Page 38 of Kisses Behind the Spotlight

“You sure? I wanted you to come. I’m sorry for everything I said to you as well.”

“Water under the bridge. Jameera deserves this trip, and she's been talking about how she can’t wait to go to Morocco in April after our spring collection drops, since we started working on it in November. Y’all need this. My girl has been surviving off water and juices because she hasn’t had an appetite. Plus, I said a lot of disparaging things about you over the last week, so we are even on that front. I’ll just need you to slide me a new Chanel bag or something. You did just drop a pretty penny on stuffed animals for Yarissa,” Amill chuckled.

“They are vintage,” I corrected her with a smile.

“Shut up,” she cackled. “You sound just like Yarissa.”

The bathroom door opened, and Jameera stepped out in her robe with her damp hair flowing down her back. Her eyes dropped into slits when she saw me.

“I know you still mad and shit, but I just wanted to give you this.” I held out the flowers, ensuring she saw the Moroccan flag.

“If you are okay with Amill taking the client alone during Super Bowl weekend, I want to spend Valentine’s Day in Morocco. The first step to getting back in your good graces.”

“The first step,” Jameera cracked a small smirk.

“A smirkkkkkk!” Amill dramatically cheered. “I ain’t even seen this bitch laugh in a week. Wasn’t shit funny for my bestie. Don’t do it again, Q.” She smacked the back of my head.

“The first step.” I nodded.

“Now the next step is for you to leave.” She shoved me towards the door.

“Wait, hol’ up,” I pleaded, planting my feet and using my weight to stop them from pushing me out. “I booked a spa day at The Tampa Edition for y’all. Duke will be here to pick y’all up at four.”

A full grin spread across Jameera’s face. Her cheeks lifted into a bright smile. That was her favorite spot when she was in the mood for pampering.

“I might, heavy on the might, come home later. Right now, I don’t know if you deserve the privilege of sleeping next to me.”

“I’ll accept that,” I nodded. “Can I get a hug?”

“Yes, you can have a hug,” she agreed.

I stepped closer, wrapping Jameera in my arms. Inhaling her familiar scent, I felt relaxed, allowing her damp hair to brush up against my chin. My hands rubbed up and down her back, and I was relieved to feel Jameera hugging me back. “I’m sorry, bae. I was sick as fuck without you.”

“I was sick without you too.”

“I’ll never do no shit like that again,” I assured her.

“You better not,” she replied.

We remained in that position for a few additional seconds before they kicked me out to enjoy their brunch. I wasn’t mad. I’d do whatever to make shit right.

I went back to our place to pack our suitcases for the trip. My suitcase had everything packed, and Jameera’s was just missing whatever outfits and shoes she wanted to toss in. A silent dinner at home, then a warm shower before slipping into bed, was daunting. I wanted Jameera home. It took everything out of me not to go downstairs and carry my baby back home.

As the clock struck midnight, the security system announced that the front door had been opened and the alarm disabled, then reset. Sitting up in bed, I smiled when Jameera entered the bedroom in a pair of pajamas with her hair in two pigtail braids.

“I didn’t think you were going to come home.”

“I wasn’t. I wanted to make you suffer longer. Luckily for you, Travis popped up at Amill’s place with his camera, so I had to hit the door,” she explained, pulling the covers back to slip in bed.

“Jameera, I want to apologize again. I’m so sorry I jumped to conclusions and reacted like that, but⁠—”

“There are no buts, Q.”

“You right. I was wrong. Hard stop,” I admitted.

“Without trust and communication, we won’t go the distance.”

“You’re right,” I affirmed, pulling Jameera to my side of the bed. Hugging her from behind, the faint smell of her shampoo and conditioner lingered. I inhaled, reveling in her scent. I’d missed it. “That shit has to go both ways though. You should’ve communicated what happened that day.”