Chapter 33
Big Steppa
Idid just what my man said and called off work. I told them it was for a week, maybe longer. I told my girls not to hate me, but I was gonna be outta reach.
Everything I was doing was new to me, but everything in my body was telling me to trust Love, so I did.
By the middle of the day, we were out of the house and were out shopping.
We went in and out of stores; I lost count after a while.
I was picking out things; Love was picking out things he wanted to see me in.
Then he would sit there in a private room watching me try it on, then buying it all with no hesitation.
At one point, I looked at all the bags starting to pile up and shook my head a lil’.
“This is a lot,” I said, not used to shit like that at all.
Love didn’t even react, just slid his card again.
“I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing; get used to it.”
I blinked at him, speechless; the ladies behind the register were in awe.
Once we were done, we had lunch and went back home. After getting comfortable, I met Love in the living room and curled up next to him on the couch.
“The world is in your hands, baby, you pick?” he said, passing me his iPad.
I threw ideas at him, naming places off the top of my head, some serious, some just me talking to hear what it sounded like out loud.
He didn’t rush me, didn’t cut me off, just sat there with his arm around me, listening.
I slowed down after a while, eyes still on the screen, then glanced up at him.
“What about Tulum?” I said, half-serious, half testing him.
Love didn’t even hesitate.
“Pack up, I’ll take care of the rest,” he said, taking the iPad from me.
I blinked at him, and he laughed at me as he pulled me in for a kiss.
“You said it, I’ma give it to you, get used to that.”
And just like that, it was done; no back and forth, no planning talk. He just moved on it, and I did my part.
The next morning came quick, but everything was handled. Bags packed, driver waiting, flight lined up. All we had to do was get dressed and leave.
I didn’t have a chance to overthink; that was probably for the best, but the way Love moved made things so much easier.
The way he protected me, cherished me, showed me that the things I wanted were never too hard to get with the right nigga helped me heal in ways I couldn’t do on my own.
On the way to the airport, I laid my head on his arm. He held me close, like he always did, his thumb brushing softly over my thigh. I kept catching myself looking up at him and smiling, hard to believe a nigga that moved like him was real.
At the airport, we moved through security quick, then Love led me to a room called the airport lounge.
“What is this?” I asked as Love opened the door.
“This is where you wait when you’re first class.”
I stepped in slowly, looking around like I wasn’t supposed to be in there. Everything felt calm, quiet; people spread out, minding their business, drinks and food laid out like it was nothing. It didn’t feel like an airport anymore.
I looked back at him. “You always travel like this?”
Love gave me a small shrug, guiding me further inside with his hand on my lower back. “I be traveling for diamonds and shit, I like to be comfortable.”
We found a spot to sit, and I stayed close to him, my leg pressed against his while I took everything in. A lady came over asking if we wanted anything, and before I could answer, Love handled it.
“Bring her whatever she wants,” he said, glancing at me.
The lady tried to hand me a menu, and I stuck my hand up. “No, thank you; I’m good right now.”
She smiled slightly and walked away, and Love looked at me like he didn’t believe me.
“You gotta stop acting like you’re not used to this, mamas.”
I chuckled. “I’m not used to this, boo.”
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “This is your life now. First-class trips, shopping sprees, whatever you want, is yours now.”
“Baby, I don’t need all of this—”
“That’s why you get it,” he said, cutting me off. “You asked for the basics: marriage, kids, a house. I’ma give you all of that. This shit right here is because you are worth it.”
I had nothing to say. That niggas words just sat with me, not in an uncomfortable way, just in a way that made me feel what he said. I knew he meant it.
Some time passed, and we loaded our flight, with him leading the way as we walked to our first-class seats.
I slowed down a lil’ when I saw them, taking in how much space it was, how different it looked from anything I’d seen before. Love didn’t say anything, just watched me for a second before motioning for me to sit.
“Go ahead,” he said low.
I slid into my seat, running my hand over the armrest, trying not to look like I was taking everything in, but I was. He sat next to me like it was nothing, relaxed, already comfortable, while I was still adjusting.
“You good?” he asked, glancing over at me.
I nodded, letting out a small breath. “Yes, baby, this is nice.”
He smirked a lil’. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I rolled my eyes slightly, but I was smiling.
Once we were in the air, everything got quiet in a way I wasn’t used to. No chaos, no noise, just a smooth ride and space to think. I leaned back, turning my head toward the window, then at the TV, then toward him.
“You really be flying all over for diamonds? I thought they got shipped in.”
He nodded. “Hell yeah, my diamonds are hand-picked by me.”
“Hmmm…must be nice,” I said jokingly.
“It is,” he responded. “And now that you are with me, those trips will be even better.”
The flight attendant brought us some champagne, and Love lifted his glass in the air.
“To a new beginning.”
I tilted my head, wanting to question it, but I didn’t. “To a new beginning.”
We settled in and got comfortable watching whatever movie they had playin’. I dozed off at some point and woke up to hear the pilot saying we were a ‘bout to land.
I lifted my head off Love’s arm and stretched a lil’ with him watching me.
“Good nap?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, baby, it was needed.”
“Good,” he said with a smile. “We are about to land.”
When we stepped off the plane, the air hit different. Warmer, softer, a lil’ heavier, but it felt good.
I stayed close to Love as we moved through the airport, not even trying to figure shit out anymore. He held my hand tight in one hand, and our bags in the other as he led me to a man holding up a sign that said, “The Mayers.”
We looked at each other at the same time, and he winked at me. The driver took our bags from Love and led us out to his car.
The ride was the start to something amazing. I leaned against him, watching outside pass us. The view took my breath away. Everything looked untouched, calm in a way I wasn’t used to, like the world slowed down out here on purpose.
Love didn’t speak, he just kept his hand on my thigh, his thumb moving slowly like he always did. Every now and then, I caught him staring at me in our reflection like he was thinking. It made me smile without even trying.
“You like it so far?” he asked low.
I nodded, still looking out the window. “Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like this—I never been out of the country before.”
“Good,” he responded.
When we finally pulled up to where we were staying, I straightened up a lil’, my eyes taking in the place in front of us. It didn’t look like nowhere you just book last minute. It looked private…intentional.
We hopped out of the car, and I stood there taking it all in. When I turned around, Love was leaning against the car, taking pictures of me laughing.
“You ready to go inside?” he asked.
“Of course,” I responded.
Love took the bags and me and walked to the door. After he put the code in the door, he moved to the side, and as I opened the door, I almost passed out.
“LOVE!” I yelled, walking in, and that’s all I could get out.
The house was huge, open concept, all white floors, large glass doors that led to the back, to the pool that was surrounded by palm trees. I walked closer to see the water hitting the beach.
I couldn’t help but, like a lil’ kid, after I ran up the steps and checked all the rooms, there were four of them, each better than the last. The kitchen was large, all white with black accents. I made it back to the living room to see Love sitting there on his phone, and I jumped in his lap.
“So, do you like it?” he asked again.
I nodded. “Baby, I love it. How did you put this together so fast?”
“I know some people.”
That was all he said ‘bout it.
“Come, let’s freshen up to eat.”
I made my way upstairs, going to the master room and closing the door behind me. For a second, I stood there, quiet, letting everything settle. The space, the silence, the way my life felt like it was shifting.
I took my time taking a shower, doing my hair, and putting on makeup. When I finally went downstairs, the sun was starting to set. I walked around to the kitchen and found Love sitting there, sketching. His eyes left his iPad and trailed up and down me as he stood up.
“You good?” I asked.
Love licked his lips. “I’m better now.”
I sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes. “You so extra.”
“Only for you,” he shot back fast. “Come on,” he said, reaching his hand out.
I took it, and he led me out back down a rock path lined with trees and lights. When we reached the beach, I stopped walking, making me pull him. Love stopped, looked at me with a smile, and pulled me along.
Once we got closer, I had to hold back tears.
There was a table set for just the two of us, a fire pit off to the side, and a woman playing the harp.
We made it to the table, and he poured me a drink while my eyes were still darting all around, taking everything in.
\he passed me the glass like it was nothing, like this wasn’t some shit outta a movie.
“You planned all of this?” I asked, my voice soft, still trying to hold back tears.
He didn’t respond; he just pulled my chair out. I took a seat, and he sat across from me.
“Yeah,” he said simply, like this shit was nothing.
I shook my head, lookin’ around again, trying to take it all in without getting overwhelmed. The ocean was right there, waves rollin’ in slow, the fire from the pit was cracking soft, and that harp…that shit was playing low, smooth, like it was made just for that moment.
“This don’t even feel real to me,” I said, bringing the glass to my lips, but barely sipping it.
“Feel it,” he said low, “don’t think too much. Just…feel.”
I let out a soft breath, letting my shoulder drop, letting the night hit me. The breeze, the lights, the way he moved, just being there was perfect. I didn’t need to question it; I didn’t need to understand it. I just let it wash over me.
We ate dinner and listened to the harp play beside us. Love wasn’t saying too much, which wasn’t him. But I carried the conversation until he reached across, brushing his fingers over mine, holding my hands tight. The warmth of him hit deep, and I felt my chest tighten in the best way.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a minute,” he said, voice low and steady. “About you, about us, about everything I want for us.”
I tilted my head slowly, meeting his gaze. My stomach did a flip; my heart picked up.
“I want you to know something,” he continued. “This”—he gestured around, slow, deliberate. “All of this is just the start. I told you when I first met you that I was looking at my wife; I meant that…I want forever with you, Islah.”
Love stood up from the table and grabbed my hands, and as he walked me over by the fire pit, he pulled a small box out of his pocket. I felt the air leaving my body; my knees went weak.
I didn’t speak—I couldn’t, I just stared at him.
Love opened the box, and I was staring at the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.
“I made this for you,” he said, voice thick. “I thought about each diamond placement, how it would sit on your finger, how your hospital gloves gonna tear open cause of that big ass rock in the middle. I want people to know that you are loved and have a nigga that don’t play about you.”
My hand shook in his; my eyes were blurry with tears that were begging to run down my face. Love wiped them away with a smile on my face.
“I love you, Islah. Will you marry me?” he finally asked.
Everything felt like it stopped. The harp, the waves, even my own breath slowed down. I stared at him, at the ring, then back at the man I knew was mine and only mine in every way.
“Yes!” I whispered, barely able to get out, tears were running freely now. “Yes, Love! I’ll marry you!”
He placed the ring on my finger with the biggest smile across his face that I had ever seen that nigga have, then wrapped me up in his arms, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around in the air.
In that moment, it hit me, all of it—the safety, the love, the certainty that was looking from Gio. I had it; I had that and so much more. With Love, I was finally where I needed to be.
After he put me down, he kissed me slow and deep, calming me in a way that never felt rushed.
We sat and listened to the harp while watching the waves crash onto the sand, with me wrapped in his arms, sipping champagne.
“You know,” Love said softly. “I have done a lot of shit in my life, and I just realized that everything I did was me taking chances. The one thing that I have been 100 percent about from the jump was you. I’m glad you trusted me.”
I looked up at Love, feelin’ like God gave him to me to save me from Gio, the streets, the doubts, my past. Every fear I had melted away in that moment, leaving only him—only us.