Chapter 14
Months Later
“Where did y’all say we were going again?” Kwinn asked her parents as she rode with them.
Rarely did she willingly take a Saturday off and do absolutely no work but she’d learned over the months to just rest. It was okay to do so and not have to be on call for every little thing.
So when her daddy called to invite her to spend the day with them, Kwinn happily agreed.
She loved her parents, and it was always a good time when they hung out.
“You done forgot already?” Vic teased, glimpsing at her through the rearview.
Kwinn chuckled. “Um, I don’t think you told me.”
“That’s ‘cause you and your mama started talking and paid me no mind,” Vic said.
Smiling, Toya shook her head. “He be acting like can’t nobody have my attention, chile.”
“They can’t.”
Her daddy’s declaration made Kwinn giggle. There’d be a cold day in hell before Vic ever played about his wife, and Kwinn loved to see it.
“We’re going to this new brunch spot I mentioned to him last week. He invited you and Lauryn, but her, Bishop, and the baby already had plans,” Toya explained.
She was talking as if BJ physically made the plans, but he might as well have. With him already walking, he was running his household one new adventure at a time.
“Okay. Brunch sounds good. Feeding us before you take us shopping is probably for the best.” Kwinn snickered.
“You see how she’s already making plans to run my pockets?” Vic chuckled.
“She ain’t the only one, honey. We’ll be sure to grab you a shirt or something,” Toya offered.
Snickers filled the car as they continued going back and forth.
Her daddy taking her mama to brunch simply because she mentioned it was right up Vic’s alley.
He’d been the spoil-his-woman type since day one, his daughters included.
Vic didn’t need a reason to do something nice for them, and he damn sure didn’t need a special occasion.
Vacations, shopping, dinners, random gifts, and pouring love into them were things he enjoyed.
Kwinn grew up watching her parents lovingly give to each other, and they enjoyed giving to their daughters just as much.
So, Melo spoiling her was a bonus. Kwinn was used to being taken care of, but he’d taken the shit to another level.
It was something special about having a man who enjoyed doing just as much for her as her daddy did.
The bar was set high, but Melo was an expert vaulter, meeting her expectations and then some every time.
The thought of him brought a small smile to her lips, and she looked out the window as the city passed by.
Had she not been with her parents for the day, she would’ve tagged along with him to the studio.
For someone who had already accomplished so much, Kwinn was inspired daily by Melo’s hustle and dedication.
He hadn’t let the accolades in his name stop his motion, and he was having plenty even after over a decade in the game.
Minutes later, Vic pulled into an empty parking lot that looked nothing like a restaurant. Dipping her head, Kwinn searched for a sign, wondering if her daddy had accidentally entered the incorrect address.
“Daddy, you sure this is the place? It’s empty,” Kwinn said.
“Yeah, it should be. Let’s go in here and see.”
Frowning, Kwinn looked at her mama, who shrugged and smiled.
“Maybe everyone parked somewhere else,” Toya said.
Kwinn looked between them and squinted before shaking her head. “Y’all are being sneaky about something.”
Toya laughed as Vic rounded the SUV and opened their doors.
Kwinn stepped out and looked around at the large commercial property.
The building was clean and looked well maintained, with wide windows and plenty of space around it.
Even the parking lot looked new, with its smooth black asphalt shining in the afternoon sun.
As she caught up with her parents, who’d already walked toward the entrance, Kwinn was starting to think that this so-called brunch spot was a secret society or something.
When she stepped through the doors behind her mama, she looked around the empty, open layout, wondering what the hell they were doing there.
Then, her eyes landed on the man she’d thanked God for this morning, not realizing she’d be expressing her gratitude again shortly.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Melo.
Warmth crept up her neck, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, although she was confused by his presence.
Melo stood toward the back of the space, dressed casually but fine as ever, talking to a man who appeared to be handling business based on his suit and tie.
His attention shifted, and a slow smile spread across his face the second his eyes landed on her.
Melo smiled as he walked over, greeting Toya first and pulling her into a hug.
“What’s going on, Ms. Toya? How you doing?”
She smiled. “Hey. I’m doing good.”
He greeted Vic next. “What’s good, OG,” he said, as they dapped one another up and gave a solid shoulder-to-chest hug.
“Not much, man. Told you it wouldn’t take much to get her out of the house.” Vic chuckled, knowing his daughter.
Kwinn watched their exchanges, as her confusion only grew.
Her parents seemed completely unbothered by his presence, which was nothing new considering they’d met and had mingled on plenty of occasions before now, but the circumstances were different.
The setting was as well. Kwinn felt out of the loop.
I was definitely left off bad and boujee, she thought, and smirked.
Melo finally turned toward her, taking her in and examining the boyfriend jeans and a fitted MAG Co. signature tee she was wearing. Her black wavy bundles were out of her face, held back by a pink silk scarf, giving Melo the opportunity to admire her beauty without obstructing his view.
“What’s up, baby.”
Kwinn swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of herself. “Hey,” she replied in a soft tone reserved only for him.
Slipping an arm around her waist, Melo pulled her against him and kissed her lips. The familiar scent of his cologne made the butterflies in her stomach swarm with excitement.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, looking up at him.
Melo smiled down at her. “I could ask you the same thing.”
Kwinn glanced toward her parents, and they were both grinning, looking like happy parents at their child’s graduation, waiting for them to cross the stage. Kwinn narrowed her eyes.
“Daddy…”
“What? Don’t look at me like that. This was all Melo’s doing,” Vic said.
Kwinn looked back at Melo. “What are we doing here? More importantly, you lied about going to the studio. Don’t make me fuck you up, Malone.”
Chuckling, Melo turned her out of view from her parents and patted her ass. “Hush. I didn’t lie. I went to the studio and then came here. You like this space?”
Kwinn looked around, taking in the ultra-high ceilings with exposed steel beams and massive windows that brought in streams of natural light.
The concrete walls and unfinished floors gave the place an industrial feel, but the open layout left plenty of room to transform it into whatever she wanted it to be. Or whoever it was for.
She assumed Melo was thinking about purchasing the property for himself and wanted her opinion. It had lots of potential, so Kwinn could see why he liked it. The longer she looked at it, the more she could see The Taylor Collective setting up shop here.
Slowly pivoting, she envisioned a reception area near the front, private offices for her team in the back, and a conference room for meeting clients.
Kwinn thought the majority of the space would be great for a showroom.
She could picture it now with staged rooms and a place for people to purchase decor.
She had talked about wanting something like this after their trip to Paris.
Kwinn had a decent-sized storage unit for all her decor, but as her business continued to grow, she knew it was time to expand.
She wanted a headquarters where her newly hired team could work in one location and a destination where people could physically experience what The Taylor Collective had to offer.
Sometimes, inspiration for a design project didn’t hit until you could physically see the space come together.
Smiling, Kwinn stopped moseying and faced him. “I really like it.”
“You sure?” Melo asked with his hands tucked in his pockets.
“Yes. I love it, actually. Why? Is it yours?”
Removing his hands, Melo shook his head and pulled out a set of keys. “Nah. It’s yours, baby. Congratulations.”
For a second, Kwinn just stared at him. “Malone, stop playing.”
“I’m serious. This is for you.”
Her eyes dropped to the keys in his hand before snapping back to him. Melo barely had time to explain anything before she launched herself at him, jumping into his arms. He caught her with ease, laughing as she wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist.
“Baaabe,” Kwinn whined, hugging him tightly. “I knew it! I should’ve known this was for me.”
She squeezed him so tightly, Melo had to adjust his grip. “You ain’t know shit,” he teased.
Kwinn pulled back just enough to rain kisses all over his face. “I know that you love me; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Like crazy, but you right. You knew that.”
She held his face in her hands and repeatedly kissed his lips, making Melo grin so hard. He was in love like a mothafucka for sure. Melo carried her a few steps and was about to set her on her feet but stopped when she whispered to him.
“You lucky people are here. I’d suck the skin off your dick right now,” she cooed, licking the shell of his ear.
There she went again, talking that shit. A chill shot through Melo’s body at the thought before setting her back on her feet.
“A’ight keep on,” he warned.
Smiling brightly up at him, Kwinn dangled the keys in her hand. “You really bought me a building.”
“Nah,” he corrected, licking his lips. “I bought The Taylor Collective a home.”
She didn’t intend on crying today, but of course, the tears came anyway as her throat tightened.
Knowing she was choked up at the moment, Melo continued.
“I don’t want you thinking I did this because you needed me to.
I know who I’m in a relationship with. The type of go-getter you are.
I copped it ‘cause you have a business that needed room to grow. Instead of you waiting on something to fall through or drag your feet, I took care of it for you.”
Kwinn blew out a deep breath, wiping beneath her eyes. “And words can’t express how happy you just made me.”
It wasn’t the building itself that had her emotional, but Melo’s gesture and what it represented.
Jabari had spent so much of their relationship expecting her to pour into his dreams that she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have someone pour into hers.
The most he’d given her was a lame apology after the incident at the club, and she’d only gotten that much because Vic pushed up on him in New York.
Jabari almost pissed his pants when he saw him sitting outside his house.
Now here she stood with a man who’d been about her since day one and hadn’t asked her to give up a damn thing. Melo hadn’t tried to convince her to slow down or make room for his life. He listened and invested like the real nigga he was.
With excitement and unadulterated love written all over her face and in her eyes, Kwinn wrapped her arms back around him. “I can’t believe you.”
Melo smirked. “I don’t know why. I told you from the jump it’s whatever for you, and I meant that. You deserve this shit, my baby.” He kissed her forehead and Kwinn pressed her cheek against his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing his body.
Kwinn glanced over at her parents, who had been watching the entire exchange. The pride on Toya’s face and the look in Vic’s eyes made her chest tighten all over again. They’d raised her to build something of her own, and she’d done exactly that.
Now, she had a man who would undoubtedly spend and do whatever to keep a smile on her face and keep her dream going. Kwinn was annoyed that she’d even stayed in her last relationship for as long as she had. It or any prior fling couldn’t compare to what she and Melo shared.
He came through and had her experiencing the finer things in life and loved her like she was the only person his heart ever belonged to.
And it might as well have because she’d had it on lock from the moment he entered her world.
If Kwinn could choose him all over again, she would.
Melo had the type of love she never wanted to go without.
It was nothing like a love she’d known before, and definitely nothing like her ex’s.