10. The Promise Fulfilled #2
“It wouldn’t matter, Kira,” he said, his voice low, sure.
“I got tunnel vision when it comes to you.” Kira held his gaze, her chest tightening for a split second.
If only he knew. She swallowed it down, pushing the feeling away just as fast as it came, leaning into him like everything was normal.
Like nothing had changed. He pulled her closer, his hand gently lifting her chin as his eyes lingered on her lips for just a second. Then he closed the distance.
Their lips met softly at first… then deeper, more intentional. The kiss slowed everything down, like the world around them didn’t exist for that moment.
Kira melted into him, her hands resting against his chest as she let herself feel it… even if just for now.
“I love you, Kira. It’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you.” His voice was steady, sure… the kind of sure that didn’t leave room for doubt.
“Who would’ve thought… this whole time my soulmate was in Detroit, ma?” he said with a soft smile. “I’m glad you came to Harlem. God really do move in mysterious ways.” Kira felt her chest tighten. The way he was looking at her… It was different.
“It’s nothing that can keep us apart,” he continued, his voice lowering, more serious now. “I want it to be me and you… for life.” Her heart started racing. Something was happening. She felt it before she even saw it. And when he dropped down to one knee. Her breath caught.
“Oh my God…” she whispered, her hands flying to her mouth.
Sincere reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a ring.
The most beautiful ring she had ever seen in her life.
It caught the light instantly, sparkling so bright it almost made her blink, like it wasn’t even real…
like something she used to dream about but never thought she’d actually have.
Tears filled her eyes. This is everything I ever wanted…
“I had this ring for a minute,” he said, letting out a small breath. “I wanted it to be perfect… like some shit out of a movie.” He shook his head slightly, a soft smile on his face.
“I wanted to plan everything out. Do it the right way. Give you exactly what you deserve.” His eyes locked on hers, more intense now.
“But then I started thinking… fuck it.” A small pause.
“Why not now?” His voice dropped, serious.
“I don’t need tomorrow. I don’t need a year from now.” He leaned in just a little, like he needed her to feel every word.
“I need you right now.”
“Yes… of course I will marry you,” Kira said, her voice trembling as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
A soft laugh slipped through her cries, overwhelmed with emotion as she nodded, still trying to take it all in.
He smiled, relief and happiness washing over his face as he gently took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger, making it official.
Rising to his feet, he pulled her into him without hesitation.
His arms wrapped tightly around her as if he never wanted to let go, and she melted into his embrace, holding onto him just as deeply.
Then he kissed her. The kind of kiss that sealed everything they had just promised each other.
And in that moment, nothing else in the world mattered but them.
Now Kira felt it, the guilt. It crept in quietly, settling in her chest even as the ring still felt new on her finger, even as the excitement of what had just happened lingered between them.
She should’ve felt nothing but happiness.
But she couldn’t ignore what she knew. She was pregnant.
And now… she had to tell him. She couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Not after this. Not after everything he had just promised her.
She waited until they made it outside, until they got into the car.
The doors closed, shutting the world out, leaving just the two of them sitting in the silence of everything that had just changed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was filled with happiness, with disbelief, with the kind of love that felt too big to even put into words. Her hand rested in her lap, the ring catching the light. Kira stared at it for a second longer than she meant to. Then she sighed. Soft… but heavy.
“I have something to tell you too,” she said, her voice quieter now, more careful. She glanced over at him, searching his face, trying to read what she might be walking into.
“I just found out… and I didn’t know what to do… or what you would think…” Her fingers tightened slightly together, nerves starting to creep in.
“But I need to tell you.” A pause, before she finally said it.
“I’m pregnant.” The words hung in the air between them, shifting everything.
And just like that…The moment changed. Sincere’s expression shifted the moment the words left her mouth.
Without saying anything, he eased the car to the side of the road, putting it in park.
The sudden stillness felt heavy, almost too quiet.
He turned toward her slowly, his eyes locking onto hers.
“What you say, Kira?” he asked, his voice low, searching her face like he needed to hear it again. Kira swallowed, her nerves rising all over again under his gaze.
“I took a pregnancy test before we left out,” she admitted softly.
“I didn’t know if I should tell you or not…
because honestly, I don’t even know how to feel about it myself.
” Her voice wavered slightly, the weight of it all catching up to her.
For a brief moment, he just looked at her.
Then Sincere reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, grounding her.
“That’s our baby,” he said firmly. “Our creation… a blessing from God.” Kira blinked, surprised by how steady he sounded.
“I’m not shocked,” he continued, a faint smile touching his lips. “I was just waiting on confirmation.” Her brows pulled together slightly. “Waiting?” He nodded.
“I know your body,” he said. “I noticed the changes… the little things. The times you tried to play it off like you wasn’t sick.” His thumb brushed gently over her hand.
“I ain’t say nothing because I didn’t want to assume… but I knew something was different.” He looked at her again, softer this time.
“I’m happy, Kira.” And the way he said it, it did not come with hesitation.
Before she could even find the words, Kira moved.
She leaned into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as the weight of everything finally broke loose.
A smile spread across her face, but the tears came just as fast spilling over, warm, and uncontrollable.
She cried into him. Not out of fear this time…
but relief. Relief that she didn’t have to carry it alone.
Relief that he did not pull away. Relief that maybe… just maybe… this was safe.
He held her just as tight, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her closer like he needed her to feel it.
“I got you,” he murmured softly against her. Kira clung to him, her fingers gripping his shirt as if letting go would somehow change everything. But it didn’t. This time, her tears weren’t from pain. They were from being seen… accepted… and loved through it all.
“This better be the right motherfucking address,” Chill muttered as he slowed the car, eyes scanning the neighborhood, like he didn’t trust nothing of nobody.
He words came out slow, slightly slurred from the the fifth of Hennessy he had been sipping on the ride there.
Jazz folded her arms tight across her chest, her leg bouncing with nerves she couldn’t calm.
“Why would I lie? You done got me in enough shit already.”Her voice cracked just enough to betray her. She swallowed it down quick.
“I’m tired, Chill. I wanna go home to my child. I’m not here to play games.” He shifted in his seat, jaw tight, fingers tapping the steering.
“Who knew this would be my introduction to the streets of New York,” he said with a cold laugh. “Call her. See if she home.” Chill’s voice was low, but it carried weight. Not a suggestion. A command. Jazz shook her head; eyes still locked on the house like it might move.
“I don’t think she wanna talk to me. She not about to pick up. We ain’t spoke in a good minute.” Chill turned slowly, fixing his eyes on her. The look alone made her stomach drop.
“You heard what the fuck I said.” The air shifted. Jazz swallowed, her fingers tightening around her phone. Her chest rose and fell a little faster now. Silence stretched between them. Jazz stared at her screen, Kira’s name. Her thumb hovered over it.
Jazz stared at her phone for a long second before finally pressing send. Kira picked up on the second. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Just breathing. Just history sitting heavy between them.
“Hello?” Silence. “Hello?” Kyra said again, softer this time. Jazz let out a quiet sigh.
“Hey, Kira… I know it’s been a while. I was just… checking on you. I wanted to see if you were home.”
“I’m not,” Kyra replied. There was a slight pause, like she was choosing how much to say. “I’m out on a date. I’ll be home shortly though. What’s going on?” Another silence stretched between them.
“Kira…” Jazz’s voice dropped. “I just wanna tell you… it’s not what you think.” Kira didn’t respond.
“I know I probably don’t deserve it right now,” Jazz continued, her voice tightening, “but I hope you got it in your heart to forgive me. And maybe one day… we can sit down and really talk. For real.” Jazz paused.
“I just needed you to know… no matter what happens… whether we friends or not… I still love you. I always will. You like a sister to me.” On the other end, Kira swallowed hard, her voice barely holding steady.
“I love you too, Jazz.” That was it. Just love sitting where trust used to be. Jazz ended the call. The scream tore out of her before she could stop it, sharp and sudden. Chill’s fingers dug deeper into her thigh, punishing.