“You good?” I questioned, even though I had a feeling I knew the answer.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t even know how to feel right now, if I’m being honest. It’s like déjà vu, but this time, it’s like,surprise, you’re the crazy muthafucka everyone is afraid of and giving the side eye too.” His words made me flinch. He abruptly stopped walking, making Leigh and me stop as well. “Promise me you will look after my baby girl, Symphony. She is my world, and I need to know she’s going to be good while I’m getting myself together. I have been all she’s had her whole life.” He’d shared with me the story of how her mother died during childbirth, and he was left to pick up the pieces with a wailing baby.
I was nodding before he could finish getting all his words out. “I promise, baby girl is going to be taken care of. I will bring her to visit you too. You mean just as much to her.”
Valleigh spoke up to settle his nerves a little more. “She will have me too,” she assured him. “I promise.”
His eyes bounced between the two of us before he sighed. “I’m grateful you found us when you did, bro. I don’t know what this whole process would look like without you here. Only God knows where my baby could’ve ended up.”
His words made my mouth dry, so I kept quiet. As if she knew I needed it, Leigh squeezed my hand for support. “I’m thankful too, bro. I got both of y’all for life.” I placed my free hand over my heart for emphasis.
He smiled. “Never thought I’d see the day I need my baby brother to save me from my own mind.” He shook his head, allowing it to drop into his hand. “Alright, let’s get it over with.”
I glanced down at Leigh, and she nodded, encouraging me to keep moving. We made our way to the front desk, and the check-in process began. There was a lot of paperwork. I almost lost it when they came to take him away. My breathing was ragged, and I was having hot flashes. I was sure everyone could see the sweat spots around my neckline and armpits, but I couldn’t care. A nigga felt like he was drowning. I had to get out of there.
The sound of the car door slamming shut was the beginning of a deafening silence. My labored breaths increased, and Leigh palming my face was the only thing that snapped me back to reality. “Hey, hey. Breathe, baby. Everything is okay.”
“I hate leaving him in there,” I admitted. “I just found him, and now he’s gone again.” My voice cracked, and before I knew it, the tears were flowing. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting Leigh to see me lose my battle with strength. I felt so weak, like the walls were closing in on me.
“It’s not for forever, Sym. Just for now, until he can get into a healthy routine and is able to function on his own again. Okay . . . It’s not your fault.”
“It might not be my fault, but I’m probably going to be next. This is a curse in my bloodline. We all lose it.” I found the courage to open my eyes again. She was still there, looking like I could trust her with the darkness inside me. “I’m a ticking time bomb, Valleigh,” I whispered with a voice heavily loaded with fear and uncertainty.
She shook her head. “No, you’re not. Don’t speak that over yourself. People beat curses in their bloodlines every day. You are going to be fine. Look at your life, baby. You’ve already accomplished so much. You are strong enough to handle whatever tries to come at you. I know you are.”
I released a shaky breath and dropped my chin to my chest. She began to wipe away my tears and kiss all over my face. I allowed my eyes to drift closed as her honey scent invaded all my senses. Only then could I stabilize my breathing and clear some of the fog from my mind.
“Sometimes, it feels like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.”
She nodded while gently caressing my cheek. “I understand, but it’s time to put some of that weight down. You don’t have to go through this alone. I am here for you, Sym—in whatever capacity you need me to be. You can even put some of that weight on me.”
I slowly returned my attention to her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to overwhelm you or ask too much of you.”
She offered me her dazzling smile. Her head tilted to the side as she stared at me like I held her heart in my hands. “I can’t lie. I was not expecting you to come back into my life, but if I’m honest, I’m in love with you, Symphony. I’m not even sure I ever stopped loving you.”
Hearing her say that made me smile. “I never stopped loving you either,” I admitted breathlessly. I snatched her to me by the back of her neck. Our energy clashed together like thunder, and I sank deeper into the safety of her essence. When we released each other, we both wore goofy expressions while gasping for air. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Valleigh. I got you too. I promise.”
She nodded with a grin. “I believe you. You’re the Alpha.”
Hearing her say that made me laugh for the first time in the last twenty-four hours. Everything wasn’t perfect, but the timing of it was. I could only be thankful I wouldn’t have to go into the next chapter alone. I decided it was time to show Valleigh that I was serious about her. I wanted her in my life for the rest of it.
11
VALLEIGH
After locking up my house, I raced toward Sym’s purring Benz. He was leaning against the passenger side, waiting for me with the door open. I puckered my lips for a kiss before I even made it to him. After a quick smooch, I settled in my seat while he closed me in. Iylah squealed from the backseat when she saw me.
“Hey, Doodle Bop!” I greeted her cheerily.
“Hey, Ms. A!” she replied with just as much excitement.
Sym climbed in the driver’s seat, and then we were off to the park. We held hands on the drive over to the park at Lake Whisper. Since Rhap’s admission into the facility, Sym and I were going out of our way to make sure Iylah was adjusting well to life without her father’s presence. There were highs and lows. Sometimes, she’d burst into tears at random, and other times, she was perfectly fine. We rode the wave of her emotions, managing to keep her spirits high for the majority of the time. My heart ached for her because she was missing Rhapsody something serious.
I was proud of Sym for the way he stepped in as her guardian. He was granted temporary custody pretty easily. He wasn’t on tour or fulfilling any obligations for his label, so he not only hadmoney, but he also had the time to tend to Iylah. Who would’ve thought the most-known Playboy in the industry could settle into a simple life in Solaire?
I slowly turned to glance at him. He looked so relaxed while maneuvering us in and out of traffic safely. I smiled because he made me feel so at peace. And he was such a baby. Not a day went by that this man didn’t need cuddles. I loved that about him . . . Even though it contradicted every lyric to every song I’d ever heard him sing.
He had the toxic, lover boy theme down pact, but there was a softness to him, and if I were honest, he wasn’t nearly as toxic as he portrayed. According to him, it required more energy to be that way than to just lean into who he naturally was. There wasn’t much I could say, because I was reaping the benefits of the lover boy.
