Page 145 of Lennox Lane

“Robot,” Lane said, blushing.

“I love your patterns,” His voice softened as he went on, “I love your laugh. I love your mouth, even when it’s threatening to send me to meet my ancestors. I love the way you feed people without making them feel small. I love how you survived and still decided to become shelter. I love that you are lavender—beautiful and soothing. I love that you’re soft and sharp and if you’ll have me, impossibly mine. I’m already yours and have been, but I want to ask in front of the people who loved you before I earned the privilege. Will you be mine officially, Lane Sanders?”

Lane’s breath trembled as she looked down at their joined hands because in this moment only the two of them existed, though she could still hear Cadence and Nova’s emotional asses sniveling. But all of it blurred around Lennox.

Lennox had become her man, her Robot, her menace, but most importantly her safe space. Lane had spent years belonging to nobody because belonging had always sounded too close to being trapped, but Lennox didn’t ask her to disappear into his life; he only wanted space to stand in hers. He asked in the haven she built with his heart open and his hands gentle.

“Yes!” Lane shouted confidently, because saying yes didn’t feel like surrender but taking her power back to have a love all her own.

“Yes?” Lennox repeated, exhaling like he had been holding his breath for months.

“Yes, Robot,” She laughed through tears, “I’m yours, officially.”

“Oh my God,” Nova sobbed.

Tariq shouted, “About time!”

“My babies are kicking like crazy; they approve,” Cadence giggled as she hugged Lane.

“Congratulations, bro,” KC grinned and dapped up Lennox before pulling him into a brotherly hug.

Lennox pulled Lane into him, one arm wrapping around her waist as his mouth found hers in a soul-stirring kiss. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers. “My woman,” he whispered.

Lane’s smile trembled. “Unfortunately, I’m kidding,” she laughed.

His laugh shook against her, then he stepped back, still holding her hand. “I have something else,” he said as she watched KC move to pick up a sleek leather folder from the table behind him, handing it to Lennox. Lane stared at the folder like it might bite when Lennox placed it in her hands.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Open it,” he told her.

Lane looked at Nova, who was crying harder now, before muttering, “Oh, that’s comforting.”

Nova fanned her face while fussing, “Just open it.”

Lane opened the folder to see the first page was a legal document. She read the top line repeatedly to herself before throwing her hand over to stop the scream fighting to escape her. Lennox stood beside her quietly like this wasn’t a big deal.

“No,” she whispered, audibly shaken.

“What did you do?” Lane asked, looking up at Lennox.

“Making sure The Full Plate Project is housed in a building you own,” he answered cavalierly.

The room tilted as Lane held the deed transfer and ownership in her hands. She now owned the building she fed the community out of. There was no more term leasing and dealing with rising rent costs. The Full Plate Project was no longer vulnerable to the Curtis Bells of the world. Lane’s knees nearly gave out, but Lennox was there to catch her.

“Breathe, Lavender,” Lennox told her.

“I can’t, you just handed me a building,” she replied.

Lennox smiled softly, with tears at the brim of his eyes, as he told Lane there was more. She whipped her head around and scoffed in disbelief because what more could Lennox do? Taking the folder, he gently turned to the next section.

“The surrounding parcels have been purchased by a community investment trust, with the five of us as silent investors,” he said, pointing to himself, Khalil, Cadence, Nova, and Tariq.

Lane looked around the room at her friends—scratch that, her family as they beamed with pride. Cadence smiled through tears, holding her ever-growing belly as she screamed surprise, making everyone laugh.

“You’re never going to lose this place,” KC reassured her.

“We about to wash every window in this joint,” Tariq joked, handing Nova and Cadence the tissues.