Page 114 of Cuffed By Your Love
He nods once. That set of the jaw I recognize. Elias had the same switch. “Bet.”
Across the way, Jazz pretended not to be watching. She was absolutely watching. Her mouth twitched when he walked back and offered her a candle.Case Closed.She laughed despite herself. I grinned. God loved a soft yes.
Miss Elyse was holding Jolani by the hands so she could do her little pigeon-toed run in circles. EJ barreled through withAmira, cousins and bubbles, shouting, “Mama Nay! Come see my foam volcano!” It’s a sugar scrub with too much baking soda in a mixing bowl. It was a disaster, yet perfect.
I catch my reflection in the glass: yellow dress, small gold hoops, my baby bump rounding my center like a sunrise. I thought about who I was. Who I am. The space between those girls. The first one thought love was a test you passed by shrinking, the second one knew love was a home you built with a man who set the security system then handed you the code.
Elias slid up behind me, hands low on my hips, mouth at my ear. “You are floating, gorgeous,” he murmurs. “Look at what you built.”
“You helped me believe I could. You never tried to own it. You just stood guard while I opened every window.”
He hummed. “That’s the assignment. Protect. Provide. Peace.”
“Mm.” I lean back into him. “Say that in my ear again, but slower, so my spine remembers it later.”
He laughed quietly from the chest and kissed that spot behind my ear like it owed him rent. “Later.”
Jason slapped a hand on the reception desk. “Aight, speech time! Before I cry and blame allergies again.” He pulled me forward. “My baby sister took pain and turned it to product, turned fear to fragrance, turned survival to sanctuary. She used to be guarded so hard my knuckles were tired from knocking. Now? Sis is open like a sunroof and living the life she truly deserves.
“Baby girl, I always worried about you the most because you were always so sweet, kind, and genuine, and just wanted to love on everybody and see the good in everybody, even when they didn’t deserve your grace. I’m proud you didn’t let the ugly hearts of others harden that in you.
“Elias… lil’ bro. Thank you for treasuring my sister like the diamond she is, protecting her with your life, and cultivating the space for her to flourish and grow into the gracious beauty I always knew she was. I sleep a little easier now because I don’t have to worry about her anymore. Dre, that goes for you too, bro. Thanks for real.”
The room mmm-hmms and claps. I’m crying for real now, but smiling while I do it. Leila dabbed my cheeks with a tissue, her own belly bumping into mine. “Hurry and sit down before we both pee,” she whispered, and we giggled like teenagers in church.
“Ribbon,” Jonell singsongs, producing silver scissors from nowhere. “Do the honors, CEO.”
I cut the gold ribbon across the front desk. The room erupted in applause, whistles, somebody’s auntie shouting, “Yes, Black woman joy!” The playlist flipped to Sade, then Jhene Aiko, then a chopped-and-screwed “Best Part,” and it was indeed the best part.
We scattered into the rooms like we live here—because we do. Mama toured the Protective Custody suites and got quiet, like the soft was finally soaking in. Daddy bought seven candles “for the deacons.” Miss Elyse told everybody that thePeace on Patrolbath salts healed her knees (they did not, but I’m not fighting church-mom marketing). EJ spilled sugar scrub and said sorry before I even got there.
“You practicing accountability?” I ask.
And he said, “Daddy said that word,” proud as a medal.
Jazz leaned over a mixing table, blending bergamot and white musk. Chambers hovered without hovering. “That one smells like trouble,” he said.
“Then I’ll take two,” she shot back, but the smile betrayed her.
I slide beside Elias at the Holding Cell and scoop a swirl of Glow in Custody onto his wrist. “Rub that in.”
He smeared it obediently, sniffed, then nodded slowly. “So, this is what delicious humility smells like.” His eyes lifted to mine. “I’m proud of you.”
I let it sink in, the compliment, the weight of his gaze. “Thank you for not rushing me here. I used to think I had to pay for love with pain. You taught me it comes with security systems and spare keys.”
“Spare keys,” he repeated, smiling. “You always got mine.”
We end up gathered back in the lobby as the sun folds itself down outside the tinted glass. Folks lounge, soft and loud at once, Laffy Taffy jokes and tear-rimmed eyes. Jason is whisper-arguing with Leila about names. “If our baby is a boy, I willnotname him after a fish, baby, the fuck?”
“Tilapia is biblical if you squint,” she said without blinking, and the entire lobby fell out.
“Girl,” I managed between laughs. “Hell naw. Get out.”
Dre was on a bench at Jonell’s feet, rubbing her ankles like he took a continuing ed class in Black husbandry. “Who needs a baby moon when you got a spa pass for life?”
“Period,” she said, then leaned toward me. “I’m so damn proud of you I could scream. Also, please name a candleAdmissible Drip,so I can buy it in bulk.”
“Done,” I said. I’m not even playing.
