“For church? Yes. For me? Not even close.”
She rolled her eyes and disappeared into the dressing room. I leaned back, trying to act normal, already bracing.Stay respectful. Don’t stare too hard. Don’t make her shrink.
When she stepped out, my hand tightened on the nearest chair. The dress hugged her waist and hips, legs on display, everything lined up so right I had to shift my stance before I embarrassed us both.
“What do you think?” she asked teasingly, spinning slowly like she didn’t realize every inch of that dress was making my self-control earn its paycheck.
My eyes stayed on her—steady, respectful, hungry in a way I didn’t try to hide but refused to turn distasteful. Her smile sat on her mouth, pretending to be confident, feigning shyness. The red hugged her the right way, not loud, . . . just undeniable.
Before I could answer, some dude walked past with his boys and did a full double-take. I clocked it instantly, not with panic but principle.
I looked dead at him. “She fine as hell, ain’t she, my G?”
“Hell yeah,” he said automatically, still staring like his brain forgot where his feet were.
“Facts,” I said, voice calm but firm, a quiet boundary laid down. “Don’t stare too hard though. She mine,” I added, calm but clear.
He snapped out of it, saluted, and kept it pushing.
I turned back to her, and my chest tightened because her cheeks had warmed, freckles bright, eyes sparkling like she enjoyed being chosen, . . .even if she wasn’t ready to admit how much.
“I think,” I said lowly, letting my gaze sweep her once and then come back to her face, “I’m going to catch a case behind you in that dress.” She laughed that low, happy sound. It already had me addicted to it. “But yeah,” I added, stepping closer without crowding her, voice dropping just for her. “That is definitely the one.”
She did a proud little dance that made me smile, and something in me softened. I didn’t just want her to look good; I wanted her to feel safe while looking good, her joy covered. She headed back to change, still smiling. I paid before she could argue. Providing wasn’t a flex, just instinct. It wasI got youwithout the speech.
On the way back to the truck, I tested my next move: how to keep her close without rushing her, lead with intention, and still give her room to breathe.
“How you feel about coming by my place to get ready tonight? You can use my bathroom to shower and change. I’ll use the guest bath. We can head out from there,” I suggested, praying she agreed.
I kept my tone light. Inside, I was holding my breath. I didn’t doubt myself, but I respected her. I knew safety wasn’t a word to throw around like confetti. It was something proven with consistency, with restraint, and the way one moved when nobody was watching.
She studied me for a second, searching my face like she was checking for lies.
That pause felt loud. Her eyes weighed my intention, checked my spirit, and I let her—no jokes, no rushing, no talking her into trust. Trust wasn’t something you hustled; it was earned and protected.
“Yeah, . . . that’s fine. I feel safe with you,” she said at last.Safe.Pride and fear hit me together, glad she meant it, terrified to ever give her a reason to take it back.
“Good, baby. That’s the point. You are always safe with me.”
My house was loud with twins. Reagan and Reece were on the couch with snacks, and Nan and Mel were on FaceTime, laughing.
“Hey, Ms. S,” Reagan said, eyes bright.
“Hey, our favorite teacher, new sister! Ms. Grayson brought us home!” Reece beamed.
Seeing Solé in my doorway with my sisters already loving on her hit me deep, my mind flashing to family dinners, school mornings, kitchen laughter, her voice woven into my life. I stayed present, but the feeling sat heavy in my bones.
I kissed both their foreheads. “Y’all good?”
“We’re great. Please enjoy your date,” Reagan said.
“We won’t wait up,” Reece added.
Nan propped the phone up on the table so Mel could see all of us.
“Okay, Ms. Grayson, you see your babies?” Nan asked, tilting the screen toward Reagan and Reece.
“They help you with a couple tutorial sessions, and now they your babies?” I teased Mel, shaking my head.
