Page 171 of My Only

It felt bittersweet.

I couldn’t help but feel torn between my love for my girl’s family and my own struggles.

Was I waiting too long?

“Getting back to what we were talking about in the solarium before Amara got up,” Sunni said, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’m proud of Hassani. I think he handled himself well with that woman.”

I shrugged a shoulder and smiled down at Amara.

I had told Sunni about the situation with Harper. She had already heard me mention Harper once before, so she was familiar.

“I hate that he didn’t listen,” I admitted. “But I’m happy he handled himself well, too.”

Sunni kissed her teeth. “Women like that make marriage harder than it has to be.”

“And I don’t get it,” I added. “How do you have the audacity to do something like that? Like… how does that happen? How does the brain allow such a decision to be made?”

“She was probably looking for validation.” Sunni shook her head. “Nothing boosts an insecure woman’s fragile ego like breaking something in seconds that took years to build—and, of course, something she didn’t build herself. Makes them feel like a real winner.”

I exhaled a scoffing laugh.

“My Nana, may she rest in peace, used to compare marriage to owning a blown glass gallery.”

I blinked. “A blown glass gallery?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Sunni nodded. “She used to tell me that marriage is like spending hours and hours creating a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted glass piece. And she said I should watch out for people standing outside my gallery with steel bats, trying to get in—knowing damn well neither they nor that bat belong there.”

“Hmph.”

“Trying to explain to the person with the bat why they don’t belong in the gallery with that bat is pointless,” Sunni continued, adjusting herself in her seat. “Because they know better. They already know they’re not supposed to be there. They just got bad intentions and get some satisfaction from making you uneasy and as miserable as them. It gives them great delight to see you worried over something that matters to you and that they think they can’t create themselves.” She shook her head. “So, Nana always said that’s what security is for—which, of course, was a double entendre.

“She said if my security is in place and knows their role, which is to protect and secure…” Sunni tapped my knee.“… security being Josiah, of course.” She winked, referring to her husband. “Then we’re good, and people with steel bats won’t be able to get in. But if security just thinks that people with steel bats just want to look around and ain’t gonna do anything—which, in real life, is like going out for a late-night drink or taking a call in the middle of the night—then my fine glass piece will always be in jeopardy, no matter how long it took or how hard I worked to make it.”

I nodded, absorbing that.

“So, I don’t worry about these women with steel bats standing outside my glass gallery.” Sunni shook her head. “My alliance is with my husband. He knows what’s at stake, and he knows his job. No good can ever come from worrying about other women anyway. Just move out the way and let karma do what she do, too. Because the ill-intentioned can rationalize not taking vows or respecting someone else's marriage all they want—but karma is a mirror. It doesn’t judge, only reflects energy. And in time, it gives everyone exactly what they deserve and what they’ve earned… for better or for worse.”

“I feel you,” I said, nodding in agreement. And even though I knew my trust in Hassani was the most important factor, I still couldn’t shake the uneasiness deep down.

Women finding Hassani attractive was one thing, but offering to be mistresses and actively trying to sabotage his career just so they could be around him? That was a whole different beast.

“We’re going on a road trip tomorrow,” I told Sunni as I positioned Amara over my shoulder, rocking her gently.

“You and the wannabe mistress?”

I kissed my teeth and whipped my head toward Sunni. “Sunni. Too soon.”

She giggled. “I’m sorry. You and Hassani, right?”

“Yes, Hassani and I, smart ass.”

Sunni’s giggles turned into a bellyful laugh, which got a laugh out of me too.

“It’s a trip to reconnect.”

“I’m excited for you.”

Just then, Amara started to fuss in my arms.

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