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“Ineedone.”

Her eyes rolled, but she accepted my embrace. I held onto her, tighter than I ever had. With each second, our souls intertwined. It felt as if mine danced around hers until hers fell in line with mine again.

“I’ve missed you,” I admitted barely above a whisper.

“Then why did you abruptly end things, Banks? I mean, I know why, but damn… You couldn’t even talk to me?”

“That’s where I fucked up at, for real. I should’ve come to you instead of going by what I saw. I reacted off emotion, Lei. I was hurt, and I didn’t know what to do with the pain. It was something I’d never experienced.”

“But you knew pain was something I’d experienced before. You didn’t stop to think how you ghosting me would affect me?”

The hurt croaking in her tone tightened my chest. To know I had hurt her bothered me, and I would do anything to make it up to her.

“Truthfully, I didn’t. I’m man enough to admit that I was selfish with my feelings then. I only thought about how things were affecting me.” I pulled away from her so I could gaze into her eyes. “I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to explain. I’m sorry for ghosting you and ending the contract. I’m sorry for shutting down on you, but most of all, I’m sorry for hurting you.

“It was never my intentions to hurt you nor fall for you like I did. I’m going to be real with you, Leilani. Everything I feel for you is raw and true. At first, for a very brief time, it was about keeping up our image, but it swiftly and unexpectedly turned into more. You’re easy to cater to. You’re easy to talk to. You’reeasy to listen to. I’ve never had anyone pour into me like you did. My parents always have, but not in the way you did.

“When you would say things about me not having to act the way I did whenever it was only us, it stung a little, but I continued. The day I saw you hiding the fact you were texting your ex raised red flags for me. I should’ve asked you about it instead of assuming because I know you would’ve been honest with me.

“That was when I started to pull away. I’m sure you noticed but wasn’t sure why, and that was it. Seeing the pictures of y’all online was my way out, a way out I honestly didn’t want. All in all, this entire experience has made me aware of my emotions. It’s made me aware that I’ve fallen for you, Leilani. It’s made me aware that I want to give us a shot without an agreement, only me and you, doing our thing. What do you say?”

I thumbed away the tears trickling down Leilani’s cheeks. She closed her lids and gave me a closed lipped smile. Slowly, she inhaled and exhaled before opening her eyes.

“If we give this a shot, a real shot, we need to make some promises to one another. Ones that don’t require our names being signed on a dotted line or anything. Vows to one another we should have no trouble keeping,” Leilani said, swiping her tongue over her lips.

“I’m listening.”

“We must communicate always. Never leave one another in the dark or wondering what if.”

“I agree.”

“We must be authentic with one another. I believe we’ve truly been showing on another our true selves, but if we’re going to do this for real, there’s no holding back.”

“I agree.”

“We must trust one another. You’re a big name in these streets, and I’m making a name for myself. There are going to betimes where we can’t be around one another, but we must trust one another to remain faithful and true.”

“I agree. Anything else?”

Leilani twisted her lips, and they curved into a smirk. “I have one thing in mind.”

“I’m listening.”

“I must feel you inside me at least three times a week, and the start of those times need to happen now.”

“You ain’t said nothing but a word.”

Banks wasasleep in my bed. I lay there, watching the consistent rise and fall of his bare chest with each long breath he took. He was sleeping so peacefully. I didn’t want to wake him up, so I’d been watching him sleep. It was probably creepy of me to do so, but I couldn’t help myself. I could stare at him all day and night, never getting tired of him.

I was more than grateful to have him back in my life. Since we’d mended things, we’d once again become inseparable. I was back at every home, cheering him on as he played his heart out. Things between his mother and I weren’t the best. She was still in her feelings about how I spoke to her that night, which I found to be childish behavior. His father apologized to me and thankedme for taking up for Banks. It made me feel good to know at least one of his parents understood him.

The glow of Banks’s phone illuminated his face when his alarm started going off. He was the type of person who fell asleep watching videos on their phone. Mostly, they were baseball highlights, but he’d watch a show when he felt like it. It took a few seconds for him to hear it and buck his eyes open. He glanced at me as he stretched his body and rolled, throwing his arm over me.

“Good morning to you too.” I giggled as he pulled me over to him, nuzzling his face in my neck.

“Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?”

“Great with you beside me. I could get used to going to sleep in your arms. You know it’s my favorite place to be.”