Page 82 of Juke
“No thanks needed. It was all your girl.” Stacks smirked.
Nic, Kasha, and Mel came pulling me into their little circle. “You really outdid yourself. He looks happy.” Kasha praised.
“He is,” I whispered, watching him laugh with MJ and Deion by the DJ booth.
“He better be,” Mel teased. “This was a lot of work to keep it a secret.”
I rolled my eyes but laughed anyway, my chest warm from all the love in the room.
As the night went on, drinks flowed, people danced, and the entire club felt like it belonged to us because it did. Right when I thought things were winding down, Rashad lifted his hand. The DJ dropped the volume, and conversations slowed as everyone turned toward him.
He glanced at me, then back at the crowd. “Aight, y’all know I’on talk much.” His voice carried, calm but commanding, like always. “But tonight… it ain’t just about me.” My heart started racing when he turned back to me fully, pulling a small black box from his pocket. “I asked her this last night,” he admitted, his voice softening. “But I’ve had this ring for a minute. I just needed to make sure I was ready. She’s been through a lot, and I wanted to make sure I was the man she deserved.” He opened the box, and the five-carat emerald-cut diamond took my breath away. “Now I know I am. So, Sophia Johnson, I’m gone make it official and ask you again… will you marry me?”
I knew I looked a mess by the way I was crying, so all I could do was nod my head as my response. The crowd erupted into cheer as he slid the ring onto my finger. He pulled me into his chest, and kissed me deep while the entire room cheered.
“I love you,” he whispered against my lips.
“I love you, too,” I whispered back, my hands gripping him tight like I never wanted to let go.
The crowd’s noise faded around me, and all I could feel was him, and in that moment… my thoughts were clear. I’d been broken before, trapped in fear, and convinced I’d never know peace again. But now I was free… loved… protected… and happy in a way I never thought I’d be.
26
Epilogue
Sophi
two years later…
Today was Liberty’s birthday party, and the family was getting together for a small celebration. Mel wanted everyone there early, but my husband had other plans.
“C’mere, Lovie,” he murmured, pulling me back against him.
“Rashad…” I tried to sound firm, but it came out more like a plea. “We gotta get ready.”
“We still got time,” he said, already easing me onto my back. “I won’t even take that long,” he lied.
I bit down on my lip, trying to stand firm, but I was losing badly. “Dominic’s awake.”
“Then you better be quiet, mama.”
He didn’t waste any time sliding into me and making my body quake underneath him. He delivered deep, intentional strokes that had my body surrendering in no time.
“Relax… Lovie. You know how to take this dick so act like it.” He knew what he was doing, and my body did exactly what he wanted it to do.
“Ooh…Rashad…shit,” I whimpered.
“Shh,” he whispered. “Dommy gone hear you.”
I clung to him, muffling my cries against his chest, as he groaned low and deep, succumbing to his own release.
“Shit, Lovie,” he groaned.
When it was over, we lay tangled for a second, catching our breath before Rashad kissed my forehead and rolled away, heading toward the shower. “Now we can get ready.”
I sat up, smoothing my hair. “Mel’s gonna kill us if we’re late.”
“She’ll be alright. We’ll be there in time.”
