Chapter 65
Emily
“You Came Back to Me”
Istood on my balcony in the room Yuna gave Lil Zay and me, letting the breeze roll through the room behind me.
The doors were open just enough for the curtains to move, soft against the walls.
Lil Zay was at my feet, pushing his little car back and forth, making quiet engine sounds like he had somewhere important to be.
I smiled, watching him.
“Don’t take it too far,” I told him gently. “You know you like to drop it over the edge.”
He glanced up at me for half a second… then went right back to playing like I ain’t said nothing.
I shook my head, leaning against the railing.
Marseille stretched out in front of me, calm and pretty in a way I was still getting used to.
Just… peace.
And I let myself have it.
“Yeah, that’s your favorite car I got you, huh?”
My heart jumped.
That voice.
Right behind me.
I turned so fast my breath caught.
Zay.
Standing in my doorway like he never left.
I didn’t think.
I ran to him.
My arms wrapped around him tight, holding on like I needed to make sure he was really there.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” I rushed out. “Why you ain’t call me? Why you just—”
That’s when I felt it.
The sling under his jacket.
I pulled back immediately.
“What happened to you?”
My hands went straight to him. His chest. His shoulder. Back again, like I could piece it together myself.
“Talk to me…” My voice dropped. “What happened?”
He looked at me as if nothing was wrong.
“I’m good.”
I frowned instantly.
“No, you’re not,” I shot back, still touching him, checking him. “You got a whole sling on, you bruised up—what is this?”
“I’m standing, ain’t I?”
That calm tone that fixed nothing.
I stepped closer again, softer this time, my fingers brushing along his face.
“You always say that,” I muttered. “That doesn’t mean you’re good. You hurt anywhere else?”
“Daddy!”
Lil Zay’s voice cut in, small and excited.
Zay’s whole expression changed softly. He crouched down, pulling our son into him with one arm.
“What’s up, man?” he said, smiling.
Lil Zay wrapped around him like he’d been waiting all day for that moment.
I stood there watching them.
And everything in me settled a little.
Zay stood back up slowly, setting Lil Zay down but keeping him close for a second before his attention came back to me.
Different now.
Focused.
“Come here.”
I stepped toward him, watching his face.
He took my hand.
Guided me further out onto the balcony.
The sun was starting to drop, casting everything in that soft gold light that made France look unreal.
“What’s going on?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t answer right away.
Just looked at me.
Like he was really taking me in.
“I’ve been doing a lot,” he said finally. “Fixing shit. Taking control of things that I should’ve had taken over years ago.”
I understood what he wasn’t saying.
“I fought for my name,” he continued.
His grip tightened just a little.
“And now… I can finally give it to you.”
He reached for my hand again.
Slower this time.
Intentional.
He slid my engagement ring off.
“Zay…”
“Relax,” he uttered.
From his pocket, he pulled out another ring.
Bigger.
Cleaner.
Heavy in a way that meant something.
My heart started racing.
He lifted my hand again, eyes locked on mine.
“That was survival,” he said.
A small pause.
“This… this one is official.”
The ring slid onto my finger.
Tears hit me instantly.
I couldn’t stop them.
“When we get back to the States,” he said, his voice softer now, real in a way that went straight through me, “you taking my last name.”
I shook my head, overwhelmed, smiling through tears.
“Okay.”
Lil Zay clapped like he felt the energy shift.
“Yay!”
I laughed through my tears.
Zay pulled him up with one arm, then leaned in and kissed me.
Slow.
Grounded.
Not rushed.
Not temporary.
Finally, it didn’t feel like we were surviving.
It felt like we were building something real.
I rested my head against his chest carefully, mindful of his arm.
“You’re still not off the hook. I’m taking care of you.”
“I know.”
And, he let me.