“I’m not doing this,” I told him as I pulled up to Sincere’s building. “I’m getting off the phone.”
“Don’t hang up on me,” he warned.
“I’m hanging up!” I spat. “Bye, Kodi.”
“Fuck you, Rhyth—”
I ended the call, tossed my phone into the passenger seat, and sat there for a second, getting myself together. It was Valentine’s Day, and I wasn’t taking that attitude inside Sincere’s condo with me.
It sounded cliché, but every day felt like Valentine’s Day with Sincere. After the week I’d had, I didn’t have the energy to do too much tonight.
Kodi had been punishing me for leaving him by not being active with the kids on the days he knew I needed him most. And tomorrow I was one of the artists for Aria’s event at Voss, Black Love Gallery After Dark. It was going to be an after-hours gallery night with candlelight, R&B, and statement art. So, I told Sincere I wanted tonight to be low-key.
I walked into the lobby and spoke to the person at the reception desk. They already knew me at this point.
The receptionist let me up, and I got on the elevator. When the doors opened, I walked down to Sincere’s condo, checking my reflection in the dark glass of the mirror on the wall.
When Sincere knew I was on my way, he left his door unlocked. So, I was able to walk right in.
Then I stopped.
Rose petals were scattered across the floor, leading from the entry deeper into the living room. Red balloons floated above the furniture in clusters, and heart-shaped balloons were mixed in, hanging close to the ceiling. Candles were lit on the coffee table and along the console, and on the wall, in gold balloon letters big enough to read from the doorway were the words:WILL YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND?
My mouth fell open. I turned my head slowly, taking it all in. It was excessive in the best way.
Sincere stood in the middle of the living room holding a huge bouquet of red roses shaped into a perfect dome. A ribbon stretched across the roses with the same words printed on it. He looked good too, with a fresh haircut and his beard lined up perfectly. His stare drove so deep into me, with a look that made me feel like he was already inside of me. Behind him, I could see movement in the open-concept kitchen. A chef was in there cooking, and a delicious smell was already filling the condo.
I blinked at Sincere as I slowly left the doorway. “Sincere,” I said, then giggled. “I told you I wanted low-key.”
He lifted the bouquet slightly. “Thisislow-key for me.”
I rolled my eyes, still giggling and blushing. “I’m already your girlfriend. Why did you do all this?”
He walked toward me with his eyes locked on mine. “Because you told me to ask you properly.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. This man’s efforts always got me.
“And I wanted to do it on Valentine’s Day,” he continued. “So, this day can be our anniversary.”
“That is so corny,” I laughed. “And it’s cute. It’s corny, but it’s cute.”
He held the roses out to me. “So, what’s up, Rhythm? You have to answer the question.”
I took them and looked up at him again. “Yes. Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”
“Good.” His hand settled on my waist, and he kissed me slow and sure.
I pulled back from his kiss with the roses still in my arms, and my eyes took him in like I needed to make sure he was real.
“Sincere…” I shook my head, smiling even as my throat started to tighten. “Thank you.”
He waved it off immediately. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“Ido,” I insisted. “I’m serious.” I stepped closer and pressed my hand to his shirt, right over his heart, because I needed him to feel what I was saying. “Thank you for everything you’ve been doing for me since we met. You’ve been making me feel seen and so loved.”
He tried to brush it away again, but I kept going. “You’ve been making me feel like I matter, like I’m not just somebody trying to survive and hold things together. You make me feel like a woman.”
Sincere let out a low breath and turned his head like he was fighting a smile. “Rhythm…”
