Page 18 of Buy Back My Love

“That was years ago.”

“So?” JB looked toward the car, then back at me. “You still like it?”

I looked at the Mercedes again and gave up trying to act like I wasn’t impressed. “Hell yeah!”

Everybody behind us laughed, and JB reached for my hand, turned it over, and placed the key fob in my palm. “Then it’s yours.”

I stared down at it for a second, and that was when everything he’d done that day really started adding up. I had a brand-new apartment with the rent paid for a year, ten thousand dollars sitting inside a Chanel purse, a credit card with no limit, and now a Mercedes parked in my garage.

JB had spent five years thinking about everything I might need when I came home, and I appreciated it. I did. I just didn’t know what any of it was supposed to do about the part of us that money couldn’t fix.

“Thank you,” I told him.

“You deserve it.”

Before I could argue with him about that, JB slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. The kiss started soft, but it didn’t stay that way for long. I grabbed the front of his shirt when his mouth pressed harder against mine and one of his hands moved up my back while the other settled on my ass.

I had just about forgotten we weren’t alone when Wren called from behind us.

“Well...” she dragged out. “Let us go. Look like y’all got some reuniting to do.”

I pulled away from JB so fast everybody started laughing.

“Shut up.” I covered my face with one hand while Nina grabbed her purse.

“She ain’t wrong,” Nina said.

Anika came over first and wrapped me in another hug. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

“You better.”

Wren hugged me next, squeezing me tight. “I’m glad you home.”

“Me too.”

Nina kissed my cheek before looking over my shoulder at JB. “Don’t let him stress you out tonight.”

“He already has.”

“Act right,” she warned him.

JB lifted both hands. “I ain’t did nothing.”

I cut my eyes at him. “Yet?”

Everybody laughed again, and I couldn’t help laughing with them.

I thanked them for the food, the decorations, and everything they’d done to make my first day home feel like something worth celebrating. I meant it more than I knew how to say.

After they walked out, I stayed in the doorway and watched them head toward their cars. That felt strange too. Nobody had to tell me when I could see them again or how long I was allowed to talk to them. If I wanted Nina to bring her loud ass right back over tomorrow all I had to do was call.

Once I closed the door the apartment got quiet fast.

JB was standing in the living room watching me when I turned around.

“You straight?” he asked.

I rubbed my hands over my arms, suddenly feeling every bit of how long the day had been. “I’m tired.”