I see a future.
I see Lot. The love of my life. My wife-to-be.
And I’m ready to claim it all.
“This is the one,” I say when the clerk drifts back into earshot.
“Perfect.” She smiles like she knows she’s witnessed more than a sale. When she hands me the velvet box, it feels final. And right.
I grin at C. “Better start working on your best man speech.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Lot
The whole damn thing.
Ilean into the bathroom mirror, smoothing my edges around my face. Hair styled in two space buns sitting high and tucked tight, a couple locs left wilding out. Big hoops glint at my ears. Black ribbed dress is snug enough to lift Maurice’s eyebrows, but not short enough to give him cardiac arrest. Balance and effort. I’m respecting him without changing myself.
This dinner was Mom’s idea. She swears it’s just a casual meal as if I don’t know she’s staging a whole to-do like a couple’s coming-out party now that Dice and I are officially together.
Behind me, his reflection steals my attention. Beard glistening, broad shoulders filling up the frame. His dark sweater stretches over his chest, zipper teasing low enough to show his silver chain and for the eagle tattoo to peek out.
“You look good, Jones. Makes me want to tear your clothes off and lickyou all over.”
His gaze drops from my face to the contoured dress, lingering at my legs in sheer tights and chunky sole combat boots, before sliding back up. “Not tryna to walk into your parents’ house with a hard-on.”
“That would make quite the impression.”
He grins, but it’s one of those tight ones. I feel his nerves like static in the air. Dice could step into a packed club, crowd screaming his name, bass rattling the walls, and not blink. But dinner with my family’s got him sweating like he’s about to take the SATs.
“I know it’s a lot,” I say. “Never brought a man home before. So, tonight’s probably gonna be extra. Mom. Maurice. Rayne, Uncle Mo. You’re getting the entire clan. Plus, my mom’s roast that’s only for special occasions. Bet she’s pulling out the fine china, too.”
“It’s all good, Web. Just wanna make sure I come correct with you proud to claim me.”
His words squeeze my chest. He’s been through it these past couple weeks—unraveling messy family knots, facing his past. Making moves to uproot his whole life to be with me in New York. That’s huge. That’s commitment. He has nothing to prove to anybody.
“I’m proud to enter any room with you, Jones,” I tell him, letting it settle over us like a promise. “If Maurice even looks at you sideways, I’ll be snatching off these hoops.”
“Okay, Laila Ali.” He laughs. “But nobody’s gonna be fighting.” His arms slip around my waist, pulling me into his chest as he smiles at our reflection. “First off, you and your dad are in a good place, so let’s keep it that way. And second, Maurice and I have reached an understanding.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Friendly truce?”
“Friendly might be a stretch. More like mutual tolerance.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” I frown.
“From where we were, that’s a win. So how about you stop stressing and just enjoy the night with your family… and your man. Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
He places a kiss on my neck, sliding his lips up to that sensitive spot behind my ear.
“We got time for a quickie,” I say, already moaning.
He nips my earlobe. “Save it for me.”
“Fine.” I turn into his arms, loving this man like crazy. “Let’s do this. But if my mom starts asking about baby names, we peacing out.”
