The Lessons We Learn (FWB Book 2)
Page 21
We were figuring each other out, maintaining our business relationship since Jayla refused to let me quit being an influencer with all the money I would’ve been missing out on, and having so much fun along the way that it was easy to fall in love with each other. But if there was one lesson I had learned, it was to give Jayla room to go at her own pace which meant the “L word” was being kept locked away until she was ready.
Still, that didn’t mean I couldn’t tease her about it, taking to the front of the room to announce, “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”
It took a moment for the chatter to settle, especially since the first round of alcohol had already been delivered to the tables. But once it did, I started, “First, I wanna thank y’all for coming out to show Jay some birthday love, and for managing to keep it a secret from her nosy ass.”
That earned a laugh from the group, but a teasing side-eye from Jayla as I continued, “Secondly, thanks to the crazy deal Jayla just landed for me with Nike, everything’s on me tonight. So please eat and drink up.”
Of course they were cheering at that, giving me time to pull Jayla to the front to join me as I finished, “And last but not least... Jayla, from the very first time I saw your incredibly ambitious ass leaving work late, I knew I had to get to know you. And now that I’ve had the honor and privilege of being able to do just that over these last few months, I have one question for you.”
The panic in her eyes when I dropped to one knee was something I wished I could’ve taken a picture of, her eyes pleading with me not to do what she thought I was doing. And since I wasn’t, I could only smile when I pulled a box from my pocket, popping it open to ask, “Do you like these earrings I bought you for your birthday?”
Since everyone was in on the joke, the room bursted with laughter as Jayla smacked a hand against my shoulder to squeal, “Oh my God! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
With a teasing smirk on my face, I stood up from the ground to ask, “What? You thought I was going to propose already?”
She didn’t answer, only dabbed at her fresh wave of tears before teasingly snatching the box from my hand. And with the closer look, she took notice to their true significance, inhaling a sharp gasp as she sang, “The black diamonds. Like the ones you have. They’re… everything. Thank you, baby.”
“You’re welcome, shorty. Glad you like them,” I told her as I pulled her into a hug, landing a little kiss to her forehead and then one against her lips.
Her eyes were locked on mine when she expressed, “I love them. I love… you.”
Oh shit.
Now I was the shocked one, giving a look to ask, “You serious?” since I couldn’t have possibly heard what I thought I had. But once I saw the proud smile on her face as she pulled her lip between her teeth and nodded to confirm I had heard her right, it damn near felt like it was my birthday too being able to finally tell her, “I love you too, Jayla. I love you too.”
The End
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