Page 81 of Free to Fall

“I understand but I figured we could spend some time together. I want you to hear the full album. Like, top to bottom,” she said, eyes soft but unsure. “I’ve only let Averi and Logan hear everything in order.”

“You serious?” I asked and she nodded. “Okay, I’m ready.” I sat back on the couch, legs spread, heart ready.

Her finger hovered over the space bar before she pressed it. The first chords spilled through the speakers. Her voice followed, raw and lush like velvet pulled across old wounds. It was her heart, her hurt, her healing and me.

Every track was a page outta our book. From the day we reconnected, to the first time we touched, to the baby we lost. She didn’t hold back. EvenUncoveredplayed in full, and I damn near couldn’t breathe listening to it. When it ended, silence fell between us like a weighted blanket.

“I wrote it for me,” she said, clearing her throat. “But I think...it was always about us.”

I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. My throat was tight. Instead, I stood up and pulled her into my embrace. “That shit was fuckin’ beautiful baby. Congratulations, there’s no way this ain’t hitting number one.”

“You think so?”

“I know it. You got a hit on yo’ hands.”

“Thank you Nasseem. I don’t think I could have done this without you by my side, without you being my muse. I love you.”

After spending time at the studio, we made our way back to our home. On the way there, I sent Averi a text.

Me: Everything all set? We on our way back to the house.

Ave: Everything is perfect. Congratulations in advance Nas, she’s going to love it.

I smiled before tucking my phone back in my pocket. It wasn’t long after that we pulled into the long driveway and up to our front door. I could see the glow of the candles from the front door and it was confirmed when I got the door opened and saw that, the space was transformed.

There were candles everywhere, hundreds of ‘em, placed throughout the space. Twinkling lights strung across the ceiling. The coffee table was gone, replaced with a path of white rose petals leading toward the back patio, where more candles flickered around a soft glow of string lights and white chiffon curtains.

Egypt gasped. Her hand squeezed mine. “Nas...what is this?”

I turned to face her. “This is me, tryna show you what words ain’t ever been good enough to explain.” Her eyes blinked fast, already glassy. “We been through every kind of hell, E. And somehow you still here. Loving me through my worst. Standing next to me even when I ain’t deserve you. You gave me peace when my own blood couldn’t. You gave me purpose when my body was weak. And that baby we lost...that little life made me want forever with you even more.”

She covered her mouth, the tears falling freely now. I dropped to one knee then pulled the velvet box from my pocket. “Nasseem…” She whispered.

“Egypt Alexandria Armstrong... will you marry me?”

She choked on a sob, nodding fast, hands trembling. “Yes,” she whispered. “Double fuckin’ yes.” I stood, slipped the ring on her finger, and kissed her like my entire life depended on it. She wrapped her arms around me tight, burying her face in my chest. “You really did all this?”

“For you,” I whispered. “Only you.”

We stood there for a long time, slow dancing to silence, the future stretched wide open in front of us. Everything that ever tried to break us just made this moment more solid. More ours. And in that moment... we weren’t just survivors, we were soulmates. And she was mine forever.

Royal’sfinal show in LA was legendary.

The whole crew pulled up—me, Egypt, Creed, Serenity, Averi, Brodie, and Ari. Even Zay flew in just to be there. The energy in the stadium was unreal, every seat packed, lights bouncing off sequined outfits, cameras flashing from every angle. You could feel the love for him pouring from every corner of the building. This wasn’t just a tour stop. It was a victory lap.

And Royal? Man, he tore that shit down like he had somethin’ to prove. Lux LA came out mid-set to perform their collab, and the crowd lost it when Heaven walked on stage. But when Egypt’s name got called? My fiancée walked out like a fuckin’ goddess.

The crowd lost their minds when she and Royal performedPost Uptogether. And when she rolled right intoLove me Loudand thenRed Light,two tracks on her new album that featured Royal, it felt like the whole city of LA was in sync. She moved like a woman who’d found her power again, voice sharp, movements fluid, confidence on a thousand. Watching her up there, glistening under the lights, it hit me again, this the woman I was spending the rest of my life with.

After the show, the whole crew headed to an afterparty atThe Highlight Room, one of the hottest rooftop clubs in Hollywood. Bottles on deck. Our names on everything. The DJ spinning a custom set with our whole crew’s music. And just when we were starting to settle in, Egypt’s phone buzzed. She clicked it open, her brows lifting as she read. Then she turned the screen to me, and I saw the LA Confidential logo. Of course.

LA Confidential Exclusive Blog Post

Royal's Last LA Show: A Star-Studded Celebration, But are Egypt and Nasseem Engaged?

Whew, the city showed OUT for the final LA stop on Royal’s tour last night—and so did The Coven and Co. With guest appearances from Lux LA, Heaven (yes, THE Heaven from “Caviar Dreams”), and none other than Egypt Armstrong, it was a celebration of Black excellence through and through.

But you know we don’t miss a beat…

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