Page 10

eight

Two Weeks Later

Nayeli: Have you given it any more thought? This could be a really great opportunity for you. Plus, I wouldn’t have to be out here by myself.

I sighed, reading over the text I’d received from Nayeli. Rule wanted to hire me as a hair stylist for his international tour next year. It was the opportunity of a lifetime; however, I wasn't sure if I should take it. With Justice and I being newlyweds, this may not be the best time for me to be making major moves like this. Plus, I’d be away from him for up to six months.

While I wanted to jump on the chance, I refused to put my relationship in jeopardy so early. I told her I’d think about it once I talked it over with Justice, but I’ve been avoiding the topic altogether. I needed to give them an answer soon, so I had no choice but to put on my big girl panties.

Me: I’m going to talk it over with Justice tonight then I’ll let you know.

In my heart, I believed Justice would give me his support, but what if he didn’t? Would I really have to give up on my dream for the sake of my relationship? With everything Justice had sacrificed for me, I owed him more than I could ever pay back. However, being a hairstylist for an international superstar could open so many doors for myself as well as my business.

I slipped my phone into my purse since I’d made it to my destination. This was another conversation I’d been avoiding for the last few weeks.

“What’s up, baby girl?” Papa Truth greeted me the moment I walked through the door.

I’d told him I was stopping by because I needed to talk to him about something. Ever since I talked with Wisdom, this conversation had been on my mind.

“Hey, how’ve you been feeling?” The boys said he was having breathing issues when they went on their latest fishing trip, so I wanted to make sure he was feeling okay. Papa Truth was one of those people who never complained about their health, but that also meant he kept a lot of secrets.

“I’ve been just fine, baby girl. I had a bit of a lingering cough, but it’s cleared up since last week. How’ve you been holding up? You don’t have too much longer before you’ll be walking down the aisle.” I kind of felt bad because three weeks had passed since I talked with Wisdom and I was just now making it over here to ask him such an important question. I don’t know why I was so nervous. Justice thought I was being ridiculous as well as everyone else.

“Yeah, I’m excited about it. We’ve been planning this event for months, and now it’s time to make things official.” We walked down the stairs to his man cave since it was his favorite spot in the house.

“So, what brings you by? You seem like you’ve got something on your mind,” he replied. My heart sped up as I tried to get my words together. We stared at each other for a while until he finally got tired of it.

“Yani, what’s wrong? You’re making me nervous, and that isn’t an easy feat for a man like me. Talk to me.” Concerned laced his voice, and I felt guilty because he probably thought it was something life-altering.

“Umm, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while now, and I understand if you can’t do it. It’s just that I don’t really have anyone else, and well, you’re like a father to me, and I was thinking maybe you could-”

“Ciyani! Stop rambling and spit it out, girl!”

“Will you walk me down the aisle and give me away at the wedding? I know you’re technically Justice’s dad, but you’re kind of my dad, too, and I’d really like it if you could. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but-” Papa Truth held his hand out for me to stop talking so I waited for him to speak.

“I thought you were never going to ask.” My eyes shot up at his face to make sure I heard him correctly.

“You’ve got me ready to bring out my pistol because I’m thinking someone was messing with you or something.” He chuckled while I wiped my sweaty palms on the side of my pants.

“Baby girl, I had every intention of walking you down that aisle whether you asked me to or not.” I held my breath to stop the tears from flowing, but nothing seemed to work.

“The day Justice brought you and those boys into my home, I knew you would be someone special. Of course, I assumed it would only be for my son, but it’s deeper than that. You, Cayden, and Cartier are my family. I may not have birthed you, but I’ll lay down anyone who even thinks about hurting you.

“I’ve watched you grow into a strong, determined, and bright young lady these last few years. You’ve helped me build a better relationship with my children, and you’ve never judged me, even when I’ve made mistakes. You are marrying into this family as my daughter-in-law, but no matter what the future holds, I’ll forever be in your corner. I would be honored to give you away and welcome you into the family that is rightfully yours.”

Papa Truth stood in front of me with his arms outstretched while I ugly cried into my hands. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this family, but I counted all of my blessings. Standing up, I walked right into his embrace. My tears, mixed with snot, dripped all over his shirt as he held me tight. I’ve spent the majority of my life feeling unwanted, and now God had blessed me with people who choose to love me. They chose me, something my own mother refused to do. The feeling of acceptance brought me a sense of purpose in life. I matter to someone, many people actually.

“You’re alright, I’ve got you now,” he whispered above my head. He might as well get rid of this shirt because it wouldn’t be any good after I finished unloading all of my tears onto it. Papa Truth swayed side to side with me in his arms. We remained in this position until my sobs turned into hiccups.

He kissed the top of my head before letting me go. We both reclaimed our seats, with me tucking my feet until my butt. My eyes started getting heavy from all of the crying I’d done. I chuckled lightly, thinking about the family calling me a crybaby. I couldn’t even deny the claims because since they’ve been a part of my life, the waterworks were always in full effect.

“Outside of who’s walking you down the aisle, how are you feeling? This is a major milestone, so it’s normal to be nervous.” Papa Truth reassured me.

“I’m ready to marry Justice, but there’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding. I told him yesterday, we’re going to be together forever because there’s no way I’m doing this more than once,” I joked. I’m a simple girl, so a quick trip to the Justice of the Peace would have sufficed. Justice wouldn’t hear of it, though. He wanted to make sure our wedding lasted in my memories for a lifetime. Fancy wedding or not, it would be one of the greatest days of my life.

“I hear you. When I married Ophelia, I made the same promise. I’ve always hated being the center of attention. Plus, we spent so much time planning for the ceremony that only lasted ten minutes at best. It made no sense to me at all,” Papa Truth grumbled. He sounded like me because the venue alone cost an arm and leg. Justice told me to mind my business since my money wasn’t being spent, but still, it seemed a bit expensive.

“I keep telling your son the same, but he pays me no attention,” I told him.

“He gets his determination and stubbornness from his mother. Whenever she would put her mind to anything you might as well consider it done. It’s one of the things I loved the most about her until I was on the other end of things.” He laughed, and the smile on his face caused me to smile, too. I loved it when he shared stories about his life with Mrs. Ophelia. In a way, it made me feel connected to her.

“Then you know exactly how I feel. He makes it impossible for me to tell him no , so I don’t even bother. Plus, he’s doing this for me, so I can’t complain. I’m grateful to have someone in my life who cares enough to go this hard for me.” My heart swelled thinking about my future husband. He goes to bed with an idea and wakes up with a plan on how to execute it. I admire his drive and determination. It motivates me to shoot for the stars.

“I feel your pain; it’s worth it, though. When you have someone who’s always ten steps ahead, it keeps you on your toes. A lot of people saw Ophelia working in the community and made their assumptions, but she paid them no mind. Her heart bled for our neighborhood, and she fought hard to make sure the children in our neighborhood could have a safe place to come to. At first, I didn’t see the vision because my mindset was only on my own family. Her vision far exceeded anything I could have ever imagined.

She desired to keep the streets safe and refused to rest until she completed the job. Most people considered me the boss of our household, but I often corrected them. While I may have been head of the household, Ophelia Graham ran the show. There were times I ran into trouble on the streets, and she’d give me advice on how to handle things. Of course, I refused to involve her, but she didn’t care. She used to tell me, “If there’s a problem with you, then it’s a problem for us.” She’d pull out her notepad while I broke the situation down to her. At least, the parts I felt comfortable enough to share with her. Mainly issues with the books. Hell, if I’m being honest, she and Justice were the best accountants I ever had.

They both possessed this innate talent of taking a situation, breaking it down in parts, then solving the problem as a whole, both in business and personal,” He chuckled, staring off into the distance.

“When I watch how my sons move, I see so much of her in them. Their passion, determination, and tenacity all come from their mother. My mother used to tell me, “Time waits for no man.” Those words take on a new meaning for me the older I become. If I were to give you any advice as you travel on this journey, it would be to appreciate the time you have. Ophelia and I made many plans, thinking we would have more time together. Witnessing all of my children grow up and create their own families does my heart good while also reminding me of all we’ve missed out on together.

Cherish each day as if it’s your last because it very well could be. Don’t be afraid to take risks in life; you either win or you learn. I believe in my heart the two of you will go the distance, but I care about you as an individual as well. Don’t ever shrink or minimize your dreams to make anyone else happy, whether it’s Justice, the boys, or anyone you love. As a married couple, it’s imperative to communicate life decisions but lead with your heart. You’ve spent your entire life catering to the needs of others; it’s time for you to really live. I want to see you accomplish every dream you’ve ever wanted in your life. Reach for the stars, baby girl. You deserve every blessing coming your way.” His words pierced my heart.

Papa Truth knew nothing about my situation, yet he spoke the exact words I needed to hear. God knew I needed to hear those words because I’d been wrestling with this decision for weeks now. Everything he said was true because I’ve been hesitant to take a chance on myself. Even though I had faith in my abilities, I allowed fears to keep me complacent for a long time. This wasn’t the first opportunity I’d been presented with, but I turned them down. In this case, I could feel it in my heart my time has come. Now, I just have to sit down with my family and speak to them about it.

***

“There goes my baby!” Justice sang out as I walked into his office. Loyal and Dreaux both stood up from their seats to greet me. I wondered what the two of them were doing here.

“What’s good, sis? Did you bring us some food, too?” Loyal asked, grabbing the bag of food from my hands. I brought extra because I wasn’t sure who would be there. There was a taco spot Justice and I love called Paco’s Taco, so I figured I’d bring him some before I head home for the day.

“How the hell are you niggas going to help yourself to my food?” Justice fussed, sauntering over to me. The black sweatpants he wore hung perfectly on his waist causing my eyes to shoot right towards the middle. I heard Justice chuckle before pulling me into his arms.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. How was your day, baby?” He embraced me, allowing his cologne to pull me into a trance.

“Mmmm, you smell so good,” I moaned. He kissed my neck softly making me squirm in his hold.

“Don’t be in hear moaning like that. I’ll put these niggas out right now and bend you over this desk,” he warned. The offer sounded very tempting, but I needed to stay focused. I still had a laundry list of things to get done once I got home tonight.

“No, thank you. Charity sent me a wedding checklist to go over tonight, and I can’t afford to be taking a nap because you want to be nasty.” I pushed him back a little. The feel of his hard chest distracted me momentarily.

“Look at you. You’re the one who started with me, and now you want to tell me no,” he retorted, taking me right back into his arms. His lips covered mine, sending chills down my spine. The hold he had over me only seemed to get stronger as the years go by.

“Y’all muthafuckas act like you don’t have company in here. I’m trying to eat these good ass tacos in peace, and y’all over here trying to suck each other’s faces off,” Loyal complained. Justice flipped him the bird, then palmed my ass. I squealed, but he silenced me by slipping his tongue into my mouth. My head tilted back to receive him.

“Mmmm.” Another moan escaped me. The longer he kissed me, the more tempting his original offer sounded.

“Aye, cut that shit out! Y’all wildin’ right now,” Dreaux grumbled from behind us. Justice finally released me, but not before smacking me on the ass once more.

“That ass is getting’ fatter by the day. Those deep strokes from the back are starting to pay off.” My hand covered my mouth while I grinned. He told no lies because I’d gotten thicker over the course of our relationship.

“The two of you make me sick with all this sweet shit,” Dreaux retorted. They ragged on us often about our constant PDA, but neither of us cared.

“One of these days, we’ll be saying the same for you, and I can’t wait to rub it back in your face.” I teased him. Dreaux shook his head before taking another bite of his taco.

“Y’all can have all the mushy shit. All I need is my money, my family, and a couple of bad bitches. Life is good over here,” I waved him off, following Justice back to his desk. He sat down and then pulled me onto his lap. We sat and joked for a while until both Loyal and Dreaux got ready to leave.

“I love you, sis!” Loyal lifted me up out of Justice’s lap. I screamed when his silly tail spun me around. Growing up, I wondered what life would have been like with older brothers, and thanks to him, I knew I wouldn’t have survived. He drove me insane at times, but I knew who to call when I needed help.

“I love you too, Lo. Tell my girl I’ll be calling her when I get home,” She’d been commissioned to make a portrait for Justice as a wedding gift from me, and I couldn't wait to show him the finished product.

“I’m not telling her a damn thing. She gon’ be too busy taking this dick,” Loyal blurted out, finishing off his last bite of food.

“Bro, get out of here. We ain’t ask you for the extra details,” Justice grumbled.

The only times I’ve ever seen Loyal try to control his mouth were when we went to church. Even then, he slipped up a few times.

“How are you going to get mad at me because I said my wife would be busy? It’s the truth,” he reasoned. My only response was laughter because arguing with him would get us nowhere.

“Goodnight, bro. Don’t forget to let me know how your shoot goes tomorrow,” Justice shouted out. Loyal’s career has taken off in the last year, and I was so proud of him. His skills were incredible; I could see him going far in the industry.

“No doubt, I love y’all!”

“We love you too!” Throwing up the peace sign, he closed the door behind them. My body reclined back into my man’s chest as we sat in silence for a few moments.

“How did your day go? I haven’t talked to you since this morning. For a second, I thought you might have been upset with me about something. You normally text me throughout the day,” Justice expressed. My eyebrows bunched together, trying to figure out what he meant by his statement.

“I texted you on my first break, baby. My schedule got messed up, so I ended up with two back-to-back clients earlier. I didn’t even get to take a lunch break since I ended up running behind schedule. I’m sorry. You know if I were upset, you would be the first to know.” When it comes to expressing my feelings, I've become much better at communicating. Especially, when he hurt my feelings. It was rare, but when it happened, I’m quick to tell him about it.

“Cool, you know I would have put an end to it before the day ended. So, what’s new with you? I feel like we’ve been passing each other every day, but we haven’t sat down to spend any real time together.” I rubbed his hands that were resting across my stomach. My mind instantly went to the offer from Rule, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to bring it up.

“Umm, I’ve been working and planning this wedding. Once I go over this checklist, I’ll know what else we have left to do. Aunt Faith reached out to me about the designs we chose for the wedding cake. I confirmed all of the information, so we’re all settled. By the end of the week, we should be done with all the major tasks.” He kissed the top of my head while I ran down the list of new things going on with the wedding planning.

“As happy as I am to hear things are going well with the wedding, I’m asking about you, baby. Update me on what’s going on in your world. How are you feeling mentally? Do you need anything from me? What can I do to make life easier for you?” I turned my body to face him.

“Mentally, I’m a little overstimulated, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. You do enough for me daily so no, I don’t need anything. As far as making my life easier, you do it so effortlessly. The only thing I want from you tonight is a back rub and some dick.” His dick jumped underneath me.

“I can do all of that, but I’m being serious. You’ve been consumed with wedding planning, and I want to do my part to make sure you’re not overwhelmed. Let me take some of the weight off of you.” God, I loved this man. He constantly showed me how much he loved me with his actions. Leaning up, I pecked his lips. The energy quickly shifted in the room as I turned to straddle his lap.

“See, you’re trying to start some shit. I’ll fuck the shit out of you right here on this desk, but if someone walks in, I’m not stopping until I buss,” he warned. I gripped his neck, deepening the kiss. My panties were soaked in the middle, but I didn’t care. Right now, I needed my man inside of me.

“Lock the door,” I moaned into his mouth. I may have been in a sex fog, but not enough to forget the door being unlocked.

“You don’t want to live life on the edge?” He smirked. Now, there were a few times we’d done it out in public, but only at nighttime. Not in a building full of children and staff. Those were my limits. I refuse to be responsible for scaring someone’s child.

Justice lifted me up onto his desk and then headed to the door. His dick formed a tent in the Dickies pants he sported for work. I bit down on my lip in anticipation of the way his tool was about to stretch me out. I giggled when I saw him jogging back over to me.

“I swear you don’t even know what kind of hold you have on me. You’ve got me out here sneaking around like a teenager,” He held my face in his face, pushing his tongue down my throat. Justice has taught me so many things over the years, but his kissing skills were top tier. My honey pot leaked while our tongues played tug of war.

“Take this off.” He gripped the hem of my leggings, sliding them past my hips.

“Do it for me,” I whined, lifting my hips to assist him. Justice smirked, sliding them the rest of the way down. His fingers ran across the middle of my panties, causing me to jerk. Moving them to the slide, he dipped two fingers into my wetness. I spread my legs wider to give him more access to venture deeper.

“Damn, this pussy wet as fuck. Look at all this cream on my fingers,” he grunted, examining his fingers before licking them clean. A chill ran down my spine as he plunged his fingers back inside my warmth.

“Baby, I’m about to-,” The orgasm snuck up on me, leaving me little time to warn him. My head fell back in ecstasy.

“That’s right, baby. Wet my fingers up,” He curled his digits inside of me, intensifying the storm already brewing within.

“Ugh! Fuck!” My hand shot to my mouth, realizing we weren’t in the comforts of our own home. After I calmed down, Justice removed his fingers and then swiftly replaced them with his thick rod. My mouth hung open, forming an “O” while he pushed his way past my folds. My hands gripped the desk while he teased me. Only stroking me a few times before pulling out.

“Go deeper. Fuck me, please!” I cried out. Justice smirked, then rammed himself into me. He only got in a few strokes before my walls came crashing down around him. I held onto his shoulders for stability. His strokes picked up the pace, delivering straight dick to my center. He lifted his shirt, watching himself side in and out of me.

“This pussy sucking me in like she missed me. You missed this dick, lil baby?” I gasped when he held my legs in his arms, then fucked my ability to talk right out of me. The familiar taste of copper hit my tongue due to me biting down on my lip to hold in my moans.

“Naw, let that shit out. Let me know I’m hitting those spots just right,” he urged. The sound of his voice triggered another orgasm, resulting in my nectar squirting all over his pelvis and desk.

“Ahh, fuck, I’m about to buss. You gone let me cum in your pussy, baby?” I nodded before he finished the statement.

“Use your words. Let me hear it.” He pumped in and out of my gushy walls, driving me insane.

“Yes, please! Cum in my pussy, baby!” I screamed, forgetting to cover my mouth. I loved feeling his dick twitch inside of me, so I didn’t need to think twice about his request. Justice had my head gone, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My hands held the hem of his shirt as he released his seeds into my walls.

My eyes grew heavy, letting me know my plans for tonight would more than likely be placed on hold, thanks to him. Justice opened his drawer, retrieving a pack of wipes. I sat perched on the desk while he cleaned me up. A shower and a nap sounded like the move right about now.

Once we were both cleaned up and redressed, I grabbed my purse, preparing to leave. Feeling a hand reach for my arm, I pivoted to face my fiancé.

“Where are you going?” He inquired, his love for me shined brightly in his orbs.

“I’m going to take a nap, then hopefully, I’ll be finalizing my checklist when I wake up.” I stood on my tiptoes for a kiss, but one never came. I peeked my eyes open to see what the holdup was.

“Can I ask you a question?” The sudden change in his demeanor concerned me for a moment.

“What’s wrong? Did I do something?” My hands started sweating like a child waiting for their punishment. Justice rarely got upset with me, and when he did, it gave me anxiety.

“Do you love me?” Reaching for my hand, he pulled me between his legs, where he sat on the end of his desk.

“Of course I do. Why would you ask me something like that?” Justice observed me for an uncomfortable amount of time.

“Then why haven’t you told me about the tour with Rule?” My breathing sped up rapidly as the two of us stared at one another. The only people who knew about the opportunity were Rule, Nayeli, and Janae. It’s possible Janae may have told Wise, but she promised not to say anything.

“There’s no point in you racking your brain around who told me. The only thing I’m interested in knowing is why I haven’t heard this news from my woman.” The look on his face told me I’d disappointed him.

“I’ve been trying to find the right time to talk to you about it, but the wedding planning took precedence. Nayeli reached out today for an answer, but I let her know I needed to talk it over with you first.”

“And when were you planning on doing that?” He probed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“When you got home tonight,” I admitted. His eyebrow raised, and his head tilted a bit.

“I’m being serious. I planned to talk to you tonight. We’ve both been working so hard, and I didn’t want to bother you.” The scoff from him told me my answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

“What am I doing wrong?” He asked. This time, his tone changed to one of concern, sending me into a panic.

“What do you mean, baby?”

“Ciyani, we’re about to get married soon. How are we going to do so if you’re not comfortable sharing your wins with me? What am I doing that would make you believe for one second you couldn’t tell me?” My heart sunk to my feet. This wasn’t the reaction I expected at all. I thought he’d be upset about me waiting to tell him, but not this.

“Baby, don’t do this. You haven’t done anything wrong. I-I don’t know. I wasn’t sure if I should take the opportunity, so I wanted to make sure it’s what I wanted before I brought it to you.” His face turned up into a frown.

“Come on, lil’ baby. Keep it real with me. Why would you even consider turning down an opportunity like this?”

“I mean, we’re going to be newlyweds. What am I supposed to do? Pack up and leave a few months after we tie the knot?”

“Ciyani-”

“That’s not my name,” I cut him off, poking my lips out so he knew I meant business.

“It’s your name when you start acting like this. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will be less of a man if I allow you to miss out on it. Being newlyweds won’t change whether you stay or leave. I’ll still be your husband, no matter what state you are in. Plus, you’re crazy if you think that I’m not going to pull up on my woman.” I giggled when he tickled me under my arms. I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“I love you with every breath in my body, and you should know me better than that. I would never stand in the way of you and your dreams. Why would you even want to marry a man like that? Huh?”

“It’s not that simple. I didn’t hesitate because I thought you wouldn’t support me. I guess I didn’t like the idea of us not being together so early in our marriage. I don’t want you to look at me like a bad wife.” His expression told me I had lost my mind, and hearing myself say it out loud I felt even dumber for even holding it in.

“Baby, I love you. Yes, we are a couple, but we are also individuals chasing after our own dreams and goals. There’s nothing wrong with us setting boundaries and coming to an understanding. This is a huge deal, and it’s only going to help propel your career even further. Six months is nothing compared to a lifetime of happiness and success. Contrary to what you believe, I know how to take care of myself,” he expressed.

“Yes, but you’re not the only person I have to consider. Cayden and Cartier are too young to take care of themselves. I mean, sure, they can get themselves ready for school and take care of their homework, but what about the day-to-day? Who’s going to feed them? Make sure they take baths and get back-and-forth to practice?” Justice placed his palm on top of my forehead as if he was checking my temperature.

“Stop, I’m being serious. You have a very busy schedule, and it wouldn’t be fair for me to ask you to make such a huge sacrifice,” I reasoned.

“Then you must not know what marriage is about. This is our family. Cayden and Cartier are just as much my responsibility as they are yours. It’s not a sacrifice to take care of them because it’s what I’m doing now. The boys and I will be fine without you. It seems to me that you might be the one with separation issues,” he called out.

He may have been onto something. I mean, let’s face it, I have never truly been apart from the boys since they were babies. The longest I’ve ever been away from them was for a couple of days, so the idea of being away from them for months at a time worried me. What if an emergency happened and I’m all the way across the country? I’ll never be able to live with myself if something were to happen to them while I was gone.

“I can see the wheels in your head turning, and you’re overthinking as usual. All we need is food, water, and cable. Those are the essentials for any man. I promise you have nothing to worry about. Not only will I be helping, but you have to remember we have a whole village behind us. You’re not in this alone anymore.” His words soothed my spirit in a way I couldn’t describe. I’d been so used to doing this on my own, it hadn’t dawned on me that we have a family now.

The boys would still be able to keep their same routines and everything without being shifted from one place to the next. The revelation brought tears to my eyes as I reflected on Papa Truth’s words. I could finally do something for myself and not worry about feeling guilty.

“Look at my crybaby ass fiancée. One of these days, it’s going to sink in, but until then, I’m going to keep reminding you. I’ve got your back, lil’ baby. Don’t ever keep important news away from me. I’m your biggest cheerleader. How the hell am I supposed to do that if you’re keeping shit from me?” This time, he poked his lips out for me to kiss. I giggled at his version of a peace offering.

“I can’t believe you called me by my government name. I’m supposed to always be your lil’ baby,” I whined.

“My spoiled lil’ baby with the hard ass head. What am I going to do with you? Huh?” Cupping his face with my hands, I pecked his lips a couple more times.

“Love me, that’s all I need.”

“That’s a given. I’m going to love you until I take my last breath and even after that. I’m your partner, Yani baby. I’m going to support you at all times, and if there’s ever a time we don’t agree, I’m still going to have your best interest at heart. It’s time for you to spread your wings, sweetheart. Show the world who you are and what you’re made of. We’ll be here cheering and waiting for you to come home. It’s your time to shine, beautiful.” I buried my face into his chest while he held me tightly.

There used to be a time when I thought God hated me, but now I’m convinced I must be one of His favorites. The blessings in my life were overflowing, and I planned to enjoy every one of them.