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I picked up another piece of hair and repeated the same steps. Admittedly, it felt good having my hair down and out of the ponytail I wore more often than not.

“It’s six-fifteen your time.”

“Yes, Mother. I know. I’m finishing up.”

Natural makeup caressed the skin of my face. The Tom Ford pumps Roulette had gifted me were resting on the bed, right next to my dress. Sliding into everything was the final step before heading out of the door.

I picked the phone up from the counter once my hair curls were finished. I propped it up against the mirror as I grabbed the wide tooth comb and raked through them.

“Change feels good sometimes,” I confessed, enjoying the freedom I was experiencing.

“Change is usually always good– eventually . Things must change for things to change. Align. Fall into place. Happen as they should. Progress is a post-production of change. It’s required. It’s necessary. For growth. For experience. For everything,” my mother explained.

“Change is usually always good– eventually ,” I repeated.

“How are you feeling? Nervous? Anxious? Tell me, love.”

“I’m feeling… I don’t know how to place them exactly but I’m feeling a few things. One is that this is long overdue. I’m twenty-four.” I chuckled. “Feels childish.”

“It’s not.”

“I know. And, though others have experienced a hundred dates and at least three heartbreaks by the age of twenty-four, I’m grateful I don’t have those experiences hindering this one.

You know– having me going into this apprehensive or too hopeful or desperate to get it right or anything remotely close. It’s just– a date .”

“It’s not just a date, Rome. We both know that.”

“You’re right and I didn’t mean it in that context. Sac isn’t just a guy, and this isn’t just a day, but nothing has warped my reality. No prior experiences. Just dream. Good dreams. Good thoughts. Good intuition. Nothing more. No previous experiences. Nothing. Just a date.”

“And, I truly adore the innocence in that.”

“Yeah. Even at twenty-four.”

“Even at twenty-four.”

“What do you think?” I asked, leaning closer to the camera for her to see me clearly.

“You look darling, Ro.”

“Thank you, Mother. I’m going to get dressed and get going before Koen is ringing the doorbell.”

“Enjoy your night. You’re beautiful, remember that. Head high. Boundaries clear. If you should feel uncomfortable at any moment, just signal.”

“Yes. I know.”

“I love you.”

“In every lifetime, lady.”

The call ended, prompting me to finalize the structure of my curls. My reflection in the mirror met me with my father’s voice.

You’re perfect, Rome. Just the way you are. My Prima. My Prima Ballerina .

“Thank you, Father,” I whispered, turning away from the mirror in an attempt to keep my mascara from ruining the rest of my makeup.

I pulled the brown dress over my head and slid it down my body with ease. The heels clung to my feet, making it almost impossible to determine my skin from the dark chocolate strap. I strutted toward the mirror, again.

This time, I wasn’t empty handed. The Sevyn Summers Duo was in tow. I dug my fingers into the body butter, slathering it on my arms and chest. I smoothed it up my neck and down my back. Anywhere that sunlight touched, I wanted the butter to rest so that the subtle glow was easily adorned.

After I’d coated my skin with the butter, I doubled down with the oil that completed the duo. My skin appeared flawless. The elusiveness of the ultra-fine particles of glitter and mica combined gave the perfect illusion of led-lit melanin.

It’s just too good , I thought, admiring myself in the mirror. Too good .

I placed the heavenly duo on the counter and headed back into the bedroom.

Though Roulette had designed and completely furnished my dressing room, laying my things out on the bed felt like such a big deal for me.

Nostalgic. Like the first day of school.

First day of ballet camp. First dance. Prom. Graduation.

I had a lifetime to use the dressing room. Tonight wasn’t the night. I slid on the gold jewelry one piece at a time, each adding a bit of significance to my wardrobe. Once finished, I made my way to the dressing room, finally, stepping into the full clothed haven.

Perfume lined the vanity. I sealed my lids, extending my right arm.

When my hand landed on a mystery bottle, I opened my eyes to find Wilde underneath the tips of my fingers.

It was Roulette’s latest obsession. I never strayed too far from her suggestions.

She was forever hip to the latest and greatest when it came to girl things. Woman things. Feminine things.

“Oh great.”

I uncapped the fragrance and spritzed from my head all the way down to my ankles, where I paid extra attention.

The scent was scrumptious. I couldn’t determine if it lived up to its name.

It was rather safe. Savory. Vanilla, yet floral.

Bergamot but slightly citrusy. I couldn’t put my nose on the notes it contained, but I couldn’t wait to research them at a later date.

“Okay, Rome,” I said, standing in the full-length mirror.

Stunning .

My throat swelled with regret. I swallowed the lump but it reappeared immediately. Squeezing my lids together, I slapped the side of my leg and decided to retrieve my cell.

They won’t let me live it down . I reasoned.

With my cell in my hand, I returned. I unlocked the screen and searched my call history for the group call that contained every woman in the Childers clan. Roaman was the first to answer.

“You look pretty, baby. Where are you headed?”

“One second, Roaman. I want everyone on the line so I won’t have to say it more than once.”

“Okay. Is everything okay?”

“Um hmm,” Royce joined the call. “Everything is fine with this one.”

She was privy to information they weren’t.

“Tell me something good,” Roulette answered.

Rugger joined, quietly.

Range did the same.

“Hello, ladies and gent,” Rather sang.

“Who is the gent?” Range asked.

“Roulette. Y’all know she thinks she wears the boxers in her relationship. I don’t understand how Israel deals with her.”

“Because my pussy good. Fuck you thought? And, he’d better be glad I put up with him. I gets rid of niggas. Don’t act brand new. If he tired, I know another nigga rested up!”

“He gone be resting unwell if he even think about it,” Israel stated calmly.

“I second that motion,” Rugger spoke, finally.

“See, he ready to kill ’bout this pussy and you talking about you don’t know how he puts up with me. Baby, my throat is deep enough to drown a whale. Please don’t ever question my authority. This man is not coming up off me.”

“Sorry to that man,” Roaman groaned.

“Knock the dust off that big ass pussy of yours and maybe you’ll catch a man, big sis,” Roulette teased. “Lips so big I know niggas would love to lay in that fat mot–”

“Ladies please–” I interjected.

“Sorry, baby. What is it?” Range asked.

“I called to say that–” I paused, turning the camera around. “I’m going on a date. That man is not only in my dreams. He is now my reality. I don’t have time to talk now, but I will later. Stay by the phone. I’ll call you back in a few hours, hopefully.”

“No– no you won’t. Tonight is the night to let that monkey hang, baby girl. We will not be waiting on your call. We will all be praying you’re enjoying every ridge, inch, curve, discoloration of that man’s dick tonight.”

“Well, I don’t plan o–”

“Goodnight, Rome.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, baby.”

The departures continued until everyone hung up and I was left staring at the screen. For almost six years, they’d been waiting on this day. The day I was welcomed to womanhood by the tip of a man’s dick. Not just any man. That man. The man from my dreams.

Everyone knew him. Everyone had heard about him. Everyone was waiting on him. Everyone was rooting for him. They understood his magnitude. His force. His power. His position in my life. And now that he was here, they were clear about their support of his presence in my life.

“Well– okay . That didn’t go as planned. On the bright side, they are aware. No secrets.”

I ended the call and took a final look in the mirror. I slid my hands down my sides, admiring the softness of the dress. It was pleasant against my skin.

I stretched my legs, conquering the length of the hallway until I reached the set of gold doors. The three-story home was a dream. And, nights like this one, I was thankful for the four-passenger elevator Teddy had installed.

Some days, my body was too worn out to climb the stairs. Too beat up to make it past the hallway. The piece of machinery would be a lifesaver. Tonight, it would keep me from risking twisting an ankle or breaking a bone on my way from the second floor to the first floor.

I pressed the button and waited for the cart. Within three seconds, the doors were opening and I was inside the clear rectangle. I pushed the number one and stepped back as the doors closed.

On the first floor, the doors separated. The cool air welcomed me deeper into my home. Fine bumps swelled my skin. I felt divine. Celestial. Angelic. The fabric of my dress tickled my thighs with each sway. Each step. Every movement.

Click.

Clack.

My heels tapped the marble beneath me. The palace Chemistry had designed was built for a queen and the family she would birth and feed from her bosom. Flashes of my children running through the halls curled my lips upward. My shoulders rounded, drawing closer to my chin as I looked around.

Perfect. It’s perfect.

There was so much space to fill. I could hardly wait until the day the fulfillment began. It would be such a grand time, no matter how trying the journey was.

Chemistry was a father of two. Rather had become a mother of one. Rugger was a mother of one, and actively trying for her second child. The words hadn’t been spoken but preventative measures weren’t being taken either.