“Both?” he repeated, that deep laugh rumbling in his chest as he stood up and walked over to me. “So, you just out here buyin’ buildings now?”
I laughed nervously, biting my lip. “Don’t start. I just couldn’t walk away from either one. The deal was too good, and the space, it felt right.”
Seth slid a hand to my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies touched. “You sound like a boss to me,” he said quietly, eyes locking with mine.
“But I used your money,” I whispered, voice soft.
He tilted his head, lips brushing my temple. “You used our money, Stormi. Everything I got, you got. You forgot?”
“I just—” I paused, my throat tightening a little. “It still feels crazy sometimes, Seth. Having the kind of freedom I used to pray for. Spending money like this without worrying if I’m gon’ make rent next month.”
He took my chin gently in his hand, making me look at him. “You earned every bit of this peace, baby. You don’t owe nobody an apology for living in it.”
That did it. My eyes stung. “You always know what to say.”
He smiled, leaning closer until our noses touched. “Nah, I just know you. You always think you gotta ask for permission to take up space. You don’t. You lived in the storm. You survived it. Now you get to shine.”
I exhaled, leaning into his chest as his arms wrapped around me. His heartbeat was steady, it grounding me.
“So,” he murmured against my hair, “you got yourself a recovery home?”
“Two,” I said, smiling into his hoodie. “And RJ and Ari coming back home in two months. They said they’ll work with me.”
Seth chuckled, that proud, quiet kind of laugh. “Look at you building an empire while I’m just tryna keep the boys from climbing the counters.”
I laughed through the tears that were starting to fall. “We make a good team though.”
He kissed the side of my neck, slow and soft. “The best team.”
And standing there in his arms, surrounded by the peace we fought for, I realized something. This wasn’t just a win for me. It was a win for us.
Chapter
Seventeen
SETH
Me and my boys looked sharp as hell today, clean enough to stop traffic. All white suits like we were stepping out a music video instead of heading to Shiloh’s christening. I tugged at my jacket, then straightened S3’s lapels in the mirror. Kid looked like a mini me, just with way more energy.
“Aight, hold still,” I muttered, spraying both of us down with that Millions cologne Stormi copped me a few weeks back.
We checked ourselves one last time before heading out the room.
“Shiloh,” I sighed, snagging my youngest before he went headfirst off the bed jit acted like he had nine lives in his back pocket. “You wanna be a little daredevil so bad, huh? If you fall, what I’m supposed to tell your mama?”
S3 snickered, grabbing my hand as we walked out. “Mama Stormi was gon’ kill you,” he laughed, letting go and bolting down the stairs like he wasn’t just clownin’ me.
“Kill me? Man, that’s her son always tryna test gravity,” I muttered under my breath.
We hit the bottom step and the whole family was already posted, looking like they belonged in some luxury ad. Meanwhile, my wife… my beautiful, bossy Stormi was directing the photographer like she owned his studio.
“No, no, Serena on that side. Noah move in. Jo scoot over.” She ain’t even look up just snatched Shiloh from my arms, slid him into the pose with everybody, and smiled like she ain’t been yelling instructions thirty seconds ago.
Shiloh lasted all of two seconds with his grandma before he saw Stormi’s face and melted down, arms reaching like he’d rather pass out than be anywhere but on her hip. Mama’s boy to the core.
“Alright, parents next, then parents with the kids,” the photographer called.
We lined up me with my arm around Stormi’s waist pulling her close, S3 cheesing beside me, Shiloh drooling on her shoulder but smiling anyway. Perfect chaos, our kind of picture. We did every combo; boys and me, Stormi and the boys, me and Stormi then all of us together. By the last shot, the boys were over it. S3 just walked out mid pose, and I followed behind with Shiloh, because honestly, I felt the same way my sons did.
