybe I had hit the jackpot this time around. He cupped my face and kissed my cheeks. I was already falling in love with how affectionate he was because physical touch was a major love language for me.

“Y’all are gonna make me cry!” Jessa exclaimed, fanning herself. “Let me get off here before you two make me sick with all this cuteness. Enjoy your night and your honeymoon. I love you, Jake.”

“I love you too, sis.”

They disconnected the call, then Jacob placed it and our tickets on the table. He relaxed into the couch and cradled me in his arms. For a moment, he just stared at me with a smile on his face.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said, stroking my cheek. “I’m definitely about to my wife a muthafucka to death about you.”

I giggled. “You must have really been ready to be a husband.”

“I was. I’m thirty-four years old. I’m too old to be playing the field. It was past time to find my rib. My parents have forty years in the game. My grandparents have sixty. You don’t find love like that anymore. I prayed and manifested this union. God had to be sick of me to match me so quick.”

“I know what you mean. Now that we’re here, we have a lot to figure out… a lot to get to know about each other. For one, where are we going to live? I mean, I live in a one-bedroom apartment. It’s not hardly big enough for two people.”