{Last time on Suds, it was decided. We officially hate Sylus. Hate may be a strong word, but I don't know if there is any coming back from how he played Shantel. Rolling my eyes hard. Shantel's mom must be on the same page because she name dropped a new guy that she's hand picked for her daughter. Garrett Avers. Should she or shouldn't she?

And the girls who play together also prayed together. Hello heart bubbles 🥰 I just love a good God moment.

Meanwhile, Lique stopped denying that she wanted Terrance. And we left her dolled up in the fancy ballroom, locked inside the sights of the man she calls her brother. But what does he want to call her?

Let's get back to this engagement party. Ready, Set... Suds!!}

~

TERRANCE greeted, shook hands, and laughed at bland jokes until his cheeks hurt. He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around the sparse ballroom. More guests trickled inside. He turned his attention back to the elderly couple sharing a long story about their marriage and plastered on an amused smile.

The cool, conditioned air was the only saving grace of the uptight affair. Even the over scheduled agenda demanded he and Jeanette join their guests out in the muggy garden precisely in ten minutes. Every moment was programmed as if he were a robot. Go here. Smile. Do this. Nothing felt right. His jaw tightened. Frustrated, he searched for a small moment to dip off.

A memory of their last kiss jostled into his mind, triggering a subtle smile. He closed his eyes, savoring the memory until it faded away.

Terrance grimaced, dragging a weary hand down his face as he brought himself back to reality. Him and Lique would never happen. It was time to let her go. This time, he couldn't look back.

Another image of Lique laughing settled in his mind. Then an image of her sleeping in his arms. She always snuggled into him when she thought he was asleep. And he pretended to fall asleep first just to hold her close. He should have told her. Regret weighed his shoulders down.

Terrance forced his eyes open, grounding himself at his engagement party, and found his fiancé embracing their next guest.

Jeanette basked in the man's praises, donning a coy smile. The man raised her hand to his lips and planted a kiss next to her engagement ring. Their eyes locked longer than necessary and Jeanette quickly pulled her hand away.

Terrence quirked a brow and took a good look at the man who shared his height and build. The man wore a casual tan suit with a crisp white t-shirt beneath. Terrance noticed a flicker in the his eyes when he stared at Jeanette.

A divot formed between his brows as he side eyed fiancé. Then he connected the dots and approached the brewing situation with a cool head.

Jeanette clasped both hand's around Terrance's arm.
"This is my fiancé, Terrance Holt," she said, smiling at Terrance.

The man dropped his wistful gaze and replaced it with an amiable smile. "It's good to meet you, brother." He extended his hand. "Garrett Avers."

Tension swelled as they shook hands.
Terrance nodded, standing his ground. "Good to meet you."
"You are a lucky man." Garrett stole another glance at Jeanette. "Nette is a real special one."
Terrance chuckled. "Nette? You two must be close."

Jeanette dismissed the statement with a wave. "We went to the same high school."
"Right," Garrett added. "We learned a lot together."
Jeanette's hold on Terrance tightened. "Please, join the party," she said. "We're serving champagne in the garden."

He nodded, pushed his hands in his pockets, and stepped out the glass doors into the garden.

Terrance watched him and mulled over their strange interaction as another group of Jeanette's colleagues approached. He leaned close to her ear and whispered. "Something you need to tell me about?"

Jeanette caressed his face for show. "Nothing you don't already know." She patted his chest. "We're on a tight schedule, honey bun." She fluffed life into the barrel curls cascading down her back, letting the deep waves accentuate her bare shoulders and returned her attention to their guests. "Thank you for coming..."

Unable to muster another shallow performance, Terrance tugged at his suffocating tie and looked around the ballroom for an escape. Then he saw her. And his mind emptied of everything else that wasn't Lalique.

He stared at her shimmering dress. It followed her curves, then flared, inviting his eyes to loiter beyond the short hem line. His gaze traveled up her brown legs, shied away from the deep cut cleavage of the dress, and rested on her beautiful face. A smile curled onto his lips.

Awe and delight brightened her big, round eyes as her gaze swept across the room. Her smile widened and his own smile spread, mirroring hers.

Finally, her delighted gaze journeyed to where he stood. The light in her eyes dimmed, glazing with sorrow.

Terrance broke away from the huddle, making large strides to erase the space between them. He reached out to hold her, but stopped short and rubbed his hands together instead.

"You look beautiful," he said.

~

Heat rose to her cheeks and LIQUE smoothed her hair up into the tussled bun. "Thanks."

Unable to look him in the eyes, she gestured at the impressive ballroom.
"This is nice." She said, "Your engagement party is perfect."
His smile waned. "I'd rather have a quiet afternoon at our spot."

Her eyes glassed and she dropped her gaze to the evening clutch, anchoring her emotions.
"Why? This place is a million times better."
"Nah. It ain't." He grimaced, rolling his lips together then released them slowly. "I don't like not being able to kiss you."
She shrugged. "It was silly from the start. Never should have happened."
"I'm glad it did."

His jaw clenched and his eyes lowered to the alluring heels boosting her closer to his height. Then trailed up her cinnamon legs, thighs, and rested on her bodice. His hands followed.

Her heart stuttered.
"Am I allowed to hug you?" he asked, stepping closer as his large hands cinched the textured fabric around her waist. "I hugged about fifty people already."
Terrance slipped his hand around her waist and held her close.

Sparks jolted through her.
"Did you hug them like this?"
He shook his head, turning his face into the crook of her neck. His lips grazed her neck as he spoke. "Only you," he whispered.

She squeezed the clutch, pressed tight between their bodies, and breathed in the comfort of his balmy scent.

His lips puckered against her neck, planting a sultry kiss that moistened her skin and melted away her senses. Then he eased away, taking his warmth, and left her skin damp and burning with desire. She gulped.

His melancholy stare gripped her heart. "We could be together," Terrance said.
"If that's what you want, I'll shut it all down to be with you."
Lique opened her mouth, but words didn't follow. Seconds compounded. Still, she left his plea unanswered.

His shoulders wilted. "Bae," he sighed, resting his forehead on hers. "Why can't it be us?"

"Terrance," Shantel called from behind her. "Thanks for the invitation."

Slowly, Terrance unwrapped Lique and stepped back.

Shantel crossed her arms at Lique's side. "That may have been the sexiest kiss I've ever seen." She quirked a brow and added. "At an engagement party. Yours."

Terrance remembered and adjusted his tie. He glanced over his shoulder to where he left Jeanette. Only the servers milled around. He turned back to Lique who kept her eyes on the high end floor.

Shantel continued. "I suppose no man would want to be the fool who let this gem get away." She hooked her arm into Lique's.

Terrance rubbed his low fade.
"Or the one who couldn't catch her."

Lique snapped her eyes up to his face.
His cool glare met hers. "Unicorn, right?"

Terrance crossed the marble floors and joined the party outside. Lique's heart broke with every step.

"Unicorn," Shantel repeated, wrinkling her brows. "You know they're not real, right?"
Lique sighed. "Let's go home."

Shantel guided her toward the glass doors overlooking the vibrant garden, bustling with chatter. Terrance stood beside his fiancé wearing a vacant smile.

"I see why he's marrying her," Shantel said, watching the couple pose for pictures.
Lique pouted. "Because she's rich and sexy."

"No," Shantel said, studying the way his fiancé doted over him. "She must know everything about you."
Lique shrugged. "So."
"Why should he give up a poised thoroughbred for a flighty unicorn?" Shantel tilted her head. "The real thing or a wild fantasy?"

Lique blinked back tears. "I'm real."
Shantel nodded, facing her friend. "And you've been boxing him out for the past six years. He just asked you to let him in. And I know you love him. Isn't that why you're putting yourself out there with this dress? You wear more than this to bed. It's obvious that you stepped out of your comfort zone to get his attention."

Lique pursed her lips together.

"And you got it." Shantel pressed. "He is willing to walk away from all this for you. So what's holding you back?"

Lique squeezed the small clutch.

Shantel reached for her hand. "Stop punishing yourself. You have to let that thing go. It's been in your way long enough."

Her lip quivered and Lique scanned the garden for Terrance. He shot a quick glance at her and held her gaze for a moment before turning back to the photographer.

"That man wants to catch a unicorn," Shantel said. "Let him."

Then her matter-of-fact tone softened and she gently squeezed her friend's hand. "Or let him move on."

{Stay tuned: The engagement party is just getting started.}

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