Chapter 37
Ajori
“Jo… you think after surgery I’ll be able to play basketball again?”
Kyrin’s voice was softer than usual, almost timid, and that alone told me a lot about his underlying nerves.
I was seated in a chair across from him, elbows resting on my knees as I looked at him.
Just two days remaining until the surgery… the looming date hung between us like a heavy cloud.
I took a deep breath, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. “Absolutely. You’re going to be crossing people up before you know it."
He squinted at me, in confusion. “Crossing people up?”
“Yeah,” I nodded with enthusiasm. “Breaking ankles, making folks fall... you know, embarrassing them on the court.”
He smirked a little. “I already do that. I just ain’t been able to show you yet ‘cause my heart be acting fake.”
I shook my head lightly, a smile breaking free despite the seriousness of the situation.
Then, almost out of nowhere, his expression shifted. “Do you like Domino?”
I blinked repeatedly, taken aback by his question and curiosity. “What?”
Kyrin shrugged, as if the question bore no significance. “Well, do you?”
“Why do you think that?” I replied, unsure how to respond.
He gave me that look kids give when they know way too much for their age. “Jo… I see stuff.”
I let out a small sigh, my heart beating a little faster. I didn’t even feel like lying. Still, I hesitated a moment before admitting, “I mean… he’s not as mean as I thought. We talked, and I got to know him a little better.”
Actually… a lot better.
Kyrin’s face lit up as if I’d just confirmed something important. “So you and him getting married soon?”
“Whoa!” I sat up straighter, chuckling. “Slow down, sport.”
He laughed. “I’m just asking. When two people like each other, they go together, then get married, right?”
I chuckled, then leaned in slightly, shifting into my big-sister mode. “Kyrin, marriage isn’t something you just jump into like that. It’s serious stuff. It’s about love, trust, and really knowing someone.”
He nodded like he was absorbing every word, then tilted his head thoughtfully. “Well… you deserve somebody who really loves you; someone other than me and Lainey. You’re always taking care of everybody else. Shouldn’t somebody take care of you, too?”
My chest tightened at his words.
Reaching over, I nudged his shoulder affectionately. “You’re absolutely right. I’m not sure what the future holds, but we’ll see what the universe decides.”
He smirked knowingly. “The universe already knows.”
I chuckled lightly. “For now, let’s just focus on getting you better, okay?”
He nodded, and just then, a soft knock interrupted our moment.
“Come in,” Kyrin called, his voice regaining its usual enthusiasm.
The door creaked open, and Domino appeared.
Kyrin’s face lit up immediately. “And to think… we were just talking about you.”
I shot a warning glance at Kyrin.
Domino chuckled, stepping further inside. “Good things, I hope?”
“Yup,” Kyrin replied, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. “I was just asking Jo when are y’all getting married.”
“Oh, my God!” I jumped up so quickly my chair skidded across the floor.
Before Domino could even respond to Kyrin’s playful jab, I grabbed his arm.
“Come on,” I muttered, dragging him toward the exit.
Kyrin laughed behind us, his voice teasing.
“Take a nap!” I snapped back.
I pulled Domino out into the hallway and swiftly closed the door behind us, cutting off Kyrin’s laughter.
Domino let out a low chuckle, tilting his head as he looked at me. “What was all that about?”
“Nothing,” I insisted quickly, brushing it off. “He’s just… ready for me to have a man, get married, have kids… the whole fairytale.”
Domino's smile dimmed slightly, a flicker of seriousness crossing his features. “And that’s what I want to give you.”
In that moment, I was momentarily at a loss for words, so I settled for a soft smile, my heart fluttering at his admission.
“Yeah…” I said quietly, my thoughts racing. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk about.”
His eyes sharpened, the seriousness of the conversation intensifying.
I turned and walked toward my room, and he followed closely behind. Once inside, I closed the door behind us, the tension already building again. But that time, it wasn’t chaotic; it was intentional.
We sat on the edge of my bed, our knees almost touching.
Right then, I found myself hesitating, trying to gather my thoughts, unsure how to express everything I felt for him.
“Domino, I don’t know much about your world, but I understand how men in your position feel about loyalty,” I finally began, my voice shaking a little.
“I have feelings for you... something I didn’t expect to happen so soon.
I’d hate if anything happened to you because of our relationship, so I think it’s only right to go ahead and tell my father about us. ”
He put a finger to my lip, silencing me. “Shh. He knows.”
My eyes widened in surprise, shock flooding my mind. “He does? How?”
“I told him myself… before he could hear it from anyone else.”
I searched his face for any signs of uncertainty but found none. “And?”
He chuckled, a warm sound that took the edge off my anxiety. “And… he gave me his blessing. I had to promise him that I’d never hurt you, though. He said if I did, he’d hurt me worse… and I know he means it."
Domino’s jaw flexed slightly before he continued, "And I respect that. ‘Cause truth is, I don’t wanna be another reason you gotta heal from something.”
His eyes locked on mine, steady and unflinching.
“I’m not here to play with you, Ajori. I'm no longer curious about you or just trying to pass time. I see you and I want you. Simple as that.”
“Wow. So… this is real?”
He nodded. “Hell yeah, it’s real. This ain’t no fantasy, Ajori. Ain’t no sneakin’. Ain’t no games. I don’t move like them other niggas. I don’t waste time on shit I don’t care about... and I care about you.”
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” I murmured, still trying to grasp the magnitude of it all.
A gentle smile played on Domino’s lips, drawing me in. “You need proof that all of this is real?”
I nodded. “Pinch me.”
Domino leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. “I can do more than pinch.”
With that, he eased me back onto the bed, hovering over me, his eyes filled with promises unspoken. His hands slid down my sides, pulling me closer, reminding me that he was right there, and that this moment was undeniably real.
***
Two days later, and I still wasn’t sure how I was standing.
Everything had unfolded with dizzying speed—doctors’ appointments, a barrage of phone calls, frantic preparations—that I hadn’t given myself the chance to truly process the reality of it all… until now. The stillness around me was deafening, almost suffocating.
Kyrin sat on the hospital bed, dressed in one of those thin gowns, his legs swinging slightly like he was anywhere but about to go into open-heart surgery.
The room itself didn’t even feel like a hospital.
The walls were a soft cream, artwork hung as if it belonged in a gallery, and the equipment looked sleek instead of intimidating.
According to my father, it was a privilege to be there.
That hospital wasn’t just a place anyone could walk into; it required not just a referral but considerable financial resources and the right connections.
Kyrin would have to remain in the facility for at least two to three weeks post-surgery, if not longer, depending on how his body responded to the transplant.
And me? I wasn’t going anywhere. They had already prepared a private suite for me down the hall.
I hadn’t asked; my father just made it happen.
What was supposed to be a five-day trip to Mexico now felt like we were known residents.
Kyrin’s voice pulled me from my reverie. “Jo, are you nervous?” he asked, a hint of his usual levity shining through despite the circumstances.
I felt a lump form in my throat but pushed it aside. “Come here. Let’s pray,” I offered softly, feeling a profound need for strength and comfort in that moment.
He slid off the bed with a calmness that I admired and walked over to me.
Without needing to say anything more, we bowed our heads, a small cocoon of solace amidst the uncertainty. I took his hands, feeling the warmth of his grip as if it could infuse some courage into me.
“Go ahead,” he murmured, encouraging me.
I swallowed, my heart pounding so loud it almost drowned out my own thoughts.
“God…” I began, my voice trembling slightly.
“First, thank you. Thank you for bringing us to this moment, for the heart, for the dedicated doctors, and for not abandoning us when it felt like everything was crumbling.” I squeezed his hands tighter, willing my emotions under control.
“Please guide the surgeons, every hand, every decision, and every second in that operating room. Cover my brother, protect him, and let this procedure be successful—not just today, but for years to come.” My voice hitched.
“And grant me peace while I wait… because you know I’m gonna need it. ”
A quiet breath escaped Kyrin, almost like a gentle chuckle. “And God,” he added, “make sure they don’t mess up my new heart. I’m trying to live a long time.”
A soft laugh broke through my tears.
“Amen,” I whispered.
“Amen,” he echoed.
As we lifted our heads, I quickly wiped away my tears, not wanting them to cloud the moment any further.
“You ready?” I asked.
He shrugged, a small grin breaking through the anxiety. “As ready as I’m ever gonna be.”
Just then, a faint knock sounded at the door, and the moment shifted.
It was time.
A team of doctors and nurses entered, each one exuding calm professionalism.
Dr. Vega, the lead surgeon, stepped forward first, his warm, approachable tone easing some of the tension in the room. “Good morning, Kyrin. How are you feeling today?”
“Hungry,” Kyrin replied instantly. “Y’all said no food after midnight like I wasn’t gonna remember that.”