“She is.”
“Cool, look, she told me I didn’t give you enough money.”
Omni lifted her hand like she was accepting an award. “I absolutely did.”
DaVinci laughed. “So I fixed it. Don’t start with me when she hands you my black card.”
I blinked. “DaVinci, no. Fifteen thousand dollars was already too much. More than enough.”
A rush went through me out of nowhere. “You’re always doing the most. We are not married, and I should not be spending your money like that.”
“If it’s one thing imma do, it’s what?” he asked.
Gunna’s song had become our favorite thing to quote. That little ‘if it’s one thing imma do…’ line lived rent free in both our heads.
“The most,” I replied, finishing Burna Boy’s part.
His voice was firm but playful. “Right, so what does marriage have to do with anything? You switching up on me?”
“Boy, shut up. No. I just…” I rubbed my forehead. “It’s a lot. I’m not used to this. And people already think I’m a gold digger.”
“I know,” he said softly. “That’s why I want to do it. You don’t ask for anything. Hell, you barely let people help. So when I want to step up, just let me, and I ain’t gon repeat it but one last time… fuck them people. Focus on me and me alone. Cool?”
That hit deeper than it should have.
“Okay,” I said quietly.
“One more day and I’m back home,” he said. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
There was a small pause, and then—
“Halo.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Something hit me so hard it felt physical, and for a moment, everything—the music, the room—blurred.
“DaVinci…” I whispered.
“I said what I said, Angel. You don’t gotta say it back yet. I just needed you to know where I am wit’ it,” he said gently. “Talk soon.”
“Wait, you haven’t asked me my question for the day.”
“So tell me something,” he said. This had become our thing. Every day, he made me give him one new fact about myself.
“Like what?”
“How did you get your nickname?”
“Ouu, good one. Well, it’s Halima and Lorraine, my first and middle names combined.”
“Fly shit. Twenty-four hours and I’m back, Halo.”
The call ended before I could respond.
