Me:Asshole.
Kenneth:I’m an asshole because I’m right?
Me:You’re an asshole because you’re an asshole.
Kenneth:Message received. I’ll leave you be, but promise me that you’ll let me throw you a success party. I’m not taking no for an answer, so you don’t exactly have a choice but to say yes.
I smiled.
Me:I don’t think I could reason with you anyway. You’re incorrigible.
Kenneth:Always the giver.It’s your day, man. You’re the one who should be getting all the compliments, not me.
I laughed again.
Me:Screw you.
Kenneth:Same to you;–)
Kenneth:Gotta go. Ttyl.
Me:Sure.
I quickly sent out another text message.
Me:Congratulations! WE DID IT! I honestly couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for believing in me and my vision. I hope we make a difference.
Her response was immediate.
Natanya:Yes!!! Congratulations to you too, partner. Your concept was too good to not be a part of. I’m just glad I could help you as much as I did. EXPRESS calls to the true values of NB Couture, and I can’t wait to expand it further with you and your brand.
Pride was all I felt after reading her message.
Me:Thank you, Nat.
Natanya:Of course! You’re welcome.
With a grin, I set my phone down and pointed at the laptop screen to one of the gowns Zaira had modelled in. “You look so beautiful in this,” I told her. “The beige complements your skin really well, and the full sleeves bring out a sophisticated vibe.” I turned to look at her, and saw that her misty eyes were trained on me, and not the screen.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, and then kissed me. “You’re doing so good, and I’m honored that you invested in, and dedicated an entire clothing range to women like me and Ams. You’re a great guy, Gall, and I love you so fucking much.” She ran her fingers through the back of my head. “Your vision and ideas are inspirational, and your determination is one everyone should have. What you and Natanya have done today will make history, in a way, and I’m so happy to be a part of it with you.”
I buried my face against the side of her breast and took a deep inhale of her perfume. “Youare the inspirational one, not me.” I moved back and looked at her. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t even have thought of creatingEXPRESS. If it wasn’t for you, I would have never understood the real meaning and power behind love and sacrifice. Soyou, my gorgeous girlfriend, need to take just as much credit for this as Natanya and I.”
A few tears slipped down her eyes as she cupped the side of my face. “Presuming you was the best thing I’ve done in my life so far,” she said. “I’m so glad I misjudged you after our first meeting; so glad that I was upset enough about it that it showed me how strongly your opinions mattered to me. I’m glad I decided to stay with you in your trailer that night, and I’m so fucking glad for every moment we’ve spent since then knowing and loving each other.” She let out a short laugh as she shook her head. “Who knew that a tiny littleratwould bring two people together in a way only fate did?”
“Maybe he was our road to this – to the moment we’re sharing right now,” I told her. “Maybe he was the catalyst that set our relationship in motion.”
She smiled and gave me a quick kiss. “Cheesy baboon.”
I grinned. “Ay.” I ran a hand up and down her smooth thigh. “We got lucky with each other, though, didn’t we?” I said. “I don’t think anyone else would want us anyway. We’re crazy and opinionated, and that’s a deadly match. We’d blow up homes and tear down parking lots. We’re better off together.”
Zaira laughed and placed her forehead against mine. “Lord, Underwood. Don’t you ever freaking change, you hear me? I love you and your random weirdness so much.” She ran the back of her fingers over my jaw. “And yeah, I’m lucky I have you, just as you’re lucky you have me. No one would tolerate you like I do. You’re annoyingly sexy and really bad with your comedic timing. But hey, that’s what makes you,you, and that’s all that matters to me.”
“I can’t tell if you just complimented or insulted me.”
“A little of both.” She brushed her nose against mine. “Promise me that you’ll love me forever, no matter how impossible I get. Promise me that you’ll make mesee; that you’ll continue to read me like you do.”
I smiled as I held her tighter. “I wouldn’t know what else to do,” I told her honestly. “I’ll make all of those promises to you, only if you promise to never hide any of your layers from me. Only if you promise that you’ll never try to be a version of yourself that you think will make me happy. Because baby, I like everything about you, and the only reason I signed up for this is because I knew – and still do – that I want itallwith you. Be yourself and show me everything, and know that I’m gonna continue to love you inside out, no matter what. It’s you and I – always.” I leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss.
