My Heart Belongs to You (Roseville Book 3)

Prologue

Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.

I smiled at the quote written on the pink sticky note in front of me.

Adrienne had a thing for motivational quotes.

Every time I visited her truck, I read the words, hoping to reignite the fire I once possessed.

The thing about taking a leap of faith was that you needed courage, tenacity, and gumption to do so.

Unfortunately for me, I was running low on all three.

Shaking away those thoughts, I looked over my shoulder at Adrienne. She sang along to Bad Bunny’s “Me Porta Bonito,” using a spatula as her microphone.

“Ayyy,” I cheered as Adrienne did the Bomba. She swung her hips while lifting her invisible skirt to the beat.

“Come on,” she pleaded, then pointed the spatula toward me just in time for the chorus.

We sounded terrible, but I couldn’t deny the fun I was having.

When the next verse started, she resumed singing lead.

I swayed my hips while wiping down the chef’s station.

After weeks of laying low, I decided to support my friend at her first event.

I’d missed the fast-paced nature of the kitchen, especially during a rush.

Tonight’s event was nonstop action as patrons rushed to the window to order Adrienne’s delicious tacos.

“Thanks for helping us tonight,” she said once the song ended.

“It’s nothing.” I waved her off before putting my cleaning supplies away.

It was a pleasure helping her. Witnessing her success was inspiring.

I looked at the quote again, noting how taking a leap of faith led my friend to a successful business.

Adrienne had opened Taco Dreams three years ago and experienced many hardships.

There was a point when she considered shutting her business down to find more consistent work.

Instead of giving up, she pivoted and opened a food truck.

She persisted, and tonight was the culmination of years of hard work.

“Are you driving home tonight?” she asked, cleaning the flattop.

I shook my head. “I was hoping to stay with you.”

“In that case, we can have a drink,” she said while reaching into the overhead cabinet. After pouring rum and mango nectar into plastic cups, she handed one to me.

“How does it feel?” I asked her.

Adrienne’s eyes glimmered with pride. “Amazing. I can’t believe we sold out of everything except one item. It’s been months since I had a sold-out menu.”

I stared at my friend in awe. Adrienne was such a beauty. Rich brown skin with freckles the color of chocolate chips decorated her cheekbones. A gold hoop adorned her round nose. Her usually wild auburn-colored curls were in two braids and covered with a red scarf that matched her lipstick.

“Here’s to many more events and sold-out menus.”

Adrienne beamed. “Cheers to that.”

We finished cleaning, then I followed Adrienne to the chef station she rented at a local ghost kitchen, where she stored her items and parked her truck. Afterward, we went to her house in Landover, just outside of D.C.

An hour later, I fell onto Adrienne’s day bed and commenced my nightly social media binge.

The last thing I needed to do was waste my time doomscrolling. However, it was a hell of a lot better than wondering what Terrance was doing. Just as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I tapped the search icon and typed out his handle.

“I shouldn’t be checkin’ on him,” I murmured while quickly backspacing.

As I alternated between funny videos and cooking tutorials, I thought about the last six months of my life.

I’d been dumped and failed my sommelier exam, which led to me pushing back the opening of my restaurant, sending me into a bout of depression.

My food blog hadn’t been updated in weeks because I didn’t have the desire to create content.

Posturing in front of lights and cameras had become a feat.

I was tired of faking happiness, and more than that, I was tired of thinking, “What if?”

What if I hadn’t pushed Terrance to propose?

What if I hadn’t failed my exam?

What if I never left San Francisco and accepted the head chef position at my parents’ restaurant?

My life was nothing like I planned. After six years what did I have to show for my move to Maryland?

My sister and I were closer than ever, but she was getting married.

We were already struggling to keep up with weekly outings.

Just when I thought I was over the events of last year, I fell down the proverbial rabbit hole of regret.

Rolling onto my side, I pushed out a sigh.

Things hadn’t gotten easier, like everyone assured.

My loved ones were so certain that time would heal my wounds.

It seemed time had only left me with more questions.

Finding myself back on the home screen, I noticed Ray’s had updated their stories tonight.

Summer mentioned amping up their social media presence since renovating the lounge.

For the past month, they’d been consistent with sharing footage from open mic night, grown folks' night, and Sunday brunches.

As I clicked through these updates, I couldn’t help but smile. I was beyond proud of my best friend, Nadir, for the success of his business this year. After liking their most recent posts, I put my phone down and closed my eyes. My mind whirred as I mentally ran down my to-do list.

Once I returned home, I had to email local farms for possible partnerships, reapply for the sommelier exam, confirm my dress fitting for my sister’s wedding, and visit my restaurant.

I’d avoided the place for weeks. Renovations were put on pause and so had the hiring process.

I hoped to open the restaurant after becoming a master sommelier.

It only made sense to have proper credentialing when opening a wine bar.

My parents weren't too happy since they'd given me seed money and resources to help open my first restaurant. They wished I’d come to them first, but I couldn’t face them.

Maybe the decision to pause the opening was rash, but I had a vision, and if it couldn’t be done correctly, I’d rather not do it all.

My thoughts halted when my phone vibrated. I sucked in a breath at the sight of Nadir’s name.

“Everything okay?” I answered in a panic. My heart pounded against my chest and my breaths quickened.

His chuckle eased my fears. “Yes. I saw your likes on our page and decided to call. Why are you still up?”

My eyebrows met. “Why are you still up? It’s three in the morning.”

“I’m still at work.”

“Why? I thought you took Avery to the park on Sunday mornings.”

“I had some last-minute inventory to look over. We will receive our last grant payment soon and I want to make sure the funds are allocated properly.”

“And that couldn’t wait until Monday?”

Nadir laughed. “No.”

There was something off about his tone, but I didn’t want to pry.

“Can I ask you something?”

I sat up. “Of course.”

“Vanessa says she wants a change. I’m thinking of proposing and buying a townhouse. Is that too drastic?”

“I don’t think it's drastic at all. Is this the first time she’s expressed wanting a change?”

“No. Every conversation about it turns into an argument. I’m starting to think this is about wanting a ring.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Are you ready for marriage?”

“I mean… It's been three years. I’m ready for us to be settled as a family and maybe have a kid of our own.”

Something about hearing Nadir’s plans with Vanessa warmed my heart. I appreciated a man who knew what he wanted. Vanessa never had to question his intentions. He always laid them out plain for her. I wished I had experienced the same with Terrance.

“If you think y’all are ready for the next step, go for it.”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s the perfect time too. Her lease ends in a few months and Harmony on Main is selling townhouses with a quickness.”

I nodded, knowing a few people who’d recently closed on houses in the new development. If I didn’t have a vacant restaurant to worry about, I probably would’ve bought a new place. For now, my condo would have to do.

“Anyway, how are you? How was the event?”

“Adrienne’s truck sold out of everything but the plantain chips and salsa. I’m so proud of her.”

He hummed. “You sound like you’re in better spirits.”

“I am.”

“Good, because I can’t have my best friend moping around much longer.”

I belted out a laugh. “I have been moping, huh?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t tripped over your bottom lip yet.”

“Shut up. My heart is broken,” I whined.

Nadir groaned. “You’ll be aight, G. You’re too ambitious, talented, and beautiful to be hung up on ol’ boy.”

My cheeks warmed. “You’re just saying that because you have to.”

“I’m saying it because I mean it.” He yawned. “I’m about to head out. Call me when you get back. Better yet, come to brunch tomorrow.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You never turn down free food. See you tomorrow.”

He was right, and since hiring a new chef, Ray’s had become one of my favorite places to frequent.

“Fine,” I replied with an eyeroll.

“That’s what I thought.”

I laughed before ending the call.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Ikilled the engine then sat in silence. Glancing to my right, I grabbed the bag in the passenger seat and pulled out a blue velvet box.

Vanessa’s ring was perfect. The emerald cut diamond and gold band was the exact one she had on her vision board.

It took me months to find the ring, and now that I had it, I couldn’t wait to pop the question.

My plan wasn’t set in stone just yet. I wanted to run everything past her sister before making reservations at her favorite restaurant.