“I love you.”
“I love you.”
She blew him a kiss. He caught it, put it in his pocket, and left. Trying to push everything to the back of his mind, Mahari drove with the windows down. The way Heaven plagued his mind almost had him in his feelings, but he remembered what he told Aspen.
Think positive, mane.
Doing so was harder than he desired to admit. Not only about Heaven, but about Aspen as well. Deep down, Mahari knew if Heaven were still alive, the thoughts and feelings he was experiencing wouldn’t be present. Once again, it was something out of his control, something he silently dealt with every day.
When he arrived back at his house, Mahari was happy to see that Dynasty was still sound asleep. He quietly peeled from his clothes down to his boxers and climbed into bed with her. Her body immediately clung to his and all Mahari could do was lie there, praying sleep found him soon and thoughts of Aspen were freed from his mind.
Kisses being peppered allover Aspen’s face woke her up. She smiled and slowly fluttered her eyes open to see Lance standing over her. With her nose scrunched, Aspen stretched before Lance assisted her in sitting up. She didn’t realize one hand was behind his back until he produced the most beautiful bouquet of red roses Aspen had ever seen.
Hesitantly, she took them from him and questioned, “What’s going on, Lance? Should I be concerned?”
“For what?” Lance laughed and pecked her lips. “I can’t show my woman some love?”
“You haven’t been for months now, so the change in behavior has me suspicious. I can’t remember the last time you got me some roses, but they are beautiful, so thank you.”
“That’s only the beginning. Breakfast is on the way up. You and the twins enjoy while I make sure everything else is in order. I’ll be back up to check on you.”
Lance kissed Aspen’s lips, then her stomach, before disappearing out the room. For a moment, Aspen sat there, stuck. She was trying to comprehend what just happened. The way Lance was acting was out of the ordinary, and she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it. Many assumptions ran through her mind. When breakfast was delivered, Aspen got situated and video called Lavender.
“Good morning, baby mama. You’re up early for an off day,” Lavender answered with a towel wrapped around her body. “What are you up to?”
“I had to call you to make sure I’m not tripping.”
“About what?”
Aspen turned her camera around to show Lavender the roses and breakfast in bed before turning it back on her. “Lancedid this.”
“Lance? As in the man who is never home, Lance?”
“That one.”
“The one who puts work before home?”
“That one.”
“The on?—”
“Lavender!” Aspen playfully snapped and snickered.
With her palm up in surrender, Lavender apologized. “My bad, bestie. I just needed clarity that we were talking about the same person. What has gotten into him?”
“Girl, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. He’s being too sweet, and it’s been like this for a few days. Since Mahari snapped on him that night, Lance has actually been putting in effort. I don’t know if it’s out of guilt or what, but I’m iffy about it.”
“You know it’s damn guilt. I honestly think it’s competition too. The way Mahari has been stepping up and being present, one would think he’s your man and not Lance. Sometimes, I think you locked in with the wrong cousin.”
Aspen wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she often thought that too. She valued her friendship with Mahari, but she couldn’t act as if the thought hadn’t crossed her mind on many occasions. The traits Mahari possessed were the ones she wished Lance had. They were polar opposites in many ways, and Aspen wondered how it would be if Mahari were hers.
Stuffing a forkful of breakfast potatoes and eggs in her mouth, Aspen thoroughly chewed before speaking. “He’s up to something, Lavender. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know if I should be happy or not.”
“It’s okay to be happy about it, if that’s what you’re feeling. If he’s putting in the effort, bask in it. I say drain him for everything he’s been neglecting you of. Time will tell if this is a phase or for show. Whatever the reasoning is, take advantage of it for you and the girls.”
“See, that’s why I called you. I knew you’d make it make sense to me.”
“That’s why I’m your best bitch.”
