16. Damier
T he morning air was warm and still carried the quiet energy of Turks and Caicos. I stood on the balcony of our villa, a blunt in one hand and my phone in the other. The smoke curled lazily from my lips as I talked to King, my voice low and firm. These were the calls that mattered, the ones that kept the machine running smoothly while I was off the grid.
Below me, the turquoise water sparkled under the mid-morning sun, a view so perfect it didn’t feel real. But my mind wasn’t on the scenery—I was focusing on what King was telling me.
“I got that meeting set with Felix,” King said, his tone a mix of business and casual like it always was.
I straightened slightly, my focus sharpening. “When?”
“A few days from now. He’s coming to Cali,” King replied. “Told him to come have a little vacation.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Vacation, huh? You really said that?”
“Hell yeah,” King said, a grin in his voice. “Figured it’d make him feel good about coming out. You know, relax him a bit. But let’s be real—we just need him on our turf. In case things… go sideways.”
The implication wasn’t lost on me. “Smart move,” I said, flicking ash off the blunt. “You already got everything lined up?”
“Always,” King smoothly said. “The team’s ready. Just waiting on you to get back so we can handle it.”
“I’ll be home in a couple of days,” I said. “We’ll make sure it goes exactly how it needs to.”
King’s laugh was low and brief. “Bet. Enjoy your island paradise while it lasts.”
“Don’t I always?” I replied, smirking.
When the last call ended, I powered down the phone and stared out at the horizon for a moment, letting the peace of the place wash over me.
I turned back into the villa, spotting Dream folding clothes into one of our suitcases. Her hair was in a tight, curly bun, and her movements were easy and methodical. She looked over at me and smiled, and for a moment, I forgot about everything King and I had just talked about.
“Don’t pack everything,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “We’ve got dinner on the beach tonight. I don’t want you scrambling to find something to wear later.”
She playfully rolled her eyes. “You think I’d forget? I already have a dress picked out. The red one over there.” She pointed at the chair where her small dress lay.
I smirked and stepped further into the room, but before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed in my hand. I frowned, glancing at the screen, because I thought I powered it down. I couldn’t ignore it, though, since it was my mother.
“Hold on,” I said to Dream and answered the call. “What’s good, Ma?”
Her tone was calm but carried a weight I recognized immediately. “The results are in,” she simply said. “You’re the father.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. I cleared my throat, my voice steady but distant. “Alright. We’ll talk when I’m back in a day or two.”
“Take your time. Me and his nanny will take of him for as long as you need me to,” she said, her voice softer. “But, Damier, don’t go looking for his mother. I just feel like you will regret it.”
“I hear you, Ma.”
I ended the call and stood there for a moment, the phone still in my hand, my thoughts spinning.
Dream immediately noticed the shift. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, motioning for her to sit down on the edge of the bed. I joined her, exhaling deeply before meeting her curious gaze. “The DNA test came back,” I said. “He’s my kid.”
Her eyes widened slightly before her lips curved into a small smile. “Congrats, I guess?”
I chuckled dryly, running a hand over my face. “I don’t even know how to feel about it. I mean, I’m a father now. I have to man up for him. But…”
“But?” she prompted gently, her hand resting on my knee.
“My mother keeps telling me not to look for his mother, but I can’t let it go,” I admitted. “I need answers. I don’t understand how a woman could leave her newborn in a random place. Why leave him at your office, of all places? What’s the angle? Was there a motive?”
Dream nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I get it. If you feel like you need to find her to get closure, then do it. Whatever you decide, I’m here for you.”
I stared at her, the sincerity in her voice and the calmness in her eyes cutting through the storm in my head. “I appreciate you, Imani,” I quietly said, meaning every word.
She smiled, leaning in to kiss me. “You are going to do great as a dad, Damier, and I appreciate you too.”
$$$$$
I sat on the edge of the bed in the villa, the 300k diamond ring glinting in my hand as I turned it over under the soft light. It was flawless, just like her. The jeweler had followed my instructions to the letter—every detail was perfect, from the size to the brilliant cut that caught every sliver of light.
Dream didn’t even know I had it. A week before this trip, I’d decided I was done waiting. I wanted her to be my forever, and this ring was going to seal it. It fit perfectly, too, thanks to one of the rings she’d left on my dresser weeks ago.
But now, sitting there staring at it, my nerves were shot. I’d been through this twice before, but this felt different—more real, more permanent. Dream wasn’t like my exes. She wasn’t the type to push for tradition, marriage, or kids. She’d never been married, didn’t have children, and carried herself like she was all she needed in this world. But I wanted to be the one who changed that for her, the one who gave her everything she didn’t even know she wanted.
A sigh escaped me as I dropped the ring into the top pocket of my Louis Vuitton dress shirt, smoothing the fabric over it. I’d planned to propose in the cave a few days ago, but I’d chickened out. The moment hadn’t felt right. Tonight, though, I knew there wouldn’t be a better time.
With the news from my mother earlier about Donshay being my son, everything felt heavier. I had to step up, clean up, and make things right—not just for the baby but for Dream, too. She deserved the best version of me, and I wanted to be that for her.
I stood, straightened my shirt, and finally strolled outside. Dream had been waiting for fifteen minutes, and I could only imagine the look she’d give me when I showed up late.
The breeze was gentle as I stepped onto the sand, the R&B playlist I’d curated drifting softly through the night air. Dream was sitting at the table, the lanterns on the beach casting a warm glow over her face. For a moment, I just stood there, taking her in—the way her curls framed her face, the way her smile lit up even when she was just sitting quietly.
In my head, I thought, She’s going to be my forever.
Finally, I walked over, reaching for her hand and pulling her to her feet. She giggled as I kissed her neck, her scent wrapping around me like a familiar song.
“Hey, baby,” she said, her voice teasing. “What took you so long?”
“I had to make a call,” I said, my tone easy.
Her brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t press.
“Walk with me for a minute before we eat,” I said, leading her down the shore.
We walked along the edge of the water, the soft waves brushing over our feet. The moon hung low in the sky, and everything felt still, like the world was waiting for this moment.
Halfway down the beach, I stopped and turned to face Dream. I suddenly got on one knee in front of her and grabbed her hand.
She looked up at me, her eyes questioning but filled with warmth. “What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath, reaching into my pocket and feeling the weight of the ring. “I’ve been through so much my whole life, Dream,” I started, my voice steady but raw. “And for the first time, I’m finally finding peace. That peace is with you. And I never want to let that go.”
Her face softened, her lips parting slightly as she listened.
“I want to start my life over—fully—with you,” I continued. “Finding out about having a surprise kid… it shook me. But it also made me realize I need to clean up my act to be better for him, for you, and for the family I want us to build together.”
I paused, the words catching in my throat. Then, I added, “I want to change Donshay’s name to Donta in honor of your brother. To show you that I’m all about you, about us.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and a smile broke through her surprise. “I’m with all of that,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “But… why are you down on one knee, boy?”
She laughed through her tears, and I couldn’t help but smirk as I pulled the ring from my pocket. Holding her hand, I looked up at her.
“Imani Dream Jaxton,” I said, my voice low but sure, “will you marry me?”
She let out a deep sigh, her tears spilling over as she grinned down at me. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Yes, yes, yes.”
I slid the ring onto her finger and stood, pulling her into a hug as her arms wrapped tightly around my neck. Our lips met, the kiss deep and full of promises as the waves brushed over our feet.
$$$$$
Back at the table, Dream kept staring at the ring, her fingers turning it so the light caught every facet. “I can’t believe I’m going back home engaged,” she said, her voice full of awe.
I poured her another glass of champagne, smiling at her. “One thing, though,” I said, my tone turning serious. “Do me a favor, and don’t tell the public yet. Let’s keep it to ourselves for a while—or at least until the wedding. You can tell your mom and family, but I don’t want anyone putting bad juju on our engagement.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Bad juju? You sound like my grandma.”
“I’m serious,” I said, chuckling. “Let’s keep it quiet.”
She nodded, her smile softening. “Okay, I get it. And I agree. It’s ours. Just ours.”
We finished dinner, and the night flowed into a celebration of us. Liquor and music filled the villa as we danced, laughed, and eventually fell into each other’s arms, making love until the early hours.
When we finally passed out, tangled in the sheets, I knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t just the end of a vacation. This was the start of a new life, one I was ready to build with her.
The next morning, hungover but ready, we packed our bags, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what was waiting for us back home. Whatever it was, I was ready.