Page 35 of This: Blake & Emon

“You ain’t have to do all this.”

“Shut up and let somebody love on you for once.” She set a plate in front of him. His favorites, done exactly how he liked them. Crisp bacon, two eggs scrambled with cheese, cinnamon and sugar toast, and hash browns.

“You must wanna start something early,” he said, pulling her to his lap and kissing her lips.

“Absolutely not. Plus,” she added, dropping a small wrapped box next to his plate, “this is just the beginning.”

“Beginning of what?”

“You’ll see.” The way she said it made him both curious and nervous. His girl was up to something.

“Blake...”

“Just eat your breakfast,” she said, now settled across from him with her own plate and coffee. “And open your gift.”

He eyed the small box while taking a bite of perfectly crispy bacon. Blake had mastered his preference for almost burnt bacon in the few weeks they’d been living together.

“Open it,” she urged, practically bouncing in her seat.

Inside the box was a custom diamond pendant that had his initials sparkling in the light, a mix of street and luxury that matched his style perfectly. His brow furrowed as he lifted it, noticing the engraving on the back:‘This is just the beginning - B’.

“What’s this?”

“Part one of your birthday.” She couldn’t contain her smile, watching him examine the piece. “And before you say it’s too much, don’t. You deserve to be celebrated.”

She’d been stacking money for years. With what she made from work plus her inheritance, she wasn’t worried about spoiling him, though she knew that was his concern. This man had changed her whole world. The least she could do was make his birthday special.

“Baby, it’s perfect. I love it for real, but there’s more?”

“Mhmm.” She took a sip of her coffee, looking mighty pleased with herself. “A lot more. Driver picks us up at five.”

“I hear you, but you ain’t gotta do too much. Every day I get to wake up is my birthday.”

“Bae, please get out my face with that philosophical bullshit. We celebrating today. I’m going hard for you like you go hard for me. Let me.”

Blake wasn’t going to let this day pass without showing him how appreciative of his life she was. There was no other way to put it. Life before him had been basic, ordinary. Then he’d stumbled into her apartment and somehow made everything extraordinary. Made her extraordinary. Now it was her turn to do the same for him.

“Fine,” he conceded, pulling her into his lap. “Do your worst.”

“Oh, I plan to.” She kissed him softly. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“Thank you for being you and for breakfast,” he said, kissing her on top of her head. “I gotta head to the shop, cool?”

“Ok, but be back here on time and don’t work too hard. You gon’ need yo strength for later.” She smirked.

Emon smirked back, tempted to show her right now just how much strength he had. His heart was already overflowing from her gifts and presence, but he decided against it. He’d save that energy for later.

Upstairs, while getting ready, the emotions he’d been holding back hit him. This was new territory. Having someone celebrate him like this and making him feel this special wasn’t in his cards. He’d been fine with living a normal life, one that allowed him to stack, eat, and make it another day. As he stood in their bathroom, the magnitude of how his life had changed washed over him.

He’d been lost. Experienced pain. Brought pain. Destruction. For years, he’d carried that chip on his shoulder, getting it by any means necessary and standing on whatever choices he made. Now he was a living, breathing testimony.

A year ago, you couldn’t have told him that the stranger who patched him up would become his everything.

He took a moment, head bowed, giving thanks to God. Not just for Blake, not just for making it to another birthday, but for saving him from himself. For giving him a purpose beyond the streets, for showing him what real love felt like, for blessing him with a woman who saw past his rough edges.

“Amen,” he said, finally deciding to join in on the celebration. He jumped fresh into a fit from one of his favorite brands, Valabasas. His gray washed shirt read Love OverConflict and he kept it simple with black jeans. Emon rarely went anywhere that required him to do a lot, but today was his birthday, and it was time he started acting like it. He slipped his Presidential Rolex on his wrist and Cuban chain around his neck. On his feet, he wore his black and red Jordan 11’s. When he was satisfied with his look he headed downstairs.

“Ohh, daddy, you look good,” Blake said, catching him before he headed out.

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