Page 86 of Stay with Me

I chew on the inside of my cheek. I don’t know if I should tell him what I know. Bishop is pulling from everyone around him.

I shrug. “Sort of,” I say and down the rest of my beer.

At the end of the day, it’s always about Saga anyway. I won’t take that from her. I decide to keep this to myself.

“I can only hope my shit turns into that,” Prince murmurs almost so low I don’t hear him.

Me too.

CHAPTER 32

Our Way to Love

Reminisce

“Girl, thank you for all your help. This night has turned out so amazing,” Sunny says as she holds me tight in her embrace and rocks me back and forth.

“You’re welcome. I’m so happy it came out the way you wanted. And to think, this is just the beginning,” I say as I pull away and look around the reception hall of her engagement party.

She loops her arms through mine and leans her head against me. We both stand and take in the party. You would think this were the wedding, her parents went all out. This is going to be something to top.

There are white and gold roses everywhere. Sunny wanted a glitz and glam theme and that’s what she got. Even the cloth dinner napkins were personalized with their initials and bound with crystal napkin rings.

“Look at those two,” Sunny says right as my gaze locks with Knight’s.

Not for the first time tonight, the sight of him takes my breath away. The navy-blue tailor-made suit he has on fits him perfectly. The black shirt and pale blue tie set off his eyes. He’s tamed his hair with some type of product, so his naturally wavy hair isn’t as fuzzy looking tonight.

Jamel stands beside him dressed in white and gold like Sunny, but I can barely pay attention to anyone other than Knight. I force myself to inhale. Knight steps forward onto the dance floor with so much swag my heart leaps.

I notice as he holds his hand out that “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston has started to play. Sunny gives me a nudge toward him before she takes off for Jamel. With my gaze locked with his, I make my way to Knight and place my hand in his.

“Dance with me,” he says as he closes his hand around mine.

I nod as I look up at him. He tugs me gently into his chest and begins to sway with me in his arms. Placing my free palm against his chest, I then lay my head against the back of my hand and close my eyes.

Once again, I’ve fallen into our bubble. This time I’m daring to believe I can stay here. I still have this deep-seated fear, but I’ve been feeling safe here in his arms.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks.

“This turned out really nice,” I say, speaking a half truth.

“Is this the type of engagement party you want?”

I scoff. “I don’t think I want to go this far. If my mother would allow it, I’d want something quaint in the backyard with close friends and family. I can’t see doing all of this for just the engagement. It’s nice, but I want to leave room to awe people with my wedding.”

“Thank you.”

I lift my head to look up at him in confusion. He searches my face for a moment as I do the same. I knit my brows.

“For what?”

“That was the first time you answered the question without telling me I wouldn’t be the one to share the moment with you. You didn’t take the dream away before I could settle into it. Thank you,” he replies.

“Knight, I?—”

I don’t get to finish my words as he lifts my chin with his fingertips and crushes my lips with his. It’s an all-consuming kiss. I’m totally lost as he penetrates my soul. The lyrics of the song playing hit me right in the chest.

It does feel like I have nothing when I don’t have him. I wasn’t expecting to fall this deeply in love with him, but I can’t deny that I have. Knight makes me want things I know I can’t have. He makes me feel like maybe, somehow he’s the one, but can I give him all that I am?

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