We spoke for a few more moments, and the energy was nothing like I expected it to be. My grandmother would have been all up in our business, asking questions she knew she didn’t want the answers to. However, Crue and Kadeem’s parents seemed to be accepting upfront. It was like they saw their sonswere happy, and that was all they cared about. A server walked over with a tray full of champagne, and we all took a flute.
We sipped and talked until dinner was served. After we ate, Cynthia opened her gifts, and once she was done, Crue and Kadeem let me know that they had a surprise for me. I looked around for Nazuri, wanting to make sure she would be good while I stepped away for a moment. However, when I looked and saw she was talking to Crue’s brother, Dez, I knew she was good. I followed them into the sliding glass door and to the living room that sat in the back of the house. I took my seat, and they each sat down on opposite sides of me.
“So, what’s so important that y’all had to pull me away from the party?”
“What do you think about the house?” Crue asked, looking into my eyes.
“The house? Oh, this is beautiful. I love it. And the party is beautiful as well. Whoever decorated did a wonderful job.”
“Thank you. And I’m glad you like the house because it’s yours.”
My eyes grew wide as I looked at Crue, trying to make sure that I’d heard him right. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“He means this is your home now. We bought it for you. Well, for us to all live in together,” Kadeem informed.
I placed my hand over my mouth in clear shock, tears running down my face. I didn’t know what to say as I looked between them. Nobody had ever done anything like this for me in my entire life.
“Our home?” was the only thing I managed to speak as I continued to look between the two of them.
“Yes, if you want it to be,” Crue spoke.
There was nothing I wanted more in life than to be with the two of them in the same home, this home, this beautiful, massivehome. I hugged and kissed them both as I cried the happiest tears I had ever cried.
CHAPTER 18
Kadeem
The party didn’t end until around ten that night. Crue had surprised his mother with a trip to France starting the next morning, and she wanted to rush home to pack. I wanted Saniyah to spend the night with us here, so she gave Nazuri the keys to her car and allowed her to drive herself home. When everyone had left and the cleaners had everything put back to normal, the three of us walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch.
“I can’t believe this is our house,” Saniyah spoke, clearly still in awe.
“Well, believe it, baby, because it’s true.” Crue smiled.
“I swear when I walked into Blackline that day, I never thought in a million years that this is where I would be in just a few months. Y’all have really upgraded my life in a major way.”
“This is just the start, baby,” I voiced.
Saniyah looked at me. “When you and Crue started, did y’all think y’all would end up being like this?” she asked.
“Not at all. Crue and I were just supposed to do what we do and keep that shit pushing. But then you came along and changed all that.”
“You know, y’all never told me about y’all first time. I want to know how y’all came about. Because without that, we would probably have never happened.”
Crue laughed. “You sure you want to hear that story? I really don’t feel like anything before you matters anymore.”
“I think that story is a part of our story as well, so I for sure want to know.”
I looked at Saniyah again, seeing that she was serious. In actuality, she was correct. If Crue and I had never started this before we met her, then we probably wouldn’t all be here now. So, with that, I went back, thinking of mine and Crue’s first time.
It was Saturday evening, and I had been in bed all day. I had just broken up with a girl I had been dating for the past two years after finding out that she had been cheating on me for the past year and a half. To say my feelings were hurt was an understatement. I was truly in love with her and was even thinking about marriage. I sat in my dorm, going through old text messages between her and I before I deleted them. Crue had been calling me all day, but I hadn’t answered any of his calls because I was too sad to speak to anyone. I had just deleted our text thread when I heard banging on the door and someone yelling fire.
Scared out my mind, I grabbed the few important items that I was able to carry in my hands and rushed to the door. When I opened it, I saw Crue on the other side, laughing, and I knew instantly that there was no fire.
“Nigga, why the fuck would you scare me like that?” I asked, clearly upset.
“Nigga, why the fuck you ain’t answering yo’ phone? I been callin’ yo’ ass all day.”
“I just don’t feel like talkin’ to anybody right now.” I dropped my belongings onto my dresser and got back in bed.
