Page 38 of You Deserve Good Things

The rooftop was straight out a dream. The city lights flickered like stars had fallen and found a new home on the pavement. Fairy lights were strung across the rafters, glimmering like her smile. A string quartet played a melody that sounded like everything I ever felt but could never put into words. The breezewas light, warm, whispering promises as it kissed the back of my neck.

And there she was.

Walking in like the whole night had been waiting for her. Her heels clicked against the floor like the beat of a song only we knew. Her dress hugged her in all the right places, flowing behind her like it had a damn attitude. Her skin glowed. Her curls bounced. Her eyes? Locked on me.

She froze when she saw the setup. The flowers. The lights. The sign that read:

“Marry Me, My Love.”

I was already on one knee, heart bare, love louder than the city beneath us.

“Baby,” I said, takin’ her hand in mine, voice trembling but firm, “you are my first, my last, my always. I don’t just want you. I need you. Forever.”

Her lips quivered.

“I done prayed for you. Fought for you. Waited for you. Let me spend the rest of my lifelovingyou.”

I pulled the ring from my pocket, a custom 3.5 carat oval-cut diamond set in white gold, sittin’ like royalty in that box.

“Marry me, Shaniya Stiles. Be my queen. My wife. My forever.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she nodded, too choked up to speak.

“Yes, baby,” she whispered. “Yes.”

Behind us, family and friends erupted. Daniale fanned herself with fake drama. “I’m not crying—y’all are crying!”

Shari cried like she’d been holding it in for decades. Chase just nodded, smiling.

I stood, slid the ring on her finger, and pulled her into the softest, deepest kiss we ever shared.

We were curled up, limbs tangled like roots of the same tree. I kissed her shoulder, forehead pressed to hers.

“You happy, baby?” I whispered.

She looked at me, eyes glossy, lips smiling.

“I’m perfect, Jacory.”

And I kissed her slow, like time ain’t matter, . . . like love was forever, . . . like nothing existed outside this moment.

Because now? We had forever.

And I was gon’ spend every second showing her just how deep love could go.

I swear,my heart ain’t even caught up yet. It was still doing backflips like a damn cheerleader with no chill, cartwheeling through every memory, every promise, every kiss that led up to last night. I was still tryna wrap my head around the fact that this man—Jacory James, my first love, my forever flame, the one who had me twisted tighter than my bonnet in the middle of a hurricane—was now my fiancé.

Fiancé. That word sounded too light, too casual, too flimsy for what we had. Because what we had, it was divine design. It was bigger than butterflies. Stronger than storms. Slicker than fate. We weren’t just in love; we were tethered. Spirit-to-spirit. Soul-to-soul. What we had was holy, hood, and hella real.

The night still played in my mind like a Spike Lee joint shot in slow motion. The candles flickered like stars whispering yes. The music floated through the air like it was made just for us. The skyline lit up behind him, and when Jacory dropped to one knee? Whew. My knees damn near buckled. Not ’cause I was surprised, but ’cause I knew. I knew this was my moment. Our moment.

And the way his voice wrapped around me, low, deep, sweet like strawberries dipped in white chocolate? I felt like I had been caught in a time loop, one where every version of me always chose him.

And listen, for once, I didn’t hesitate. I said yes like my soul already had the answer long before my mouth did.

So yeah, . . . I was gone for this man. I always had been, and I always would be.

But if I thought I was gonna have a peaceful night to process that life-changing moment, I was dead wrong.

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