Page 29

“You fine as hell, Bria. Get in before I get out and put you in the car myself.”

Lo reached over and pushed the door open. Bria climbed inside, swarming the car with her floral scent. Once she was in, Lo drove away and headed for his destination.

“I’m surprised to see you. I haven’t been seeing much of you lately,” she noted.

Lo grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Listen, I know I’ve been real distant lately, and I apologize for that. Shit been hectic but I promise to do better.”

Lo meant every word. His effort with Bria had to increase. He wouldn’t assume she would grow accustomed to his difficult nature. Instead, he would go out of his way to prove to not only her but him that he could be a better husband.

Her eyes widened. “Is Kylo Crown apologizing to me?”

Angling his head, he replied, “A nigga ain't above apologizing, especially to you.”

“Hmm.” She nodded. “I’ll remember that when the next time comes for you to say sorry.”

Bria’s company was enjoyable. Her laughter was infectious. Becoming lost in her existence was the perfect getaway from his depressive thoughts.

“Where are we going?”

“You're about to see.”

Lo turned down a street and drove toward a gate. Once he arrived, he pressed a button and was granted access. He looked over at Bria while driving to capture her oncoming excitement.

“Oh, my God. Lo,” she gushed, then turned to him. “You're taking me horseback riding.”

He smirked as she bounced in her seat. This was refreshing to him.

Like a cool breeze on a muggy day. The women Lo normally dealt with usually got elated when it involved money or material possessions.

They raved over things that held no value like a purse or car.

Bria was overjoyed to ride a horse. That warmed his spirit so much that he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he wanted to.

He parked, and Bria quickly got out the car. An older Black man met them at the front of the barn wearing overalls, a straw hat, and checkered shirt.

“How you doing, Kylo? Long time no see.”

Lo shook his hand. He’d known Nate since he was a young boy. As a friend of the family, he’d watched Lo and his brothers grow up.

“What’s up, Nate? You been good?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s been smooth sailing ever since those people tried to take my land. I’ve been good though, thanks to you.”

Lo nodded, then grabbed Bria’s hand. “This is my wife, Bria. Bria, this is Nate.”

They exchanged pleasantries and handshakes.

“What a beautiful woman, Kylo. You two look good together.”

Bria peered at him, tittering like a small child.

“She wanna ride the horses. You cool with that?”

Nate gestured with his hand for them to follow him. “Of course. Let me take you out back.”

The couple followed the older gentleman toward the back where the horses were. Bria’s smile widened the closer they got to the stable.

“Oh, my God, this one is so pretty.” She rubbed on a black horse. “What’s her name?”

“This one right here is called Midnight.” Nate opened the gate. “Would you like to ride her?”

“Yes, I would love to.”

Nate grabbed the reins and aided the horse out of the stable. They all walked out on the ranch, and he saddled up. Nate then helped Bria by mounting her on the horse.

“Aye, watch those hands, OG,” Lo warned playfully.

Nate chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare disrespect you like that, Kylo.”

Like a pro, Bria whipped the reins and the horse took off.

There was a smile on her face that Lo wanted her to keep, permanently.

How did one smile brighten his day? Bria beamed brighter than a 100-watt light bulb.

Her ponytail glided in the wind while her body bounced in unison.

Did she not know that she was Lo’s escape?

A literal hideaway from his woes, past, and troubled mind.

That was too much to put on her and Lo felt guilty for it, but taking flight with Bria had become his antidote.

“How long y’all been married?” Nate asked.

“Like three months.”

“Newlyweds.” He chuckled. “That’s the best time in a marriage.”

Lo hesitantly peeled his eyes away from Bria and asked, “Why is that?”

“Because everything is fresh. The love is still young, and those vows are taken seriously in this stage. Everyone is on their best behavior in newlywed season.”

Lo mulled over his words while watching Bria. This marriage was initially an obligation, but it had transformed into a yearning he hoped to never be without.

“The goal is to keep if fresh,” Nate preached. “People lose sight on that. They start going by their own agenda and forgetting about their spouse. But always keep your marriage first. Put it before anything in your life. Okay?”

Lo nodded, leaning his arms against the wooden beams. He watched Bria the entire time she rode and didn’t get bored.

Her happiness had somehow affected him. When she smiled, Lo was in a better mood.

She had easily become his serotonin. After a while, Bria had come to a stop.

She climbed off the horse and ran into his arms. Lo picked her up, inhaling the scent of her skin. Bria drew back and kissed his lips.

“Thank you for this. You’ve made me so happy today.”

Not as happy as you’ve made me…

Lo kept his thoughts to himself and kissed her again. Lowering her to her feet, he grabbed her hand.

“I got something else for you.”

“Really?” she gushed.

“Yeah, let’s walk back to the truck.” Lo shook Nate’s hand. “Good looking out, OG.”

“No problem. Anytime.”

The couple headed back to the truck just as the sun had set. He opened the back and revealed a basket of food he picked up on the way to the dance studio.

Bria gasped. “Lo, you didn’t.”

He chuckled, moving her ponytail away from her neck. “I figured you would be hungry after rehearsal. Let’s eat right here and watch the sunset.”

“I would love to.”

Lo helped Bria sit in the back of the truck before he joined her. Because he was a man who didn’t half-step, sandwiches and chips just wouldn’t suffice. Lo had a chef prepare steak and shrimp nachos with homemade salsa and guacamole. There was also fruit and cans of soda.

“Oh, I’m about to smash this,” she declared excitedly. “I’ll take the seafood one.”

Lo passed it to her and cracked open his container. They ate in a comfortable silence until Bria confessed, “This is one of the best days I’ve had recently. Thank you, baby.”

He smiled at her. “Me too.”

“It’s so peaceful out here,” she noted, looking at the sky. “I love sunsets. If I could watch one every night, I would… Hey, you ever wonder why the sky turns orange and red when the sun is setting?”

“Because of the angle of the sun’s light as its going down and Rayleigh scattering.”

Bria side-eyed him, wearing a smirk. “I forgot I was married to a borderline genius.”

That tickled him. “Don't be a hater, Bri-Bri.”

“I’m not. I actually think it’s cool that you're an undercover nerd. That means our children will be highly intelligent, athletic, and creative.”

Lo didn’t think about children until he got with Bria. He secretly couldn’t wait for her to carry his offsprings.

“How are you doing, mentally?”

“Straight because I’m next to this bad-ass ballet dancer who got me hooked like a fiend.”

Blushing, Bria leaned in for a kiss. “I appreciate you. I know you haven’t been doing well after the situation with your mom and aunt, so thank you for making time for me.”

“You don't have to thank me, Bria. I told you it’s up between us.”

She bobbed her head. “So that means you’re still going to come to my performance, right?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

Initially, Lo had taken this time strictly for Bria, but he’d needed this break more than she did.

Being with her and drowning in her presence was like receiving a prescription for pain.

His agony had been blocked out because his happiness with Bria didn’t leave room for it to enter.

Lo didn’t have a name for this feeling, but he knew he didn’t want to be without it.

“What are we doing after this?” she asked, before taking a sip of her soda.

Lust danced in his orbs when he responded, “Watching you ride that horse made me want you to ride mine.”

Bria licked her lips. “Then get us home so I can show you how good I can ride.”

Bria dabbed her forehead with face powder while looking at her reflection in the mirror.

It was the night of her performance, and she attempted to get her mind into dance mode.

For most of the day, she prepped for her solo and pampered herself with a facial and body massage.

When it was time for Bria to dance, she didn’t allow anything to deter her.

Not her family, her marriage, or the injustices of the ballet industry.

She was locked in on making this performance better than her last one.

After applying her makeup, she put her hair into a tight bun. While laying her edges down, her phone rang. Immediately her eyes darted to the screen, not recognizing the number.

“Who is this?” she whispered to herself.

Against her better judgment, Bria answered. “Hello?”

“What’s up, ma?”

Chill bumps burgeoned on her skin as she got up and made sure her dressing room door was closed.

“Dough?”

“Yeah, it’s me, baby.”

Bria was less than enthused to share a conversation with him.

“Oh, hey.” Her tone was extremely dry.

He smacked his lips. “Damn, why you sound like that? I should be the one with an attitude. Shit, I’m the one that got hurt. But best believe it’s gon’ take more than a coward-ass nigga to make a man like me tap out.”

Bria recognized the front Dough put on but decided not to address it. The beating was brutal, but he made it seem like it was a couple whips and nothing more.

“I shouldn’t be on the phone with you, especially when you were bragging about having sex with me.”

“Don't tell me that nigga got in your head. Do you really think I be pillow talking like that, Bria?

“I don't know. It’s possible.”

“You know I don't move like that. Has he hurt you?”

“No.”

“Are you lying to me?”