Page 95 of Love's Free Will

Now the house has warmth. Soft throws, sage green and champagne-gold accents, art pieces I’d picked out, and my custom-scented candles flickering in nearly every room. I evenhad the kitchen redone—open shelving, matte black hardware, and the dreamiest white oak cabinets you’ve ever seen.

But today? Today it smells like the crisp scent of fresh pine needles from a perfectly trimmed tree, mingling with the comforting aroma of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It smells like home, tradition, joy and love baked into every corner. It’s magic you can inhale. Because today is Christmas—and I don’t play about Christmas.

I had the living room decked out. The tree stood ten feet tall, full-bodied, frosted, and covered in antique gold ornaments, velvet ribbons, and twinkling fairy lights. Our stockings hung from the mantle embroidered with all our names: Royal. Averi. Queenie. Princess.

Soft R&B Christmas music played on the speakers—The Temptations, Boyz II Men, Mariah—and as I stood in the kitchen, wearing red plaid pajamas, pouring hot cocoa into Santa mugs I couldn’t help but feel… bliss.

“You tryna burn the damn house down with all these candles lit?” Queenie called out from the couch, unwrapping another gift with a smirk.

I laughed. “It’s called ambiance, Miss Queenie.”

She grinned but didn’t argue. “Aight, Martha Stewart.”

“Don’t be hatin’,” I teased, walking over with her mug. “I love Christmas and Royal loves it.”

“Nah, I just love you, baby. The rest of this shit ain’t for me.” Royal said, coming up behind me in his matching PJ bottoms and white tee. He smelled like cedarwood and fresh linen, and that dimpled grin of his was doing something dangerous to my ovaries.

He pressed a kiss to my neck and then walked over to hand Princess her last gift.

“Merry Christmas, lil’ ugly,” he said.

She squealed when she opened the box and found the customized gold necklace with her name and a diamond charm. “You did this?”

“Yup. Now don’t say I never did nothing nice for you.”

“Royal! You’re gonna make me cry.” I watched as Princess stood up and hugged her brother tightly. “I love you.”

Queenie chuckled, eyes shining with affection. “You done made my baby girl emotional. What is the world coming to?”

“There’s one more gift under the tree.” Princess said ducking behind a mound of discarded wrapping paper. A wide grin appeared on her face as she turned to her brother and handed him something. “It’s got Averi’s name on it.”

Royal smiled but then turned toward me with that look in his eye. That serious, calm-before-the-storm look. He walked over slowly, and a flash of nerves appeared on his face causing my heart to flutter.

“Wonder what it could be.” Queenie whispered, smirking wide.

“Wait… I thought we were done exchanging gifts,” I said, my voice shaky as he walked over to me.

“We were,” Royal said. “But I just had one more.”

He dropped to one knee. Right there in front of the fire, the tree, his mama and sister. Everything else blurred.

“Oh my God…Royal.” my heart was hammering in my chest, and tears had started to form before he began talking.

“I’ve loved you since you cussed me out that first day in the studio,” he began. “And since then, you’ve been the reason I think about forever. You saved me, Ave. And I know we took the long, messy road to get here… but I wouldn’t change a thing. So, I gotta ask you, right here in front of my family—our family…” He opened the box, revealing the most beautiful oval-cut diamond I’d ever seen. It was set in a thin platinum band, classic, elegant very much…me. “Will you marry me?”

Tears poured down my cheeks before I could even speak. I could hear Princess screaming and Queenie sniffling already.

“Yes,” I whispered, then louder as he slipped the ring on my finger. “Yes! Yes, of course I’ll marry you!” He stood up and I tackled him—literally tackled him back onto the floor, kissing him through the laughter, through the tears, through the moment I knew would change everything.

Royal pulled me into his lap, and kissed my hand, the one that now sparkled like a constellation. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I blubbered like a baby. Royal laughed at me, wiping my tears before kissing them.

“Let me take a picture, so we can have a good memory.” Princess said wiping her own tears and grabbing her phone. “Hold up the ring Ave.” I did as instructed hugging Royal closely with a wide smile plastered on my face, wide enough to display all 32 teeth.

I was happier than I had ever been, and I was grateful that this man was the reason for it.

Later that night,I was in a red dress, hair bone straight with a middle part and flowing down my back, still buzzing from the proposal. Royal was in a black turtleneck sweater and slacks, looking like something out of a winter fantasy. We were headed to what I thought was a holiday party for the label. But when we walked in, the entire vibe was different.

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