“You and me?”
“Forever.”
All the couples stood watching the two lovebirds until Samaj stepped back to receive love from more family.
Halo moved forward next, still holding Angel, and wrapped her free arm around Samaj. “You did that. Not luck. Not chance. Work. You put in the work and now look at you. Aunt Lo, is so proud of you.”
“I know,” he managed, voice breaking a little. “Thank you, Auntie. For everything. For being there for my mom. For being family. For coming to my games and always ordering from my fundraisers.”
“Always,” Halo said, kissing his cheek. “Plus, I can’t deny Double Good Popcorn. Seriously, keep making us proud. We are rooting for you and praying over you and for you.”
DaVinci extended his hand; JaVinci still balanced on his hip. When Samaj took it, DaVinci pulled him in for a proper hug. “Welcome to the big leagues, nephew. Keep your head straight. Everything else follows. I’m always one phone call away.”
“Yes sir. I appreciate you.”
DaVinci was full of pride. He hadn’t known Samaj long, but DaVinci had played baseball for one year before coming to the Pinnacles. It was the sport he loved, but he was better at basketball. However, nothing ever stopped him from having what he wanted. Samaj was going to live out the dream, and he couldn’t wait to be a spectator and support system.
The screens switched to Samaj's highlight reel. Diving catches that made you hold your breath. Impossible throws from deep in the hole. Hits that had the whole room shouting at the screens like they were seeing them for the first time.
John-Dale was crying openly now, not even trying to hide it. Lorana stood beside him with her hand on his back, tears streaming down her own face. This moment was years in the making—every Thursday dinner, every game they'd attended, every sacrifice they'd watched Sametra make as a single mother.
The celebration continued to swell.
After a few minutes of pure chaos, Halo felt a gentle kiss on her neck. DaVinci nodded toward the back patio. “Come outside with me for a minute.”
She followed him out, Angel still on her hip, JaVinci in his arms. The night air was calm and quiet compared to the celebration inside. They could still hear the cheering, still see the glow of the screens through the windows, but out here it was just them and the twins.
DaVinci set JaVinci down on a patio chair, the baby immediately trying to climb down. Halo did the same with Angel, who was content to sit still and watch her brother. He extended his arms, and Halo walked into them, wrapping her arms around his waist. For a second, they listened to each other breathe.
“You happy?” DaVinci asked finally.
“Yeah. You?”
“Yeah, overwhelmed. I’m becoming a sap now, shit,” he joked.
He was quiet for a moment, his arms wrapped around her waist, chin resting on top of her head. “Sometimes I just think about how we got here. When I got the call, I was sure I had lost everything, but even in the loss, Ifound you. I think about how you tried to push me away, and I kept showing up anyway. How scared we both were to do this, to build this.” He gestured back toward the restaurant, toward their friends who’d become family. “And now look at us.”
Halo leaned up and kissed his lips softly. “Two kids. A marriage. A growing foundation. A whole life we built together.”
“I hope you never regret letting me in.”
“Never,” she said without hesitation. “Not once. When I grabbed your shirt and told you that you didn't run shit.” She smiled. “I was so mad at you. So annoyed that you were fine and rich and acting like the rules didn't apply to you.”
“I was hard to deal with that day,” he admitted.
“Yeah, but I’m glad that you are stubborn.”
“You’re welcome,” he laughed.
“I didn’t think the man trying to run into that burning house would end up being the man who runs toward everything with me. The hard stuff. The scary stuff. The middle-of-the-night twin meltdowns and the business decisions and the days when I didn't think I could do it.”
His eyes got soft. “Lo...”
“I'm serious. You changed my life, DaVinci. I know my momma sent you to me. You made me believe I could have this. All of it. Love that didn’t leave. A partner who showed up. A family that chose each other every single day.” Her voice cracked. “I spent so long protecting myself from loss that I almost missed out on you.”
He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs brushing away the tears that had started falling. “You didn't miss out, though. You jumped.”
“Because you made it safe to do so.”
