Page 88 of Awakening
Then Dro shook his head and chuckled, “Like father, like daughter.”
My head snapped in his direction. “Excuse me, what the hell does that mean?”
He leaned back, tossed an arm over Andrea’s chair, and smirked, “You didn’t think I was always this calm, did you? Sweetheart, I’m not new to this. I’m true to this. Swinging, open-loving, poly life, I’ve been in those trenches. Back in the day, before I got old and my knees started creaking.”
The room roared again.
Andrea chimed in, laughing, “Way before. That lifestyle’s in retirement now, though. We’re monogamous, by choice. But baby girl—no judgment. Just pride. I spent decades with Caleb’s father being cheated on andmistreated. I’m all for women having the power and courage to write the love story that fulfills them.”
I caught Maverick's eye, his lips curved in awe. Knox just beamed, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe his luck.
Then came the swooners.
Aunt Lily, Callie, Leah, and Mama Drea all looked at Maverick and Knox like fresh cake on cheat day.
“Oh, JaJa,” Callie said, fanning herself, “We get it now, girl.”
“Mmmhmm,” Leah added, “I see why you be glowing, Ti-Ti. Ain’t nothing confusing about that at all.”
Knox coughed into his wine. Maverick looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and then flex while doing it.
Rio, with his faux innocent eyes and smart ass mouth, shook his head. “My precious Aunt JaJa out here freaking and sneaking. The streets are not safe.”
“I know an NFL player whose dad popped up on him and caught him dating his best friend’s daughter, not poppin it.” Yanna nearly fell off her chair laughing as Dana whispered something wicked in Ahmir’s ear, and he nearly choked on his sparkling rosé.
Then Dro raised his glass.
“I knew Maverick had a thing for my baby girl since that day at the hospital. It was written all over his face, googly-eyed, nervous, and ready to worship.”
He turned to Knox, “And if you keep cooking like this and treating her like she’s the sun, moon, and stars, we won’t have a single issue, son.”
My throat thickened.
Maverick raised his glass too, eyes glassy but proud, “Totruth.”
Knox followed, “To love.”
I followed them both.
“To family.”
The house was quiet in that rare, sacred way that made it feel like the world had stopped just long enough for me to breathe. We were home. Not the villa in Bora Bora, not the vineyard loft, not anyone else’s couch or borrowed time.
Home, the place where we find peace from the outside world. I was curled up on the couch in one of Knox’s oversized hoodies, legs tucked under me, a glass of red wine in one hand, my other hand resting on Maverick’s thigh as he sat beside me. His fingers were tracing up and down my thighs, stopping just as he reached my knee.
Knox walked in from the kitchen, fresh from putting away leftovers from the mini feast he made "just because." My favorite R&B playlist played low on the speakers, the scent of honeyed vanilla candles lingering in the air, mixing with whatever cologne Maverick was still wearing from earlier that refused to let go.
Knox handed me a warm chocolate chip cookie on a little plate, kissed the top of my head, and collapsed into the chair across from us with a groan.
“Alright,” he said, rubbing his hand over his face, “Now that you’ve had two glasses of wine and a cookie, how you feeling?”
I looked between them, the two men who had shatteredand rebuilt parts of me I didn’t even know were broken.
“Tired,” I admitted, “But light. Like I set something down, I didn’t realize I’d been carrying.”
Maverick nodded slowly, “That’s what telling the truth unapologetically does, it unburdens.”
“You were amazing,” Knox said, his voice deep with sincerity. “I’ve watched you own your healing, Ja. From the first time we talked about family to today, you’re a different woman. You’re settled, confident, and content. It’s beautiful to witness.”
