“Nah.” I laughed, pulling her back in. “Get up. Nobody told your pretty ass to have all those pink drinks last night.” I shook my head. I damn near had to carry her ass back to the villa last night after her and Tiana took one too many pink drinks to the head.
After that Truth or Dare mess, Tiana and Harlowe acted a damn fool all night. They danced and drank all night until Duality put us out. I didn’t mind it. Shit, Harlowe passing out as soon as we got back only helped me have more time to preparethe surprise I had for her today. Had she not been in a drunk slumber, I didn’t know how I would have been able to sneak the florist and the chef in here.
“What time is it?” She cracked one eye open, squinting at me.
“Valentine’s o’clock,” I said. “Come on.”
“Hasheem, if this is just you tryna get morning sex, I swear?—”
“If I was trying to fuck, we wouldn’t be leaving this bed. It’s a surprise, but you gotta get up for it.” She sighed dramatically and flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling like she was asking God for strength.
“Not before I brush my teeth and wash my face,” she said. “I refuse to see my surprise with morning breath.”
“Do what you gotta do,” I said, sitting back. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Twenty.”
“Ten,” I countered, and she rolled her eyes as she swung her legs out of bed and shuffled toward the bathroom, grabbing her toiletry bag. The door clicked shut, water came on, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding as I flopped down on the bed. Everything was already ready—flowers, food, pool, the whole nine. I just needed her. I listened to the water, the sound of her moving around in there, and tried not to overthink. This wasn’t just some action shit. Nah. This was me showing Harlowe that we worked. The bathroom door opened behind me.
“Okay. I’m presentable now.” She stepped out of the bathroom looking like she was ready to be eaten up. She had on a red silk robe that exposed her thick ass thighs. Her curls were wild, and on her face, she wore nothing but some lip gloss. I bit my lip and adjusted myself because she was so damn fine. My eyes traveled the length of her, and I had to drag my gaze back up before I started something we didn’t have time to finish.
“Bring yo’ fine ass on.” I peeled myself off the bed and walked up to her. “Turn around.”
“Why?” she asked, brows raising.
“Because I said so. Damn. Stop being difficult for once.”
“Can I just grab my camera real quick?” She tried to step around me, but I blocked her path.
“No cameras today. I want it to be just us today.”
She sucked her teeth, but she didn’t argue. She just turned her back to me as I slid my palms over her eyes and covered them gently.
“Hasheem…”
“Trust me,” I said. “Just walk.”
She hesitated for a minute, and we moved slowly toward the patio door. My chest was against her back, her hands held my wrists, and she fussed the whole damn time.
“I better not trip, Hash.”
“You won’t.”
“If you’re walking me to my death, I’ma haunt you for the rest of your life.”
“Sounds like a good time to me,” I said, smirking as I eased the patio door open with my elbow. The morning breeze greeted us as we stepped outside.
“Alright,” I said, walking her a few more steps, getting her lined up just right. “Ready?”
“No,” she said immediately, and I took my hands away anyway.
“Oh my God.” I stepped to the side so I could see her face. Her eyes were wide, bouncing from the pool covered in red and pink petals spelling outBE MINEto the breakfast and champagne I had set up on the patio table. Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes watered.
“Hasheem,” she whispered. “What is all this?”
“Breakfast,” I said, trying to play it cool even though my heart was thudding. “Valentine’s edition.”
She turned to me slowly, her mouth still wide open. “You did this?”
