Only One for Me (24 page)

Yasmine sighed, the pain in her neck
returning once more at the thought. She told Sherika about her
online class this summer, his possible trip to some village she
couldn’t pronounce, and the offer for the full-time position which
was now a go since Dean Patrick called her that morning while she
sat in the airport waiting for Sherika.

“
That’s awesome about the
position. How long do you have to decide?”

“
She didn’t say. She told
me to mull it over.”

“
What did Cannon
say?”

“
I haven’t told him about
this morning’s phone call yet. However, last night, he pretty much
told me to go for it. I was surprised, considering he’s been
talking about me moving back to Memphis. Um … if I’m in Atlanta how
am I going to do that? He’s definitely not leaving the family
practice. We’ve discussed taking things one day at a time, but I
don’t know. I just thought …”

“
Thought what?”

“
Well … I thought he was
going to propose since he wants me to move back here, but I guess
not if he’s telling me to take a full-time professor
position.”

“
Maybe he’s just being
supportive,” Sherika suggested.

“
I guess, but I was
already contemplating moving back home even before Cannon came back
into my life. My mother is getting older, and when she had breast
cancer I thought I was going to lose her. She’s in remission now,
but it could come back. I don’t want to think negative, but I have
to think logically.”

The masseuses asked the ladies to turn
over on their backs so they could massage their legs and
feet.

“
What would you do if you
were in my shoes, Sherika?”

“
Since you aren’t
interested in the full-time position, I would just keep my adjunct
position and get my things in order to move back to Memphis within
the year.”

“
You are truly my best
friend and sister. That’s what I was thinking. Plus, the school
system here really keeps saying they wish I could stay. Maybe I
could continue my consulting work with them.”

“
Girl, you already got
this figured out.”

Yasmine laughed. “I guess I do. Now to
tell Cannon.”

Chapter
Twelve

Yasmine sat at the head table next to
Cannon, along with Sherika and Doug, at their rehearsal dinner
upstairs at Lillian’s. It was coming to a close, and the men were
heading out soon to the private air field to fly to Las Vegas for
the bachelor party. Yasmine had barely seen or spoken to Cannon
since the bride and groom arrived in town yesterday. He held her
hand under the table, smiling at her in a loving way. She knew she
was doing the right thing by moving back to Memphis. She had things
to wrap up in Atlanta, like selling her home and a few workshops
she was already committed to for the school system. She hadn’t told
him yet. She wanted to talk to him yesterday, but he was stressed
with the Doctors Unlimited situation, and her news could wait.
However, she wanted him to know before he boarded the plane that
night with the guys.

She leaned over and whispered to him,
“Cannon, can we chit chat before you leave?”

His eyebrow raised, and he whispered
back, “Sure, and you have on a dress. That’s perfect.”

She giggled. “Not that kind of chit
chatting. I mean a real conversation.”

“
Oh. Yeah. That too. I’ll
ask Justin if we can use his office.”

A few moments later, they were settled
in Justin’s office. Cannon sat on the couch and Yasmine
stood.

“
This wedding is finally
here,” Cannon said, sounding exhausted already. “Just two more
days.”

“
I know. I’m so happy for
them.”

“
What did you want to talk
about? I believe we’re leaving in a few.”

“
Well, did you get
everything straightened out for the medical team in
Argentina?”

He shook his head. “Yes and no. The
board has decided before we hire another director that we’re going
to go down there and see what’s really going on.”

“
When are you
leaving?”

“
Sometime after the
conference. Maybe the beginning of July. I know you’ll be here, so
you’re welcome to stay at my house while I’m away. I shouldn’t be
gone more than three weeks top, baby.”

“
Okay,” she smiled, “I’ll
do that. Besides, I think my mother would like that, too. She likes
her space.”

“
What did you want to tell
me?”

“
Dean Patrick has
officially offered me the full-time position,” she said
nervously.

“
Congratulations, baby.
When do you start?”

She was a little taken aback. “Well …
I haven’t said yes. She just told me to think about it, but it
would start in September when the fall semester begins, but I may
have to do some things before then.”

His cell phone beeped, and he glanced
at it. “That’s Rasheed asking me where the hell I am. The limo is
out front.” He jumped off of the couch and hugged her. “I’m very
proud and happy for you. I think you should go for it.” He kissed
her cheek. “Gotta go, baby. I’ll text you when we arrive in
Vegas.”

And then he left. What the hell just
happened?

*****

“
What the hell did I do?”
Cannon asked as he sat next to Doug on the plane.

“
Let me get this straight
… you told your woman to go for it, but you really don’t mean
it?”

Sean leaned over the seat from behind
them. “Yes, why is that?”

Cannon sighed and turned to Doug. “Why
did you invite him?” he asked somewhat jokingly.

“
Because he’s your
brother, and since Rasheed didn’t come, we needed someone who knows
where all of the best strip clubs are. But, seriously, what’s up? I
thought you were going to ask her to marry you?”

“
I didn’t say I wasn’t
going to, but at the same time, I think it’s a wonderful
opportunity for her. Years ago she didn’t stop me from going to
Brazil. Unfortunately I lost her, but we’ll make it work, somehow.
I love Yasmine, but I’m not going to stop her from following her
dreams, either.”

“
Okay, so what about the
three carat rock you showed me earlier?”

Sean leaned back over the seat. “Damn,
bro! Three carats? Is it returnable?”

“
I’m not returning
anything. I just don’t want to hold my girl back.”

“
Well, it will all work
itself out if it’s meant to be. I mean, look at me and Sherika. We
dated briefly years ago but always remained friends, and now we’re
getting married in two days, and I couldn’t be happier. Then
there’s you and Yasmine. Mine and my boo’s meant to be put you two
back together. If I had never gotten that job in New York, I
wouldn’t have started dating Sherika again, fall in love and now
we’re getting married. Yasmine just happened to be in Memphis to be
with her mom, we decided to get married there and needed the two of
you to help plan our wedding. Plus, you confused the dates of your
medical conference and almost wouldn’t be in the wedding. Now tell
me what all of that is?”

“
I hear you, man, I hear
you. Besides, I promised her I’m never letting her go again and I’m
not.”

Sean clapped from behind them. “Go get
your girl, but after we come back from Vegas.”

*****

Cannon stood next to Doug, who wasn’t
even nervous, but Cannon was. He was anxiously waiting for Yasmine
to come down the aisle. He’d only spoken to her briefly yesterday.
She was at the spa with the wedding party getting facials and what
not. He knew last night was the big bachelorette party at her
mother’s house, and she was busy make preparations for that. When
he called her tone was curt and short with him. He couldn’t think
what he’d done wrong and figured she was just on the edge because
of the wedding.

The bridesmaids were currently being
escorted by the groomsmen and then the maid of honor would be
coming soon after. Doug turned to him for a second and exhaled with
a smile. When Cannon turned his gaze back toward the congregation,
there was his Yasmine; a vision of loveliness in a white gown, with
three white roses in her hair, and carrying a bouquet of white
calla lilies tied in a fuchsia bow. At first, he thought it odd
that Sherika wanted all of the bridesmaids to wear white, but now
he was glad they did. Yasmine looked every bit of an angel in her
white straight dress. His heart skipped a few beats as she walked
down the aisle slowly to the pianist playing “Canon in D”. When her
eyes locked with his, he knew in his heart she was the only one for
him, and he wasn’t going to let her get away. For a minute, he
forgot it wasn’t his wedding day when she didn’t walk to him but
instead stood next to the bridesmaids. He smiled, and she displayed
her simply amazing one just for him.

Hours later—after pictures, the
greeting line, best man and maid of honor toasts, first dance,
bouquet and garter toss, and cake cutting—Cannon hadn’t been able
to get Yasmine alone yet. His eyes scanned the reception hall, and
he finally found her talking to her mom and his mom by the
champagne fountain.

“
Hello, ladies,” he said
when he approached. “Can I steal my Yasmine away for a
moment?”

“
Of course, dear,” his
mother said. “We’ll be right here.”

He turned and winked knowingly at both
ladies who clapped silently. He scanned the room for a moment
before his eyes rested on his father who raised his champagne glass
and gave a knowing nod before Cannon walked out the door behind
Yasmine.

He led her outside to a small garden
that was on the side of the building.

“
Finally, a breather,” she
said, sitting down on a bench under a pergola with ivy vines and
pink tea roses.

“
I know. It has been a
long time getting here, but I think they had a lovely wedding.” He
sat down next to her on the bench and stretched his feet
out.

“
Yep,” she said in the
same curt tone she’d used earlier.

“
Yaz, is something
wrong?”

“
No … why do you say
that?” She tried to sound pleasant, but he could still hear the
disdain in her voice.

“
Because I know you. I
know when you’re happy, mad, or sad. I know if something is
bothering you, and in this case, something is bothering you. So
what is it?”

She shook her head.
“Nothing.”

His father told him a long time ago
when a woman says nothing it’s definitely something.

“
Is it because I’ll be in
Argentina pretty much the entire time you‘ll be here this
summer?”

“
Wait?” She turned her
head toward him with an attitude. “You said it was only a few
weeks.”

“
Oh … yeah about that. I
may be there for a few months, but I have a solution for
that.”

“
Cannon … that’s not
what’s bothering me even though now it kinda is.”

“
What’s bothering you,
baby?”

“
That stupid job offer
that you keep pushing me to take. I thought you wanted to be with
me.” She stood and walked to the other side of the
pergola.

And there was her
nothing.

“
Wait … Yasmine, I think
you’re missing the point. All I said was I thought it was a good
opportunity. You’ve worked hard to achieve your dreams, and I
wasn’t going to stand in the way of them.”

She laughed sarcastically. “I turned
it down yesterday.”

“
You did?” He stepped
toward her.

“
Yes. I never wanted that
type of position. I like my flexible schedule the way it
is.”

“
Then why have you been so
terse with me?”

“
Because I felt like you
didn’t want to be with me by pushing me to take it. That’s not the
type of job you just up and quit within the year because you’re
moving.”

“
Wait. Where are you
moving in a year?” he asked a little too sternly.

“
That’s what I wanted to
tell you the night of the rehearsal dinner, but you left so
abruptly. I want to move back to Memphis to be with you and my
mother, the two people I love the most.”

He pulled her toward him, picked her
up, and twirled her around while she laughed her beautiful
infectious laugh. He put her down on the bench and stood in front
of her.

“
You know, I think a year
is good.”

“
Oh really? Why is that?”
she asked with a puzzled expression.

He bent down on one knee in front of
her as she gasped, “Oh my goodness!” He pulled out the ring box and
showed it to her, but didn’t open it.

“
A year would be good
because then you’ll have enough time to plan our wedding, that is
if you’ll give me the honor of being my wife.”

Tears streamed down her face as she
kissed him before jumping into his arms and they both fell onto the
grass. They laughed and kissed some more before he helped her
up.

“
I’m assuming that was a
yes,” he said holding her close.