Page 86 of Lease to Love

Summer smiled. “Roman is my boyfriend.”

The word hit differently coming from her here… There was no crowd. No social media. No business meeting. No reason to perform.

She said it with pride. Like she meant it.

Ms. Langston’s eyebrows lifted. “Is he now?”

“Mmhmm.” Summer nodded, then she leaned her head against Ms. Langston's shoulder. “And I think I like him.”

Summer’s eyes twinkled. “Can I keep him?”

Ms. Langston gave me another long look.

“Hm. Let's see.” She straightened. “Mr. Sterling. You being good to my Sunny?”

I looked at Summer.

At the woman who had somehow become one of the brightest things in my life without me noticing when it happened.

And the answer came before I could think about it.

“Not nearly as good as she's been to me,” I swallowed hard. “But I'm trying.”

Ms. Langston just hummed. It wasn't approval, not yet. But it wasn't rejection either.

Summer jumped in before the silence could settle. “Mama, Roman's been talking to a lot of people in the neighborhood. They've come to him with all kinds of ideas and suggestions for his business initiative.”

She looked at me. “I think he has some thoughts the rest of the block association needs to hear.”

Ms. Langston turned toward her. “Is that right?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Summer's voice was completely sincere. “I think he's going to help a lot of people.”

Something moved through my chest.

She believed that.

She actually believed it.

Ms. Langston looked at me again, then at Summer. “This man treating you well, Sunny?”

Summer didn't hesitate. “Better than anyone.”

The words hit harder than they had any right to.

Ms. Langston studied us for a long moment, then she looked directly at me. “Mr. Sterling.”

“Ma'am?”

“I'd like to meet with you sometime.”

My brain stalled.

“To hear more about your initiative. See how I can be a part of it.”

I didn't move.

She continued as if she hadn't just handed me the thing I'd spent years trying to earn.