I have been in the shadows for most of my life. I’ve written for some of the biggest outlets today. I’ve launched multiple faceless brands and grown the social media accounts to well over a million followers. I’m sure if you pulled out your phone and scrolled through your social media, you would find a page that is run by me. I am the face behind so many of the things you love, but tonight, I wanted to come from behind the veil.
I wanted to show you guys pieces of me and the best thing I’ve ever created this magazine. It means so much to me that you would take the time out of your lives to be here. I know we are all busy. I know the country is in shambles, so the fact that you are here with me tonight means more than you will ever know.”
I paused and scanned the room. I was looking for the only face I was craving to see. The only face that mattered, but he wasn’t here.
“The name of my magazine isK+K Mag. The K inK+K Maghas a double meaning. Of course, my name is Karina, so that’s the first K. The second is Kareem. I want to give Kareem his flowers. He has been in my life one way or another for as long as I can remember. Anytime I needed him, he’s shown up. One of the most vulnerable times in my life, when I thought I was alone, he was there, and every time I think about something good that has happened to me, he is always somewhere in the background. You may know his company, K&K Solutions, which he named after me, and I appreciated that. I went years without knowing that fact, and when he revealed it to me, it made sense to honor him the same way. We are two peas in a pod, and I want our companies to reflect that.”
Just as I was getting ready to wrap up my origin story, I saw Kareem walk out from the shadows. He was dressed in a black-on-black suit, looking fine as usual. A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
Kareem’s presence distracted me so much that my words got caught in the back of my throat. I completely forgot what I was going to say next. I didn’t have to flap in the wind for long as Rayla came out on stage and slid the mic out of my hand and into her own.
“Can we give it up for that speech?” Rayla took the attention away from my choking easily. “Again, thank you for being here, and enjoy yourself tonight. The drinks and food are free, so eat up, drink up, and have a good time.”
“Go get your man,” Rayla whispered just loud enough for my ears only.
I smiled and pulled my friend into a tight hug. I was sure to tell her how much I loved her again before I let her go.
I exited the stage where Kareem was already waiting with his hand out. I placed mine in his and followed him out of eyesight. I was done running from this man. Now, I was prepared to follow wherever he wanted to lead me.
As soon as we were out of eyesight, Kareem pushed me against the nearest wall and took my lips into his. I fell into the kiss as if it were home. I hadn’t realized how much I missed his lips until they collided against mine.
“I’m sorry.”
I apologized as soon as Kareem let me up for air. Not because I thought that would be the first thing he wanted to hear, but because I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I didn’t just owe Kareem an apology or leave New York without at least saying goodbye.
I owed him years’ worth of apologies and gratitude that I’d withheld for reasons that only made sense to me. He deserved hundreds of kisses that had been lost in time. I planned to give him every last one of them.
“I miss yo’ ass so much,” was the only thing Kareem said in response.
It was, in true Reem fashion, to never even harp on what I’d done but only focus on us being together. That was the only thing that mattered to him in the end.
“I missed you too.”
“Can you stop running from me now? Please, Karina?”
“Pinky promise.” I held out my pinky to Kareem, and he grabbed it. “You want to get out of here?”
“You trying to leave your own party?”
“Yeah, I got what I came for… to announce the magazine and see my man.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Good, because I like saying it.”
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Kareem
Ifinally had Karina all to myself, and just riding in a truck with her, sliding down the Vegas streets, brought me peace. It felt like I had finally ended up in the place I was supposed to be. I had traveled so much over the last few weeks that I honestly didn’t know where home was.
When I was with Karina, it felt like home was more of a person than a place. It had nothing to do with where my clothes were, where I had bought furniture, or where I laid my head at night. It was what I felt when I was with her. It was how close I felt, even as she was sitting on the other side of my truck.
“So, where do you want to go since you ditched your own party?”
One of Karina’s curls had fallen in her face. I reached over and tucked it behind her ear. Even her ear was gorgeous. It wasn’t a piece of this woman’s body that I didn’t want to completely devour.
