Emani laughed and looked around at everyone. “Jahlil, what are you doing?”
He offered her a slacked grin. “It was our second Christmas and I remember you and Andrew asleep on that orange couch and I was just staring at you, wishing I had enough money to buy a ring and ask you right then to be mine. I was in awe of you. I mean I was in awe of you the minute I met you but over the first year that grew. I’ve been feeling like that since homecoming. You’ve woken up parts of me I swore were dead. I knew I was just going to raise these kids, play ball, and die. Then the images of you on the couch came back and I woke up.
“I speak for everyone in this room but really for myself when I say, we can’t live without you. I can’t live without you. I tried. I hated every second of it. Emani Rose Lame Ass Last Name, you keep me intact, you remind me every day how beautiful it is to be in and have love. You don’t just love me good, you love my kids good. You make everywhere you are feel like home. I never want to lose that again.”
By the time Jahlil got on his knee, Emani’s face was wet with tears. “Jah…”
“Emani Rose, you mind dropping Wheaton and picking up Savage?” Jahlil asked, opening the box he’d been carrying around since his first away game.
She swayed her head and sniffled. “I don’t mind.”
“You mind being my wife?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Tell me yes,” he urged. “Will you marry me?”
“Us. Will you marry us?” Sanaa and Andrew asked on cue. They’d practiced this.
“Yes,” Emani croaked, dropping to her knees to accept her ring and hug and kiss Jahlil. “Forever and ever and ever yes!”
“Yesss!” Derrick cheered. “That’s how you take the baddest bitch out the game.”
“I love you,” Jahlil muttered, holding her.
“I love you.”
Breakfast was enjoyed, the prepped dinner the women worked on the day before was coming out of the fridge to be cooked. Presents had been opened and gifts amongst the adults had been exchanged and now Jahlil was walking toward the pool house, hand in hand with Emani.
“I cannot wait to drive you down the coast in that car,” he rumbled in reference to the Fox body fully restored Mustang.
“I can’t wait to flash my ring at every car we pass,” Emani said, holding her hand out for the hundredth time since he’d adorned her finger. “You did so good.”
Jahlil opened the door and grinned. “Does this beat the ring?”
Emani walked in behind him, finding a fully operable recording studio. “No, but it’s a close second!”
She ran around the space before running back towards him and jumping on him. “Lock the door.”
Jahlil laughed. “Aunt Vi said-”
“Lock the door, Savage.”
Holding her, he reached behind him and locked the door. Emani wiggled down his body, pulling his pants off in the process. His dick sprung to attention and she kissed the tip, making him rumble.
“Merry Christmas.”
EPILOGUE
New Years Eve
Emani’s melodic voice flowed through the club and she watched as the partygoers vibed to the music. If this was any indication of how her album was going to do, she felt confident that the album was going to be a hit. Jahlil held her close as she rocked her hips to the final song, Affirm Me.
He’d heard it a hundred times already and it still was his favorite.
“Don’t gotta tell me I’m pretty. I know it. Don’t gotta tell me I’m brilliant. I know it. Don’t gotta give me shiny things. I got my own. Affirm me make it sexy. Tell me there ain’t another like me . Call me big E. Affirm me put that pressure on me baby. Keep that energy when you affirmin’ me. Affirmin’ me.”
“Emani Rose,” was trilled from the entrance of the VIP area.
