“Yeah. Stupid kid shit but it worked. After that, we did it just for fun. I would spend a week with her foster family and she would be with mine. We were at different schools, so it was exciting, especially because no one could tell us apart. We never got caught. Not once. So we vowed to always be the same person. It sounds crazy but made perfect sense to us. Can you imagine finding out you have an identical twin at fifteen?” she asks, not expecting or waiting for an answer.
“We did it so much we perfected it. Then it extended into adulthood and we didn’t stop until I got trapped with Marcelin. But now, I’m free and she expects things to go back like they were. She wanted me to switch again so she can experience you and the way you love me but I told her no. Hell no, actually. No one will ever experience this. You are only for me.”
“Only for you and I don’t want anybody else but you,” he says before kissing the top of her head.
“Marcelin really?—”
“Ay. You never need to say that nigga’s name again. He’s gone and so are Ano, D-Low, and Preach,” he says and she lifts her head.
“You sh—” she begins but he nods and places two fingers over her soft lips.
“They’re gone, bae, and you never need to mention them, that house in Miami, or that fucking club again.”
“You really do love me.”
“With everything, bae.”
She inches up to his lips and kisses him with all the love, appreciation, and passion she has then relaxes on his chest, in his arms. Never has she felt this protected and never has she experienced a love like his. Wrapped up in him, she tells him about the money and Aunt Pri.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
“I knowyou not about to cry,” Akeem teases as he stares at the reflection of himself and Sunjiya in their bathroom mirror. She’s massaging her face moisturizer into her skin, and as always, his arms are wrapped around her.
“I just didn’t think you were taking any more jobs this year. You said you only do two a year,” she says with a pout.
“Two or three,” he corrects her. “I’m trying to pay for a wedding.”
“You know I don’t want a lot. That’s your momma. Me, you, Darisha, and your family on a beach somewhere. That’s all I need.”
“Our family,” he corrects her. “And destination weddings aren’t cheap.” She sucks her teeth.
“Well, can you find and kill whoever fast?”
Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Bae, that’s fucked up and you sound serious too.”
“’Cause I am. You’re going to Dominica. I’ve always wanted to go there. You know it’s on my list of possible destinations.”
“Then come. I’ll stay and we can make a vacation of it. We need one.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, you’ll come?”
“Hell yes. I can look for flights after class on Thursday.”
After peppering kisses on the side of her neck, he says, “Do that and we can stay until Monday.”
“Can I know what hotel you’re staying in?” she asks. Details about his jobs are always kept from her for her protection.
“I’ll text you the info when I get there, but don’t worry, I’ll upgrade my room for our stay. I can handle that, Miss Melanin Voyages.”
“You need to get used to saying Mrs. Akeem Simmons. As soon as we pick the location, we’re getting married.”
“Okay, Mrs. Simmons,’ he says with a smile.
It’s been a month since he spent the night learning every detail about her past. The conversation was informative; hard to hear at times but they made it through it. It was their first step in rebuilding their foundation of trust. Because their love is all affirming and strong, it’s been easy to rebuild the trust.
