Page 79 of Lyric Squared

“No. I’ve always known that I can keep going after I nut once, but I’ve never wanted to. One was enough for me until I ran into you.”

Visibly relieved, she sighed. “I feel like I’m crazy for you or at least I will be. Deranged. You know. All in. Unstable when it comes to you. Madly in love. You have the potential to take me there.”

“I’ve already arrived. I’m just waiting for you, baby girl.”

“Ask me.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

Taking a second to place my words, I rubbed through my facial hair. Lyric’s glossy orbs peered directly into me as she waited for me to say something. Anything. Not until I was ready did I return the smile she wore and shared my thoughts with her.

“I dare you to let me love you out loud, without restrictions and without consequences. I dare you to let me be the nigga for you… forever. I dare you to do that shit.”

“What do I get in return? For letting you love me unrestricted and without consequences?”

“Me. Happiness. Peace. Love. Endless supply of funds. And some minis looking just like you, running around the crib.”

“Yeah?”

“Is that enough?”

“If you’d stopped afterMe, it would’ve still been enough,” she responded, tilting her head and smiling in the process. “Everything else is a bonus, especially a few baby girls.”

“Is that what you want? Girls?”

“Yes. What about you?”

“Girls, because I had a feeling that’s what you wanted. Honestly, as long as they’re from you, I don’t care.”

“But, we’re having girls. My heart says so.”

“Then, girls,” I agreed.

“I love you, Keanu,” Lyric confessed, teary-eyed.

Leaning forward, I swiped her tearful eyes and replied, “I know.”

“Not like, just love you. But, likeinlove with you,” Lyric emphasized.

“And the feelings are mutual.”

“Then, tell me. Tell me you love me. All I ever get is always and whatever else my family thinks of. I want you to tell me.”

“I love you, Lyric. I’m in love with you, deeply, wholly, and unconditionally. I love you.”

“Yeah?” She nodded with furrowed brows and a pain in her expression that I felt from afar.

“‘Til death.”

“Are you afraid of losing our friendship if this all crashes and burns?”

“It won’t crash and burn.”

“But if it does?”

“My love for you will remain unchanging. I loved you before the message, Lyric. I’ll love you forever after. If partnership isn’t in our deck of cards, then we can always fall back on our friendship. That’s the beauty of this.”