Page 67 of Lyric Squared

“I’ve felt crazy all these years. I’ve loved you for so many moons and so many sunsets. And not the love that friends possess for one another. A different kind of love and a yearning that could only be described as one a lover has for another. But it made me delirious. Knowing that we weren’t possible, no matter how I might've felt.”

“Never knowing that I felt the same?”

“Never knowing you felt the same.”

“Since you were like, shit… prom. I think that’s when I knew, too. I wanted to be the one on your arm. The nigga you was with, I still want to kick his ass ‘til this fucking day.”

Tittering, I leaned into his open palm. “What do you want from this, Keanu? From us?”

“The best, Lyric. I can’t give you that if you don’t let me. I want to properly date you and give you every reason in the world to fall for a nigga. I’m not trying to use my position in your life and history to solidify my spot. I wish to earn it. That entitlement shit I’ve been on, tossing it. Keanu is the nigga you want and the nigga I want to give you. This sneaking around and shit that we’re doing, I’m not with it. And you settling for bare minimum, I don’t like it. Require of me exactly what you do of the rest of these niggas. I know you, Lyric.”

“You’ve been bleeding them dry for years, turning their pockets inside out. Not letting anybody slack or think they can relax on your watch. I want to stay on my toes, too. Take you to these fancy ass restaurants you love, buy whatever makes your heart happy, and take care of any and everything I’m able to for you. I want to take care of you, good care of you. I want you out of your people’s pockets and in mine. Your brothers have done their jobs. I want to make you smile on a daily basis, give you the entire fucking world because you want it.”

“I want a family, Lyric. I’ve got my people, but I don’t have a fucking family. I’m trying to create that with you. The shit my nigga on, I’m on, too. Sitting my ass down with the right woman and building my legacy. I’m a very simple man who has never wanted nothing more than some fucking money. Now that I’m sitting on seven figures, it’s time to aspire for something greater. What’s greater than family? What’s greater than peace? Quiet? Happiness? That’s what I want from this. That’s what I want for us. I want forever.”

“I’m forbidden fruit, Keanu,” I admitted as our eyes met.

“I’ve had a taste, already, Lyric. It’s too late. I’m here to stay.”

I didn’t have the words to follow. Only feelings. Big ones. Ones that made caused a wave of emotions to overwhelm me as my heart began beating erratically. The painful gulp that I swallowed got stuck in my throat, making it difficult to remain still. Seconds passed before it subsided, and I heard Keanu speak again.

“Is you with that shit or what?”

Nodding, I agreed. “Yes.”

“Then, stop standing in our way.”

I’d seenthe inside of Keanu’s home a few times. Maybe twice or three times at the most. It was fairly new to him as well. He’d only been at the specific location for the last two years. Laike had been generous enough to design his home, too. It was already in progress before he’d finished up Luca’s place.

Though I’d been inside, everything seemed different when I walked in. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that I was seeing it for the first time as a counterpart and not a friend or if it was because it was truly different from the last visit. Whatever the case, I loved it.

“Everything seems so different,” I told Keanu as he took my coat. The black, fur-lined garment was my go-to and was always waiting in the coat closet behind the door, making it easy to grab on my way out.

“Because it is.”

“So, I’m not crazy after all?” I asked.

“You’re not crazy after all,” he reassured me. “Luca replaced everything inside. Did he not tell you?”

“He didn’t.” Luca hadn’t told me a thing.

“Which means he paid someone to do the job and leave him the fuck alone,” Keanu chuckled, taking a look over his shoulder and back at me.

“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what happened,” I agreed.

“Nevertheless, I’m fucking with it.” His broad shoulders hiked and then fell.

“Everything is gorgeous.”

“Yeah? Anything you’d change?”

“Nothing jumps out at me. I love the vibe. The dark colors that are blended seamlessly with the muted tones. I’m a sucker for the muted tones,” I admitted, walking through the wide space behind Keanu.

When we finally reached the bar area, he paused.

“Can I make you a drink?”

“Sure.”