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“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Releasing a shaky breath, I looked around the backyard. It was my bright idea to move into a small three bedroom home in a quiet cove, and I felt like today, God was punishing me for it. Staying in Bully’s home made it hard to move on because of all the memories. The crew wanted me to get a large starter home because they were sure Bully would return soon and we’d continue with our life plans. Stubbornly, I opted for something small enough to feel cozy and be big enough for my daughter and me, and now… I regretted it.

The small home didn’t have enough room for a full backyard, but I had a gated-in square of concrete next to a small patch of grass behind the house. I had to walk through the gate to put the garbage and recycle bins on the curb for pickup. This morning, it was so windy the gate slammed shut and locked me out. I hadn’t taken the time to set up the garage code, so that was no help, and I didn’t know any neighbors yet.

On top of that, I’d literally just gotten up, so I only had my robe on. Completely naked underneath, I hadn’t even bothered to grab the tie. All I did was slip into my slides and rush downstairs to make sure I didn’t miss the garbage pickup. Now I didn’t know what to do. The last thing I wanted to do was explain to my neighbors how I’d gotten locked out of my own damn house while my baby was inside. I didn’t know how long it would take a locksmith to get here, but I didn’t want to leave her inside for too much longer.

Deciding the only thing I could do was hop the gate, I climbed up the garbage can and did just that. My landing was horrible, so I scratched my arm, legs, and chest. All I could do was laugh because in the process of me climbing, my robe opened. I’m pretty sure my neighbor’s camera caught the whole thing.

As I walked back into the house, my laughter immediately fizzled out at the sound of Innah’s cries. I rushed up the stairs, not even bothering to tend to my cuts. I took the time to wash my arms and hands before going into her room to scoop her up. At the sight of me, her tears stopped and she smiled.

“Hey, mama’s baby. I’m sorry I wasn’t here as soon as you woke up.”

I sat on the rocking chair and grimaced as stinging pain shot through me. After drying her face of its tears, I changed her and started her morning routine, then did mine. As I dried off, my doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I hesitantly made my way downstairs.

“Who is it?” I asked, leaning against the door.

“Moore… your next door neighbor.” He paused briefly. “I uh… saw you on my camera and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Shit.” I smiled as I unlocked the door. It was too funny of a situation for me to be embarrassed. And besides, I was just happy to be back inside with my baby girl. As I opened the door, I greeted him with, “Hi.”

“Hey, you good?” My smile widened as I leaned against the door. He was definitely attractive, but I had no time to be looking at a man these days. Between Innah and work, my hands were full. Plus, my heart still wanted Bully, regardless of how dumb that made me. I wasn’t waiting for him, but the love I’d reserved for him wasn’t interested in being given to anyone else.

“I’m fine. How much did you see exactly?”

Moore’s chuckle was sexy as he lowered his gaze down my frame. “Enough.” Licking his lips, he returned his eyes to mine. “Your man can’t take the trash out for you?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Can I handle that for you then? Otherwise, please make sure you put a chair or something in front of that gate door, beautiful. You could’ve gotten seriously hurt climbing over that gate.”

“I know, I know. I wouldn’t have done something so extreme, but my baby is here and I didn’t want her to be alone. Lesson learned though, and if you want to handle it from here on out, I would really appreciate that.”

“I got you. I can reach the lock from outside the gate, so I’ll take care of it when I do mine.”

“How can I thank you?”

Moore smiled. “By being careful and taking care of you and your baby.”

“I can do that,” I agreed softly.

“Good.” Our eyes remained locked for a while before he added, “Have a good day…”

“Innvy,” I offered, extending my hand for him to shake.

“Innvy,” he repeated, slowly enunciating each syllable. “Have a good day, Innvy.”

“Thank you, Moore. You too.”

I watched as he crossed the yard and walked away, unintentionally planting his features in my memory. He was definitely my type—tall, dark, handsome, and tattooed. But that didn’t matter. I didn’t suspect the ghost of my relationship with Bully would let me entertain another man any time soon.

I made my way back upstairs to finish getting me and Innah ready. Since I had a long day with six clients, I would drop her off with my parents. My tribe made being an unexpected single mother as easy as they could have, but I tried not to take advantage of their willingness to help. At the end of the day, Innah belonged to me and Bully, and just because he wasn’t here, that didn’t give me an excuse to pawn her off on anyone else.

She was dressed too cute in a jean dress and gold jewelry ensemble, so I took a few pictures, got her settled in the car, and then we headed out. I noticed a dark car across from my home, but I didn’t give it a second thought since the house across from mine was for sale. Maybe someone was about to tour it.

My parents’ home was about a twenty minute drive from mine, and the whole ride, I thought about my encounter with Moore. He was the first man I’d admit to being attracted to since Bully left. He also made me blush. It didn’t matter. The man hadn’t even expressed interest, but if he had, I would have turned him down. I decided to call Neo and check in to get my mind off him, and we talked until I pulled up to my parents’ home.

I wasn’t able to get Innah out of her seat before the front door was opening and Daddy met me halfway. He gave me a side hug and kiss on the cheek before taking a grinning Innah out of my arms. She loved both of my parents but she gravitated toward my daddy. That made my heart ache because it made me believe she would have been a daddy’s girl if Bully was around. It was always bittersweet watching her interact with Daddy. He and the crew did everything they could for her and me, and I was eternally grateful for that.

Since I had a long day, I didn’t plan to stay long, but I did want to speak to Ma. She was standing at the door ready to slather Innah’s face with kisses. The sound of Innah’s giggles made my heart light. Life wasn’t all cupcakes and champagne, but I had a happy, healthy baby, and that’s all that mattered at the end of the day.

“Hey, baby,” Mama greeted me as she gave me a hug.

“Hey, Ma. How are you?”

“Good. You look nice.”

“Thank you.”

“You got time for breakfast?”

My head shook as Daddy looked back for my response. “Nah, busy day.”

“Can I at least make you a quick smoothie or yogurt bowl?” Daddy asked.

I opted out of telling him I planned to stop by Starbucks and told him I’d take the yogurt bowl since I could have that later for lunch. He wasted no time getting Innah set up in her chair before starting on it, which gave Ma time to ask me about my morning. I told them about the gate slamming shut behind me, and while Ma was as amused as I was, Daddy was furious.

“From now on, don’t even bother with that shit, V. I’ll do it,” he offered.

“You don’t have to. My next door neighbor said he would. He saw the whole thing on his camera and came to check on me shortly after.”

“Well that was nice of him. Is he single?”

“Ma.” My eyes rolled as I shook my head. “Please don’t start.”

“It’s been nine months.”

“So? I have a thriving business and a six month old. I’m not thinking about no man right now.”

She sucked her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest. “You need to be. I don’t want to see you turn into a shell of yourself. You never do anything anymore. Even when you don’t have my grandbaby you spend your free time cooped up in that house.” Her voice softened when she added, “I just… want to make sure Bully didn’t… break you.”

Gritting my teeth as my eyes watered, I nodded. I understood and appreciated where she was coming from. She was right. Since the wedding, I hadn’t really done anything fun consistently beyond play around the house or park with my baby. It wasn’t an intentional shrinkage, and I certainly wasn’t trying to let the darkness of that day dim my light. But it was easier said than done when you had to move on from what you thought would be your forever. Bully wasn’t just my fiancé—he was my person. My soul mate. My best friend.

We did everything together, shared everything together.

I didn’t know how to do life without him in it now, and this was the only way I knew how to adjust. It wouldn’t last forever, but for right now, it was what gave me peace.

“I’m not broken, Ma. Maybe just a little bent. I feel like I have to grieve a relationship, a person, that’s still alive. My method might worry you, but I’m doing what’s best for me. I’m okay. Really.”

“If that changes, there’s a nice young man working at the clinic now,” Daddy said. “He has a three year old daughter. The mother is in the picture, but they have a healthy coparenting relationship.”

All I could do was smile and shake my head because they were impossible. I sat around for a few minutes more until he was done with the yogurt bowl. I gave my baby all my love in hugs and kisses before saying goodbye to my parents and heading out. When I made it to my spa, I could have sworn that same dark car from earlier was outside but that was impossible. Shaking my paranoid thoughts off, I headed into my spa for what I needed to be a smooth and successful day.

* * *

That Next Morning

I underestimated the fall. My body was sore, the cuts burned, and my leg was killing me. I was in so much pain I got me and baby girl dressed then got right back in bed. The last thing I wanted to do was cancel my appointments for the day, so I planned to take some Advil and hoped that made the pain go away. At the sound of the gate opening, I tried to shoot up as quickly as I normally would and instantly regretted it. Limping over to the window, I smiled at the sight of Moore pulling my bins back into the gate.

There was no way I’d be able to make it downstairs before he left, so I lifted the window and called his name. He looked up at me and smiled. Unlike the dressed down version of him I saw yesterday, Moore was dressed in a black suit that made him look twice as good.

“Up!” I turned to see Innah holding her arms up, wanting me to pick her up. I wobbled over to the bed and grabbed her then returned to the window.

“Good morning,” I spoke.

“Good morning, beautiful. Y’all good up there?”

“Yes. I just wanted to thank you again for taking care of that.”

“No problem at all. Your daughter is a cutie pie. Those chubby little cheeks!”

I beamed in pride as I looked at Innah. She was truly all the good things about her father and me wrapped up in one. She had Bully’s skin tone and eyes, but everything else about her face looked just like mine.

“Thank you, Moore. The cheeks definitely have the power to help the little one get away with anything.”

“I bet,” he said through his chuckle. “You have a good day, aight?”

“You too. Um… I usually cook dinner around six.”

Confusion covered my face as I pouted, unsure why the hell I’d just told him that. Moore licked his lips as they spread because of his smile.

“Is that an invitation for me to join you?”

“I’m not exactly sure.”

Moore’s head bobbed. “Well… when you are… I want you to let me know. I’d love to join you, but only if you’re sure.”

Nibbling my bottom lip, I considered his words. Quite frankly, it was nice talking to a man that wasn’t attached to Bully. Still… I wasn’t sure I was ready to have a full conversation over dinner with a stranger.

“I’ll let you know.”

“Good.” His eyes shifted in Innah’s direction. “Bye, pretty girl.”

“Bye bye!” Innah yelled with a rapid wave, bucking against me and making us both laugh.

After closing the window, I walked back to the bed and climbed under the covers, hoping the pain would leave soon and that I wouldn’t have to cancel any appointments for the day.