Page 267 of The Wright Man

I smirked and settled back into my seat, legs crossed, heart buzzing. "Guess you better drive fast, huh?"

He shot me a look. "Say less."

We rolled through the city like we owned it. Shops were still open, people strolling with takeout and dogs and tired toddlers, but the chaos of the day was winding down. The world felt soft-edged and gentle, and I—somehow—felt brand new.

I watched him as he drove. The way his hands fit the steering wheel, the way his shoulders moved beneath that fitted black tee, the quiet confidence in every gesture. He was my best friend. My compass. My constant. My forever.

I let my head fall back against the seat, smiling like a damn fool.

I told him I wanted to do something fun, something impulsive... get in some trouble.

We wound up doing all three.

After the courthouse chaos—and Maleek's very satisfying beatdown of Gavin in the parking lot—we'd just drove. No plans. No thinking. Just... freedom.

We saw a little bakery with the "Couples Cupcake Decorating Class" sign, and I practically dragged him inside. What started out sweet turned into full-out war by the second cupcake.

Maleek had the nerve to flick frosting at me, and I retaliated like I was holding a bazooka made of buttercream.

We got kicked out five minutes later with a box of two mashed cupcakes and a stern "Y'all are adorable, but LEAVE" from the owner.

We laughed the whole way to the truck, sugar in our hair, Maleek with blue icing on his eyebrow. It felt like being seventeen again. Like summer nights and too-loud music and no one telling us no.

We thrifted. We danced in a bookstore aisle when Luther came on. We got tattoos just because the shop was there.

And now? Now I was glowing.

No, literally glowing. Probably from the sun, and the music, and the way Maleek kept looking at me like he still couldn't believe I was his.

I hadn't smiled this much in years. Not like this. Not wide and wild and stupid with joy. Pure, unfiltered joy. And I was drunk off it.

And him.

Whatever surprise he had planned next, I didn't care. I just knew I wanted more of this. More of us. More of this messy, spontaneous, soft kind of love that made me feel brand new.

And this time?

I wasn't giving it up for anybody.

As we turned off the highway and curved down a familiar exit, something in my chest stirred.

I knew these streets.

"Wait a minute... is this the—?"

I trailed off, narrowing my eyes at the smug, stoic man in the driver's seat.

Maleek did his best impression of innocent silence, pretending like he didn't feel me watching him. Like I wasn't piecing it together with every passing street sign and building.

But when we pulled into the valet circle and I saw the hotel's marble archway glinting in the afternoon sun, it clicked.

My head snapped toward him. "Maleek, you didn't..."

He grinned without even turning his head, dimples flashing and jaw flexing like he'd been waiting on this moment all damn day.

"Surprise," he said, calm as hell. "Figured we deserved more than just a walk and overpriced strawberry shortcake this time."

My jaw dropped. "You booked us the hotel from our first date?"