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I had just learned how to live around it.

“You the only person I’ve ever told all that to besides my dad,” I admitted.

Of course, Ghost knew too, but I wouldn’t dare mention his name around her. She leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

“I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close. Maliah rested her head against my shoulder, and I kissed the top of it.

“You good now?” she asked.

“Yeah, baby. I’m good.”

And when it came to my mother, I meant it. There was still another weight sitting on my chest, though. One I couldn’t tell her about, no matter how much I wanted to.

Ghost’s death was something that I had to carry myself. I tightened my arms around her as she settled against me. I had lost my daddy, my relationship with my mother had been over for years, and now the only brother I had was gone too. But I wasn’t alone. I had Maliah. Finally, I was building something that didn’t have to look anything like the family I had come from. Having that one person by your side at times is all you need.

Chapter 30

MJ

Ihad been back at my apartment for a couple of weeks, and I couldn’t lie, I was enjoying having my own space again. Ever since Malachi was born, I had practically been living at my parents’ house again. Between helping Ma with the baby, making sure Maylee wasn’t driving everybody crazy, and being there whenever Pops needed something, I hadn’t seen much reason to leave. That was until Pops got tired of looking at my ass.

After everything we’d talked about in his office, I’d figured he’d want me around a little longer. And for a bit he did. That was until they hired a trusted nanny and brought in the chef full time. It was a random morning when he rolled into the kitchen while I was fixing myself a plate and told me it was time to go home.

“Aight, you can take your ass back to your apartment now.”

I had looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Damn, Pops. You kicking me out?”

“Hell yeah. You got a whole apartment and classes you need to be going to. I’m not paying for you to sit around here looking at me all day.”

I laughed because I knew he wasn’t serious about wanting me gone. He’d appreciated me being there, even if he wasn’t the type to sit around saying it every five minutes. But he’d made one thing clear. My life wasn’t supposed to stop because of what happened to him. And it damn sure wasn’t supposed to stop because of what I had done.

So, I had gone home, gotten myself back into a routine, and started showing up to my classes again. It felt good. What was even better was having my lady up under me again. Penelope had been spending more time at my place than her own lately, and I wasn’t complaining. Matter of fact, if it was up to me, she’d stop pretending she needed that apartment altogether. I didn’t pressure her to move in, though, because I knew her daddy owned the entire building, and I had the feeling that he wouldn’t be too keen on her shacking up.

This morning in particular, she was standing in my kitchen wearing one of my oversized T-shirts while I was trying to decide what I wanted to eat.

“You want me to make breakfast?” I asked.

She looked over her shoulder.

“What were you thinking of cooking?”

“Whatever you want.”

“That’s a dangerous answer.”

I laughed.

“How?”

“Because now I’m going to ask for something complicated.”

“Like what?”

“French toast, eggs, bacon, and some fruit.”