I stepped closer again, softer this time, my fingers brushing along his face.
“You always say that,” I muttered. “That doesn’t mean you’re good. You hurt anywhere else?”
“Daddy!”
Lil Zay’s voice cut in, small and excited.
Zay’s whole expression changed softly. He crouched down, pulling our son into him with one arm.
“What’s up, man?” he said, smiling.
Lil Zay wrapped around him like he’d been waiting all day for that moment.
I stood there watching them.
And everything in me settled a little.
Zay stood back up slowly, setting Lil Zay down but keeping him close for a second before his attention came back to me.
Different now.
Focused.
“Come here.”
I stepped toward him, watching his face.
He took my hand.
Guided me further out onto the balcony.
The sun was starting to drop, casting everything in that soft gold light that made France look unreal.
“What’s going on?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t answer right away.
Just looked at me.
Like he was really taking me in.
“I’ve been doing a lot,” he said finally. “Fixing shit. Taking control of things that I should’ve had taken over years ago.”
I understood what he wasn’t saying.
“I fought for my name,” he continued.
His grip tightened just a little.
“And now… I can finally give it to you.”
He reached for my hand again.
Slower this time.
Intentional.
He slid my engagement ring off.
