Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Karina
Today was finally the day. Rayla and I had been checking off the list we’d compiled to make sure that not only this party, but the entire soft launch went according to plan. I couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong tonight.
I sent Kareem an invitation, but since it had been almost two weeks since we last spoke, I kept my expectations for him showing up low.
He wasn’t obligated to be here because not only had we not made it official or even given it a title, but I ran again.
I did what I always did and let my thoughts get ahead of me. I walked away when he asked me to stay.
Kareem was walking away from a billion-dollar deal, and I bailed on him. How could I now ask him to show up for me when I left him when he needed me most? Still, I sent the invite last night with high hopes. I wanted Kareem to be at my launch party more than anyone else.
“What’s up, baby girl? You look so beautiful tonight,” Rayla complimented, hugging me from behind.
“Thank you, Ray. I appreciate you so much for being here, for helping me through this entire process.”
“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I see you looking out into the crowd. Looking for anybody in particular?”
Rayla asked a question I was sure she already knew the answer to. After I told her what was going on between us at brunch, she made it her mission to check on me every day since. I couldn’t thank her enough for that.
“Yeah, I was hoping Kareem would come. I still haven’t spoken to him since the text, but I halfway expected him to show up on my doorstep, especially since he said he would see me soon.”
“Yeah, but we got to be careful putting expectations on people that we don’t put on ourselves because Kareem may have had the same expectation that you were going to show up for him since you were the one who walked away.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I rubbed my hands together, then instinctively ran them down the front of my dress.
“Look, that’s not what tonight is about. Tonight is about you showing everyone all the work that you have put into what’s yours.”
“You’re right. I’d better get out there.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. A lady always has work to do even when she’s missing her man.”
I hugged Rayla and walked out onto the stage. The small art gallery I’d rented to have this party was packed from wall to wall. It was a better turnout than I expected, and I was beyond grateful to everyone who showed up for me.
“Welcome. Thank you all for coming out tonight.”
The place quieted as I started my speech.
“I appreciate every last one of you for showing up to the soft launch of Unknown. Unknown is not the official name of the magazine. Some of you told me just to keep it as Unknown, but the official name means so much more to me than being anonymous or unknown, as I’ve been known as for so long.
I have been in the shadows for most of my life.
I’ve written for some of the biggest outlets today.
I’ve launched multiple faceless brands and grown the social media accounts to well over a million followers.
I’m sure if you pulled out your phone and scrolled through your social media, you would find a page that is run by me.
I am the face behind so many of the things you love, but tonight, I wanted to come from behind the veil.
I wanted to show you guys pieces of me and the best thing I’ve ever created this magazine.
It means so much to me that you would take the time out of your lives to be here.
I know we are all busy. I know the country is in shambles, so the fact that you are here with me tonight means more than you will ever know. ”
I paused and scanned the room. I was looking for the only face I was craving to see. The only face that mattered, but he wasn’t here.
“The name of my magazine is K+K Mag. The K in K+K Mag has a double meaning. Of course, my name is Karina, so that’s the first K.
The second is Kareem. I want to give Kareem his flowers.
He has been in my life one way or another for as long as I can remember.
Anytime I needed him, he’s shown up. One of the most vulnerable times in my life, when I thought I was alone, he was there, and every time I think about something good that has happened to me, he is always somewhere in the background.
You may know his company, K&K Solutions, which he named after me, and I appreciated that.
I went years without knowing that fact, and when he revealed it to me, it made sense to honor him the same way.
We are two peas in a pod, and I want our companies to reflect that. ”
Just as I was getting ready to wrap up my origin story, I saw Kareem walk out from the shadows. He was dressed in a black-on-black suit, looking fine as usual. A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
Kareem’s presence distracted me so much that my words got caught in the back of my throat. I completely forgot what I was going to say next. I didn’t have to flap in the wind for long as Rayla came out on stage and slid the mic out of my hand and into her own.
“Can we give it up for that speech?” Rayla took the attention away from my choking easily. “Again, thank you for being here, and enjoy yourself tonight. The drinks and food are free, so eat up, drink up, and have a good time.”
“Go get your man,” Rayla whispered just loud enough for my ears only.
I smiled and pulled my friend into a tight hug. I was sure to tell her how much I loved her again before I let her go.
I exited the stage where Kareem was already waiting with his hand out. I placed mine in his and followed him out of eyesight. I was done running from this man. Now, I was prepared to follow wherever he wanted to lead me.
As soon as we were out of eyesight, Kareem pushed me against the nearest wall and took my lips into his. I fell into the kiss as if it were home. I hadn’t realized how much I missed his lips until they collided against mine.
“I’m sorry.”
I apologized as soon as Kareem let me up for air. Not because I thought that would be the first thing he wanted to hear, but because I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I didn’t just owe Kareem an apology or leave New York without at least saying goodbye.
I owed him years’ worth of apologies and gratitude that I’d withheld for reasons that only made sense to me. He deserved hundreds of kisses that had been lost in time. I planned to give him every last one of them.
“I miss yo’ ass so much,” was the only thing Kareem said in response.
It was, in true Reem fashion, to never even harp on what I’d done but only focus on us being together. That was the only thing that mattered to him in the end.
“I missed you too.”
“Can you stop running from me now? Please, Karina?”
“Pinky promise.” I held out my pinky to Kareem, and he grabbed it. “You want to get out of here?”
“You trying to leave your own party?”
“Yeah, I got what I came for… to announce the magazine and see my man.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Good, because I like saying it.”