Page 81 of Surrender to Love

“That’s why I said it. Mine is gone too. I can’t move,” I admit.

“You really want to move?” he asks before leaning down and kissing between my breasts.

“I mean…not really. I can fall asleep with you inside me. I just know this floor isn’t as comfortable as my bed and you need to really rest.”

“Baby, I’m good now that Niko’s coming back. I real shit can stay here tomorrow and not go in at all.”

“Then do that. The shop can survive one day without you.”

“So can the college. I’ll stay if you stay with me. We can do this all day.”

“That’s some good use of PTO. I’ll tell them I need time to practice for my honeymoon.”

“Nah. I think you’ve mastered that already. I was hooked after the first night. That sweet pussy got power.”

“I’m starting to think that’s the only reason you asked me to marry you,” I tease.

“It’s a big part,” he says, then chuckles. “You know I’m just fucking with you. I asked you to marry me because I have no life without you in it. I think about you all day and night,” he says with so much sincerity I feel it all over.

After resting my forehead on his, I touch the sides of his face then kiss his lips. “I never knew it was possible to love one person as much as I love you. Promise you’ll never stop loving me.”

“That’s easy, ’cause if I’m breathing, I’m loving you, baby.”

This is love.

He is love.

I’m definitely taking PTO tomorrow.

TWENTY

“Somebody not going to make it to midnight,” I say, then tickle Niya’s foot.

“Yes, I am,” she insists after lifting her head from Kyrah’s lap but she’s not going to make it.

It’s barely eleven and her lil ass is fading already. I don’t blame her though. I’m tired as shit and probably won’t make it either. I’m only trying because my baby insists that we kiss at midnight like we aren’t already locked in. She’s mine and I’m hers; missing a kiss at midnight won’t change that.

The entire family is back at the cabin for New Year’s Eve. We also did Christmas Eve here but everyone did their own thing on Christmas Day. Kyrah and I actually just chilled at my place for most of the day then stopped by Quintus’s later to take Niya her gifts. Today has been barbeque, fireworks, and family. Thursday is here with a few friends, three this time, and they have been stepping in the snow all damn day.

“It’s okay if you’re tired and miss it. It’ll still be the new year when you wake up in the morning,” Kyrah tells Niya.

“No. I want to count and yell. I’m not going to sleep,” Niya says.

“You not gon’ make it,” I repeat and Kyrah rolls her eyes.

“Ignore your uncle. You’ll make it,” Kyrah says, then yawns.

“Hell, are you going to make it?” I ask.

“Yes. We are kissing the new year in. I’m just full and relaxed, too relaxed. Sweetheart, come with me out on the porch. The twins are still popping the fireworks. Let’s go watch so we can stay up,” Kyrah says and Niya nods. Before getting up, Kyrah leans over and kisses me. “I’m staying up,” she assures me.

They leave the family room and head toward the porch. Shuga and Sade are both knocked the hell out on the two recliners on the ends of the main sectional. Deuce is in here eating some more, and Twon and his girl are in here too. Reya and Quintus are in the kitchen, so I join them there.

Kyrah and her family shit has been bugging me since the week we came back from Maui but it got worse during Christmas. Not once during the holiday did she mention or even talk to her mom. She says it’s not bothering her but I know my baby and see it on her face every time she zones out when my family is around.

Kyrah and her mom’s relationship has always been different from my point of view. I was raised by a woman who loves her children out loud and can’t go a day without reaching out to us in some way. I thought it was odd Kyrah didn’t have that with her mom. They would talk a few times a week and she rarely visited. Hell, we were kicking it for two years and I never saw or met her mom. However, this new dynamic is worse, even if she only admits that when she’s drunk.

“You and that damn fruit,” I comment to Mireya as soon as I’m in the kitchen. She’s sitting at the island eating the fruit salad my baby made. The shit is good so I can see why Sis still eating it.