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“All good, bro. I’ma get up wit’ you in the next couple of days. It’s all over now. Time for me to make my exit and get on my grown man shit,” I said vaguely. I knew Turbo would understand. It was time for me to get up out the streets. It was a good run, but everything had gone according to the plan, and now I needed to stay on course.

“Bet. Lay low,” Turbo reminded me.

“You too,” I said before I hung up the phone.

That was how I knew my mind was gone. I’d completely forgotten to hit Turbo up and let him know that everything was good. My mind was only for Yara, but I knew Turbo would understand. As much as he might be on my ass about moving on so quickly, he knew the hell I’d been through. He was the only one who really knew. My parents didn’t, but I knew they would be supportive too.

Finally, I pulled back up to Yara’s place. After collecting the bags from the trunk, I made my way to her front door. When she finally answered, I smiled down at her pretty ass.

“How you feelin’?” I asked as I bent to kiss her lips.

As I stepped inside, she said, “Still sleepy but I feel better. More clear minded.”

“I love to hear that.”

She followed me into her living room. “So, uh, where are we going for this date?”

“Nowhere.” I placed the bags on the coffee table and peered around the living room.

“Nowhere?” she asked as she walked up behind me.

I nodded and turned to look her over. She had on a pair of oversized sweats and a fitted pink crop top. “Our date is happening right here. You look amazing, baby.”

I grabbed her waist and bent so I could nuzzle her neck and breathe her in.

After a few minutes, there was a knock at the door. Yara pulled away from me. “I don’t know who that is. I didn’t invite anyone over.”

Her tone wavered, like she was worried, and I knew she worried that the police would come for me . . . or her.

“Baby, relax. I hired some help for the night. That’s all. Why don’t you go chill in your room, and I’ll come get you when everything is ready. You hungry?” She nodded hesitantly. Poor baby. Today had been entirely too much for her. I kissed her forehead. “Go.”

I watched as she retreated down the hallway toward her room. Whoever was at the door had the nerve to knock on the door again. My brows drew together, and I marched toward the door before I snatched it open.

An older Nigerian looking nigga stood there with a bunch of bags in his hands.

“Good afternoon. Are you Mr. Grant?”

“Fuck you knockin’ on this door so much for?” I asked.

“I . . . uh. I was just looking for Mr. Grant⁠—”

“You found him.” I turned and walked away from the door, expecting the man to follow behind me.

I walked into the kitchen and turned. The man bumped into my back, and I frowned as he gathered himself.

“You need anything? I got shit I gotta do.”

The man looked around. “I should be good. I’ll let you know if I have any questions.”

I grunted in response as I made my way back toward the living room. I had to set up and set the ambiance for Yara. It would be a chill ass night that she would never forget.

An hour later, I walked into Yara’s room and found her dozing off as she watched TV in her bed.

“You ready to start our date, fave?”

Her eyes popped over to me, and she smiled when she found me standing in her doorway.

“Yes. I’ve been wondering what you’ve been up to out there,” she said as she crawled off her bed. Her short ass had to dangle off the side for a second before she landed on the floor.