“Next weekend, some more planning?” I asked.
They all nodded.
“We got you, girl. See you in the morning,” Deja added.
I walked out to my car in a better mood than I walked in with, sat the binders and other things on the back seat, and hopped in the car. Before I pulled off, I texted Islah and let him know I was on the way home. He texted back instantly with a smiley face.
That alone made me smile.
The drive home felt lighter than the rest of the week I had. Music was playin’ low, my girls texting the group chat about other wedding things they thought of since I left.
I drove through the city, smiling to myself, for the first time in a minute, everything didn’t feel so heavy.
When I made it home, I parked, grabbed all my things, and made my way through the lobby, still smiling as I gave people a slight nod. On the elevator, I was already thinking about getting into bed with my man and telling him every single thing we talked about.
I finally made it to my door, unlocked it, and as soon as I stepped in, I heard laughing, then feet coming toward me.
“Islah!” Amir yelled out while running toward me.
I almost dropped my binders.
“Hey baby!” I laughed as he wrapped his arms around me.
“You’re back.”
“I am,” I responded, hugging him back tight. “What are you doing here?”
His whole face lit up. “I moved in like Daddy said!”
Before I could even fully process that, Love came around the corner in a black t-shirt and gray sweats with his chains on.
I walked toward him, laying my things on the island, then turning my attention to his hands.
They were swollen, knuckles busted, and the cuts still looked fresh.
“What happened?” I asked low, as I picked his hands up, looking at them while Amir went to the living room.
“I got ahold of Gio.”
I stared at him, thinking he was gonna lie to me, but he didn’t.
“You fought him?” I asked like I didn’t already know.
“I beat his ass,” he corrected me calmly.
I exhaled as he continued.
“That nigga showed up to your job with flowers like shit was sweet.”
My chest tightened. “How did you know where he was?”
“I told you I ran the city, I got niggas with eyes on him, but it’s okay, it will be a next time.”
I swallowed hard, thinking about the meeting I had with him.
“What will happen next time?” I whispered so that Amir wouldn’t hear me.
“Next time I’ma end his life,” Love said straightforward.
