Juelz began walking over to her, looking back at the porch as Kane playedGregory Abbott, Shake You Down,and Mar grabbed the mic, singing.
“Ohh, I been missing you
And the way you make me feel inside”
Kane snatched the mic, adding,“What can I do?”
Mar took the mic back and sang, “I can tell you’ve got your pride now, baby.”
Juelz smiled to himself. His niggas played way too damn much when it came to Tasha. He got closer to Tasha and stopped right in front of her. “Whaddup, Stank?”
She immediately rolled her eyes, hating where her mind was trying to go. He was standing there looking better than she’d seen him in a long time. No more dreads. Just a simple but well-fitted button-down, jeans shorts, and that same confidence he always wore. And smelling even better. He held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a large gift bag in the other.
Tasha’s breath caught in her throat. One of her family members walked up saying, “damn if she don’t take your ass back, I will.”Her mouth was tightly pursed. “Hm,andhe smells good too, what’s that you wearing?”
Tasha intervened, shooting her cousin a look. “Some shit you can’t afford.” Her cousin's brows drew together, and Tasha rolled her eyes. “Juelz… whatchu doin’ here? I swear this must be fuck with Tasha day.”
He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I came to drop ya gift off, Tash. Also, to congratulate you on ya remission.”He gave a half-smile. “I heard a li’l birdie say you was havin’ a party and decided to stop by.”
Tasha's nostrils flared as she searched the crowd. “Lil’ birdy my ass, Juelz. Them niggas over there told you that.”
Juelz turned back to her, holding out the flowers and the gift bag. “I got these for you. Just take it, please.”
Tasha felt a rush of emotions shooting through her. Joy. Butterflies. Palpitations. She missed him so much, but she knew trusting him again wouldn’t come easy. Fuck no!
Tasha took the flowers and her gift; her hands were trembling slightly. She searched through the bag, finding a new Birkin bag, a Boox Palma 2 Pro in color, a diamond tennis bracelet, and a hallmark card. “Thank you, Jue.”
He smiled, a slow, tentative smile that made her heart skip a beat. “Can we go talk for a sec?”
She agreed as she led the way to a bench in the backyard. He guided her down to the bench, as if she were still fragile, while he sat facing her. “I know I fucked up. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry, Tasha, girl. I been workin’ on myself for the past months and I’m sober now. I just want another chance to make things right between us.”
Tasha looked into his eyes, searching for the truth. She saw sincerity there, and something else. She saw love. Love that she hadn’t seen in so long. Kenji was nice, but he wasn’t her Jue. What she and Juelz had was more than special. It was one of a kind.
“Ion know, Juelz,” she said softly. “I miss you so much, but I dunno if I can trust you again.”
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Aye! I get it, I fucked up your trust, but I’ll spend the rest of my life tryna earn that shit back. I mean, I’m down to do whateva I gotta do, Tash.” He licked his lips as she was getting teary-eyed. “Do me this solid, okay? Go on one date with me. Just one, lemme show you how serious I am.”
Tasha hesitated, her heart racing. She looked into his eyes, seeing the man she fell in love with, the man she still loved despite everything. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, Juelz. One date. But that’s all I’m promisin’.”
Juelz’s face lit up with a smile that made her heart soar. “That’s all I’m asking for. ‘Preciate ya for talkin’ with me. Can a nigga get a hug now?”
Tasha rolled her eyes, looking out in the distance, shaking her head. “C’mon, Juelz. And don’t try nothin’.”
Everyone was watching this moment between them go down, but they didn’t even realize it until they got done hugging and turned to face the crowd. Mar, Kane, Tiffany, and her kids, along with Sintonio, hugging Niyah from behind, all yelled loudly.Don’t fuck it up this time.Juelz released her and began to walk away. He started hitting the old school mashed potatoe dance as he got closer to the guys.
Sintonio laughed. “This nigga crazy as hell.”
“Hit that shit, Jue,” Mar added, egging him on. He would encourage him if nobody else did. He loved to cut a fool with Juelz, especially when he was dancing.
Once Juelz stopped dancing, he dapped them up with the biggest smile on his face. Kane slapped the back of his head. “Look like you might got another shot, my nigga.”
Juelz looked out at Tasha, standing in the middle of the yard with Niyah now as they went through her gift bags. “Yeah, I guess so.”
The following Friday,the private jet rose smoothly into the night sky, with the bright city lights of Detroit fading below. Juelz sat across from Tasha, as happiness danced through his heart.
He’d rented the jet for the special evening, wanting to give her a night she’d never forget. A night that would show her just how much he’d changed, and how much he still loved her. The jet carried them two hours away from Detroit to a small, intimate restaurant nestled in a picturesque valley.
As they settled into their seats, Juelz poured her a glass of champagne and then himself some sparkling apple cider. Tasha took hers with a small smile, her eyes meeting his over the rim of their glasses. Tasha looked out the window, her reflection inthe glass showing a mix of emotions playing across her face. Juelz reached out, gently taking her hand in his. She turned to look at him, her eyes studying his. “Where we goin’?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she tilted her head.
