Page 16 of Free to Fall

Averi’s eyes widened. “Wait—you met somebody? A new body?”

I smirked. “Just a regular dude. No tattoos, no gym-rat tendencies. Wears a suit and everything.”

Serenity gasped. “You met a man-man!”

“Girl yes and he was fine, smelled good and listen, I’m just tryna do things different,” I said. “And we’re going to dinner tomorrow.”

Averi clapped. “I love this. But please text the group chat with the address once you get there. We need to know where you are in case, he turns out to be a serial killer.”

Serenity laughed. “No for real. Send your location asap.”

I rolled my eyes but grinned. “Fine. Y’all happy now?”

“Ecstatic,” Averi said.

I sipped my coffee and leaned back in the chair, finally feeling a little light again. But what I didn’t know, was that I’d just lit a fire in Nasseem Walker by ending things and blocking him…And some flames didn’t die easy.

The day felt different.It felt light. Like something in me had finally shifted. I started with a deep tissue massage, sixty minutes of letting go. The pressure was perfect, digging into tension I didn’t even realize I’d been carrying in my lower back, in my shoulders, in my thighs. My mind drifted somewhere soft, somewhere warm. And when I left the spa, I felt a little more like myself again.

Next stop? Hair. I’d taken my braids out the night before and let my coils breathe for the first time in weeks. My stylist, Amara,gasped the second I walked in. “Girl! Why you keep this mane hidden like that?”

I laughed as she ran her fingers through it. “Protective styles, girl. Gotta preserve the crown.”

She shampooed and deep conditioned it until it felt like silk, then pressed and curled it into soft, bouncing waves that flowed down my back like a black girl’s fairytale. Long, thick, and healthy. I caught myself staring at it in the mirror when she finished, lips parting in surprise.

“You better act like you know,” Amara teased, handing me the mirror. I left with a bounce in my step.

Nails and toes came next, nude with white accents, clean and classy. Then I hit Melrose to do some shopping. The dress had to be perfect. Nothing too extra, but something that hugged just right. I found a curve-hugging corset-style midi dress in deep wine. Elegant, but dangerous if you blinked too long. Strappy gold heels and a matching clutch followed without hesitation.

The final touch? Cartier. I wasn’t even planning on getting jewelry, but that diamond-encrusted watch I saw as I passed the Cartier store, she spoke to me…loudly. And those hoops, they were thick diamond-lined ones that screamed grown woman with options. I swiped my card and didn’t flinch once.

Back home, I took my time getting ready. A quick shower, body butter, edges laid, makeup soft but sculpted. Bronzed, glowy, lashes for days. I sprayedValentino Born in Romaon every part of my skin that mattered, behind my ears, the dip of my throat, inside my wrists, ankles and the back of my knees.

I stood in the mirror and took in the full picture. Waves cascading down my back. Dress hugging every inch like it was made for me. Diamond hoops sparkling under the vanity lights. My Cartier watch catching the gold flecks in my eyeshadow. I looked expensive. I looked like peace. And I was excited. Not because Marcus was the one, but because I was doing somethingnew. Something light. Something that didn’t feel like a storm waiting to happen.

I grabbed my purse, phone in hand, and quickly opened what I thought was the girls’ group chat.

Me: On my way to my date, we’re going to Providence. I’ll call y’all when I get home to let you know I made it safe and to tell ya’ll how it went.

I hit send, locked my phone, and strutted out the door. I didn’t notice the mistake until twenty minutes later, sitting in traffic, humming along to Summer Walker with a smile on my lips.

The Uber ride was quiet, smooth. City lights flickered through the tinted windows, soft and golden like the night had been crafted just for me. The driver had complimented my perfume—said I smelled expensive and looked like I was on my way to ruin someone’s son. I didn’t correct him just smiled softly because I knew it was a possibility.

I leaned back against the leather seat, legs crossed, watching the traffic slide past while Summer Walker played low through my AirPods. Everything about tonight felt soft, intentional and like peace.

Until my phone lit up in my lap with an unknown number. I almost ignored it. But something told me not to. So, I pulled an Air Pod out and answered.

“Hello?”

There was a pause, a very brief one before, “Don’t do this, Egypt.”

My breath hitched hearing his voice on the other end of my phone.

“Nasseem?” I asked, voice sharp, eyes narrowing.

“You expecting somebody else?” His tone was low, tense, tight in the way it always got when he was fighting not to explode. “You blocked me, so now I gotta call you like this? That’s wild.”

I looked out the window, jaw locked. “You really callin’ me from a blocked number right now?”

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