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Angel Reese & Jelani Love's Wedding DayFebruary 2nd, 2025

Jelani's POV

The cathedral's preparation room buzzed with energy as I adjusted my bowtie for probably the hundredth time. The rich maroon and gold accents of our wedding colors popped against my black tux, making me think of Angel's favorite saying about how we always looked championship ready.

"Bro, if you touch that tie one more time..." Meechie swatted my hands away from the mirror, grinning. "You look good. Now stop acting nervous before you make me nervous."

"I'm not nervous," I protested, even as my hands instinctively reached for my chain – the one Angel always fixed for me. "I'm just ready, you know?"

"Ready to be Mr. Angel Reese?" Lonzo teased from where he was sprawled on one of the leather chairs.

"That's Mr. Love to you," I shot back, unable to hold back my smile. "And yeah, I've been ready."

The sound system crackled to life outside, and my heart jumped. Meechie must have noticed because he immediately pulled out his phone and started scrolling. "Nah, we still got time. But speaking of time..."

The opening notes of "Int'l Players Anthem" filled the room, and just like that, the energy shifted. Zach and Josey immediately jumped up, and I couldn't help but laugh as Meechie started his exaggerated rap along.

"Niggas couldn't wait for the walk out ?" I said with a laugh

""Too soon! Don't do it!, reconsider!Read some literature on the subject, you sure? Fuck it" Meechie grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to dance with him. The pre-wedding jitters melted away as my best friends surrounded me, all of us falling into the familiar rhythm of a song we'd played countless times.

"Now hurry, hurry, go on to the altar. I know you ain't a pimp, but pimp remember what I taught ya," Josey dramatically pointed at me, making everyone crack up.

Janiah burst through the door, already moving to the beat. "Keep your heart, Three Stacks, keep your heart...AYE,"

For a moment, we were just us – the same crew who'd come up together, who'd celebrated victories and pushed through losses, who'd been there for every major moment. And now they were here for the biggest one yet.

"Y'all ready?" I asked as the song faded out, looking at each member of my wedding party – my family.

Meechie straightened my tie one last time, his usual joking expression softening into something more serious. "We got you, brother. Now let's get you married."

Angel's POV

"Baby girl, hold still," my mama's voice was thick with emotion as she secured my veil. "We need to make sure this crown sits perfect."

I caught her eye in the mirror, both of us tearing up. The bridal suite of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen was filled with soft light, making everything feel dreamy. My dress – the one we'd found that perfect day at Dimitra's – seemed to glow in the morning sun.

"Don't you dare cry yet," A'ja warned, carefully dabbing at her own eyes. "We just finished your makeup!"

"Then stop making me emotional!" I laughed, fanning my face. The maroon dresses my bridesmaids wore made them look like queens, exactly how I'd imagined.

Raven appeared at my side with a glass of champagne. "Here's your something borrowed," she said, fastening a delicate gold bracelet around my wrist. "It's the one I wore when I got married."

"Something blue!" Flau'jae called out, holding up a garter with a tiny blue bow.

"Something old," my mama added, touching the vintage pearl earrings she'd worn at her own wedding.

"And something new is definitely that dress," Breezy finished, making everyone smile.

Hailey appeared in the mirror behind me, adjusting my train. "Girl, Jelani is going to pass OUT when he sees you."

A knock at the door made us all jump. "Ten minutes until positions, ladies!" Ms. Patricia called through the door.

My heart started racing. In ten minutes, I'd begin the walk that would end with me becoming Mrs. Love – well, Mrs. Reese-Love, I thought with a smile. I looked at my reflection one last time – the dress was everything I'd dreamed of and more, the gold accessories catching the light just right against the intricate beading.

"I need a minute," I said softly, and somehow my girls just knew. They filed out quietly, each giving me a hug or squeeze of the hand. Only my mama stayed behind.

"Angel," she started, and I could hear the tears coming.

"Mama, please," I laughed wetly. "My makeup!"

She cupped my face in her hands, looking at me with so much love it made my chest hurt. "My baby girl. You look like everything I ever dreamed for you, and somehow even more than that."

I hugged her tight, careful not to wrinkle either of our dresses. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, baby." She pulled back, straightening my veil one last time. "Now let's go get you married."

Jelani's POV

The cathedral was packed, every pew filled with family, friends, and loved ones. The floating cloud arrangements created an ethereal atmosphere, with touches of maroon and gold catching the light from the stained glass windows. Standing at the altar, I could hardly believe this was real.

Suddenly, the opening notes of "Int'l Players Anthem" filled the cathedral, and I couldn't help but grin. The guests burst into knowing laughter as my groomsmen (and woman) made their entrance. Meechie, ever the showman, started doing the signature bounce-walk we'd perfected over years of game entrances. Zach, Lonzo, and Josey followed his lead, each adding their own flavor to the walk. Then came Janiah, matching their energy perfectly and adding a twirl that made everyone cheer.

"Keep your heart, Three Stacks..." Meechie lip-synced dramatically in my direction as he took his place as best man, making me laugh despite the emotion of the moment. This was exactly why I'd chosen this song – it was us, our vibe, our family.

The bridal party music began, and one by one, Angel's girls made their entrance. Raven led the way, followed by A'ja, Breezy, Flau'jae, and Hailey, each of them glowing in their maroon dresses. They moved with grace and confidence, but I could see them fighting back laughter at our previous performance.

The music faded, and for a moment, the cathedral was silent. Then, soft piano notes filled the air – the instrumental version of "Melt" that Angel had fallen in love with during our planning. My heart stopped.

The doors opened.

Angel's POV

The cathedral doors felt heavy under my hands, but my brother Julian's arm was steady beside me. As they swung open, the pianist hit those first familiar notes of "Melt," and I felt tears threatening again.

But then I saw him.

Jelani stood at the altar, looking more handsome than I'd ever seen him. Our eyes met across the length of the cathedral, and everything else faded away. The hundreds of guests, the floating decorations, even the music – it all became background to the look on his face.

Each step with Julian felt significant, weighted with meaning. He'd stepped up in so many ways over the years, and having him by my side now felt right. I could see my mama in the front row, tears already flowing, and her pride was enough for two parents.

When we reached the steps, Julian turned to me. The look in his eyes held years of shared struggles and triumphs, of him being both brother and protector. He kissed my cheek, then placed my hand in Jelani's.

"Love you, sis," he whispered, before taking his seat next to our mama.

Jelani's hands were warm and steady as he helped me up the final steps. Up close, I could see the tears still shining in his eyes, matching my own.

"You look..." he whispered, shaking his head slightly like he couldn't find the words.

"So do you," I whispered back, squeezing his hands.

The ceremony began, but I barely heard the words. All I could focus on was Jelani's face, his hands in mine, the way he couldn't seem to stop smiling. When it came time for our vows, he went first.

"Angel," his voice was thick with emotion, "from the first day I met you, I knew you were different. You challenged me, pushed me, supported me, and loved me in ways I didn't even know I needed. You're my best friend, my biggest supporter, my favorite person to come home to. I promise to love you through championships and defeats, through every high and every low. I promise to always fix your crown, even when you can't see it's crooked. I promise to be your biggest fan, your strongest defender, and your safest space. I promise to love you more each day than the day before, even when I think it's impossible to love you more than I already do. You're my everything, pretty girl, and I can't wait to spend forever making you as happy as you make me."

I was fully crying now, not caring about my makeup. My hands shook slightly as I started my own vows.

"Jelani Love," I began, loving how his last name sounded with his first, knowing I was about to make it mine too. "You came into my life like an answered prayer I didn't even know I was making. You saw past every wall, every defense, straight to my heart. You've been my rock, my peace, my home. I promise to always be your biggest cheerleader, on and off the court. I promise to fix your chain every day, even though we both know it's never really crooked. I promise to love you through every season, every challenge, every victory and every setback. I promise to choose you, every single day, just like you choose me. You make me better, stronger, happier. You make me feel like I can fly, and I can't wait to soar through life with you, forever."

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of tears and smiles. When the minister finally said, "You may now kiss your bride," Jelani pulled me close like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment.

Our first kiss as husband and wife was perfect – sweet but passionate, full of promises and dreams and forever. The cathedral erupted in cheers, and I could hear Meechie whooping somewhere behind us.

"I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Love!"

I leaned close to Jelani's ear, whispering with a little laugh, "I'm still hyphenating." His answering chuckle vibrated through me as he pulled me closer, pressing a kiss to my temple.

Our people were on their feet, the joy in the room palpable. I caught sight of our wedding party – Meechie pretending to wipe away tears while Janiah rolled her eyes at him, Raven and Hailey openly sobbing, A'ja trying to film while crying. This was our family, by blood and by choice.

The first notes of Chrisette Michele's "A Couple of Forevers" began to play, and I felt Jelani's grip on my hand tighten. The same song that had played the night he proposed, now sending us off into our future together. As we made our way down the aisle, memories of that perfect night mixed with this perfect moment, and I couldn't hold back fresh tears.

Looking up at my husband – my husband! – I saw the same memories reflected in his eyes. He'd chosen this song again, just like he chose me, every single day.

Just before we reached the doors, Jelani stopped and pulled me into another kiss, this one deeper and full of promise. The cathedral exploded in more cheers, and I could hear Meechie yelling "That's my brother!"

When we broke apart, Jelani pressed his forehead to mine. "I love you, Mrs. Reese-Love."

My heart soared at the sound of my new name. "I love you too, Mr. Love."

The doors opened to our future, and we stepped out together, ready to begin our forever. Love wasn't just in the air today – it was in every breath, every heartbeat, every step toward our new life together.

And as we ran through the shower of rose petals our friends and family threw, laughing and crying and holding onto each other, Chrisette Michele's voice following us out into the sunshine, I knew that this was just the beginning of our greatest adventure yet.

After all, we had a couple of forevers ahead of us.

Excuse all errors - Our girl is MarrieddddddAjah 🩷