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“I was going,” she assured me, but the smile on her face told me she wanted the answer too.

“Reign.”

“Leaving. Bye, Saadiq, Yoli.”

She made it halfway across the room before Yoli called after her.

“I’ll tell you later!”

“Not my business,” Reign called back. She opened the door and peeked over shoulder. “But text me.”

The door closed. I stared at my oldest friend. She stared back. Then her face split into a grin.

“So?”

“Beach.”

The grin morphed into a frown. “That’s it?”

“What you mean, that’s it?”

“Yo’ Mr. Rent-a-Yacht, private-chef-having ass is taking her to the beach?”

“Exactly.”

That had been on my mind all morning. Yesterday, I’d shown Topaz Port Isle, bougie-style. The yacht, the chef, the expensive food, hell, even the fish and sea turtles who’d acted like they were paid actors, had been one glimpse. I’d spent enough money and had enough sex to make me wonder if thirty-three might actually be old.

Tonight, I wanted simple, just us.

“I found a spot on the west side of the island,” I explained. “Small beach, kinda hidden. Resort owns the access, so they’ll block it off for a few hours.”

Yoli paused thoughtfully. “Oh. You on some romance shit.”

“Maybe.”

“My nigga! That’s exactly what it is.”

I glared at her. “I want privacy.”

“Make sure you get plenty of pillows.”

I stared at her. Her smile widened as she got more into it.

“Ooh! Ooh! And lanterns.”

“Yoli.”

“I know you got my girl some flowers?”

I rubbed a hand across my beard. “Would you shut the fuck up?”

This damned menace laughed so hard she bent over. “I knew it! Look at you! Got all that shit.”

“Ain't nothing wrong with doing something nice for a woman.”

“Nah. Nothing at all. I’m proud of you, nigga.”

I side-eyed her worrisome ass. “Don’t be.”