Page 51 of Love Sanctioned

He nodded. “Sis aight?”

“She's straight. Don’t go hopping any planes. we have something to handle tomo⁠—”

The door opened behind me, interrupting what I was saying. “I love how you put this on my shoulders and now I have to do things on the fly.”

I waved her off and moved toward the stairs. “Lock up when y’all leave.”

“Nigga where am I gonna go? You know what you just asked me to do? As a matter of fact, Killah, let's talk outside. Junior, I need you too,” Junnie called out, then stormed out the back door.

I didn’t stick around to see what Killah said. I went to where I felt pulled. Her.

When I entered my bedroom, the white dress was pooled on the floor and she was seated at the end of the bed. She was in one of my shirts, her hair still styled, wiping makeup from her face, staring into space.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

“Everything. But if you’re what’s right with me, then that’s you.”

She shook her head. “You told me to stay away from you. That this wasn’t what you wanted.”

“I lied. Cowardice shit because I was afraid you wouldn’t choose me,” I responded honestly. There was no point in lying or saving face. After what I had just done, there was no space for any of that.

She was silent.

“Were you really gonna marry him and let him raise my child?”

“Yep.” She turned and looked at me, eyes as honest and doe as the day when I first met her. I couldn’t fault her though because I’d pushed her away. I pushed her into a corner and left her there.

“We’re even.”

“For what, Posydiann?”

“You thought you were doing what was right and so did I.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Let me fix what I broke and let me make it up to you, Syn.” Before I could catch myself, I was on my knees in front of her.

“And what if I say no?”

“You don’t mean that. You’re hurt, and I’ma give you your time to be that, but here with me and Junior like you belong. I love you, Karsyn, and no matter how bad I fucked up, that’s not gonna stop you from loving me. Just let me fix this.”

“How do you know you can? What if I need some space?”

“Then you can take that shit up under this roof with me and your stepson. Don’t punish him because you ain’t fucking with me.” I was up on my feet standing in front of her.

She giggled, the first time I heard her laugh in what felt like forever. “Even though I’m not fucking with you like that, I’d never take that out on him. Ever.”

“I know. So you really ain’t fucking with me?”

“No, I’m not. I don’t have anything here, but I think I’m gonna go to th⁠—”

“Where? Syn, I know I’m asking a lot, especially with everything that’s going on, but we’ve had too much fucking space. The only space you permitted to take from me is across a room, down some stairs, shit, the other side of the bed. I might sound like a whole bitch when I say this, but I need you near me, like within arm’s fucking reach for the next several fucking months.”

She shook her head. I could tell she wanted to tell me off, but a simple “fine” flowed from her lips.

“I’ve had enough excitement for the day. Do you think you could possibly retrieve my phone and purse from wherever it may be? I’m pretty sure all the people you just embarrassed me in front of are calling, along with my mother.”

I chuckled. “Moms knew what it was, so did Kolton. He probably has your stuff. I’ll find out. You know I’m not holding you hostage, right? You ca⁠—”