Page 75 of Sunday

“Whenever I dared to dream about doing it, it was always with you. I imagined what it would be like to have you as my wife . . . to come home to you in my bed every night and morning . . . for it to be you who I would start a family with. I knew my ass didn’t deserve you, and I never thought I’d be ableto make you happy. So, I pushed that shit aside and created a wall to keep you out.

“So no, my marriage proposal was never random. And while you were away, I realized even more how important you were in my life. I was incomplete without you. I called out four days straight for the first time in my career. I lay my tired ass on that couch and actually fucking shed a few thug tears.”

Sunday leaned back and stared at me in disbelief. “You cried?”

“Hell yeah. But don’t tell nobody that shit.”

“I find that very hard to believe,” she scoffed.

“Ain’t no shame in my game, baby, not with you anyway. I was sitting around thinking about your smiles, how you ain’t got no rhythm, and your no-dancing ass must’ve got that from ya daddy. Nigga look like he ain’t got no rhythm.”

She laughed and nodded. “I did, because my mom can dance her ass off.”

“Mm-hmm. Can’t sang either.”

“Boy, shut up.” She pushed me on the shoulder.

“But I missed all that. I even missed how you fucked up my laundry by tossing a few red items in with the whites on a few occasions and pouring bleach in that shit. Got me walking around with pink shirts and socks.”

We both laughed over that one because it had happened far too many times. I’d had to throw some stuff out and replace it on multiple occasions.

“But it made me realize that I love everything about you, baby. The good and the bad, I love it all. So, the love in my heart isn’t just about you carrying my seed. And it goes deeper than the friendship we’ve built these last few years. My love for you is built on your beautiful soul, your easy spirit, your ability to love and be loved, and your belief in others.”

I moved my ice cream container to the side and picked up the small velvet box.

“My love for you is steeped in my belief that you are the other, better half of me. That my life took the journey that it did because God knew that you were the one for me. My love has no beginning or end, Sunday.”

Tears poured down her face as she stared at me and then back at the box. I popped the lid open and showed her the fourteen-karat white gold halo engagement ring in a pavé setting.

“Sunday Birgitta Monroe, will you marry me?”

She was inhaling and exhaling like her ass was about to have a panic attack, and then she calmed down and exhaled slowly.

“Yes, CJ. I will marry you, and I promise to never withhold anything from you again.”

“I know, baby.”

My heart exploded when she kissed my lips. This woman had the power to make me or break me, and she chose to use her love to build me stronger. She chose me, and I chose her.

Sunday & Cedar

Ten Weeks Later – Sunday

“Make sure you give his head the proper support, Nils.”

“I got this, sis. Trust me. Your li’l bro is a pro at this.”

I shook my head as my little brother repositioned Aspen in his arms. He stared at his nephew with awe and affection. I glanced at Sarah, who had a look of pure adoration in her eyes, as Bjorn whispered something to her.

“Are you two ready for your own?” I asked.

Sarah smiled sweetly and pulled her eyes away from Aspen and looked at me.

“That’s what we were just talking about. I hope we have one as sweet as he is.”

“Babies are sweet, even when they’re fussy little bodies like Miss Jay here,” Janae declared, dropping a kiss on Janaya’s head.

“I’m not a fussy bot, Mommy,” Janaya declared.

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