Page 87 of Awakening
“Oh, you will,” Knox said, grinning wickedly, “We’re menaces.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and Lena muttered something about not needing visuals of her sister’s love life.
Kimberly looked at me once more and reached for my hand. “Thank you for trusting us with this.”
I squeezed her fingers. “Thank you for letting me be whole.”
David Sr raised an eyebrow. “So... does Dro know yet?”
I groaned, “That’s next, and I can’t even begin to imagine how he reacts.” I chuckled nervously.
Michelle, who’d been silent until now, tilted her head and smiled knowingly. “You might be surprised. Dro’s a lot of things, but when it comes to you, baby, he’s a big ol’ softie.”
And just like that, the final wall inside me cracked open, and light rushed in, because I wasn’t hiding anymore.
If heart palpitations burned calories, I’d have lost fifteen pounds by the time I walked into Caleb and Yanna’s kitchen. It had been two weeks since I introduced Maverick and Knox to my mom’s side of the family, and Ifinally mustered the courage to bring Dro and everyone else together to do it for the last time.
Everything was perfect, too perfect, and that made me even more nervous.
The house smelled like heaven dipped in hot grease and slow braises. Knox was in the kitchen, like the culinary God he was, sleeves rolled up, revealing his tattooed forearms, an apron hugging him just right, a gold-bottom grill flashing with every taste test and perfectly timed wink.
The spread? Korean fried chicken with a sweet gochujang glaze and buttermilk dipping sauce, collard green kimchi with smoked turkey necks, candied sweet potatoes with a sesame brittle crumble, a gochugaru-spiced mac and cheese with a parmesan crust, braised bulgogi short ribs glazed in a soy-brown sugar glaze, and sweet cornbread mochi with honey butter. This was not just dinner; it was a peace offering, dipped in spice and smoked with forgiveness.
Knox gave me a soft smile as I hovered near the kitchen island like a shadow. “You good, baby?”
“No,” I said, sipping my sparkling water like it was moonshine, “I feel like I’m about to come out all over again.”
Yanna stepped behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Because you are, but this time, you’re not alone, you got us, and that’ll never change.”
I leaned into her warmth. The doorbell sounding, and in they came like waves: my father Dro and his fiancée Andrea, who just so happened to be Caleb’s mother (don’t ask, long story), my uncle Ant and aunt Lily, along withthe rest of the tribe: CJ, Rio, Callie, Milo, Leah, and AJ all sniffing the air asking what that heavenly smell was.
Ahmir and Dana were already there, sitting cozy in a corner with glasses of wine and smirks that knew too much. Caleb floated in, hosting with charm turned all the way up, kissing his mama’s cheek and greeting Dro with a dap and a hug.
Dinner moved like honey, sweet, slow, rich with flavor and family banter.
But me? My nerves were sautéed, flambéed, and served over anxiety risotto.
When everyone was seated, I stood up. My hands were slick with sweat, and my heart was pounding like I was back ripping through the sky in a fighter jet.
“So, I uh, I called everyone here because I wanted to share something important. About who I am, about who I love.”
Every eye turned to me, but the forks continued to shovel Knox’s food into their mouths.
I looked at Maverick and Knox, who sat side by side, calm and confident like the twin flames of my soul. And then to Yanna, who gave me the slightest nod, her approval wrapping around me like the softest cashmere throw.
“I’m in a relationship,” I said, “With both of them,” looking in Maverick and Knox’s direction.
The silence would’ve been deafening had Dro not choked on his food, and Mama Drea started patting his back, telling him to hold his arms up like a toddler and shit.
Chuckling, I continued with my mission, “I’m polyamorous, and Maverick and Knox are sexually fluid men who love each other and me. We’ve built somethinghonest, passionate, and good. I know it might not make sense to everybody, and I know it’s different, but it’s real, and it’s mine.”
And just as the pause began to stretch, Yanna stood beside me and said, “And since we’re dropping truth, Caleb and I are poly too. We’ve been in a relationship with Dana and Ahmir for a while now.”
BOOM.
CJ threw his hands in the air, grinning. “PAY UP! I need my money in 24 hours or I’m assessing late fees and shit. I told y’all! Rio, Callie, Milo, I needs my money, and don’t worry, AJ and Leah, you can hand them bands over as well. I said these two were into some freaky low-light, scented-oil, plant-mister shit!”
The whole table burst into laughter. I laughed too, primarily due to my nerves, relief, and pure “what in the island hell just happened?”
