“I got an outfit pulled out, I just need to go home and put it together.”
“Well, get home, do that, and send us a picture.”
I nodded, and we hung up.
The rest of the drive, I thought about what I was going to say to Love. I was about to pour my heart out to him and tell him everything I was feeling, and I hoped that he still loved me once I was done.
I got home, went back to the room, looked at the outfit I put together, and stared at it for a few seconds, making sure it was what I wanted. In the shower, my mind was focused on Love and only Love. I wanted a future with him. I couldn’t let him think that wasn’t in the cards for us.
After my shower, I oiled my body, and my hands started to shake. I was getting nervous; never have I ever opened up to a nigga like I was about to do.
I slid into my dress, did my hair and makeup, then put on my heels. As I stood in front of my mirror looking at myself, I sent a picture to my girls, and they signed off on my fit, telling me to leave and go get my man.
I walked out of the house with a smile on my face, stopped and grabbed myself a green juice and some lunch for us, then took my ass to the store.
When I got there, I parked behind Love’s car and stared at it for a few seconds, taking a couple of deep breaths.
“Get it together, Islah,” I mumbled to myself.
I pulled my lip gloss out of my bag and put a lil’ on before getting out of the car. I took my time walking to the door, even though it was a short walk. I needed to get my nerves together. I pulled the door open, and everybody in the store looked at me.
Keith gave me a nod, and I walked up to Love’s office door. I took a deep breath and knocked softly.
“Yo,” he yelled out.
I took another deep breath and walked in to see him putting his phone down and staring at me.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” I responded. “I brought some lunch.”
I handed him the bag, and he took it, pulling out his food, then handed it back to me.
“Are you going to take a seat?” he asked.
I nodded, putting the food down on the couch.
“Yes, but before I do,” I said. “Love, I love you. I am so sorry for letting what that nigga said or did come between us because I never wanted that to happen.”
Love nodded. “I, umm…. I can’t believe I am sayin’ this, but you know you hurt me, right? You know I would never in this world or the next hurt you.”
I nodded. “I know I did, and I didn’t mean to. Love, I have never loved a nigga like I do you, or had a love like the one you give me. I don’t know if it’s because I started to feel like I didn’t deserve the love you give because of what happened to Gio?—”
“That’s how he wanted you to think, you know that, right?”
“Yeah,” I responded. “That nigga went to hell getting what he wanted.”
Love shook his head with a slight laugh, making me smile.
Silence filled the room around us for a few seconds, then Love stood up and walked over to me. I looked up at him as he looked down at me. His arms wrapped around my waist softly. It felt so good to be in his arms again.
“I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you more than anything,” I responded.
Love cuffed my chin with his finger, making me stand on my tippy toes as he kissed me.
“I’ma ask you this one last time,” he said with a smile. “If you don’t respond, I might have to fight you.”
