Page 28 of Sparks Will Fly

His confession had me close the distance between us with urgency. He welcomed me with ease like in his arms was where I belonged anyway.

“It’s okay. I understand.” I nibbled on my bottom lip then figured if he was going to be vulnerable, then so could I. “Thank you for trusting me with part of your story. I understand you a little better now, and I just want to say you are my choice. That’s why I reacted so badly to that bitch being in your room half-naked.”

I almost got pissed off again just thinking about it. If I ever saw her scrawny little ass again, I was likely to drag her for playing with me.

“I push people away because I’ve never been enough for them. In case you didn’t choose me, I wanted to protect myself. I apologize for putting my hands on you because that wasn’t right. The person I was truly mad with was myself.”

He used one of his fingers to trace the outline of my face. I loved his skin on mine. I wish wearing it like a coat was possible. He’d keep me warm on the coldest, darkest nights.

“Why do you think you haven’t been enough for people?”

I inhaled sharply as the urge to shut down and keep this part of myself hidden emerged, but I knew I couldn’t. I wanted him to understand me better too. Nothing about our connection was one-sided, and that’s why I made the choice to open up too.

“I was raised in the church by my parents. They decided to have a third child because they felt like they did so good with their first two daughters.” I chuckled dryly. “Well, they got me instead of another perfect daughter. I’m nothing like my sisters and it forced me to live a life where I question myself. I don’t doubt they love me, but they never really get me. None of them do.” I dropped my head as tears rushed into my ducts. I sniffled, trying to keep it together. “I feel like you do though.”

His hands wrapped around my body, pulling me closer. I melted when he planted a kiss on my forehead that solidified the weight of our connection. I couldn’t pretend anymore. Didn’t want to fight it.

“I do. I see you in all your hell-raising glory and still can only see you as perfect.”

My lips were on his faster than my eyes could blink. He didn’t know how his words healed a part of me that always questioned if my personality was good enough or not. After a lifetime of being painted as the wild child, it felt so good to just be seen.

My eyes drifted closed when he planted his fingers on my scalp and began to gently massage my crown. I couldn’t help but lay my head on his chest.

“Do you have to leave?”

“Nah. Never,” he replied with ease. I felt another wall crumble into oblivion from his words and gentle tone.

“Good. ’Cause I want to spend my night just like this while making smores in front of the fire pit.” I held up the little baggie he’d stuffed with bud. “Oh yeah, and smoke all of this.”

He shrugged slightly. “I’m with whatever as long as it involves you, Trouble.”

He looked at me with nothing but admiration and affection. I couldn’t help but hide my face in his chest. I knew we were into confessing things, yet I wasn’t ready to confess that the nickname was growing on me more every day. Who would’ve guessed a day would come where I’d love being referred to as the thing that created so much insecurity and loneliness in my life? I could admit life had a way of reverse engineering your trauma into something so beautiful all you could do was believe in the impossible.

I admiredthe beautifully designed balloon arch that framed the double doors leading into the center. Nearly every child who passed me on my way in wore a smile on their face. There was this glimmer of excitement in their eyes that couldn’t be ignored. Even before I finally made it inside the gym, I knew Lovie was right about what this event meant to her community.

Glancing up, I admired the many decorations covering every inch of the gym, turning it into a scene fromFrozen. There was a mixture of children, teenagers, and adults scattered from one wall to the next. Some danced in the middle of the room while others were scouring the table of food, looking for their next treat. In the far corner, there were some chairs for people to sit on, and they were occupied too.

“Oh, you made it!” Lovie’s voice mixed in with the thumping music.

I turned just as she walked up. I wasted no time snatching her to my body and taking a deep whiff of her perfume.

“Of course, I made it. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” I tucked one of the curls framing her face behind her ear. “You look so beautiful. I love your hair out of your face like this. I can see all of you.”

Her cheeks plumped up as she tried her best to fight a smile. She took my hand in hers and tucked it against her chest. I felt her heart beatboxing against the back.

“Stop trying to butter me up. I was already planning to end the night choking on your dick.”

My dick jumped at the thought. Lovie definitely knew what to do with those juicy lips and slick tongue.

“You’re lucky you’re needed here, or we’d be ending the night right fucking now.”

She released the cutest laugh before turning to pull me behind her. She said something about wanting to introduce me to some people, but all I could focus on was the shape of her perfect body in her red ball gown. She knew what she was doing wearing red. It looked amazing against her brown skin. Not to mention, her ass jiggled every time she walked. I was so fascinated by her body, I had to force myself to focus on the moment. This was about the kids and not what I was going to do to Lovie once this event was over.

I made it through introductions with a level head. It was fun to see Lovie in her element. She was so passionate and caring that everyone seemed to gravitate toward her. She was a beacon of light in their dark world, and I loved that she was that in every way. People were afraid of that fire in her, but it was what drew me in. It could be blinding and all encompassing, but that dulled in comparison to the way her warmth wrapped around you like a much-needed hug. I found myself even fighting feelings of jealousy because so much of her attention was divided between me and the kids.

“Wassup? You Romani?” A nigga I didn’t know questioned as he walked up to me.

I was leaning against the wall, babysitting a cup of lemonade and watching Lovie socialize like the pretty little butterfly she was. I stood to my full height as he came to stand in front of me.

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