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She didn’t flinch. “I sleep here more than I sleep at my place. That’s a relationship.”

“That’s proximity,” I said. “Don’t add chapters I didn’t write.”

She exhaled through her nose, then pivoted like I hadn’t said a word. “I’m going, and that’s that. You should wear the cream Amiri fit, the clean Forces, and that subtle Louis belt. I’ll book us a driver. A black Escalade, not the cheap stuff. We’ll do a quick walk-through, shake hands, then hit RPM Seafood for a midnight res. I’ll text Tony.”

I had to close my eyes before I ruined this consistent good pussy and immaculate head.

She was already thumbing through her phone as she said, “Also, donotlet anyone post us on stories from the party. I don’t want to be tagged next to… the ghetto.”

Breathing slowly through my nose, I told her cooly, “Put the phone down, Jackie. You’renotgoing.”

She set the phone down, glaring at me. When I didn’t back down, she groaned. “Fine. I’ll just come by after.” Then she smiled. “I just want to be where you are.”

She was always relentless. Every time I blinked, she’d left a new claim somewhere in my home. She was trying to subtly lock me down, but I wasn’t going to let it happen.

But the way her tongue made love to my dick made up for it.

“Baby, you cool. But you’re merging into a lane that ain’t open.”

Her glossed mouth curved, undeterred. “Then make it open. You need a woman who elevates you.”

I just shook my head and put my attention back on the game. The onlywoman I wanted would be at that party. She was the only woman I’d ever felt in my bones. I wasn’t walking in with a stand-in while Aaliyah was in the room.

“You won’t keep me on the sidelines forever, Fabe,” she replied with a giggle, like she was loving this chase.

“We’ll see.”

4

MOSES

Iwasn’t surprised when I woke up and Kahlani wasn’t in bed. That was normal for us. Since I was usually up late in the studio, she was always the one who got up early to get Trent ready for school.

I stretched and rubbed my eyes, but I was still drained from staying up until three in the morning writing. But the smell of sausage and bacon was strong enough to drag me out of the bed even though my body wanted another couple hours of sleep.

Sliding to the edge of the mattress, I reached into my top drawer for some shorts and pulled them on.

Our house had an open-concept layout, so as soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, I could see Kahlani in the kitchen, standing at the stove in one of my oversized tees with her hair tied up. Trent was in the living room, dressed for school with his eyes glued to the cartoons on TV.

But then I noticed therest.

The whole living room was filled with blue, silver, and black balloons. Streamers were across the walls, and a big “Happy Birthday” banner was hanging over the window. I had to stop for a second, just taking it in.

Trent looked up and spotted me. His face lit up and he jumped off the couch.

“Daddy! Happy birthday!”

I laughed and bent down, scooping him up. “Thank you, man.”

Kahlani turned from the stove, cheesing like she’d been waiting for me to see all of this. She walked over and leaned in to kiss me. Her arms wrapped around both me and Trent.

“Happy birthday, baby.”

I glanced around the room again. “When did y’all do all this?”

“Me and Trent got up early so we could decorate before you woke up,” Kahlani explained as she went back to the stove.

I looked at her, then at Trent, feeling my heart strings pull. I’d been grinding for so long, chasing this music dream, that most days felt like nothing but work. But moments like this were the payoff too. I had a woman who loved me without needing a price tag on it, a son who thought I could do no wrong, and a house that actually felt like home.