“Love…this is?—”
“All for you,” he said, cutting me off. “I missed you more than I could find words to express, so I bought shit I thought you would need and want.”
I ran over to him and hugged him. “I love you more than anything. Thank you.”
Love held me tight. “Thank you for staying strong for me. I don’t know what all you went through with him, but I am glad I have you and my baby back.”
Our lil’ moment got interrupted by our friends knocking at the door.
I ran over, and as soon as I opened the door, my girls flew in, hugging me.
“Man, we missed you sooo much,” Deja said.
“Please tell me you don’t have any more crazy exes?” Renee added.
“I missed y’all too, if only y’all knew.”
The rest of the night was amazing. We got food, we laughed and talked, and I felt the peace I used to have and wanted more than anything in the world.
As I lay back in Love’s arms while our people talked around us, Love asked me, “What do you need, mamas?”
I took a second and turned to look at him.
“The biggest problem I had…you fixed.”
Love leaned forward and kissed me.
“That’s what I’m supposed to do, mamas.”
Chapter 18
Her Peace
When I woke up the next morning, not alone, not in that nigga’s crib, and having my girl in my arms, I knew that all the bullshit we had goin’ on in our lives was over.
I watched Islah as she slept. She had a slight smile on her face and was still glowing, like always.
I snuck outta bed, shaking my head at myself, and went into the living room and turned on the TV, wanting to know what the actual temperature was in that damn city, and Gio’s house was plastered on the screen.
A house near the hills was on fire, and fire marshals had said that they had found a body, but they had no leads at this time.
I listened as I rolled up to what people nearby had to say. Nobody knew Gio. All they knew was that it had sold, but they never saw who bought it. I smiled to myself, loving how shit worked in my favor.
As I looked toward the room, looking at her tossing and turning all over the bed, I felt so damn complete.
I finished rolling up and ordered us some breakfast, just as I heard a knock at the door; then it swung open with Keith and Sammy walking in.
“Nigga, how the fuck y’all get in my shit?” I asked.
“I took ya extra key,” Keith responded like it was nothing.
I laughed and passed him the blunt.
“You good?” Sammy asked. “Islah good?”
I nodded. “I’m good, and Islah is still sleeping. I just got her some food.”
While sitting there with them, I checked on Amir and the store, making sure everything was moving the way it was supposed to when Islah came out of the room looking like an angel straight outta heaven. She didn’t do anything or wasn’t wearing anything special. That’s just how she looked to me all the time.
