“I look forward to it.” Rome’s smile lit the light in the dark tunnel I often found myself headed down.
“Alright, ladies. Love youall. There’s not a lifetime I won’t.”
“Find me first. Leave the others to their madness for a minute,” Range proposed.
“That’s not fair,” Rome murmured, “But I can wait. Hopefully I’ve found the love of my lifetimes and I don’t have to wait alone.”
“Later.”
“Have fun.”
One goodbye after another came as the ladies left the call. I did the same before removing hairpins from the drawer of my vanity. There was a way to merge both styles without sacrificing the beauty of either.
I pulled my hair up as if I were forming a ponytail and placed bobby pins along the area meant for a hair tie or rubber band. My reflection revealed the marrying of the two options. Rome preferred my hair up. Range preferred it down. I couldn’t disappoint either, so I made it work in both of their favors.
There.
Bzt.
Bzt.
My vibrating phone garnered my attention. I gazed at the screen. Pleasantries lulled me. I tapped the name at the very bottom of the blurred image of Jru.
A familiar text thread appeared. The face of a beautiful baby, less than a few weeks old, graced me. My heart sagged from the weight of the adoration I was overcome with.
Mercer, she’s beautiful.
My brother, from another mother and father, had a sure way of gutting me. Seeing him reacclimated with the public and flourishing was music to my existence. While I loved Malachi, Milo, and Makai, it was Mercer who held the most special place in my heart.
I could hardly think of Malachi without being overcome with emotions. My eyes welled as his face roamed in my head. I shook away the tears that surfaced.
Maylei.Another text came through.
A smile tore through my face. She was the perfect balance between Mercer and Vallei.
Kiss her cheeks for me. Stay well. I love you… in every lifetime.
I shut down the screen, certain there wouldn’t be a response. All that Mercer had to say had been said. He’d given me his quarterly life update through an image. It was fitting for him, and I looked forward to more updates. They always warmed me to the core.
Vallei had our daughter.
Her name is Maylei.
She’s precious.
I’m in love.
We’re all well.
His message was clear. I could only hope my joy was evident.
“Baby, I need your love. I need your love–” I sang along to Tink as I shifted gears.
Clarke’s skyline followed me like a narcissistic ex who couldn’t fathom the fact I’d moved on with my mind, body, and soul intact. As if I wasn’t supposed to. Not without him, at least.
“We’ve been fighting the urge. Holding it in–”
My head swayed in the wind. I silently thanked everyone who suggested pulling my hair up. The ponytail was serving its purpose. The few pieces hanging fought the wind until I slowed down to a creep at the red light. The roof of the Lamborghini was missing. So was my filter tonight.
