18. Banks
Everything was set.
My nerves were in wad in the pit of my stomach as I waited for Leilani. Paisley had helped me set up the perfect date for an apology. A date for me to explain myself and hear Leilani out with a little twist. It had cost me a pretty penny, but when it came to her, I’d spend my last.
“Well, don’t you look dapper.” Paisley teased as she finished setting up the sunflowers in the middle of the table.
She placed her hands on her hips as she looked around the restaurant, which had been completely transformed, smiling.
“This is so thoughtful of you, Banks. Seriously. I pray I find a man like you. I can only imagine how it’ll be once the two of you truly fall in love. ”
“You don’t need a man when you got me, Dad, and Justin. You know we’ll forever love and spoil you.”
“I know, but it’s expected from the three of you.
I want a man to learn me, raw and pure, and choose to love me for who I am.
A man who won’t think twice about going above and beyond for me.
I truly think this will show Leilani just how much you care about her.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see her reaction. ”
I wrapped my arms around Paisley and kissed the top of her fluffy curls. “You will, sis. Any man will be blessed to call you his, but he’ll need to get through me first. You can only be with him if he has my approval.”
“Whatever, Banks.”
“I’m serious. And that’s how it was for Scarlett too. I gave Ahmad hell before I finally decided he was good enough for her.”
“Oh, I remember.” Paisley giggled with a shake of her head. “You and Justin didn’t have to give him a hard time like that.”
“As brothers, we did. You’ll see once you bring someone home.”
“I guess so. I don’t know. I might keep it a secret until Daddy gives them their blessing to marry me.”
Paisley squealed as I playfully put her in a chokehold. She fought until I let her go, sticking her tongue out at me.
“You know better, Pai. I better meet the man before Dad does, or we’ll really have some problems.”
“I know. I know.” She rolled her eyes and exhaled. “Let me get out of here. Leilani is set to arrive in five minutes, and I don’t want her to see me.”
“Thank you again, sis. I owe you.”
“Big time. Like that Chanel purse I sent you a picture of and you ignored.”
My lips smacked together, knowing she was about to run my pockets. “Go ahead and charge it to my card.”
“It’s already in the cart. Love you, Banks.”
“I love you too.”
I watched Paisley sneak out the back door, headed to her car.
Once she had driven off, I went back inside to wait for Leilani.
The minutes seemed to slowly tick by. She was a punctual person, so when those five minutes turned to ten, I started to lose hope.
Maybe she had caught on and knew it was me who summoned her.
Or maybe she didn’t care enough to talk to Paisley.
My hope slowly started to dwindle until I heard the door open.
Before I could see Leilani, I started her playlist she shared with me.
She’d added some songs since, and I figured she would immediately catch on.
I stood at the end of the runway Paisley and I created.
My breathing hitched at the sight of my beauty.
Two weeks had been far too long without seeing her.
Without feeling her. Without smelling her.
Without tasting her. She was the only person who could rile all my senses at once.
When Leilani noticed me, she stopped in her path, giving me the chance to take her all in.
Finally, she found footing again. With each step she took, a picture of her lit up on the side.
I’d reached out to a few people to help bring my vision to life.
Each one was different. Over the months, I’d snuck and taken pictures of her.
The artists I contacted didn’t fail to create the different ways I saw her.
Some were paintings, some were drawn, some were colored.
Nevertheless, they all captured the true beauty of her.
“What is all this, Banks?” Leilani questioned as she stood in front of me. “It’s beautiful.”
“Just like you. Can we sit down and talk?”
“Oh, now you want to talk?”
“I deserve that. I do, but yes. I want to talk if you’re up to it.”
Leilani stared at me, eyes piercing through my soul. Her energy wasn’t off, which was a good thing. Without answering, she tried to walk around me, but I gently grabbed her arm.
“It’s been too long, Leilani. I need a hug.”
She looked from her arm to my face. “You damn sure don’t deserve one.”
“I need one.”
Her eyes rolled, but she accepted my embrace. I held onto her, tighter than I ever had. With each second, our souls intertwined. It felt as if mine danced around hers until hers fell in line with mine again.
“I’ve missed you,” I admitted barely above a whisper.
“Then why did you abruptly end things, Banks? I mean, I know why, but damn… You couldn’t even talk to me?”
“That’s where I fucked up at, for real. I should’ve come to you instead of going by what I saw. I reacted off emotion, Lei. I was hurt, and I didn’t know what to do with the pain. It was something I’d never experienced.”
“But you knew pain was something I’d experienced before. You didn’t stop to think how you ghosting me would affect me?”
The hurt croaking in her tone tightened my chest. To know I had hurt her bothered me, and I would do anything to make it up to her.
“Truthfully, I didn’t. I’m man enough to admit that I was selfish with my feelings then.
I only thought about how things were affecting me.
” I pulled away from her so I could gaze into her eyes.
“I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to explain.
I’m sorry for ghosting you and ending the contract.
I’m sorry for shutting down on you, but most of all, I’m sorry for hurting you.
“It was never my intentions to hurt you nor fall for you like I did. I’m going to be real with you, Leilani.
Everything I feel for you is raw and true.
At first, for a very brief time, it was about keeping up our image, but it swiftly and unexpectedly turned into more.
You’re easy to cater to. You’re easy to talk to.
You’re easy to listen to. I’ve never had anyone pour into me like you did.
My parents always have, but not in the way you did.
“When you would say things about me not having to act the way I did whenever it was only us, it stung a little, but I continued. The day I saw you hiding the fact you were texting your ex raised red flags for me. I should’ve asked you about it instead of assuming because I know you would’ve been honest with me.
“That was when I started to pull away. I’m sure you noticed but wasn’t sure why, and that was it.
Seeing the pictures of y’all online was my way out, a way out I honestly didn’t want.
All in all, this entire experience has made me aware of my emotions.
It’s made me aware that I’ve fallen for you, Leilani.
It’s made me aware that I want to give us a shot without an agreement, only me and you, doing our thing. What do you say?”
I thumbed away the tears trickling down Leilani’s cheeks. She closed her lids and gave me a closed lipped smile. Slowly, she inhaled and exhaled before opening her eyes.
“If we give this a shot, a real shot, we need to make some promises to one another. Ones that don’t require our names being signed on a dotted line or anything. Vows to one another we should have no trouble keeping,” Leilani said, swiping her tongue over her lips.
“I’m listening.”
“We must communicate always. Never leave one another in the dark or wondering what if.”
“I agree.”
“We must be authentic with one another. I believe we’ve truly been showing on another our true selves, but if we’re going to do this for real, there’s no holding back.”
“I agree.”
“We must trust one another. You’re a big name in these streets, and I’m making a name for myself. There are going to be times where we can’t be around one another, but we must trust one another to remain faithful and true.”
“I agree. Anything else?”
Leilani twisted her lips, and they curved into a smirk. “I have one thing in mind.”
“I’m listening.”
“I must feel you inside me at least three times a week, and the start of those times need to happen now.”
“You ain’t said nothing but a word.”