Page 188 of The Wright Man

I nodded, heart fluttering a little. "I'll be ready to get tipsy and talk shit right after," I said, lifting my mug like a toast. "Just need to emotionally evacuate Gavin's nonsense one last time."

"Good," Bella said. "Then tonight we turn up. Lightly. Responsibly. With spa water and an emergency Uber budget. And toast to your new life."

Tina whooped so loud I'm sure the neighbors heard. "Y'all hear that? It's time to celebrate the soft launch of Angie's hot girl rebirth! Let me see if Amazon has same-day delivery on divorce party decorations. I want glitter. Maybe some confetti dicks."

Maleek gave us all a humorously concerned side-eye. "Do I need to be worried about leaving y'all in my house while I go to work?"

Bella waved him off. "Your house and your woman will be just fine, bruh. Go lift heavy things and be intimidating."

Tina added, "Yeah, yeah, go do your little push-ups and tax returns or whatever the hell you do. We got her."

I smirked and looked up at him. "Go be productive."

He didn't say anything right away. Just looked at me. Really looked. Like he was trying to read beneath the jokes and the chaos and the plans for wine-fueled healing.

"You sure?" he asked, voice soft, eyes locked on mine. I heard the questions buried in it. Are you okay? Do you want me to stay? Do you need me when you talk to your dad?

I gave him a nod. Not just the polite kind—a real one. "I'm sure. Go do what you gotta do. I've got my sisters today."

Tina and Bella co-signed immediately.

"She got us."

"Yeah, we kicking you out your own house for the day. Consider yourself evicted, Big Head."

Maleek chuckled, pushed back from the table, and started collecting dishes. "Damn. Guess I'm not needed."

"Never said that," I said as he leaned down to kiss me.

That seemed to settle something in him. He nodded. "Alright. I'm gonna take a quick shower before I head in. We got hella follow-up to do after the open house yesterday."

"We'll try not to burn your house down." I teased, nudging him.

"Try harder," he said dryly, collecting his mug and Bella's before heading toward the kitchen. "These two got firestarter energy today."

Bella grinned after him. "We'll only set shit on fire if you give us a reason!"

Tina added, "And even then, it'll be a controlled burn."

Once he disappeared down the hall, Tina turned back to her screen, eyes gleaming. "Now...do we want rose gold or glitter black for the penis confetti? I'm thinking of theme cohesion."

Bella looked down at her phone and grinned. "Wine's twenty minutes away!"

And just like that, the plan was set.

Sister Sunday was about to be a whole damn production.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel scared of what was coming next.

I felt ready.

Chapter Thirty-One

Maleek

The sound of leather on leather echoed through the gym as I worked the heavy bag, sweat beading down my back like slow-dripping syrup. My fists moved on instinct—jab, jab, hook—steady and clean, even though my mind had been everywhere but here for most of the day.

The open house had been a hit, no question. This morning I sent out email blasts to everyone who signed up or showed interest. Sorted the merch orders too—T-shirts, water bottles, duffel bags damn near sold out. Re-upped our inventory just in time for the launch next week. Finalized class schedules with Riq, Sticks, and Nichelle, adjusted a few payroll kinks, and reviewed the mailer design going out to the neighborhood in the next few days.