Page 77 of The Sweetest Return

“Mama.”

“You made me cry.”

“You were crying before I got up there.”

“That is irrelevant.”

Mr. Jones pulled him in next. “You did good, son.”

“Thank you, Pops.”

Something passed between them that needed no audience.

Danielle got him next. She wiped beneath one eye before he could say anything and wrapped both arms around him.

“Don’t say shit about my lashes.”

Dre laughed into her hair. “Wasn’t gonna say nothing.”

“Liar.”

He kissed her temple before she let him go.

Then Dre turned to me.

The room was still clapping. People were still standing. His name still moved around us, wrapped in applause and pride and everything AWU believed he represented.

But Dre looked only at me.

His expression had changed. The public charm was gone, or at least set down for a moment. What remained was quieter. More exposed. A little uncertain in a way that moved through me deeper than confidence ever could.

I didn’t know what to say.

Maybe he didn’t either.

Then he reached for my hand.

His fingers closed around mine, warm and firm, the award still held in his other hand. The crystal caught the light. His diamonds gleamed. His eyes stayed on my face.

And in the middle of that ballroom, with everyone still applauding Andre Jones, he stood in front of me like my hand was the place he needed to land.

CHAPTER NINE

2017

“I’m ready, Andre. I want you to be my first.”

Everything in me went quiet.

Imani stood in the middle of my little off-campus bedroom with her sweater still on and her hands clasped loosely in front of her. She was trying to look certain enough that I wouldn’t notice the nerves.

I noticed them anyway.

We had been together long enough for me to know she wanted me. We’d kissed until both of us were frustrated, touched enough for me to know some of the sounds she made when she got turned on, and talked more than once about the fact that she was still a virgin. I knew what she meant.

I just needed to know she did too.

“You sure?”