“I miss you.”
My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through everything.
The table went quiet so fast it was damn near disrespectful.
Renza froze with his drink halfway to his mouth and muttered, “Aw shit,” under his breath like he already knew this was about to go left or real right.
Toni swallowed hard and looked around first like she couldn’t believe I said that shit out loud in front of everybody, then her eyes came back to me, wide and glossy and conflicted all at once.
She opened her mouth to speak, probably to stop me, probably to tell me not here, but I cut that shit off before it could land.
“I love you.”
Her chest started risin’ and fallin’ faster, and I saw that flicker in her eyes that always told me she was fightin’ herself. I ain’t give her time to think past it.
I stood up and walked around the table, stopped right in front of her, and pulled her chair back just enough before liftin’ her straight up into my arms.
I heard gasps, laughin’ and Pluto coverin’ her face.
“Oh Lord,” she said, already knowin’ how this was finna go.
Pressure and Renza busted out laughin’ at the same damn time.
“About fuckin’ time,” Renza said, shakin’ his head.
I ain’t look at nobody else.
“Stop actin’ like you don’t give a fuck,” I said low to Toni, my voice meant for her and her alone.
She ain’t argue or fight it. Her arms slid around my neck and tightened like she had been waitin’ on this exact moment to let go. She laid her head against my chest, and I felt that sigh leave her body like she finally exhaled after holdin’ her breath for days.
I carried her off the patio, past the laughter and the noise, and into the quiet of the house where it was just us again. As we moved down the hall, her grip tightened, her cheek pressed into me, and I knew right then that no matter how fucked up we had gotten, this bond wasn’t gone.
It was just bruised.
And I was about to remind my wife exactly how much she was missed.
Trill-Land, Jungle Estate
When I made it to the room, I walked in the bathroom still holdin’ Toni close, my hand firm on her lower back.
I reached over and turned the shower on, the sound of the water hittin’ the tile fillin’ up the space while everything else went quiet between us.
I ain’t rush her. I just stood there with her, breathin’ her in, lettin’ my hands move slow as I undressed her like I had all the time in the world. Her skin was warm and soft under my palms, and every time my fingers brushed over her, I felt that familiar pull in my chest that let me know I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
She looked up at me while I stepped outta my shorts, her eyes lingerin’ for half a second longer than she probably wanted to, and that alone had my jaw tight. I met her gaze, reached for herhand, and kissed the back of it, lettin’ her know I was here and I wasn’t goin’ nowhere.
We stepped into the shower together, the hot water hittin’ my shoulders first, then hers, steam risin’ around us while I washed the chlorine off my skin and then washed her body. I took my time with her, my hands glidin’ over her arms, her back and her waist, like I was relearning her all over again. I ain’t say shit, ‘cause I ain’t need to. It was obvious as hell that I missed her in a way that sat deep and heavy, and touchin’ her like this felt like comin’ home.
When we finally stepped out the shower, neither one of us bothered dryin’ off. Water dripped from our skin onto the floor as I took her hand and led her to the bed, my grip gentle but sure. I had her lay back, then I hovered over her, lookin’ down at her.
I leaned in and kissed her slow and deep, stayin’ right here with her, my forehead pressin’ against hers while I looked in her eyes.
“You so fuckin’ beautiful,” I whispered, low and honest, before kissin’ her again.
My mouth moved to her neck, and I took my time there, kissin’ her skin, draggin’ my lips slow, then lettin’ my tongue trace up the side of her throat. I sucked gentle at first, then a lil’ deeper, lickin’ up her neck in long, unhurried strokes, feelin’ her body react under me.
She shivered’, and that shit went straight through me.
