Page 142 of Rose
Savior leaned against the wall, watching her with quiet admiration. She was slowly shedding the grief, the numbness, the hard shell that used to guard her like a second skin. She wasn’t all the way out yet, but he was getting glimpses of the woman he always believed was still in there.
“Boys, I hope y’all understand what I’m saying,” Ahzii said, tossing another strawberry to Bishop. “When Daddy comes down, I need y’all to run up and lick him all over. It’s his birthday, and he needs all the love. Mommy already did her job.”
She burst into laughter, thinking she was being ridiculous—until Brasi turned his head, spotted Savior, and bolted. Bishop and Ace followed fast behind him. The three dogs launched onto Savior, licking his face and neck like they were on a mission.
“Damn, y’all really understood her,” Savior laughed, rubbing their heads, trying to fend off the flood of slobber.
Ahzii was already recording from behind the counter. “Good boys!” she said, tossing them each a grape before walking around the island. “But don’t even think about kissing me until you scrub all that drool off.”
Savior’s eyes lingered on her. She wore a red Nike sports bra and matching tights that clung to every dip and curve. A red Nike cap covered her pixie, and even in chill mode, she was stunning.
He walked up behind her and smacked her ass hard, making her gasp and moan.
“Boy, stop!” she yelped, swatting his arm. “You always hit too damn hard.”
“I like seeing that shit jiggle,” he said, rubbing the spot with a grin.
“So we ‘Mommy and Daddy’ now?” he teased.
Ahzii paused, then narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb. I heard what you said to them.”
“I said it so they wouldn’t get confused,” she shot back, slipping out of his hold.
“Mhm... okay.” He chuckled, clearly not buying it.
“Grab your sons so we can go,” she said, putting on her running shoes heading toward the door.
Savior just laughed, clipping on the leashes. “Say less, Mama.”
The run was peaceful. The sun beamed down, but a light breeze softened the heat, summer was finally loosening its grip. Ahzii, Savior, and the dogs jogged alongthe park trail, earning compliments from passersby about their dogs… or how cute they looked as a family.
They were finishing their last lap when Ahzii slowed and turned to him. “I bet me and Ace beat you, Brasi, and Bishop in a race.”
Savior laughed. “Bet.”
But before he could even blink, she was gone.
“Cheater!” he yelled, sprinting after her.
Ahzii pushed her legs to move faster, Ace keeping stride effortlessly beside her. The wind pushed past her face as Brasi and Bishop’s barks rang behind, Savior’s heavy steps not far behind them.
Then… it all went quiet.
She rounded a bend near the trees, and stopped.
A man stood still by the edge of the trail, half-shadowed under a tree. Hoodie up. Face mostly hidden. But something about the stillness of him—the tilt of his head, the chill that skated down her spine, froze her.
She stared. He stared back. Her heart slammed in her chest.
Those eyes. She knew them. She had traced the color of them in the dark. Whispered her vows into them. Watched them dull in firelight when the smoke filled the room and took him from her.
William? No. It couldn’t be.
Her breath caught as the ground tilted beneath her. Her body turned too fast, chest tightening, and she stumbled. Her legs didn’t feel like hers. Her vision blurred.
Then warmth caught her, strong hands wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
