Six Months Later...

The world around Huey had changed in ways he never expected. His family, once fractured and distant, was now united by more than just blood. His daughter, Huelene, and Jazmine had given him a gift he never thought he'd receive—grandchildren who looked just like their mothers. The sight of Imani June Jackson and Hazel Rene Freeman brought a kind of peace to his heart he couldn't quite explain. He spent hours with them, watching them grow, witnessing the joy they brought to his family. It was something he could never have imagined before.

But even as he watched his granddaughters, so full of life, he couldn't escape the emptiness that remained.

The "meet-up spot" had become a sanctuary for the family—a place where laughter echoed through the halls, and memories were built upon memories. Despite his natural inclination toward solitude, Huey found himself drawn into the warmth of his family, feeling the presence of those he had once shut out.

But there was still that lingering ache—the gap left by Jazmine's absence.

Huelene, as much as she was a constant reminder of the love he shared with her mother, was also a reflection of what they lost. Their bond was growing stronger every day, and Huey couldn't help but marvel at the similarities between them. They both had an analytical mind, an eye for art, and a sense of justice that burned deep within them. But Huelene's kindness—the softness in her gaze, the compassion she showed to everyone, even in the face of her own struggles—was all Jazmine.

Jazmine,he thought, the name both a comfort and a wound. She was with him every day, in the little things. He would catch a glimpse of Huelene smiling, her laugh filling the room, and it would remind him so much of Jazmine. The way she approached life, the way she made people feel seen.

He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if she were here now. What if they'd gotten that second chance to heal, to rebuild their lives together? He had so many questions for her, things he'd never gotten to ask. He wanted to hear her side, understand the weight she carried, the choices she made.

James had told him things—things Huey still had trouble accepting. It didn't make sense. Jazmine, the woman he loved, the woman he was supposed to marry, had hidden so much from him. The thought of it all—the affair, the way she'd kept him in the dark about her struggles, the desperation she'd felt—had left him in a fog. He couldn't reconcile the image of her that he had loved with the stories he was hearing. She'd been so many things to so many people.

Some of the stories painted her as a hero—strong, resilient, doing whatever it took to make sure her family was safe. Others... not so much. Ebony's side of things, in particular, had been hard for Huey to hear. They'd painted Jazmine as unpredictable, someone who'd kept secrets not just from him, but from everyone. The pieces didn't fit together in a way he could easily understand.

And that's what hurt the most. Jazmine had always been his anchor. She'd been the one person in his life who truly understood him, who saw the world through his eyes. The person he could trust with everything. And now, all he had were fragmented stories, pieces of her that didn't seem to match up.

He wanted to talk to her about it. He wanted to share this burden with her. She deserved to know. They deserved that closure, that final moment of understanding. But now, that was impossible. He couldn't fix it. He couldn't change the past. And that was something he would have to live with for the rest of his life.

But there was still Huelene, standing beside him, carrying her mother's spirit with her. She was the one good thing left in the wake of it all. And with each passing day, Huey was realizing something that he'd been too afraid to admit before: Jazmine's love hadn't disappeared. It hadn't been taken from him. It lived on, in his family, in the people she'd touched, in the legacy she'd left behind.

The burden of regret would always be there. But as he watched Huelene care for her daughter, the way she laughed and spoke with such passion, he found solace in knowing that Jazmine's love, her strength, her soul, would never truly fade away. Not as long as they remembered.

As Jazmine stated in her confession, we were having problems with our marriage. We weren't officially married, but we had our paperwork settled. Before we signed anything or even came to our family and friends about it we had to deal with personal issues within our relationship. This all started because of one of the things that Jazmine and I both enjoyed doing: intimacy. And it was all taken for granted at the moment.

In the beginning, when Jazmine and I started to have sex I've always retrained her from doing certain stuff. Stuff that made me feel uncomfortable, dirty, and controlled! Three things I hated about what I endured with my Grandad's ex-lover. She did things to me that I was disgusted of along with other females I met later on down the road.

I know you're wondering why would I let a bunch of females give me a blow job, but not Jazmine. The truth was I didn't like when females sucked my penis. I felt it was one of the dirtiest attempts to please me. I didn't want Jazmine to be in the same boat as the others so I tried a different approach when we were intimate.

It got to the point where I couldn't find any loopholes to restrain her. I would get blow jobs but I would do it myself instead of her doing it to me. I know it sounds messed up, but I didn't want her to know I disliked it. But when I would do that I still didn't feel pleasure. Something was off and I was afraid that I would never find pleasure in some attempts Jazmine might do.

I remember the night Jazmine and I had sex, she did something that caught me entirely off guard. Something I didn't like and I was upset about it.

After Jazmine and I were done with one of our sessions, I was out for the night and decided to get some rest before I had to go in for work. All of a sudden when I was sleeping, I felt this very warm feeling on my dick. I could sense the motion of someone sucking it and it felt good, but then I started to have flashbacks of my Grandad's ex-girlfriend, Luna, under the covers.

It was her, it had to be her. She would do this to me almost every night when she spent at my Grandad's house. When I opened my eyes, I still couldn't see who the figure was because they were under the sheets. I knew it had to be Luna because she was the only girl who did this.

I wanted to scream for help, but something was preventing me from doing it. I looked to my side to see if I could find Jazmine anywhere and she was nowhere to be found. She most likely picked up a night shift at the hospital and left to go in.

Meaning that Luna was back to doing what she always did to me. For Cris's sake, the woman was dead and she was still haunting me to this day. What more did she want from me? I'm not a sex toy that she can just torment every night.

I'm a grown-ass man who's in a committed relationship with the woman I love. I can't keep letting Luna haunt me like this. She's the reason why I don't enjoy some aspects of sex. I can't move forward like this in my life with Jazmine. I have to take charge and do something about the issue.

For starters, I'm going to show her that I have more control of the situation than she thinks. As soon as I released it in her mouth, I felt disgusted and mad. Tonight this stops!

She's going to know she can't mess with me like this. When she came from under the sheets I immediately grabbed her by the neck, aggressively, and flipped us over so that way she was on her back and I was on top of her.

I heard her sound surprised by this sudden move. I grabbed ahold of my dick and made sure to shove it right in her entrance. She made a painful sound at the feeling and I smirked cause I knew I had got a reaction out of her. I tightened my hand around her neck almost choking her to death and started to go in on her.

Not out of pleasure but anger! I was mad at Luna because she was the reason I turned out to be messed up in the head. I started smoking and letting any girl take advantage of me because I felt dirty after all these years. Jazmine was the only girl I felt pleasured by and I could hardly enjoy sex with her with Luna on my mind.

We were about to be married soon, and I couldn't have Luna haunting me for the rest of my life. I started to go deeper and harder on her as she started to scream under my control. It wasn't a scream of pleasure.

I started to feel her tighten her grip around my arms as she was urging me to stop, but I didn't. I kept going until I started to feel as if she was lifeless under my touch. When I saw that she had passed out, I stopped what I doing and pulled out.

I started to breathe hard as I felt my nerves relaxing. I looked down at Luna to see she was slowly fading out of my vision. Then all of a sudden my heart dropped when I saw who was fading into my vision.

It was Jazmine!

She was laid out on the bed shaking, crying, and trying to catch her breath. I looked to the side of our nightstand and saw the lamp that I turned on. I looked back at Jazmine to see she somewhat had my handprint on her neck. Looking as if I had abused her, I felt bad for the damage I caused.

I softly spoke, "Jazmine-", but within a blink of an eye, Jazmine slapped the hell out of me. This completely caught me off guard because Jazmine normally doesn't go out of her way to slap me unless she's really upset with me. She doesn't like to put her hands on people, but when she does do it it's for a good reason.

I've only been slapped by Jazmine once and that's when I said something about Sarah in a petty argument we were having.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" she exclaimed as she continued to cry.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yelled back as I got flashbacks of her going under the sheets to give me a blowjob. After all the years Jazmine and I have been together she has never pulled a stunt like this without my consent.

"Jazmine-" I hesitated. I calmed myself down, "I didn't mean to, it was a mistake," I said hoping she would believe me. I did not intend to harm Jazmine in this kind of way. I thought it was Luna!

"You call that a fucking mistake," she said pushing me away from her as she got out of bed. She went to go find one of the shirts lying on the ground and she ended up grabbing the one she originally had on before we started to do it. She put on the shirt that she stole from me a while back and every time she wears my clothes I find it as a turn-on.

"Yes, Jazmine, baby, I didn't mean to do this to you," I said trying to assure her.

"But you did..." she sternly spoke.

"I'm sorry," I said almost losing my voice. She started to get even more upset as she went silent and then spoke, "You know it's funny how I don't like to be roughed around like this but you choose to still do it."

"It's almost as if you're doing it with someone else," she said accusing me of cheating. That struck a nerve with me because she was accusing me of cheating. She knows my schedule and she knows I don't have time or any thoughts about cheating.

"Jazmine...why the fuck would you assume I'm doing it with someone else?" I yelled. I don't like yelling at Jazmine, but in this case, I had to yell because she was accusing me of the dumbest thing.

"One, I don't like aggressive sex, I like to make LOVE and feel something...you know a connection!" Jazmine said tearing up a bit. "And I give you that," I said as she shook her head.

"No, you don't! Half the time when we have sex all you do is control me, you don't let me do or try new things with YOU, and most of the time it feels you try to hurt me rather than love me," she expressed.

"Jazmine... how long have you been feeling this way?" I asked. I felt guilty for making her feel this way. If she was to be my soon-to-be wife, I didn't want to get married with her feeling like this. She's gonna feel trapped in our marriage rather happy.

"A while," she softly spoke.

"And my friends and family have been getting into MY head about YOU cheating and being unfaithful and I've been that naive little girl just denying them because I don't believe you would do such a thing. But now that I think about it, with the women showing up at your job, you working late night shifts alone at the garage, hanging with some of your coworkers who are sleeping with a bunch of women, and a bunch of girls randomly walking in and out your house when we were in high school leads me to believe that you've been cheating on me," she exclaimed as she made some good points.

But the thing was I never slept or engaged in any type of romance with these women. Yes, the ones in high school I did stuff with, but when Jazmine and I started dating I wasn't sleeping around with a bunch of girls like she thinks I did.

"So we just gone act as if you don't see me avoiding other females, and you're not guilty of the same things?" I said turning this on her.

"Huey, what do you mean?" Jazmine asked, confused.

"What I mean is, you say I work late night shifts, but you do the same thing. How would I know if you're with some guy or not just as you wonder if I'm with some girl?" I pointed out as her face fell completely dead.

"Then you say I hang around my coworkers who are always sleeping around with a bunch of women, but you have coworkers who do the same thing with men. And you're talking about girls walking in and out of my house when we were in high school and we weren't together. You were doing the same thing with every guy in the school how did I know you weren't doing something with them? And the best best, you say your question Friends and family say I cheat on you, but my coworkers say the same thing about you but I don't let that get to me because I don't believe you would do such a thing," I argued back as her face dropped. It's easy to accuse someone but when you accuse them of the same thing they start to act funny.

"But you know I'm not like that," she argued back.

"I know but you have to believe I'm not like that either. Jazmine, you have to have faith and know I don't cheat on you. It has never crossed my mind and it never will cross my mind," I preached.

"Huey," she sighed, "Right now I'm having a hard time believing that, and after what just happened, I don't think we can do this," she said shaking her head.

I felt my heart drop at the meaning of what she meant. What did she mean she couldn't do this?

"Do what?" I asked. I hope she wasn't going to say what I think she would say.

"Us...this engagement will soon be marriage, our future, trust, and intimacy. You took for granted what brings us close on a new level and I don't like that. We're supposed to feel comfortable, affirmed, and loved by one another at our deepest point. You treated it as a game and I don't think I can move forward like this with you, Huey," she exclaimed as she started to cry once again.

"Jazmine," I said feeling an urge to tell her what was going through my head. I wanted to tell her so bad but it didn't feel right. I had to wait another time to do it but the least I could do was express how I felt about the situation, "I didn't feel intimate with you when you did what you did under the sheets."

I was referring to her giving me a blowjob without my consent and I had seen her look taken back by my confession.

"Huey, I'm genuinely sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable in any way, but this shows more of why we need to depart," she said.

Was she giving up on us?

Was she just going to throw away eight years like this?

"Jazmine, baby, please don't give up on us," I said as I was on the verge of crying. "We can't just let this fall, we can work on this," I said trying to fix everything.

Jazmine was in the process of thinking and she looked as if she didn't know how to respond.

"Huey, right now, we should just take a break from this," she said referring to our conversation, "and talk about it in the morning. I need some time to think," she said as she went to grab her pillow and a spare cover from the closet.

"Jazmine, where the hell are you going?" I asked a bit upset. She was leaving the room with the things she needed to sleep with and it had me wondering if was she going to leave the house and go somewhere else.

"I'm sleeping on the couch tonight," she said. "At the moment, I don't want to be beside," she spoke before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.

In the other room, I could hear Jazmine getting herself settled in the living room and after a while, I started to hear her silently cry herself to sleep. It hurt to hear the love of my life crying in the other room because we were having trouble connecting. I hate to say it, but she was right, we did take things for granted in this soon-to-be marriage and we can't move forward in that way.

This argument made me wonder, was this the end of Jazmine and me? Everything that we built so far was just going to crumble like this?

I couldn't let that happen. I wanted to fight for my future and my future was Jazmine. I wasn't going to let her go so easily.

The next morning, I woke up feeling broken from what happened last night. I left the room we shared to go prepare breakfast. I assumed Jazmine would have left for work already since she likes to go in early. But when I came into the living room and kitchen area, I saw Jazmine sitting at the table eating a fruit bowl.

She's still here!

She had another fruit bowl with a glass of water sitting across from her, signaling it was mine. I slowly made my way over to the table to catch her attention from eating.

"Good morning, Huey!" she softly greeted me.

"Morning, Jazz," I softly responded.

"Would you care to take a seat," she said pointing to the seat across from her. I took a seat across from her and watched as she continued to enjoy her morning breakfast. I almost questioned if I should eat mine because she was way too calm to be offering me breakfast. She has cooked for me before but this time felt different.

"So," I said. I wanted to make conversation and continue what we were talking about last night to see where Jazmine and I lie with our relationship.

"So what?" she asked.

"About last night..." I started as I moved my hands back and forth to refer to us, "Where does this leave us?"

She sighed and stopped eating her breakfast. She was in deep thought for a second or two before she responded, "Well, I don't think we should give up on us," she said as I felt relieved by that assurance. "But I do think we should take a break before we can get married, so that means we're going to have boundaries with each other before we can get back to being us," she said which caught me off guard.

"Boundaries!" I thought out loud.

Jazmine gave me this glaring look before repeating, "Yes, boundaries!"

"After all that has happened, we need to take time to work on ourselves and talk some things through. For starters, I feel we should stop having sex for the time being since it has hit an uncomfortable nerve for both of us," she said as I felt my dick twitch. She was taking sex off the table, something we did often, and I didn't know how I was going to handle that. No sex, for how long?

I wanted to ask that question, but I knew that was going to piss her off. Sex was a way for me to connect with Jazmine on a different level and to take that away was taking away something big. But if I took sex for granted with Jazmine, maybe spending time away from sex would be best for both of us.

"Okay, and what about sleep arrangements?" I asked.

"Huey we both have different but the same work schedule. We're not going to encounter each other as much and if we do, I think we can sleep in the same bed and not do anything," Jazmine sternly spoke.

"Okay, and how long do you think this will last?" I asked.

"However long it takes on your part...I just know something is haunting not only you but me as well," she answered. I feel she knows, but she doesn't know the full truth. "We're not going to get anywhere until we come clean with ourselves and each other," she lastly spoke.

She was right!

I had to get rid of this burden that was haunting me. I didn't know what was going on on Jazmine's part, but I knew she wanted to tell me what's been going on her part as well. Hopefully, we'll be able to share this sooner rather than later. I wasn't ready to tell her about Luna and she wasn't ready to tell me about whoever on her part.

"It leaves us in a place where we both need to really think about what we want from this relationship. The past couple of days, especially last night, showed me a lot about where we stand and what's been happening beneath the surface. And honestly, Huey, I'm not sure what the next step is."

I could feel the weight of her words in the air. She wasn't angry, but there was a sadness in her voice that made everything feel heavier.

"I don't want to keep feeling like we're stuck, like we're trying to make something work when we're both clearly hurting," she continued. "But at the same time, I don't want to give up on us either. I still love you, Huey. I really do. But I don't know if I can move forward without feeling like we're both on the same page. I don't want to feel like I'm walking on eggshells or that our intimacy is something that's been twisted because of all the trauma you've been carrying."

I nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about. I felt the same way—like I was carrying around all this baggage that I had never truly dealt with, and now it was spilling over into our relationship. I had tried to bury it, but it was clear that wasn't working.

"I hear you, Jazz," I said softly, my voice cracking slightly. "I never meant to hurt you. I never wanted you to feel like I wasn't loving you the right way. I have issues, and I've let them mess with us. I'm sorry for that."

She looked at me for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "Huey, I want us to work, I really do. But I need you to show me that you can really face your demons, that you can confront what's been haunting you for so long. I don't want to feel like I'm just a part of your struggle."

I felt the sting of her words, but I knew they were true. I had been so consumed with my past, with Luna and everything that had happened, that I hadn't given Jazmine the kind of love and care she deserved. I needed to face everything head-on, and I needed to prove to her that I could be the man she needed.

"I will," I promised, looking her in the eyes. "I'll face it. I'm not asking you to fix me. But I'll do the work. I'll start figuring out what's been holding me back."

She gave a small nod, a faint hint of hope in her eyes. "I want to believe you, Huey. But it's going to take time. It won't be easy."

"I know," I said, my voice steady now. "I'm ready to do whatever it takes, Jazz. I'm not giving up on us."

We sat in silence for a moment, the tension in the room still thick but not as suffocating as before. Jazmine was right. There was work to be done—on both sides. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was ready to take the first step toward healing, for myself and for our relationship.

"Let's take it one day at a time, okay?" Jazmine said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I agreed, giving her a small, hopeful smile. "One day at a time."

...

"And that's how it all happened," I said talking to Archy. I was at work with Archy and a couple of other guys that showed up. We were all doing different tasks and Archy and I happened to be doing the same task.

We were checking this customer's engine because she thought something might be wrong with it. However, I knew nothing was wrong with it because this happened every couple of weeks. She would bring her car in to get it checked and I would pretend to check it to satisfy my boss and her.

I and the others knew nothing was wrong with her car, but she normally came in to either try to flirt with me or make some type of conversation. Of course, I never fell for her flirtation because Jazmine and I were dating. I loved Jazmine and I would never do something like that to her.

But this was one of the problems that Jazmine had with my job. She didn't like how a bunch of girls would come and flirt with me. She always assumed I was interested in them but I wasn't. I would get mad that she would assume I would be attracted to anything that moved me because it showed she didn't trust me.

Maybe she was right to put our relationship on a break. If we didn't have trust in our relationship we weren't going to get anywhere with this.

"Oh wow!" Archy said as he took in the story. He was leaning on the car silently as I started to get impatient.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" I exclaimed.

"I was, but I need to gather my words together," he excused before he started to think again. I waited patiently this time before he responded, "So y'all haven't done anything since then?" he asked as I shook my head.

"We haven't done shit," I emphasized as he looked shocked. "I haven't even gotten a kiss or hug from her. Hell, when we're sleeping together she puts a pillow in between us," I fussed.

"Damn, not the pillow," Archy slightly smiled at me for a second before wiping it off his face when he sensed how upset I was about this, "Sorry my bad!"

I sighed, "Archy, man, I don't even know what to do now. I'm starting to get sexually frustrated and I'm not even able to think straight. And with her taking this 'break' seriously is also pissing me off," I said getting a little upset. I tried my best not to think too much about this but it was getting under my skin.

"And the fact that she's not phased or begging for any of this just makes it worse. Everything is one-sided!" I exclaimed getting too cocky.

"Wait," Archy paused. I looked at him as if he had caught my attention, "You say she's not begging or wanting anything," he repeated.

"Yeah, she's just going about everything so casually," I said. "Really!" Archy said acting surprised as he smirked.

"Well, you're going to be in it for the long run while on this break," he said just shaking his head and throwing a rag over his shoulders.

"It shouldn't be that long...she's trying to get me to talk about my feelings and I don't feel like doing that," I explained.

"And you shouldn't...we're men, we don't talk about our emotions to women, they take it as being too sensitive," Archy agreed.

"Yeah, but the more I withhold my this the more this break is going to go on," I said a bit frustrated.

"Well, if you're both going to be stuck up, you guys might as well be associates who just live together," he said as I sighed at the thought of that.

"Unless," he said thinking.

"Unless what?" I asked hoping he had a suggestion for me.

"Unless you take advantage of this break and have a little fun for yourself," he smirked.

"Archy, what are you suggesting?" I asked not getting a good feeling about this.

"I'm suggesting that you entertain yourself with other women while on this break," he suggested as I looked at him a little unsure about that. "You know a break practically means broken up and you're free to work on yourself until the two of you are ready to come together," he defined.

"Archy, I'm pretty sure a break means to take time from each other, not completely broken up," I correctly defined.

"You say it's a break, I say it's broken up! You see, if you guys were sleeping together like a regular couple then it would be a break, but her keeping her distance from you and barely talking to you is a break-up, my friend," he said defining his reasoning as I rolled my eyes.

"Look, all I'm sayin' is that if she's not giving you cheeks, then go get them from somewhere else. There are a lot of girls in this area whose pants you can get in. Hell, you can fuck the bitch that comes over here almost every other day, that'll piss her off and make her want you. Girls always want what they can't have and they get threatened when they know you can easily replace them," Archy explained as he smiled at the idea. This clearly explains why he does not have a girlfriend. Or better yet, can't keep one!

"Nah, I can't do that to Jazmine. We're too deep in our relationship to be emotionally cheating on each other with other people. Plus if you haven't noticed by now, she's crazy!" I brushed it off as Archy gave me a disappointed look.

"Man, you're better than me, I would have slept with someone else," Archy shook his head as he continued to work.

The day went on with us not getting that many clients. Afterward, when work was over, I was going to stay later for night service, but people barely came to get their car fixed. It would be rare when there was work that needed to be done, so I got paid to waste time.

I rather go home and rest today. I'll stay overnight another time. Jazmine should be working tonight so I won't have to deal with the cold shoulder when I get back.

As I was walking outside to my car, the girl who always came by the place every other day, I believe her name was Dominica, approached me. I knew she was walking towards me to speak to me but I was purposefully avoiding her because she was one of the reasons Jazmine had a territorial issue.

I didn't feel like dealing with the argument more than I had to, so I was trying to avoid it the best way I could.

"Hey Huey," she called as I continued to my car.

"Huey," she called out again. I finally made it to my car and was about to open my door until she stood right at it.

The fuck, how did she get here so fast?

I sighed and just shook my head. There was no avoiding her, so I had to just suck it up and be nice.

"Is there something I can help you with?" I tiredly asked as she smirked at me a little.

"Woah, what's with the attitude?" she asked as I sighed.

"Well, I don't know, maybe it's because I had a 12-hour shift or because someone is standing at my doorway," I said referring to her as she laughed it off.

"Huey, you're so funny!" she said as she continued to laugh. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head because I was not joking with her. I was really tired from work and all I wanted to do was go home and get some rest.

"What do you want Dominica?" I asked wanting her to get to the point.

"Woah, chill, I just came by to ask for a favor," she said trying to call me down.

"And that would be?"

"So...I have a couple of friends whose cars need fixing and since you're one of the only mechanics here that does it right, I was hoping you could come by my place when you were free to fix their rides," she requested.

This has to be bullshit.

She's messing with me right now.

"Oh really, so why don't you ask them to bring it by normal hours when I get paid on the clock?" I said as she sighed.

I don't mind fixing cars or trucks, but I'm here 24/7, and she knows that. She can just tell her friends to bring it by at night if it's that serious.

"They can't exactly do that," she said a little uneasily.

"Why's that?" I asked, confused.

"Because if someone catches them in this part of town they could get shot and cause chaos," she warned. Now, I felt uneasy about this because she just revealed to me her friends were no good.

"Then if they can't be caught over here in this part of town, why don't you just bring their car over here yourself?" I suggested as she looked too stunned to speak. "And get hurt myself!" she exclaimed.

"It's already a risk for me to come over here, I don't need it being riskier being caught in their rides," she said as I rolled my eyes.

"Dominica, respectfully, I don't want to be caught in between that shit. I have a fiance who's already worried about what goes on here, I don't need her to worry about what's going on outside of my job and being caught in between some gang shit," I said before trying to get into my car again.

"Huey, please, I promise you will not be caught in the middle of any of this. Just please come by this Sunday if you're available," she pleaded. She took out a pen and a little sheet of paper and started to write her address on it.

Where the hell did she get the paper?

"I promise they'll make it worth your time," she giving me the paper.

"What makes you so sure?" I asked looking at the piece of paper.

"My friends are willing to pay you over $1000 if you come by to fix their shit," she said as I was too stunned to speak when she said $1000. That can not only pay bills, but that can be enough to invest into Jazmine and I's college fund and also have extra money aside for food and entertainment.

I couldn't pass up an offer like this.

"Look, Huey, we both know these white racist motherfuckers don't pay you shit up here, the least you could do is earn a little money with your side hustle. That way you can bring home the bag and not have to stress about bills," she said.

Dominica was right, I wasn't earning much up here and it was time I started to bring something to the table. Jazmine was practically the breadwinner in the house, and I'm all for women making money, but it's embarrassing for me as a man because I'm supposed to be the one bringing in everything and making sure shit is settled.

I gotta step up my gain especially if Jazmine and I are eventually going to take the next step into our relationship. Maybe not now since we're mad at each other, but at some point we will.

I sighed, "Alright, when do you need me to be there?" I asked, giving in.

"10 o'clock sharp! They'll be there with their stuff ready," she said.

"Okay, but it would be nice to know what the issue is too because I need to gather parts," I reminded.

"Oh right, I'll ask and tell you tomorrow," she assured.

"Thank you," I said before starting my car. I made my way back home thinking of this big opportunity of cash I was going to get. Normally, I wouldn't do stuff such as this because it doesn't end well, but I do need to make an exception so I can be able to support Jazmine and me.

I was able to make it to our small house in less than 15 minutes. I tiredly took the keys out of the holder and then tiredly got out of the car.

The bed was calling my name and I couldn't wait to get to it. When I walked into the house I was shocked to see Jazmine taking leftovers out of the fridge. I did not expect her to be here.

I dropped my keys in the bowl and started to take off my boots and leave them next to the door.

"Hey Jazmine," I tiredly greeted. Sure, Jazmine and I might have been upset with each other but I wasn't going to be rude and completely ignore her.

"Hey Huey," she softly spoke back. "How was work?" she asked as she put her food in the microwave.

"Um, it was good," I answered.

"What happened that was so good?" she asked, interested.

Okay, we're finally making some type of conversation. For a second she was giving me the cold shoulder and didn't even want to greet me. Usually, I wouldn't worry too much about Jazmine and me getting into it with each other because in the end we always talk it out. It's mainly Jazmine who does all the talking, but this time she wasn't talking which had me worried.

If Jazmine isn't talking and I'm not, that's a huge concern because that knocks off the balance. But now she's talking so we can start getting back on the right track.

I guess I should tell her bits and pieces about what happened at work today. I can't tell her about the conversation Archy and I had and I definitely can't tell her about me going over to Dominica's house to fix her gangster friend's car. She'd go crazy if she knew about those.

Archy doesn't know this, but Jazmine doesn't like him. Just by the way I talk about him and tell her everything he does she gets disgusted with it. Dominica and any other woman that specifically comes up to my job to see me she automatically doesn't like. I won't tell her about the Archy situation because I was simply frustrated with her, but the Dominica situation, I have to tell her bits and pieces of.

She already feels as if I'm cheating on her. I don't want to make the reasoning worse by being secretive about this. If I mention the gangster stuff she's not going to agree to me going over. Simply because she doesn't want us part of any of that stuff which I understand. In this type of area, you can easily get involved in someone's business.

"I got offered by a customer to come work on a couple of cars at their house," I said as she looked taken back.

"Really?" she said shocked.

"Yeah, they're agreeing to pay extra just for me to come over," I said as I smiled and she smiled along with me.

"Oh my, how much are they paying you?" she asked out of curiosity.

"From what Dom told me, it should be a little over $1,000," I said as Jazmine looked completely taken aback.

"Shut the front door! Are you serious?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," I assured.

"They're paying you more than they do at the shop," she exclaimed.

"Yeah," I agreed. I was in disbelief myself, but if it were true this could be a big thing for Jazmine and me.

"This is perfect because we don't have to stress about this month's bills," she said relieved as I felt a comfort in my chest. Jazmine has obviously been stressed about bills and she's been working overtime to try to make enough, but now that I'm bringing enough to the table she won't have to work herself to death.

"Yeah, you and me both," I said as we both started to kind of laugh a little.

"Yeah, so when are you supposed to go in?" she asked.

"This weekend, is that alright with you?" I asked as she nodded.

"I don't mind you going in this weekend, but next weekend I need you to take off so we can head to Woodcrest for the Block Party. Everybody is going to be coming back home, so we'll get to see the gang," Jazmine reminded.

"Okay, cool!" I said. Everything had gone perfectly. She only knew half the story and half the story. If she knew the full story she would be pissed, but she was happy and we were starting to get back on track with things.

"Yeah, just keep the other specifically open because it's going to be very important to go see our family and friends," she emphasized once again in a nice warning manner.

"It's alright Jazmine I understand," I assured her as she smiled and started to look down at her leftovers and mess around with them. She was secretly blushing, but she gets embarrassed when she's spotted blushing.

...

As promised, I went to Dominca's house to go fix some of her friend's cars. When she emphasized 'friends' I felt odd about the situation. As if something wasn't right.

I grew up in a bad part of Chicago and I've seen things before. I know there are a lot of thugs and gangsters around but I don't know what type this could be. I hope Dominica wouldn't set me up to get harmed by these folks.

I drove around Dominica's neighborhood to try and find her house. Almost all the houses looked alike and I couldn't spot which one in particular was hers. When I saw the house with almost three to four cars outside that was when I assumed it was her house.

I stopped and parked my car across the street and pulled out the items needed to check the cars. When I was walking towards her door I looked at the cars to see what was wrong with them physically but there wasn't a problem with any of them, physically at least.

I walked up the stairs to her doorstep and rang the doorbell. I stood patiently waiting for someone to answer the door. I started to hear heavy footsteps and a masculine tone behind the door. When the door was answered, I was met with a middle-aged man who almost reminded me of an adult Riley. He had the cornrows, the skin complexion, and this thuggish demeanor.

He had this strong scent of weed meaning he was smoking before he came to answer the door. To prove my point correctly I smelled smoke in the house.

"Can I help you?" he asked blowing a little smoke from his mouth.

"Yeah, um, is Dominica here?" I asked as he looked at me upside my head and stood in a stance that emphasized his muscles. He looked as if he wanted to beat my ass.

"For what reason do you need to speak to Dominica young blood?" he sternly asked.

"Excuse me sir, but I'm the guy she requested to come fix some cars," I said as he softened himself.

"Oh, you're that nigga," he said as he looked back into the house, "Dominica, the mechanic boy is here," he yelled.

I could hear footsteps from the background and then Dominica appeared. "You made it!" she smiled.

"Yeah, I sure did," I said giving her a fake smile.

"I almost didn't think you were going to come," she said fixing her hair.

"Huey this is my Dad, Andre the guy who needs his cars' fixed, and Daddy this is Huey, the mechanic I always tell you about," Dominica said introducing us.

"Nice to meet you, sir!" I said being respectful.

"Same to you," he said with a straight face. He kept giving me this odd look as if he assumed I was up to something.

"Daddy, don't you want to tell Huey what's wrong with your cars," Dominica ushered as her dad rolled his eyes.

"Yeah," he said as he moved past her and me. He walked outside to his car and I followed behind him. He stood by the first one which was a Dodge Viper.

"There is a hose leak on this one," he said before walking to the next one which was a Camaro, "This needs an oil change," he said as he walked to the last one which was a Honda Civic, "The battery needs to be replaced for this one."

"Do you have the oil you need for your car?" I asked.

"Yeah," he answered.

"What about a hose," I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"Battery?" I lastly asked.

"Nah man I don't have that on me. They didn't have any in store so I'll have to try and get one another time," Dominica's dad said.

"It's alright...I can come by another time and replace it," I said. "As for now, I'll get to work on the other two and I would say give me a couple of hours and I should be done by late afternoon," I said as he shrugged and dug in his pocket to give me the two keys for the ones I was going to work on today.

Before he left he said, "If you fuck up my cars, I'll fuck you up!"

That sounded more like a promise than a threat and I just looked at him unthreatened. He left me with the cars while he went back inside the house. I just shook my head and started laughing to myself because he thinks he can fuck me up.

I don't have any weapons on me, but I still know how to defend myself with or without them. Hell, I have some in my car just in case he decides he wants to try me.

I got to work on the two cars when Dominica's mom brought me the items to fix the cars. She seemed sweet and generous, unlike her husband. When it came to Dominica, it shocked me that she lived with both of her parents. I couldn't tell if she was underage or in her twenties, but whatever it was it seemed to be working out for her.

She would have to be in her twenties because she's always at the shop. If she was underage then should be in school.

After a couple of hours had passed by it was starting to get hot and I took my shirt off. It was uncomfortable to work in the heat with a sweaty shirt on. I don't know how I managed to do it in the shop, but I guess it's due to me sliding off one part of my one-piece. My boss never had a problem with me doing this since it attracted customers. Jazmine didn't like it for that reason.

I started to pat the sweat off my forehead due to it possibly burning my eyes. Damn, I could use a drink right about now. Before I got up to go knock on their door, Dominica's dad came out of the house with a glass of lemonade. I licked my lips at the sight of it because it looked so good to me at that moment.

"You need a drink?" her dad rhetorically asked me.

I put down my tools and got up: "Yes, I do actually!"

"My wife had made some and she and Dominica thought you needed a refresher," he said handing me the drink.

"I did, thank you!" I said as I took a sip.

"Yeah, my daughter wanted to bring it out to you," he exposed almost making me choke on my drink. Oh, Lord!

"But I don't need her doing all that since you're a distraction," he said looking me up and down in a non-trusting manner.

"A distraction?" I questioned.

"Yes, Afro Puff, a distraction. I heard how your 'mechanics' are at the shop. All y'all do is fuck with your customers and don't do anything productive around the place. I know my daughter goes over into your guys' area just to get entertained and I know you're her favorite eye candy. And I'm just here to give you a warning to stop entertaining her because she's in school and I don't need any street dick messing up her future," he told me. I was so confused because I never gave Domincia the time of day.

"Sir, respectfully, I don't do any of that stuff at the shop, I already have a fiance, and me and her both don't play about that shit. I have told and shown Dominica many times that I'm happily with someone and she's even met her a couple of times for herself," I responded respectfully.

"What, so y'all just do some throuple stuff?" he asked as I got disgusted at the thought of it.

"Hell, no man! I got way too many things to worry about than trying to get some pussy and ruin what I have going on," I spoke truthfully.

"Oh, so you loyal loyal?" he said in realization.

"Yes, very!" I exclaimed.

"Ah shit, so she the problem?" he rhetorically spoke.

"Yes, I think you might want to have this talk with the other men at the shop," I implied.

"Unfortunately, I'm unable to!" he said in disappointment. "That's not my part of town and I don't want to get into any trouble."

Right then and there it was confirmed that Dominica's dad did some gangsta shit. The only people who worry about going into other parts of town are gang members and people who fear for their safety. Growing up, Riley was always pressed about going into certain parts of the neighborhood. I was too when we were living in Chicago but when we moved to Woodcrest all those worries washed away.

"How long was you in for?"

"It was supposed to be 15, but I got out at 13 for good behavior," Andre said. I went in while my wife was pregnant with Dominica. I didn't actually get to be a father till she was 12 years old. I had my limits behind bars. If you ever plan to have kids, think twice before you do something stupid," Andre advised.

"Will do...mine is already on my ass about a bunch of stuff," I said thinking about Jazmine. I know she wants to have kids someday - a bunch if that the case and she wants to stay out in the open fields. The country to be more specific. I don't care too much to have kids, but I know Jazmine wants them. I can tell at times she's ready to be a mother. I just don't think I'm ready to be a dad. I will someday but not now. It feels weird every time I think about it. We have a long road ahead of us but things could change at any given time.

The rest of the time I was here, Andre and I talked. He told me about his life and how growing up things were always difficult. Unlike me and Riley who was able to get out of the hood and live a better life, he stayed in it. He had the survive in some form of way and turning to the streets was one way he had to go. He went to jail and turned to the Lord and wanted to start doing better for himself and his family. Dre seems like a generous guy. He has three kids, two older sons and one girl which is Dominica. His eldest is no longer living due to being in the streets.

Before I left to go home, he paid me the portion for fixing up 2/3 of his cars. He even gave me a little extra for Jazmine and I to enjoy.

...

The day of the neighborhood block party finally arrived, and I could feel the weight of Jazmine's expectations hanging over me. We'd been looking forward to it for weeks. It wasn't just a party—it was the event of the year for our neighborhood, and everyone would be there. Families, friends, the whole block gathered for music, food, and good times.

But with my commitment to fix these cars, I was already dreading the worst. I could hear Jazmine's voice in my head, asking if I was really going to leave her hanging like that. And that was the last thing I wanted to do. But the thought of the $1,000 and the trouble I could get into if I didn't follow through with Dominica's request had me torn.

I was supposed to meet Jazmine at her parents' house before the event. The plan was simple: show up, look happy, be a couple—keep things normal.

But as the morning wore on, I got a text from Dominica confirming that the cars needed immediate attention. My stomach dropped. I'd been hoping for some miracle to pull me out of it, but now it was clear I'd have to choose between the cars and the block party.

It wasn't an easy choice. The party was supposed to be our chance to show everyone, especially Jazmine's family, that we were solid. But if I bailed on the cars now, I could lose out on the cash that would really help us.

I walked into the kitchen where Jazmine was getting ready. She was standing in front of the mirror, tying up her hair, all excited for the party. But the moment she turned to me, I could see the hope in her eyes.

"You ready?" she asked, a smile pulling at her lips.

I hesitated. My phone buzzed again, a reminder from Dominica about the time and place for the cars.

"Actually, Jaz," I started, my voice tight, "I need to talk to you about something."

She turned to face me, her smile fading when she saw the look on my face.

"What's up?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.

I sighed, walking toward her. "I've got these cars to fix today, remember the ones I told you about? They really need to be done before tomorrow, or I could get in trouble."

She looked at me, blinking, then shook her head slowly.

"But, Huey... it's the block party," she said, her voice low, hurt. "We talked about this. My parents, your grandpa—they're already judging us. You know they don't understand how we've been handling things. If you don't show up... it's gonna look bad. Like we're just falling apart."

I felt a knot twist in my stomach. I hated when she was right, and she was right this time. She was always trying to make things work with her family, especially after the constant judgment they threw at us.

I ran a hand through my hair. "I know, Jaz. I know how important this is, and I hate doing this to you. But I've got to fix these cars, or I might not be able to help with anything else down the line."

She crossed her arms, clearly upset now, and took a step back. "I get it. You've gotta work. But it's like I'm always here trying to make things work, and you're not showing up for me when it counts."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I tried to stay calm. "I don't want you to feel like that. I just... this could really mess with everything. It's not like I want to blow you off, Jaz."

She looked down, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But that's exactly what it feels like."

I walked closer to her, desperate for her to understand. "I'm not blowing you off, Jaz. I swear. I'm just... trying to get ahead, you know? I want things to be better for both of us. For you, too."

She looked up at me, but her eyes were colder now. "You could've told me earlier. We could've worked something out. But now it feels like you're just making excuses."

I opened my mouth to respond, but she shook her head before I could say anything. "You know what, Huey? Fine. Go ahead. Do what you need to do. But I'm still going to the party. And if they ask where you are, I'll just tell them you're working."

The tension between us was thick, and I could feel her pulling away. The hurt in her voice was clear, and I couldn't fix it with just words. She turned to grab her purse, her back to me.

I stood there for a moment, torn, knowing that no matter what, I was about to let her down.

The car ride to Jazmine's parents' house was suffocating. The silence between us was thick, the kind of quiet that made every second feel like a ticking clock, waiting for something to blow up. I kept my eyes on the road, not daring to glance over at Jazmine. I could feel the tension in the air, like it was weighing down on both of us, pressing against the walls of the car.

When I pulled up to her parents' house, I finally broke the silence. "Hey, I'm gonna head over to Dominica's after this," I said, trying to sound casual. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to go, but I still needed to finish those damn cars.

Jazmine didn't respond right away. She just stared out the window, her hands gripping the seat so tightly her knuckles were white. I glanced at her, catching the edge of her jaw clenching. "She asked me to come fix her dad's cars. They're pretty messed up, so I'll be there for a bit," I added, trying to downplay it.

But I already knew something was off.

"Dominica?" Jazmine said, her voice tight, like she was testing the name in her mouth.

I nodded. "Yeah, her. She's got a couple of cars that need work, so..."

Jazmine's eyes flicked to me, her gaze sharp and calculating. "You're going to her house?" she repeated, her voice a little colder now.

I didn't get why she was making such a big deal out of it, but I could feel the tension starting to thicken even more. "Yeah, what's the problem? She just asked for help with her cars, Jaz. I told you, it's not that serious."

But Jazmine was already shaking her head, her frustration building. "It's always her, isn't it?" Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "Every time you go there, it's like you just... disappear. You act like nothing's going on, but she's always throwing herself at you, Huey. I see it. I know what's happening."

I tried to explain, my own frustration starting to rise. "Jazmine, I'm not doing anything. She needs help, and that's it. I'm not—"

But Jazmine cut me off before I could finish. "I don't care about her dad's cars, Huey. I care about you acting like you have to go running to her every time something goes wrong. You're so quick to drop everything for her, and now you're telling me you're rushing over there? Are you serious?"

I could feel the heat rising in my chest, my patience thinning. "Jazmine, it's not like that—"

But Jazmine wasn't hearing me. She crossed her arms over her chest, her face hardening. "You know what? Fine. Go. Go help her with whatever. Maybe it's not a big deal to you, but it's a damn big deal to me."

She slammed the door shut before I could say anything else. I sat there for a moment, the engine idling as I watched her walk up to her parents' house. The whole situation felt like it was spiraling out of control, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I even cared about the block party anymore. The way things were going, I didn't know if I'd be able to avoid popping off on someone—or worse, walking away from Jazmine entirely. She was always so quick to assume the worse about every situation.

...

I was bent over the engine of the car, my hands covered in grease, but no matter how hard I tried to focus, something was off. It wasn't the car—I was good at this. It was... everything else. Jazmine. My head kept going back to what happened earlier, the tension, the silence. I could still feel her frustration hanging in the air between us. It was like I was working on autopilot, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to blow up sooner or later.

I tried to get back to the job, but every time I turned a wrench, it felt heavier, like I was carrying more than just tools. I just wanted to fix the damn car, get it done, and move on, but it wasn't that simple. I wasn't just upset—I was frustrated with myself for letting things get this far with Jazmine.

I heard footsteps behind me, slow and deliberate. I didn't need to look up to know who it was—Andre. He'd been watching me from the porch, probably knew something was wrong. Guy had a way of reading people. He must've seen me messing up the job enough to come down here and check on me.

He leaned against the car, arms crossed, like he wasn't in any rush. "You good, son?" His voice was calm, deep—like a guy who'd seen it all and knew how to keep his cool.

I barely looked at him. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, not even believing it myself. I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to be here, honestly. But I didn't say any of that. I just kept working, trying to focus on something that didn't feel like it was falling apart.

Andre didn't seem to buy it. "You sure about that?" he asked, his voice steady. "I know when someone's not right. You've been at this car for ten minutes, and I can see you're not focused. You're gonna mess 'em up if you keep this up."

I finally stopped, wiping my hands on a rag. "It's not the cars," I muttered. "It's... stuff with Jazmine. I don't even know if it's worth it sometimes. Like, I just don't get where she's at with me."

Andre didn't rush me. He just kept watching me, like he was waiting for me to say more. When I didn't, he said, "I get it. Relationships are tough, man. When I was younger, I used to get pissed off and run from my problems. Thought I could just distract myself, make it go away. But that didn't work. Hell, I'd go cheat on Dominica when things got rough."

I looked up, surprised. "You cheated on her?" The words came out before I could stop them.

Andre's face softened a little, but there was no shame in his voice when he answered. "Yeah, I did. A lot. And it wasn't just one time. Every time I got mad, I'd do something to avoid dealing with the real issue. But that's not the way to handle things, Huey. It's not."

I swallowed, feeling like I'd been punched in the stomach. "So... what, you just messed up your relationship?"

Andre nodded slowly. "I did. But I was younger, dumber, and didn't know how to deal with my feelings. I thought I could fix everything by avoiding it. But that shit doesn't work, kid. It'll just mess everything up. I had to face what I was really feeling. I had to stop pretending it wasn't there."

I was quiet for a second, my mind racing. "But what if it doesn't even matter?" I asked, my voice low. "What if I'm wasting my time with Jazmine? She's acting like I did something wrong, and I'm just... not in the mood for all that."

Andre exhaled slowly, letting the words sink in. "Look, man. I get that you're frustrated. But running away from it? That's not the answer. If you care about Jazmine, you don't just give up on her because of a little argument. You don't just walk away. You talk. And yeah, it's gonna be hard, but you can't let it build up into something bigger than it needs to be. You've got to face it head on."

I stared at the engine, not sure if I was ready for that. I wasn't sure if I was even capable of it. "I don't know if I can fix it," I muttered.

"You don't have to fix it alone, man," Andre said, his voice still steady. "But you do have to face it. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't let it fester and ruin everything."

I stayed quiet for a minute, letting his words hang in the air. He was right, but that didn't make it easier. "I'll think about it," I finally said, though I wasn't sure if that was enough.

Andre smiled, but it wasn't some smug smile. It was a small, knowing smile. "That's all I'm asking. Now, let's get back to work, huh? Don't let your head mess up these cars."

I nodded, and for the first time since I got here, I felt a little lighter. Maybe I didn't have all the answers yet, but at least I knew I had to stop running from this.

The day was winding down, the sun dipping behind the horizon, casting long shadows across the street. The hum of activity had quieted in the neighborhood, and as much as I wanted to keep working on the cars, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to concentrate. The tension from earlier was still gnawing at me, and my mind kept racing back to Jazmine. I hated feeling this way—confused, irritated, like nothing made sense anymore.

I was under the hood of the last car, tweaking the engine, when Andre's voice broke through my thoughts. "Hey, I'm gonna head out to my buddy's place for a bit. Feel free to walk around the house if you need a break. You want a drink, use the bathroom, whatever. I'll be back in a bit."

I nodded, still feeling a little out of it. "Yeah, thanks, Andre," I muttered.

He gave me a pat on the shoulder before disappearing into the house, leaving me alone with my thoughts. And with the silence, I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had gone wrong today. Jazmine, the argument, the silent ride—what was I even doing anymore?

Before I could talk myself into packing up and leaving, I wandered into the house. The lights inside were dimmed, and the smell of dinner still lingered in the air, but it didn't feel like home. I felt out of place, like I didn't belong here. But I was still looking for something—some kind of distraction.

I walked around the living room for a moment before hearing footsteps coming from the hallway. I looked up to see Dominica standing there, her expression that usual mix of curiosity and something else. She knew I'd been working on the cars all day, but I didn't know what else she knew—especially about Jazmine.

"Hey," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You look like you could use a break. You alright?"

I shrugged, trying not to let her see how much I was on edge. "Just... tired, I guess." I rubbed my forehead, trying to push the frustration out of my head.

She stepped a little closer, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind, though. What's going on?"

I hesitated, not sure if I should open up. But she was standing there, too close, her voice calm and inviting. And honestly, I was so damn frustrated with Jazmine I didn't know what else to do with myself.

"Me and Jazmine... things aren't great right now," I finally admitted. "She's pissed at me for not showing up to some block party thing. And I don't know. Everything feels off. It's like she's got all this baggage, and I'm just stuck trying to fix it. I don't know if I'm the one she even wants anymore."

Dominica's eyes widened a bit, but there was something almost pleased about her reaction. She stepped a little closer, her tone softer now. "That sucks. You don't deserve all that stress. I mean, if she really cared, she wouldn't leave you hanging like that, right?"

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of her words. "I don't know what she wants, honestly," I muttered. "I'm just so... frustrated, and it feels like no matter what I do, it's not enough. It's just one thing after another. I'm just—"

"Sexually frustrated?" she interrupted, her voice now a little lower. She was standing even closer now, close enough that I could smell her perfume. I couldn't help but notice how her body was angled towards me.

I stared at her, unsure if she was baiting me or just trying to be friendly. But the way she looked at me—it wasn't the same as before. There was something different in her eyes, something that made my gut twist. She was leaning into me, and I could feel the energy shift between us.

"Look, I get it," she continued, her voice softer but more insistent now. "I know things with Jazmine are messy. And I can't imagine what that feels like, being stuck in that kind of situation. But you don't have to deal with it alone, you know?" She reached out, placing a hand on my arm.

Her touch was light, but there was an underlying pressure, a silent invitation. "You don't have to take all that stress home with you. I could... help you let it all go. You've been working hard, you deserve a little relief." Her voice was smooth, coaxing.

I froze for a second, my mind spinning. What the hell was she doing? I knew exactly what this was—Dominica had always been the kind of girl who didn't take no for an answer. But damn, I was in a place where I felt so exposed, so pissed off and confused about Jazmine. I just wanted something to feel good, something to make it all go away.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but before I could, Dominica was closer, her breath warm against my ear. "Just a little relief. You won't regret it, Huey."

I knew what she was offering, and it was tempting. But the guilt was already starting to weigh on me. It felt like I was on the edge of crossing a line, a line I wasn't sure I could come back from. But before I could fully react, something shifted. Maybe it was the sound of Andre's footsteps returning, or maybe it was my own conscience finally kicking in. I pulled back, stepping away from her.

"I... can't do this," I said, the words coming out with more force than I intended. "This isn't right. I'm not like that."

Dominica's smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered, her posture still open and confident. "Suit yourself, Huey. But remember, I'm here if you change your mind."

I turned, heading for the door without another word. My heart was pounding, and I couldn't get out of that house fast enough. I felt like I had barely escaped something I shouldn't have gotten near.

As I walked out of the house and into the cool night air, I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. I was so pissed at Jazmine, but I knew deep down that if I let that temptation go any further, I'd regret it.

I wasn't that guy. But damn, I came close.

Huey's hands gripped the wheel tightly, the engine of his car roaring as he sped through the streets of Woodcrest. It was already morning, and the block party had long ended. He hadn't planned on staying at Andre's place this long. He hadn't planned on any of it. But now, all he wanted was to get back to his neighborhood, to clear his mind, and to somehow fix things.

By the time Huey got to his grandfather's house, the sun was rising. It felt surreal—like everything had happened too quickly. He hadn't even been to the block party, and here he was, unsure of where he stood with Jazmine. He used the spare key to let himself inside, the house quiet except for the soft snoring of his grandfather and Riley, who must've been wiped out from the festivities.

Huey made his way up to his old room—the one he used to share with his thoughts, his girls, his peace. The place felt foreign to him now, like a stranger's house. It was supposed to be his sanctuary, but in that moment, it just reminded him of the mess he'd gotten himself into.

For almost an hour, he sat there, lost in thought. He couldn't stop thinking about Jazmine—about their argument, about what had happened, and what he hadn't done yet. He still didn't know how to fix things, or if they could even be fixed. The feeling of being stuck was suffocating.

Then there was a knock on his door.

Huey wasn't expecting anyone. The only person crazy enough to show up this early would be Uncle Ruckus. When he opened the door, though, it wasn't Ruckus. It was Jazmine.

She stood there, her face the same, but her eyes were different. There was a heaviness in them, something she hadn't shown him before. Her emotional state had shifted completely.

"Hey," Huey said, his surprise barely hidden. "Come on in," he added, stepping aside to let her in.

Jazmine hesitated for a moment before walking in. She didn't say anything right away, just stood there, looking like she was carrying the weight of something unspoken. Huey couldn't read her, not fully. It felt like something had changed between them, something neither of them had quite addressed yet.

"We can go upstairs to my room," Huey offered, trying to offer some normalcy, reaching out to take her hand. She didn't pull away, so he led her up to his room.

They sat in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. Huey wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start. So much had happened, and now they were both trapped in this space where they couldn't go backward, but didn't know how to move forward.

Finally, Huey couldn't hold it in anymore. "Jazmine," he started, his voice a little shaky, "I need to tell you something. I... I almost cheated on you."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and the moment they were out, he felt the weight of them settle between them like a bomb that could explode at any second. "It was with Dominica," Huey admitted. "She came onto me, and I—I didn't stop it right away. But I didn't go through with it. I stopped myself before anything happened. But I messed up. And I don't know what the hell I'm doing, Jazmine."

Jazmine didn't react right away. Her eyes were still on the floor, her hands resting on her lap, like she was trying to hold herself together. The tension in the room was suffocating, and Huey held his breath, waiting for her to say something—anything.

After what felt like an eternity, Jazmine finally spoke. "I'm not mad, Huey," she said softly, her voice almost too quiet to hear. "I get it. You were upset. You're frustrated. I've been there too. I can't blame you for what happened."

Huey stared at her, trying to process her words. She wasn't angry? After what he had just admitted, she wasn't even upset? It was almost like she was saying it didn't matter.

But as much as Jazmine wasn't showing her anger, there was still something in her eyes. Something guarded, something she was hiding. Huey could feel it, but he didn't know what it was. He wanted to ask her what was going on, what was really going through her head, but he couldn't bring himself to push her.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Jazmine," Huey said, his voice filled with frustration. "I feel like everything's falling apart, and I can't figure out how to fix it. And now you're not even mad? I'm just... I don't know what to think."

Jazmine remained quiet for a moment, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. She seemed to be wrestling with something, but Huey couldn't tell what. He wanted to know, but he wasn't sure how to ask without pushing her too far.

"I don't know either," Jazmine finally admitted. "But I don't want to give up on us, Huey. I don't want to keep fighting. But I don't know how we can move forward if things are always like this."

Huey nodded slowly, feeling a heavy weight in his chest. He wanted to tell her that they could fix it, that they would figure it out together. But he didn't know how.

...

It was just another regular day at the garage. I had the usual greasy feel of car parts under my nails, the smell of oil and gas mixing in the air. My mind, however, wasn't on the cars. It was on everything that had happened with Jazmine. Everything felt... stuck. We'd talked, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were just spinning our wheels.

I was working on this old Toyota, pulling apart the engine, trying to focus on the task. Trying to make my hands busy so my mind wouldn't wander. But I knew the truth. There was no fixing what was broken inside of me without talking about it. Without confronting it. But I wasn't sure I was ready for that.

That's when I saw him.

Andre pulled up in his usual low-key manner, dressed in a hoodie like he was trying to blend into the shadows. He didn't belong here, not in this part of town. Everyone knew who he was and where he came from. But today, he wasn't here to stir up trouble.

"Yo," he called out to me as I walked toward him. His voice was low, eyes scanning the parking lot, like he was checking for any trouble.

I nodded at him. "What's up, man? You good?"

He pulled out the envelope, thick with cash, and handed it over to me. "Here's the full payment for the cars, plus a little extra for your trouble. You're doing good work," he said, a nod of approval in his tone.

I grabbed the envelope, slipping it into my pocket. "Thanks, Andre. I appreciate that."

But I knew that wasn't all. I could feel it, the way he was looking at me. His eyes narrowed, like he was sizing me up. I tried to stay cool, but he wasn't letting me off the hook.

He looked me over for a long moment before speaking up again. "How's everything with you and your lady?"

The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I could feel my chest tighten at the mention of Jazmine. The last thing I wanted to talk about was the mess between us. But Andre wasn't letting it slide. He stepped closer, almost like he was pushing me to be real with him.

I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer. "We're still working on it. Just... trying to figure things out," I muttered, not looking him in the eye.

He gave me a long, calculating look. "Still having problems trying to solve it?" His tone was steady, but there was a challenge there. He wasn't just asking for the sake of conversation. He was probing, trying to get me to confront what I was avoiding.

"Yeah, man," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don't know. We've talked and talked, but it feels like we're just stuck in this loop. I don't know where to go from here."

Andre's expression didn't change, but his eyes softened. "Look, man," he started, his voice lowering just a little, "I've been there. You can't let it drag out like this. You can't keep pretending like everything's fine when it's not. You gotta make a decision. Don't let it destroy you, or worse, destroy her too."

I was quiet for a moment, trying to process his words. He wasn't wrong. I knew that. But it didn't make anything easier.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, I heard it.

Gunshots.

Loud. Fast. Close.

The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap, and I froze. Andre's eyes shot to the entrance of the garage, and I could tell he immediately understood what was happening.

"We need to get out of here," he said, his voice urgent, sharp.

I didn't argue. I turned on my heel and motioned for Andre to follow me. We hustled out the back door, moving quickly, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I couldn't help but feel the rush of panic rise in my chest.

We ran to my car, and I slammed the door shut behind me. My heart was racing, but I didn't waste any time. I started the engine, swerving out of the alleyway and speeding down the street. My mind was on high alert, but all I could think about was getting Andre home safely.

"Drive fast," Andre said, his voice cold and focused. He glanced back in the rearview mirror, but there was nothing we could do now. We were out of danger. For the moment.

Once I dropped Andre off at his place, I quickly made my way back to me and Jazmine's place, hoping to get there before my nerves completely shattered.

When I finally made it to the house, my nerves still a tangled mess from everything that had just happened, I was shocked to find Jazmine sitting at the table, tears running down her face. It broke me seeing her like this, especially when I knew it was something serious. Seeing her cry always hit me in a way I couldn't explain. I hated it.

"Jazmine," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper, trying to get her attention.

When she looked up at me, her eyes wide with concern, she shot up from the chair. "Oh my gosh!" she gasped, her voice cracking, rushing toward me. And before I knew it, she was in my arms, holding me tight.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my hands instinctively cupping her face, gently lifting it to examine her, desperate to see if she was hurt.

Her eyes were red, her cheeks flushed from crying, and her nose was running. It was hard to see her this way. "Huey, baby," she cried, voice shaking. "I thought something happened to you! Me and the neighborhood heard gunshots near the garage. I tried calling and I think someone answered, thinking I was the police, but I heard loud shots, and I knew it was there... and I knew you were there... and I got so scared, Huey." Her voice cracked as she spoke, and the pain in her words hit me like a punch in the chest. "I was terrified that someone could've shot and killed you!"

I could feel my heart hammering, hearing her so broken. "Oh baby, Jazz," I whispered, stroking her hair. "I'm perfectly fine. Look at me, I'm right here." I wiped away her tears as gently as I could, trying to calm her. "Look, no bullets, no scratches," I reassured her, lifting my shirt to show her my skin, letting her touch me to be sure.

But she cried harder, the weight of her fear still lingering. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, voice trembling, and I nodded, holding her even tighter.

"I'm okay, Jazz. I swear," I said softly, pressing my forehead to hers.

She shook her head, more tears falling. "Huey, I can't do this... this whole break and being mad at each other over our traumas anymore. I love you, and I hate that it had to be a near-death experience for me to come out and say that... but I really do love you, deep down in my heart," she choked out, her words filled with raw emotion. "And I would hate to lose you... especially when we never got to talk about this."

Her confession hit me right in the gut. I could feel the truth of it, the vulnerability in her voice, and it stirred something deep inside me.

"Jazz," I whispered, brushing my thumb across her cheek to wipe away more of her tears. "It's okay. It's okay. We're gonna work through this. I promise you, whatever it takes." I kissed her forehead, holding her even tighter, feeling her heart pounding in sync with mine.

She locked her emerald eyes onto mine, and for a moment, I was completely lost in them. It was the most intimate we'd been in so long, and everything between us—the distance, the pain, the confusion—felt like it didn't matter anymore. It was just us.

Without thinking, we both leaned in at the same time, our lips meeting in a kiss that was warm, passionate, and full of everything we'd both been craving. The urgency, the need to connect, to feel something real after all the distance... it was all there, in that kiss.

I touched her everywhere, letting my hands roam over her body, wanting to feel her close to me in a way that was more than just physical. I cupped her ass, pulling her body flush against mine, feeling the heat of her against me. Without a second thought, I picked her up, her legs wrapping around my waist, and I carried her to the bedroom.

There, we didn't hold back. It was just the two of us, letting everything spill out in one desperate, passionate release. The world outside didn't matter, because in that moment, nothing mattered more than being with her—being with each other.

After we both realized this was the night we'd finally be together, I needed a moment to freshen up—covered in oil from the garage work. Stepping into the bathroom, I quickly showered, the hot water washing away the tension, but when I stepped out, my heart raced again. I was down to nothing but my boxers, feeling the weight of anticipation.

When I opened the door, I saw Jazmine lying under the covers, waiting. The look in her eyes was undeniable—full of longing and desire. It sent a rush of heat through me.

"You ready?" I asked, my voice tight with the nerves I couldn't shake. My heart was pounding in my chest, because, damn, I had been waiting for this moment. For us.

She didn't answer with words—just a playful flick under the covers. She tossed her pink panties at me, and I caught them easily, a smirk tugging at my lips. I loved her boldness, the way she teased me even in moments like this. I dropped them to the floor, making my way to my side of the bed, and as I lifted the covers, I got a glimpse of her fully naked body. That was all it took. I couldn't control it anymore—my body reacted instantly, my boxers straining as my desire for her grew more urgent.

I had been craving this—longing for her in a way that felt like it had been building up for weeks. I needed her. I needed to feel every inch of her, hear her moan my name, and feel the bed move under us as we came together. My desire was overwhelming, and there was no turning back now.

I got close to her, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her into a spooning position. My lips found her shoulder first, placing soft kisses there. She moaned softly, and I moved to her neck, teasing her with gentle kisses that made her laugh, followed by a soft moan. The sound of her pleasure drove me wild. I kissed her cheek next, feeling her hum against me with contentment.

And with every kiss, my hands slid lower, finding their place on her, the moment finally unfolding in a way I had been longing for. I slipped my fingers in her clit and just started putting motion into. As I was kissing her she moaned under her breath. This was just me getting started.We parted for a brief moment as Jazmine shifted her attention to the nightstand. Her voice was soft but firm."Huey, the condom."

"Oh, right," I murmured, quickly leaning over to pull one from the drawer. My hands moved with urgency, yet there was a tenderness in the moment—an unspoken understanding passing between us.

I stripped off my boxers, rolling the condom on with practiced ease, and when I turned back to her, she was still watching me, her emerald eyes full of anticipation.

No more hesitation. No more distance.

What followed was a night of deep, passionate love—one we had both craved for far too long.

The next morning, Jazmine and I were curled up under the covers, completely wrapped in each other. It felt... right. Her head was resting on my chest, her breath slow and steady, like she was listening to the rhythm of my heartbeat. I could feel the warmth of her body against mine, and for the first time in a while, everything felt calm.

"I missed this feeling," she said, her voice soft but sincere, as her hand gently moved in circular motions on my chest.

"Me too," I huskily replied, my voice a little thicker than usual as I squeezed her ass, pulling her even closer.

We stayed like that, lost in the comfort of each other's company, our bodies tangled together. This felt like peace, a rare, precious moment. I thought about everything that had happened recently—the gunshots, the fear of losing each other—and it hit me just how much I craved this. This was the first time in a long while we were truly connected, and it was perfect.

It was almost funny. I had to think about how, sometimes, it felt like the less we were together, the more we appreciated the moments we shared. Maybe that's the secret to a relationship—figuring out the balance between the time apart and the time spent together. And last night... last night was unforgettable. It wasn't just the intimacy. It was the closeness, the vulnerability.

I wanted this to last. I wanted us to stay like this forever.

But then, Jazmine broke the silence, her voice slightly hesitant, but there was something in her eyes—something that told me this was important to her.

"Huey, I have a favor to ask," she said, absentmindedly playing with her hair that was flowing freely now, a little wild, but beautiful.

"Yeah, what's up?" I asked, a little curious.

"I was wondering if you could come to my awards ceremony?" She glanced up at me with those pleading eyes, and I could tell this meant a lot to her.

"When is it supposed to be?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"In two weeks," she said, a bit surprised herself, almost as if she couldn't believe it. "I heard I was supposed to be getting an award for my hard work as a nurse."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. I mean, I knew she was great at her job, but hearing she'd be recognized for it was something else. But honestly, I didn't expect

for nurses, especially not in a place she'd described as "a little ghetto."

Still, I could see how much this meant to her. And in that moment, I realized just how much I wanted to support her. I nodded slowly.

"Of course," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'd be honored to be there."

...

When Jazmine and I arrived at the hospital for the banquet, I won't lie — I was nervous about meeting her coworkers. I couldn't really explain why. Maybe it was the reputation: doctors and nurses can sometimes be judgmental, a little too open, too comfortable with their opinions. And Jazmine, since she didn't keep in close contact with her parents anymore, kind of found new people to look up to.

Sometimes, when we're at home, I catch moments where she wants to call Sarah, just to talk. We didn't do that often, partly because of the phone bill back in the day — but more so because Tom and Sarah never really saw us in a good light. They always looked down on us. And Jazmine... she hated that.

I remember when we first settled into the grind of adult life — she called Sarah to talk about how overwhelming everything was. But Sarah met her with that "I told you so" energy. I get it, in a way. From the outside looking in, maybe it did seem like we were struggling. But when you're barely holding on mentally, the last thing you need is someone rubbing it in.

We were heading up in the elevator, and Jazmine was holding my hand a little tighter than usual. She was nervous. I looked over at her.
"You good?" I asked, checking in.

"Yeah... I'm fine," she said, but her voice didn't match the words.

And if there's one universal truth — it's that when a woman says she's "fine," she's anything but.
"What's really going on?" I pressed gently.

She hesitated before answering. "I'm getting this nurse award tonight... and honestly? I don't feel like I deserve it. It doesn't even feel worth it."

I looked at her, confused. "What do you mean? From what you've told me, you're always here giving everything you've got. You bust your ass to make sure your patients feel safe, comfortable — seen."

She sighed. "I know. But sometimes... it all feels pointless. I mean, yeah, I care about people, but I don't want to spend my life stuck in this hospital. I feel like there's more to life than this. I don't think either of us is doing what we're really passionate about. We're working long hours at jobs that don't value us, for pay that barely supports us. And if we're going to put school on pause, maybe we need to rethink how we're doing this."

And she wasn't wrong. Her words hit me harder than I expected. It did feel like we were just... existing. Surviving. Not living. We barely saw our friends, barely talked to family — and even when we had time, we were too tired to enjoy it.

I know Grandad and Riley have noticed. They give me that look sometimes — the one that says, "Where've you been?"They always tell me they see the others more than they see us. And truth is, that is kind of sad. Maybe Tom and Sarah, maybe even Grandad... maybe they were right about some things. But that didn't mean they understood us.

Still, standing there in that elevator, hearing the weariness in Jazmine's voice, it made me realize just how much this life had been weighing on both of us.

"Sadly... I agree," I admitted, my voice low. "I can't help but feel like maybe we took a wrong turn somewhere. But honestly... I don't know where we go from here."

"I don't know either," Jazmine replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I do know we shouldn't be living at our jobs. We can start looking for something better — somewhere we're actually appreciated. Somewhere that pays a little more and offers decent benefits... maybe even a few discounts that don't feel like a slap in the face."

"Yeah... that sounds like the move," I said, nodding slowly. "But it's okay. We'll figure it out."

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, just enough to let her know I was right there with her — even if neither of us had the answers yet.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing the banquet floor in front of us. A warm golden hue lit the space, casting a soft glow across polished floors and elegantly decorated tables. I stepped out first, instinctively leading us out, and Jazmine gently squeezed my hand. She rested her forehead against my shoulder — just briefly — a silent gesture of affection that made my heart steady itself a bit. It was her way of grounding us both.

I scanned the room, already trying to find a table tucked away in a quieter corner. Preferably empty. I wasn't in the mood to socialize, and honestly, I rarely ever am. I didn't know anyone here like that — and based on the way Jazmine fussed after work, she didn't like most of them either. The only names I ever heard her speak of in a positive light were Dr. Anderson and Ms. Grace — her bosses. I'd never met Dr. Anderson in person, but I vaguely remembered Ms. Grace from that one time I picked Jazmine up after a long shift.

Right on cue, they spotted us and started making their way over.

"Hi, Jazmine and Huey!" Ms. Grace greeted us with genuine excitement, her smile wide and welcoming.

"Hi Ms. Grace and Dr. Anderson!" Jazmine replied, her own tone lighting up with familiarity. It was clear she was happy to see them — or at least, Ms. Grace.

Dr. Anderson, on the other hand, looked... off. There was something about his expression — not quite annoyed, but definitely not warm. He didn't smile, didn't nod. Just looked like he had something on his mind that had been sitting there all day, bothering him.

"I'm glad you could make it in time," Ms. Grace said warmly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, we got the times mixed up," Jazmine responded smoothly, though I knew that was a flat-out lie. I had to hold back from smirking because she knew good and well why we were almost late. If we hadn't pressed pause on what could have happened before we left, we definitely wouldn't have made it. She wanted to go there — I mean really go there — but I made her wait. I'm not the "quickie before dinner" type. I like taking my time. Make it feel like something, not just a rush job. I told her we could save all that energy for later. But man... she was waiting. The whole car ride over she kept throwing those looks. Like I was her next meal and she was starving. I couldn't even hold eye contact for too long — those hazel eyes would've pulled me under. And when she touched my leg? Temptation. But I stayed strong.

"That's fine!" Ms. Grace said, waving it off with a smile.

"We can all go take a seat at one of the tables," she added.

"That would be nice," Jazmine said, linking her arm through mine as we followed behind Ms. Grace.

She led us to a table near the center of the room, cozy enough for four. As Ms. Grace settled in, I stepped ahead and pulled Jazmine's chair out for her, gently guiding her to sit. I caught Dr. Anderson out the corner of my eye — he moved like he was going to do the same, but paused the moment he saw me already doing it.

"Aww, such a gentleman," Ms. Grace commented, clearly pleased. "It's good to know there's still a little chivalry left in men these days."

"He is a gentleman," Jazmine replied, full of that soft, love-struck tone she gets when she's proud of me. I could tell she liked it — and honestly, I liked that she noticed. But it always amazes me how something as basic as chivalry is still considered impressive. That should be the floor, not the ceiling.

"Yeah, but Jazmine," Ms. Grace added with a nudge, "don't you think it'd be respectful to introduce Huey to Dr. Anderson?"

"Oh, right," Jazmine said, snapping back into hostess mode. "Huey, this is Dr. James Anderson — the doctor I work beside at the hospital. And Dr. Anderson, this is Huey Freeman — my boyfriend I've told you about a few times."

I stood, keeping it respectful, and extended my hand. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Anderson. Jazmine's told me a lot about you."

He took my hand, but there was something... hesitant about it. The kind of handshake that's supposed to be polite but carries a message underneath. His grip was just a touch too firm, like he was trying to size me up. Or test something.

"It's nice to meet you too, Huey," he said finally. "She tells me a lot about you."

"Wonder what," I said with a smirk, glancing over at Jazmine — trying to ease the tension hanging in the air. But I wasn't the only one who noticed it. Dr. Anderson wasn't hiding it well. That awkward handshake? That pause when he saw me pull out Jazmine's chair? It didn't feel random. It felt deliberate. Like he was uncomfortable — or territorial. Either way, I clocked it.

And I didn't forget it.

"Nice ring!" Dr. Anderson pointed out, his eyes flicking to my hand with a kind of sharp curiosity.

"Oh, thanks, it's my father's ring and also my engagement ring," I said, pulling my hand back slightly, not missing the way his expression shifted. His face practically froze in place.

"Engagement?" Dr. Anderson repeated, voice clipped and disbelieving, like he couldn't quite wrap his head around it.

"Yeah, I'm not sure if she has told you guys, but Jazmine and I are engaged," I revealed casually, though I watched his face closely. And man, it was like all the color drained from his face in real time. His whole vibe darkened like a storm cloud had passed over him. You'd think I just told him the building was on fire.

"Really, that is so beautiful, I'm happy for you guys!" Ms. Grace chimed in, her face lighting up with genuine joy. "Jazmine, why didn't you tell us you were engaged?"

"I honestly didn't want any messy people to have negative comments. I don't want any negativity blocking my happiness," Jazmine replied, her tone calm but guarded, like she'd had to say this before.

"That's understandable!" Ms. Grace nodded in agreement, clearly trying to keep the good vibes flowing.

"Yeah, but when did you two get engaged?" Dr. Anderson asked, turning his attention solely to Jazmine now. His voice had shifted—more sharp, almost interrogative.

"We got engaged not too long ago," Jazmine said, playing with her ring absentmindedly, clearly thrown off a bit by his energy.

"How long is not too long ago?" Dr. Anderson pressed, his voice edging toward demanding. My jaw clenched. The hell is this dude's problem? This was starting to feel more like an interrogation than small talk. If he kept going down this road, we were gonna have an issue.

"Almost two months ago," Jazmine answered, her voice still even. I glanced at Dr. Anderson. His face twitched ever so slightly before he caught himself and smoothed it over with a stiff expression.

"Interesting. That's nice," he said with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. The sarcasm in his tone was thick enough to choke on.

"So, when are the two of you getting married?" Ms. Grace asked, thankfully shifting the energy back to something lighter.

"We don't have a specific date, yet," I responded truthfully.

"What?" Ms. Grace blinked, a bit puzzled.

"Oh, we don't have a specific date when we're going to have a wedding, but we are going to get our marriage licenses when we earn enough money to pay the fee," Jazmine explained with simple grace.

"Okay, that's not bad," Ms. Grace smiled, clearly trying to be supportive.

"Yeah, so Huey, what do you do for a living?" Dr. Anderson asked, tone laced with an edge like he was already forming an opinion before I even answered.

"I fix up cars," I said plainly, watching him.

"Ohh, that seems beneficial," Ms. Grace said, actually seeming impressed.

"Yeah, in some ways," I mumbled, glancing down briefly. Truth be told, the pay wasn't great, and mechanics didn't get the respect they deserved.

"Do you like fixing cars?" Dr. Anderson asked, leaning forward slightly. It felt like he was poking holes, trying to find something to dismiss.

"Not really, but it keeps me busy," I replied honestly. No use pretending. I'd rather live in my truth than fake it for anyone—especially him.

"What do you plan on doing in the future since you don't have that much interest in cars?" he asked again, pressing like he was waiting for me to crack.

"I plan on going to school to study being a lawyer," I said with steady conviction.

"Oh, what made you want to be a lawyer? Your parents?" Dr. Anderson asked, clearly fishing for a story that fit his assumptions. I shook my head.

"Not exactly. I want to be a lawyer because I feel like people in my community are wrongly accused of crimes they didn't commit and they suffer unreasonable punishments. So, my plan is to get inside the system and help them from there," I said, letting the passion behind my words speak for itself.

"That's not bad!" Ms. Grace smiled, genuinely impressed again.

"It isn't, but it's not as easy as you would think," Dr. Anderson cut in, his tone shifting into something that sounded like a warning. "The system has its ways of controlling people and taking advantage of its own workers. You might be inside of the system, but it's not going to be guaranteed you get the same privileges as your coworkers who'll get the cases you want. They give certain cases to certain attorneys for a reason. They either want the person in jail or out of jail. There's no in between. They'll even have a certain jury who'll attend."

"I'm aware of this. I know that I can possibly not get what I want, but if I make a name for myself and earn respect, then maybe I can take advantage of it," I replied, looking him straight in the eye. I wasn't about to be discouraged, not by him, not by anyone. Not when I've come this far already.

"Okay, I'm just saying as an FYI," Dr. Anderson said, his voice dipped in that smug, know-it-all tone that made it feel more like a warning than friendly advice.

"Got it," I replied flatly, not even bothering to give him my full attention. He wasn't worth the energy.

"Okay, aside from that, how long have you two known each other?" Ms. Grace asked, her tone soft and genuinely curious. She leaned forward a bit, her eyes flicking between me and Jazmine like she was watching the beginning of a love story unfold.

"We've known each other since we were ten," I said with pride, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

"Oh wow, ten?" Ms. Grace echoed, clearly impressed.

"Yes, and we've been together since we were 16," Jazmine chimed in, her voice gentle but confident.

"Ohh, so you're finna go on three years being together?" Ms. Grace asked, lighting up with that warm admiration only people who believe in young love can give. Jazmine and I nodded proudly, sharing a small glance that carried years of memories.

"That's nice. How are the two of you going to celebrate?" she asked, still beaming.

"Maybe taking off work and spending time together. My boss is being a little easy on me about me taking days off," I said, a bit more relieved. Honestly, I preferred staying in with Jazmine—those quiet moments at home with her meant more to me than anything flashy. Lately, I noticed she'd been spending more time at the house too. Maybe she felt the same.

"That'll be good," Ms. Grace said with a warm smile. "Nowadays all people want to do is go out and spend money on unnecessary things. It's good you two aren't focused on materialistic things and are actually going to spend quality time together as a couple."

"Yeah," Dr. Anderson mumbled, his tone dry and distant like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"I need to step away for a little bit," Dr. Anderson said as he stood up from his seat.

"Okay, just make sure you're back before we start handing out awards," Ms. Grace called after him.

As he left the banquet room, disappearing without another word, I honestly felt a weight lift off my chest. The man had been pushing my buttons all night. I started to relax again—until I felt a slow movement under the table.

A hand slid gently across my thigh.

I turned slightly and caught Jazmine's gaze—soft, playful, filled with that spark I knew all too well. Her lips curled into that flirty little smile, and suddenly my frustration melted into warmth.

"Ms. Grace, do you mind if Huey and I step away from the banquet so I can show him around this place?" Jazmine asked, sounding perfectly sweet and innocent.

She gave my leg another teasing stroke, sending a pulse through me that nearly made me forget we weren't alone.

Ms. Grace gave her a knowing look and chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetie! Take your time—just make sure you're back in time for the awards." She winked, and Jazmine grinned in return.

"Thanks!" Jazmine chirped as she rose from her chair. I followed, our fingers intertwining as naturally as ever.

As we walked toward the elevators, she added a little sway to her hips—playful, subtle, and meant just for me. My heart thudded a little harder. She knew exactly what she was doing.

As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Jazmine spun around and pressed me against the wall. There was a fire in her emerald eyes I hadn't seen in a minute—intense, hungry, but still soft in that way only she could be. Her lips crashed into mine like she'd been holding it in all night.

I kissed her back, hands gripping her waist, pulling her closer until there wasn't space between us. She tasted like lip gloss and secrets. My pulse jumped when her hands slipped beneath my shirt, fingertips brushing against bare skin.

"You really couldn't wait, huh?" I breathed out against her mouth, teasing but barely holding it together.

"No," she whispered, voice low. Her eyes searched mine, like she needed to remind herself I was real. "Not after the way he was looking at you... like you didn't belong here with me."

I blinked. That caught me off guard. "You saw that too?"

She nodded, resting her forehead lightly against my chest. "Yeah. I hate that look."

I hesitated. "What's Dr. Anderson's deal with me anyway? The whole time we were talking, he was being fake polite. Like smiling with a knife in his hand."

She let out a tired breath and leaned back to look at me, brushing a curl from my face. "He's just... complicated. He has this way of being overly critical of people he doesn't really know."

"Feels personal though," I muttered.

Jazmine offered a small shrug, trying to downplay it. "He just thinks I shouldn't be dating anyone at this age. Or really... focusing on relationships at all. He wants me to be about my career, nothing else."

"Still sounds like he just doesn't like me."

"I think he just doesn't understand you. Not yet, anyway," she said quickly, her tone gentle but not entirely convincing. "Besides, with everything I've been through... he tries to look out for me in his own way. Ms. Grace too. They kind of stepped in when my dad stopped showing up."

That sat weird with me. A doctor who watches over her like a father—but glares at me like a threat?

I didn't press. Not right now.

"Either way," she added, reaching for my hand, "I knew you were uncomfortable, and I wanted to get you out of that room. That's all."

She smiled at me, soft and flirtatious, like the tension had already melted. But mine hadn't. Not fully.

The elevator gave a soft ding, landing on some random floor, but neither of us moved. I kissed her again—slower this time—letting my fingers find their way into her curls, grounding myself in what I knew. What I trusted.

When we finally pulled apart, her forehead rested against mine. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Let's find somewhere quiet. Just for a few minutes."

I nodded, heart thudding. "Lead the way."

Jazmine gently pulled my hand as we made our way out of the elevator. The hallway was eerily quiet—no nurses, no doctors, just the sound of our footsteps. I couldn't help but notice the way she walked, each step deliberate, pulling me deeper into the tension that had been building all night. Her every move was calculated, but it felt effortless, like she knew exactly what she was doing to drive me crazy.

As we moved further down the hall, I could feel the heat building between us, a slow burn that only seemed to grow with each passing second. She led me to a room at the end of the hall, checking the door to make sure it was unlocked. Jazmine peeked her head inside, scanning the space for anyone, and once she was satisfied, she pulled me in, shutting the door behind us with a soft click.

"Okay, the coast is clear," she whispered, her voice low and filled with promise.

"Great," I murmured, stepping closer to her. "Now, where were we?"

I pulled her into me, crashing my lips against hers. The kiss was deep and urgent, like we couldn't get enough of each other. When we finally pulled apart, her eyes were dark, filled with the same desire that was burning in me.

"Oh, now you're in the mood?" she said, a playful smirk tugging at her lips, though I could tell she was relieved.

I chuckled softly, running my fingers through her hair. "I never said I wasn't in the mood. I just wanted to wait for a little more privacy." I slid my hands down her back, pulling her closer as if there was nowhere else I wanted to be.

Her breath hitched slightly as I lifted her effortlessly, my lips still on hers. She wrapped her legs around me, and I began walking towards the far side of the room. The walls felt like the perfect place to hold her up, just in case someone happened to stumble in.

"Mhm, that one over there," Jazmine murmured, pointing to one of the beds in the corner, her voice low but filled with anticipation.

I shrugged with a grin, knowing exactly what she wanted, and moved toward the bed. As I gently propped her onto it, she gave me a seductive look that made my heart race. Without missing a beat, she slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders, and I knew we were both beyond the point of stopping.

I started to unbutton my shirt, the heat between us almost unbearable now. Neither of us had to say a word; we both knew where this was going. I slid off my shirt then made my way intounbuckling my pants. I was trying to get all pieces of clothing off along with Jazmine who slid off her dress and remove some of herjewelry. The only piece of clothing she had on was her g-string. "You might as well take those off too," I said referring to her panties.

"You wanna do the honors?" Jazmine softly asked raising her legs. I smirked at her. I slid my hands down her soft legs and made my way to her strings where I pulled them so off her legs. I tossed them to who knows where. Jazmine started to rub her hands up and down my body. She eventually made her way to my dick.

At first, she started to play around with it. Teasing me. She kept throwing those seductive glances at me until she eventually slipped it in her mouth. It was a struggle but she found her way around. Most of the time when Jazmine and I have sex, she keeps her composure to extent, but this version of her during sex was just unreal. I never seen this side to her. I seen it but Jazmine is always acting innocent. Plus I normally take the lead, which is why this feels different to me.

Jazmine was giving me head and it was good. She wasn't really trying to deep throat me asmuch, but more so mess around with the tip. It nice and warm every time she swirled up tongue around it. It was just getting me worked up especially when she yet again kept throwing those looks at me. I eventually wanted to get some action in myself. I wrapped my head behind the back of her head and decided to giver her a little help. I wasn't going to make her go fast, just keep her at a steady pace. There were moments would I have just have it sit there in mouth to see she could take it. I love seeing the struggle sometimes.

When she pulled away and looked satisfied I was flattered. I felt like I was smiling at her like a dork. "You're already on your way to climaxing," Jazmine pointed out. I looked down to see I had a little coming out. "Imma do what I need to do make us both satisfied, but just letting you know this going to be part 1 and part 2will be when we get home and we're alone," I assured her.

"Alright, Mr. Freeman!" she teased.

I flipped her over on her hands and knees and just went in on her. Her moans was trying to use her hand to slow me down, but I made sure to not let that stop ain't as strong as she thinks she is. Deep down I know she likes it when I don't hold back in some areas.

What I loved about Jazmine now is how she's showing her dominant side. At first, I wasn't too sure about it, but now? It's straight up satisfying to see her take control, enjoying herself in a way that only she can. And honestly, I get a kick out of it. She talks all that big girl shit, thinking she can one-up me, but when she looks at me like that? I can't help but think, if you're gonna talk like a boss, you better be ready to take it like one, too.

Her trying to grab any type of sheet from the bed was killing me. I was loving the struggle. Eventually, she got some type of grip. Next, I lifted her up and started to fuck her while standing up. She was bouncing up and down off my dick. I wish we had cameras so I could see this from certain angles. Then I had her on her back and this was my favorite. She climaxed when I was talking her through. I had her twisted in every whichway. Needless to say she came before I did. She was just laying there in her stuff all exhausted.

Once again, I praised myself because I had her almost wanting to go to sleep, but then she remembered she had a whole banquet she had to be at. And we were gone for quite a long time. We had to get dress and go back to the party. The way Jazmine and I were after the elevator ride was electric. We were both still riding high on the moment, and neither of us could look away from each other. There was something in the air, something more than just the physical connection we'd just shared—it felt like we were in our own little world, untouched by everything else around us.

As we stepped off the elevator and back into the banquet, everything felt distant, like the party was happening on a different planet. I couldn't stop myself from pulling her onto the dance floor. I wasn't much of a dancer, but tonight, I didn't care. With Jazmine in my arms, all that mattered was her, her presence, the way her emerald green eyes looked at me like I was the only person in the room. I was lost in her, and I think she was lost in me too.

For a moment, everything went still. Jazmine's eyes flickered away for just a second before she rested her head on my shoulder, and we just swayed to the music, letting the rhythm of the night take us wherever it wanted. The world outside of us didn't matter; it was just her and me, wrapped up in a moment that felt like it was ours alone.

But then, the announcement came. Jazmine's name echoed through the room as she was called up for her award. She looked up at me, her smile full of warmth and pride, and I knew right then that everything had changed between us. This night wasn't just another evening in the past; it was a pivotal moment in our relationship, one I knew would stick with us forever.

As Jazmine made her way to the stage, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about the future. I could see it all: the life we'd build together, the family we'd create, the house we'd turn into a home. I wanted to give her everything she deserved. She deserved the world and more. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we'd face them together—stronger than ever.

...

Looking back, Jazmine and Huey's relationship had never been perfect. It wasn't easy, not by any stretch. There were times when it felt like everything was falling apart, when the weight of their challenges seemed too heavy to bear. But through it all, they never gave up on each other. They fought through the storms, stayed by each other's side, and weathered every difficult moment, always coming out stronger.

There was a time, though, when Huey questioned Jazmine's love for him. He couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that she had once cared for James, maybe even loved him. It hurt, especially because of the way things had been between them. But as time went on, Jazmine chose him. She chose him over everything else. And he chose her, without a second thought. In her eyes, he could see it—the unspoken truth. She was his, and he was hers.

Huey had never been tempted by the attention of other women. No matter how many threw themselves at him, he never gave them a second glance. His heart had always known where home was—it was with Jazmine. But even though their love was strong, Huey couldn't help but wish things had been different. He wished Jazmine hadn't felt the need to sacrifice so much, to sell herself just to help him get ahead. He wanted more for her, wanted to give her the world without her having to give up anything. Yet, despite the circumstances, Jazmine still made the effort to reach out to him, to show him that he was always on her mind.

Jazmine left with Huelene, not because she didn't love Huey, but because she couldn't bear to burden him with everything she was going through. She knew he would've dropped everything to care for her, but Jazmine, in her quiet strength, didn't want him to carry that weight. But even with all the pain, all the mistakes, Huey knew that Jazmine had always been more than just a lover to him. She had been his friend first.

That bond—their friendship—had always been the foundation of everything between them. No matter what had happened, no matter the hurt or the missteps, Jazmine would always be someone Huey held close to his heart. The world could never truly understand it, but for Huey, it was simple. In the end, love was about more than just the moments of joy—it was about sticking together, facing the hardest times, and always coming back to each other.

As Huey sat in his chair, he felt a rare sense of acceptance wash over him, like the weight of the world was lifting off his shoulders. It wasn't much, but it was something—something that told him he was finally in the right place, emotionally. His eyes shifted to Huelene, watching her play with his daughter, and for a moment, a quiet smile tugged at his lips. It was as if Jazmine's spirit had been passed down to Huelene. Seeing the way she interacted with her daughter, how tender and playful she was, gave him a glimpse of the woman Jazmine could've been with their child. His heart swelled with a bittersweet kind of joy, the kind that comes with knowing how deeply love can stretch, even through loss.

After a while, most of the family decided to step outside to enjoy the fresh air and nature, but Huey remained where he was. The quiet in the room gave him a moment of peace, and soon enough, Huelene and Jazmine's daughter (the one he had with his ex-wife, Adaline) decided to have a photoshoot with the girls. Their laughter and playful poses filled the space with warmth, and Huey found himself smiling at the scene. It was almost like a celebration of life, a reminder that through all the chaos and the pain, there were still moments like this—beautiful and simple.

Taking the opportunity to relax, Huey let himself unwind for a while. Adaline, always the one to keep things running smoothly, took a break from her duties in the kitchen, letting the food cook in the oven while she too watched the girls outside. Huey saw this as the perfect chance to have a quiet moment with his ex-wife. He got up from his seat and walked into the kitchen, where the scent of dinner filled the air.

"How you doing up in here? You need any help?" Huey asked casually, knowing full well that the answer would probably be no. Adaline gave him a sideways glance, her usual sharpness evident.

"No, I don't need any help. I'm almost done with the food," she replied, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

"How are you doing, sir?" Adaline asked, noticing how he seemed to be zoned out for a moment. "Something wrong?"

Huey hesitated for a second before responding. The moment of silence told Adaline everything she needed to know—there was something bothering him, something he wasn't ready to share. She crossed her arms, studying him with a knowing gaze.

"It's nothing," Huey began, but the weight of the truth was undeniable. "I was just thinking of Jazmine, Huelene's mother."

Adaline's face tightened slightly, a wave of pain flashing through her eyes. It was still fresh, the knowledge that Huey's heart no longer belonged to her. Six months had passed since she found out, but it still hurt—more than she cared to admit. She had come to terms with the fact that their marriage was over, but hearing Huey talk about Jazmine still felt like a jab in the chest. She tried to swallow the bitterness, though it lingered just beneath the surface.

"I didn't know you were still thinking about her," Adaline said, her voice softer now. She'd never wanted to seem bitter, but it was hard to ignore the truth. Huey's heart had shifted long ago, and she was left picking up the pieces of a broken reality.

Huey met her gaze, sensing the pain in her words. "It's not easy," he said, his voice low. "But you know how it is. Jazmine... she's been a part of my life in a way I can't ignore. And now, Huelene... she's a part of that too."

Adaline nodded slowly, understanding more than she let on. She had always known how deeply Huey had loved Jazmine, even when they were married. It was just one of those things she never fully accepted, but now, seeing the love he had for their daughter, it made sense. Jazmine's presence, even in absence, was woven into their lives.

"Yeah," Adaline said quietly, turning back to the stove. "I guess she'll always be a part of you."

Huey sighed, glancing out the window where the girls were still laughing. "I just want things to be better for Huelene. For everyone."

There was a long pause before Adaline spoke again. "I know. And I'm glad you're there for her. For Huelene."

Huey looked at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He knew their marriage had ended, but he still respected Adaline—more than anyone realized. She was the mother of his child, and even though their paths had diverged, there was a bond that couldn't be broken.

"Thanks," Huey said quietly, the words simple but filled with meaning. "I'll always be there for her, for you too."

Adaline gave him a small, almost wistful smile, and for a brief moment, the tension between them eased. There was still a lot of unspoken pain, but in that kitchen, for just a moment, it felt like they were in a place of quiet understanding.

"If you don't mind me asking," Adaline began, her voice measured but curious, "what does Huelene's mother look like? Do you... do you have a picture of her?"

Huey hesitated, his fingers instinctively curling around the edge of his phone as a small wave of discomfort rolled over him. Talking about Jazmine was one thing, but showing her face—especially to Adaline—felt like opening a door that had long been shut.

"Yeah," he said quietly, nodding. "I actually do have a couple pictures of her. This one's from before she passed. She didn't have many... she died pretty young."

He unlocked his phone and began scrolling slowly, taking care in selecting the right photo. He paused at one that always made his chest tighten—a photo taken just a few months after Jazmine gave birth to Huelene. It was part of a photoshoot they'd done together, Jazmine glowing with new motherhood, holding a tiny, bundled Huelene in her arms. The resemblance between the child and both parents was uncanny—Huelene had Jazmine's soft, golden skin tone and Huey's deep-set eyes. A perfect blend of them both.

Huey handed the phone over to Adaline.

Adaline studied the image silently, her eyes narrowing just a bit as something in her memory stirred. Her brows knit together, and her mouth parted slightly in realization. A beat passed.

"Wait," she said, her eyes never leaving the screen. "I've seen her before."

Huey blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Adaline slowly turned the phone back toward him, tapping a finger against the photo. "This woman... Jazmine. I know I've seen her face. Not just in passing either. I don't know where exactly, but it was years ago. Long before any of this came out. There was something about her... something familiar."

Huey stared at her, trying to process the shock in her voice. "Are you sure?"

Adaline nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on Jazmine's image. "Positive."

Adaline squinted, trying to pull the memory from the depths of her mind. Huey leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on her with a growing intensity. He hadn't expected this. Of all people,Adalinerecognizing Jazmine felt like fate playing a strange game. His pulse quickened—part nerves, part curiosity—as he silently urged her to remember.

Adaline's eyes suddenly widened. "Now I remember," she said, snapping her fingers as if the moment had just materialized before her. "It was years ago... back when we were... I don't know, dating? Or maybe still figuring it out. That whole situation was messy, if we're being honest."

Huey gave a small smirk, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah... it was complicated."

Adaline nodded with a breathy laugh, the memory getting clearer now. "I remember I had just gotten out of class. I stopped by your place—you were still in that little house, the one with the creaky steps and the mailbox that always leaned to the left."

Huey nodded slowly, the image coming back.

"And she was there," Adaline continued, her voice softer now. "Just standing on your doorstep, like she'd been waiting a while. She didn't look angry or anything. She just... stood there. Like she was debating whether or not to knock."

Huey's brows furrowed, his lips parting slightly. "And you didn't say anything to her?"

"I didn't know who she was," Adaline said honestly. "We barely spoke. Just passed each other. She glanced at me... I remember those eyes. Green—like emeralds. That's why she stuck with me."

Huey leaned back against the counter, stunned. "All this time... and you never said anything."

"I didn't think it mattered," Adaline admitted, her gaze drifting. "I didn't know she was the one you... really loved. Not until now."

Huey didn't say anything at first. The silence between them held a different weight now. Jazmine had been a part of their story longer than either of them realized. And somehow, in a quiet, almost ghostly way, she'd always been there—just waiting.

...

Once again, I was coming from class—exhausted, bag slung over my shoulder, mind running through the million things I had to do. But something in me wanted to stop by Huey's place. We weren't exactly "together," but we weren't apart either. That blurry in-between where things feel like love but don't have the label to match.

As I pulled up to that small, worn-down house with the tilted mailbox and the cracked driveway, I noticed her immediately. This girl standing at his doorstep. Big, puffy strawberry blonde hair that caught the sun like fire—probably the most hair I'd ever seen on a person besides Huey himself. She didn't move at first. Just stood there.

I got out of the car, hesitant. I didn't know what I was walking into. Was she one of his girls? Someone else he had on the side while we were over here playing this game of "you do you, I do me," yet still showing up to events like we were something official? The math wasn't mathing.She was pretty. Like,model pretty, the kind that made your stomach knot even if you had nothing to be guilty about. And this wasn't the type of pretty that tried too hard—no. She looked like the kind that couldaccidentallysteal a man.

As I got closer, she must've heard my footsteps because she turned around so fast it startled both of us.

"Oh, HELLO!" she said, clearly startled.

"Hi..." I replied, giving her a confused once-over. I wasn't rude, but I made sure my tone didn't come off friendly either. "Who are you and why are you at my boyfriend's doorstep?"

Yeah, I said boyfriend even though technically, Huey never claimed it. But in that moment, I needed her to feel it.

Her face went pale and she stuttered like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh, um, it's not like that, I'm actually here to um... spread the word. You know—because God loves you!"

That's when I realized... she was nervous. Way more nervous than me.

"Right..." I said, crossing my arms. "If you're here to spread the word, where are your papers? Flyers? Church pamphlets?"

"I... forgot them at the church."

A bold-faced lie. I almost rolled my eyes right then and there because she was terrible at this. Her voice was shaky, her stance unconvincing.

I didn't know who she was. But something told me—something in her body language, her energy, the way she kept glancing at the door like she wasn't sure whether to knock or run—that this girl wasn't just some random churchgoer.

We stared at each other for a long time.

I wasn't buying it.

And I could tell she knew I wasn't buying it either. Her eyes dropped to the ground. She started stepping away slowly, muttering something about being late for her "next stop," but it was so vague and awkward I couldn't even piece it together.

Before I could ask another question, she spun on her heel andliterally ranoff the porch and down the street—not toward a car, not toward a bike. She just dipped. Like some kind of ghost I'd imagined.

I didn't even get her name.

And for some reason, I didn't want to bring it up to Huey.

Because what if she was someone? What if she was pregnant? What if she was someone he actually cared about and I'd be the jealous, insecure girl who drove him away?

So I didn't say anything.

I just kept it tucked away in my mind, pretending it didn't happen.

But it did.

And the memory of that girl with all that hair standing at Huey's door never really left me.

...

"I thought about telling you," Adaline confessed, her voice low, like she'd been carrying the words for years. "But something deep down told me you would've left me... and gone after her."

Huey looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"She was drop-dead gorgeous," Adaline continued, glancing away. "And she was standing at your door. Our relationship was already shifty... I was in school, my mind was a mess. I didn't want to make it worse. I actually did like you, Huey."

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint ticking of the kitchen clock and the soft bubbling of something in the oven. Huey sat back slightly, absorbing every word, deep in thought.

"Are you mad at me?" Adaline asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Huey slowly shook his head. "I'm not upset with you, Adaline," he said honestly. "I heard she made an attempt to come see me. I just... didn't know she was actually at my doorstep."

He looked down at his hands, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile—one laced with sorrow and something unspoken.

"I almost thought she lied to Ebony and Nicole when she told them she came to see me. But hearing it from you..." he let the thought trail off, eyes misty with memory.

"She really was trying."

There was a silence, but it wasn't heavy. It was full of wonder and regret.

"At first, I had a hard time believing it," Huey admitted. "But now? Through almost everyone I know, she's been in someone's story. Like a ghost leaving behind fingerprints."

He chuckled faintly, shaking his head in amazement.

"Jazmine was... like a mystery within herself. A clue that needed to be detected from every corner."

"Huey," Adaline's voice wavered, her throat tightening as she tried to find her words."If you had seen her that day... or if I had told you about her... would you have left me?"

Huey's mouth opened, but the truth caught in his throat. He hesitated, and just as he began to respond—

"Adaline—"

"No." She stopped him, her eyes locked on his."Don't lie to me. Don't try to spare my feelings. I need you to be honest with me. Completely honest."

Huey exhaled slowly, the weight of her request pressing on his chest.

"It doesn't have to be cold," he said softly."But in all honesty? If I had heard Jazmine was back—from anyone—I would've dropped everything. Whoever I was with, whatever I was doing... I would've gone after her. I'd be angry, confused, probably even bitter. But I know myself. Deep down, I would've tried to talk it out with her. I would've fought to make it work. It would've taken time... a long time. But I would've tried—because to me, she was worth that."

The words hit Adaline like a slow-moving storm. Her eyes shimmered with hurt, her jaw tightening as she tried to hold herself together.

"Why her?" she asked, her voice cracking."Why not me? Or anyone else, for that matter?"

She blinked, and tears finally fell. Her heart was in her hands now.

"I spent over twenty-seven years building something with you. A home. A marriage. Alife. I showed you I could be a good wife, a good mother... even your friend when that's what you needed. I stood by you, Huey. Through everything. I made sacrifices. I gave you the best of me."

She paused, her breath trembling.

"And when you came to me, almost two years ago, and told me you wanted a divorce? It broke me." Her voice dropped to a whisper."Because I didn't understand. I felt like I had done nothing to deserve that. We were the couple people admired. We were solid. We wereus."

She looked up at him through blurred vision.

"You were never in a scandal. You were a good father, a good man. We had our flaws, but we had memories, too—goodones. Didn't that mean anything to you?!"

Her voice cracked into raw emotion, and the tears came faster now, unstoppable.

Huey didn't speak. He didn't interrupt. Because for once, he truly heard her.

And it hurt.

Because as much as he loved her—and he did—he knew it had never been the same kind of love he held for Jazmine. And that wasn't fair to Adaline.

He stepped toward her gently, placing his hands on her face, wiping her tears with a tenderness that hadn't faded with time.

"I'm sorry," he whispered."It wasn't fair to you. It was never fair."

And in that moment, he realized—he'd had years to cope with his own heartbreak. After 30 years he was coping properly, but she hadn't. She had been holding this in, carrying it quietly. And now it was time for both of them to lay it down.

Toreallyunderstand each other—for the first time in a long time.

"Adaline," Huey began, his voice carrying the weight of years, "with Jazmine... it was always something deeper. It wasn't just attraction. It was soul-deep. When I left Chicago, when I was lost, grieving my parents, and everything in my world felt like it was falling apart... she was the first light I met in that darkness. Woodcrest was a fresh start, but I was angry, numb—and then came Jazmine."

He exhaled, shaking his head slightly at the memory.

"I'll admit, she got on my damn nerves at first. She was too bubbly, too persistent. But the more I got to know her... the more I realized she saw parts of me I hadn't even learned to see yet. We became friends, then lovers. And yeah, I was a hoe before all that—no denying it. But when you meet the one, you know. And you'll do anything—everything—to keep them."

He paused, his tone softening with sincerity.

"Jazmine was my one. My only true love. I acted a fool over her. I never said it enough, but I tried to show it in everything I did. I proposed to her with my mother's ring—I had it resized to fit her finger. I saw a future with her, Adaline. I chose her."

His jaw tightened for a moment as he looked away, emotion swelling in his chest.

"When she left, I was shattered. But I didn't give up. I searched for her—I mean I really searched. I drove to three different states, putting up flyers, asking people if they'd seen her. Three states, Adaline. I've never done that for anyone. I just kept hoping someone had seen her. But she was always gone before anyone could give me real answers."

He swallowed hard, voice thick.

"At some point... I gave up. I thought maybe she didn't want to be found. And then—" he paused, clenching his fist, "—I found out years later that I was apparently being sent letters by the state about custody. I was supposed to get custody. I never received a single one. It killed me to think... that while I was looking for her, I was also missing out on my child. I was in the dark, blind in my own damn journey."

Adaline's eyes widened.

The truth hit her like a slow, creeping chill. Her heart dropped, and suddenly she felt sick. Her palms grew clammy as she pieced it all together.

"Huey..." she said quietly, voice almost cracking. "I—I think I know why you never got those letters."

Huey turned toward her slowly, unsure of what she was about to say.

She looked down, ashamed, her voice trembling.

"Back when I was pregnant with Jazmine... I remember seeing letters from the state. They looked official, and I panicked. I thought they were about something else. You had a past, and I was scared it was gonna destroy everything we built. Every time one came in... I threw it away. I didn't even open them. I just... assumed the worst and thought it would break us."

She finally looked up at him, tears gathering in her eyes.

"I didn't know it was about her. About Jazmine. Or custody. I swear to you—I didn't know. If I had, I don't know what I would've done, but I wouldn't have just..." she trailed off.

Huey's face was unreadable at first. His lips parted like he might respond, but he said nothing. The air between them grew heavy. And then finally, he exhaled—slow, long, and full of emotion.

He stepped closer.

"I won't lie to you. That... hurts to hear. Deeply. But I can't hold onto that, Adaline. Not anymore. Huelene is here. Right here. And she's our daughter. We can't change what happened—we can only move forward now."

He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

"I missed out on a lot. And so did she. But I won't waste any more time. From here on out, I want to build something real with her. I need that connection. And she deserves that from me."

Adaline nodded, wiping her face.

"She deserves the truth too. All of it. And maybe... maybe we all just need to heal. Together.""But Adaline," Huey said, his voice quieter now, more grounded, "I need you to know—I did love you. And I appreciated everything you did for me. I don't ever want you to feel like you didn't matter. You did. You still do."

He paused, eyes lowering for a moment as he gathered the rest.

"When we were together, I tried my hardest to move past Jazmine. I did. I tried to put her out of my mind, to leave it all behind. And for a while... it worked. But then a couple of years ago, she started creeping back into my thoughts, and no matter how much I tried—I couldn't shake her."

He looked up at Adaline with regret written all over his face.

"I wasted your time, and I know that. I should've gone to therapy. I should've talked to someone—really talked—so I could heal and be present with you. Instead, I kept it all inside, thinking I could just ignore it. But the truth is... when we'd go on dates, when we made love, or had those quiet, beautiful moments together... I'd still find myself thinking of her."

His voice cracked a little, a rawness rising to the surface.

"Not because you weren't enough—but because I never let myself truly grieve or process what I lost. And that wasn't fair to you. It wasn't fair to keep dragging you through a love I hadn't fully let go of. You deserve someone who can love you the way I loved Jazmine. With everything. And I couldn't give that to you."

Adaline sat there silently, her expression unreadable, but her eyes were heavy.

Huey continued, gently this time.

"That being said... I still want you in my life. I still want us to be close. If you're comfortable with that, I'd love for us to keep these Sunday gatherings going—us, the kids, Huelene. I know they're older now, but they still need us. We can still be family, Adaline. We are family. Just... in a different way now."

He gave her a soft, hopeful look.

"I care about you. And I always will. But I can't lie to you anymore. I want to move forward with truth, not guilt."

"If we need to go to therapy," Huey said, his voice steady now, "then we'll go to therapy. I still want you in my life—even if it's complicated, even if it's hard to believe. I still do. And maybe from there... we can figure out how to move forward. How to process all of this."*

He looked at her, not pleading, but present—willing.

Adaline gave a slow, quiet nod, her eyes soft but tired. "I would like that," she said simply.

And the truth was... they both needed it.

All the years of silence, miscommunication, and buried pain couldn't be ignored anymore. They had loved each other deeply once. Maybe, in some ways, they still did. But it wasn't the same kind of love—and it never would be again.

But that didn't mean they couldn't find a new version of closeness. Something rooted in respect, in shared history, and in the quiet understanding that healing takes time.

This wouldn't be easy. But it was a start.

And sometimes, a start is everything.

Thank you for reading!