Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Diamond.
I gave myself a once-over and smiled in the mirror as I did.
I had been on cloud nine all day. Wanda had officially retired, and I was now the director of Little Wonders.
It was a surreal feeling because since I’d been a child, I wanted to run a daycare.
I’d worked hard to make it happen, and I was finally there.
The journey hadn’t been easy, but it was worth it without a doubt.
Makhai, Keona, and I had moved into the house he got us in Briarwood right after he bought it, and instead of letting my apartment go, I decided to give it to Lance.
He was really good with her. He showed up to every visit, accompanied me to her appointments, and did everything he could to be present.
Even after completing all of his N.A. classes, he volunteered to stay around and talk to others that needed help.
I was really proud of him and the effort he was putting in to be the best parent he could to his daughter.
She was staying with him overnight for the first time, and I had to admit that I was a nervous wreck about it.
He was good with her when he was around, without a doubt, and had even taken her out for a couple of hours alone, but she hadn’t ever stayed with him overnight.
I was skeptical about agreeing, but after talking it over with Makhai and his parents, I felt better about it.
If I was giving him a chance, I had to really give him one.
“You ready, baby?” Makhai entered the room and asked.
I looked at him in the mirror and smiled.
He looked so handsome in his fitted black suit with gold accented lining to match the evening gown that I was wearing.
He’d planned a private dinner for us at the Celestial.
I was so excited because he’d been working on a new album, and I was working a lot preparing to take over for Wanda.
We hadn’t had a real date night in weeks.
I still got flowers on a daily and plenty of gifts, but Makhai took our date nights seriously, so he wasn’t letting anything get in the way tonight.
“Yes, baby, I’m ready.”
“Naw, wait,” he approached, pulling something from his pocket then holding the most beautiful Cartier Etincelle de Cartier earrings on each side of my head. “I think these will look better.”
My smile widened. “Kabria had to tell you I wanted these.”
“Yeah. I don’t know why you didn’t tell me or just use the card I gave you to get them,” he said as he put them on me.
“Because you just got me this,” I touched the Chevron Lab-grown Diamond Eternity necklace, “and you gave me that card for emergencies.”
“Cap,” he laughed. “I never told you that shit. It’s yo’ job to spend my money and my job to spoil you.”
“I love you,” I smiled, turning to face him and circling my arms around his neck. “And I appreciate you.”
“Sound like I’m gon’ get some head in the car,” he grinned, and I nudged him.
“You ruin all of our special moments, stupid.” I laughed, grabbing my purse and phone, seeing that Lance had texted me. “Lance is here to get Keona.”
“Aight, come on,” he walked past me and smacked me on the ass.
I followed him out of the room, and he helped me down the steps while carrying Keona, who he’d already buckled in her seat. We went right to the door where Lance was waiting for us, dressed in a nice dress shirt and slacks himself.
“Hey, Loco, hey Diamond,” he spoke before looking down at the baby who appeared to be happy to see him. “Hi, beautiful.”
Keona’s smile stretched wider causing mine to do the same.
“Hi, Lance. You look nice,” I complimented. “Are you two going somewhere?”
He nodded as he smiled down at the baby. “I figured we’d go out for a little date ourselves tonight, to celebrate our first night together.”
“Oh, that’s sweet.”
“Yeah, that’s lit, but remember what we talked about, Lord. I been on ice, but I’ll thaw out and crash out about Baby Lord in a minute, so be careful with her. She just got you. Don’t want to lose you on no mishap kind of shit.”
“Makhai, stop,” I nudged him then smiled at Lance. “You guys have fun tonight, and call if you need anything.”
“I will,” he nodded. “You clean up well, Diamond. Hope your night is just as beautiful as you look.” He winked at me then walked away.
“Nigga knew to hustle out of here after complimenting you in my face,” Makhai said before leading me out of the house to the Bentley that was parked and waiting on us.
“Shut up,” I giggled then thanked the driver that had opened the door for us.
Makhai was right beside me, sliding as close to me as he could once he was inside. He was literally the epitome of in my skin, but I didn’t mind it. I loved my nigga crazy about me.
When we got to the Celestial, we valeted the car and made our way inside. Makhai did have security in place to escort us since there were a lot of people there trying to approach and plenty recording. He wasn’t fazed by any of them in the least. He was still all over me as we entered.
“This is my first time eating at Casa d’Amore.” I admitted once we were on the elevator.
“I know,” he smirked. “That’s why I picked it.”
When we got up to the restaurant, I was in awe of the place. The entire thing was glass, giving you the perfect view of Atlyn City lit up from all angles. The tables were covered in white tablecloths with gold chairs and beautiful, massive gold chandeliers lighting the place up.
Makhai led me through the restaurant, speaking to a few people in passing. When we approached elevator doors, I frowned in confusion.
“What are we doing? I thought we were having dinner.”
“We are,” he smiled. “I got us like a lil’ cocktail hour set up on the rooftop first.”
“Oh, okay,” I blushed, stepping on the elevator with him.
“Aight,” he walked around in front of me and took my hands. “I need you to close your eyes because I want the set up to be a surprise.”
“Okay,” I closed my eyes with a big smile.
“Don’t peek either, Lord.”
“I’m not,” I giggled.
I heard the elevator sound, letting us know that it had come to a stop. With my eyes closed, I followed his directions as he led me to the rooftop. It was quiet at first, then when I heard Breeze start singing his verse on Makhai’s new song, One Love, One Lifetime, my eyes popped open.
My jaw dropped seeing the set up and seeing who all was there—Makhai’s entire family, his friends and their wives, Kabria, Lance and my niece, Wanda, and my other coworkers.
It was insane. I’d just talked to my best friend while I was getting ready and she got off the phone with me claiming that Hakeem had come over.
There was a red carpet that had several vases full of roses and a red and gold ballon arch. Breeze was standing a few feet away from that, singing. When I heard his voice at first I thought it was the damn song, but it was actually him.
In the sky, in the distance I saw a formation of drones spell out my name.
Diamond,
Then they turned off for a second before flashing again.
I love you.
“Baby, what is this?” I simpered as I walked along the red carpet to the railing.
He stepped up behind me, circling his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder as we watched.
“If I could’ve done this shit in front of the whole world I would’ve,” he said. “The whole world deserves to see how serious I am about you, but I figured I’d let the city and our family witness the shit up close and personal.”
The drones shimmered again, rearranging into a glowing heart right before he started again.
“You’re the first and only woman I’ve loved and ever will. You slowed me down and made me think differently… made me want to be better for you. For us. For the family that I want to build with you one day.”
The drones lit up again first with a ring box that opened to a diamond ring, then:
Will you marry me?
My jaw slacked just as he released me. I turned slightly to see him getting down on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring that was dancing under the moonlit sky.
He took my hand and said, “Baby, you’re the peace that I didn’t know I needed and the future I didn’t know I deserved.
Every good thing in my life traces back to you.
If you say yes, I promise you’ll never go a day without knowing that you’re loved, protected, and chosen.
I’m all in, baby. Forever. Say you will. ”
My tears were flowing freely as I nodded then said “yes” lowly before he slid the ring on my finger. The drones lit again, this time with the words, she said yes, then another heart with Loco + Diamond on the inside.
Kabria ran over to me, pulling me into a tight hug, followed by his mom, cousins, and sisters. They all congratulated me and got a closer look at my ring. His dad, uncles and friends came over next to do the same. Kyng actually wished me luck and told me to call him if I needed him.
I was always suffocated with love from Makhai but tonight was different. It was overwhelming, but in a good way. It felt like a dream that I didn’t ever want to wake up from. If this was what the first year of our relationship felt like, I was certainly looking forward to forever with him.