6. Derek’s Destiny

DEREK

The first rays of Sunday morning sunlight crept through Destiny’s windows, pulling me from sleep. I blinked against the brightness, making a mental note to buy this woman some blackout curtains—if I could ever manage to stay off her long enough to actually leave the house.

We’d been holed up in her place since Friday night, locked in a whirlwind of raw emotion and passion. We talked for hours, made love with an intensity that left us breathless, argued until we were hoarse, and sucked the souls out of each other like our lives depended on it. We ordered food, devoured it without tasting, then talked some more. We cried—cried out of frustration, over lost time, and because the sex felt so damn good it felt spiritual. We caught each other up on the last decade of our lives, each revelation a dagger and a balm at the same damn time. It was a storm of making up and uncomfortable conversations, a desperate attempt to rebuild and redefine who we were before stepping back into the real world.

Inside her house, we were in our own bubble, a world apart from the prying eyes that would be all over us once the news broke that she was mine. Destiny being with me meant a level of attention she’d never experienced before. It meant adjusting to my lifestyle, leaving Juniper, and I knew her stubborn ass was going to fight me on everything. I wasn’t looking forward to that, and I didn’t want to scare her off by bringing it up too soon. The truth was however, these were her last few days of living a simple life.

Yeah, The Shade Room had that one image of us leaving the community center, and people were buzzing about who the girl was that I had my arm around and left with. My people weren’t giving any statements though. Marcy’s texts and phone calls were going unanswered, except for me sending her a single text telling her to handle it.

Shockingly, Juniper business stayed that way—nobody said shit besides confirming that I was here. The younger folks didn’t know me and Destiny’s history, and those in our age group seemed to be very protective of their hometown girl. They were defending her in the comments, shutting down any rudeness and speculation about whether I was involved with her or just being chivalrous.

Juniper was small, but the pride ran deep. People here looked out for their own, and I was ready to show them that I was here for Destiny, not just passing through. I knew the whispers would grow louder, the questions more persistent, but I was prepared for it all. Destiny deserved to be claimed, to be cherished, and I was ready to show the world that she was my everything.

Eventually, we were gonna be outside, and I didn’t plan on hiding shit. Destiny was mine, and I was gonna scream it from the mountaintops so there would be no mistake about it. I could already see the headlines, the comments, the speculations. But none of that mattered. What mattered was the truth between us, the love we were rebuilding.

When we stepped out into the world again, it wouldn’t be as a secret or a scandal—it would be as a declaration of love that had stood the test of time and was ready to face the future. And I was ready to let everyone know just how much Destiny meant to me, no matter what it took.

I blew out a deep breath of stress just thinking about it as I held her while she slept. There wasn’t a lot of space for a big man like me on this little-ass queen-sized bed, so she slept on me, where I preferred her to be anyway, even with her hair all in my face. She said she normally wrapped it up and put on a bonnet, but after I’d made her sweat her hair out Friday night, I guess she said fuck it.

I ran my fingers through her curly hair, kissed her on her head, and thanked God for saving her for me. There was a voice in my head years ago that told me I missed my chance, that I had messed up too bad and she didn’t love me anymore. And she was such a good woman, I just knew she was gonna end up married and whenever she did it, I was gon' have to check myself in somewhere I could go crazy in private. When I heard about her and Johnathon and it was going on and on and on, I just knew I lost her to his square ass.

“It’s serious between them?” I asked Ant a few years back as he chilled with me at a photoshoot while the stylist selected clothes for me. It was for a cover shoot for Source Magazine. I had a new album dropping, songs charting, and E’Lana, a top pop singer that men would die to even be in the presence of, blowing up my DMs. But my mind was on the girl I lost back home.

I was looking at Destiny’s Instagram account where she posted a picture hugged up with Johnathon at some local political event. I was sick to my stomach. His corny ass. Smiling and shit with the love of my life.

“Yeah, been going on like six months now,” Ant said, lounging on the couch like it was just another day.

“And you ain’t tell me?” I asked, raising my voice, feeling the anger bubble up inside me.

“Nigga, I ain’t the God damn watch-Destiny police! I ain’t no Harriet the Spy of Juniper and shit,” he dismissed me, getting up to look through the rack of clothes like he was shopping at the damn mall.

“This man thought he was a dog in school. I’m telling you, he used to bark at people,” I said, showing Ant the picture of them. “This is who she wants to be with?”

Ant shrugged. “Maybe she likes DMX type of dudes,” he quipped, before doing a loud imitation of DMX barking on “Get At Me Dog.”

“You think this is a fucking joke?” I grumbled, my anger simmering. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my knuckles turning white. The image of Johnathon with his arm around Destiny burned into my brain, taunting me.

Ant’s smile faded as he looked at me. “Nah, man, I don’t. But you need to calm the fuck down before you do something stupid.”

“This is stupid! This whole thing is stupid!” I shouted, my voice bouncing off the studio walls. My frustration boiled over, and I kicked over a chair, sending it crashing into a nearby table. “She’s supposed to be with me, not this cornball!”

“Man, chill out!”, Ant warned.

But I couldn’t hear him over the rage roaring in my ears. I turned, knocking over the whole rack of clothing, further startling everyone on set. The sound of metal clanging and clothes scattering across the floor snapped everyone to attention.

“The fuck is your problem?” Ant asked, looking at me in shock.

I wasn’t done. I swiped everything off the craft services table, food and drinks flying everywhere.

“Aye!” Ant called as people scrambled around in a panic.

“Fuck!” I screamed, knocking over anything in my path.

“Call security!” someone yelled.

“Don’t do that! I got him!” I heard Ant yell as Marcy tried to approach me.

My vision was red, my heart pounding in my ears. The thought of Destiny with Johnathon, his hands on her, his lips on her, drove me to a level of rage I hadn’t felt in years. I couldn’t control it. I didn’t want to.

“Derek, chill! Look at me, man. Look at me!” Ant’s voice cut through the chaos, a lifeline pulling me back from the edge.

I stopped, breathing heavily, my chest heaving with the effort to calm down. Ant stepped closer, his hand on my shoulder, grounding me.

“You can’t do this, man. Get your shit together!”

I nodded, trying to swallow the anger that threatened to choke me. “My bad—I just…” I looked around the set, everyone staring at me in shock and confusion, a few in disgust. Another rapper with a bad attitude, I’m sure, is what they were thinking. I cleared my throat and addressed everyone in the room, “Sorry, just, um, got some real bad news. I’m sorry. I’ll pay for anything I ruined.”

Marcy looked at me and shook her head before plastering on a smile and turning around to face everyone. “Let’s get back to work, people! Time is money!” she announced, her voice cutting through the tension as she moved around the room.

Ant got close to me, right in my face like only he could.

“Until you learn how to control yourself, you ain’t even ready for her,” he said before walking out of the room, leaving me standing there with my tail between my legs.

I took a deep breath, willing my anger down and telling the tears I wanted to cry to stay where the fuck they were. Because why would he say some shit like that and kick me while I was down?

But Ant was right. Losing my shit wasn’t going to get Destiny back. I needed a plan. I needed to show her I was worth another chance. First step was working on myself.

As I stood there, surrounded by the mess I’d made, I made a silent vow. I was going to be a better man, and when the time was right, when God knew I was ready, He would clear a path for us to get back with one another if that was His will.

It took another two and a half years, but my prayers were finally answered. Johnathon and Destiny were done.

As I laid there holding her now like she might slip away, scared she was a mirage, I wasn’t expecting to have her back in my arms this quickly, but the love between us never faded. There was no way we wouldn’t come back together like magnets, no matter how much time had passed.

I thought back to the days I’d lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling, picturing her with Johnathon, and it tore me apart. My mind would spiral, imagining her laughing at his corny jokes, letting him touch her the way I used to. It made me sick to my stomach, drove me to the edge. But now, with her back in my arms, all that pain was a distant memory, a shadow that couldn’t touch us anymore.

It wasn’t just about the physical connection; it was about finding my home in her again. No matter how far I roamed, how many stages I rocked, or how many cities I conquered, Destiny was always the center of my universe.

My iPhone started to ring, breaking the early morning quiet. I quickly scanned the room, my eyes darting from one spot to another, hoping to find it before it woke Destiny. Finally, I saw it on the nightstand, right next to an open box of Plan B she had ordered and taken. I really wished she hadn’t, and a part of me was secretly hoping it didn’t fucking work. Fuck what I told her about waiting.

I reached for the phone and saw Ant’s name on the screen.

"Yo," I answered as quietly as possible, trying not to disturb Destiny.

"Am I gonna have to put a Missing Persons Report out on your ass?" Ant asked, his voice a mix of concern and sarcasm.

"I’m straight, I’m with Des," I said, my voice and eyes still heavy with sleep as I rubbed them.

"Since I dropped you off at Ruby’s?"

"Yeah, where else am I supposed to be?"

"Shit," he said in surprise. “Was out here thinking you got kidnapped by fans or some shit.”

"In Juniper? Never that," I chuckled softly, trying not to wake Destiny. "Sorry I haven’t checked in, just got caught up."

"So y’all working on things, huh?", he asked after a beat of silence.

I glanced down at Destiny, her peaceful face resting on my chest, and smiled. "Yeah, man. We’re working on things. It’s been a rollercoaster, but we’re getting there."

“Hope you plan on apologizing with more than dick,” Ant shot back, his tone half-joking but with an edge of seriousness. “Bet she’s over there giving you Hell!”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You don’t even know the half,” I replied, thinking about the way Destiny had held my feet to the fire all weekend. It didn’t matter what made me uncomfortable; whatever she wanted to know, I told her. At one point, it felt like she wanted to use me as a punching bag for how I’d made her feel in the past, and I let her. Maybe she gave up the pussy easy, but her heart? That was another story entirely. It was gonna be a long fight, and rightfully so.

Destiny didn’t hold back. She asked the hard questions, the ones that made my chest tight and my gut churn. She didn’t care if it was awkward or painful; she wanted the truth, and I gave it to her. She needed to release years of pent-up anger and hurt, and I took it all, knowing I deserved every bit of it.

She said she forgave me but, her heart was still guarded, a fortress built from years of disappointment and betrayal. I understood that. I had a lot to prove, and no matter how much I wanted to fast-forward to the good parts, I knew this was part of the process. Healing wasn’t linear, and trust wasn’t something you could rebuild overnight. I was going to earn back her trust, one day at a time.

"Sounds like you’re trying not to wake her. I won't keep you," Ant said, his voice softening. "Come by Moms and Pops later though."

"Alright. Later, bro," I replied, keeping my voice low as I ended the call.

I set my phone back on the nightstand and looked down at my girl, still lost in her dreams. I brushed a stray curl from her forehead and kissed her gently, feeling the weight of my love for her settle deep in my chest.

My hands roamed her body, unable to resist jiggling her round naked ass as I watched it in the standing mirror directly in front of the bed. There was a superstition I had about mirrors facing the bed. My Mama used to say something about spirits watching you and able to enter your room like that, the mirrors acting as gateways. But this weekend, if they wanted to be in the room, they was seeing some nasty shit. Those mirrors came in handy when we made love, letting her see everything I was doing to her.

The way her body moved, the way she responded to my touch, it was like watching a private performance, just for us. Each curve, each line of her form reflected back at me, amplifying the intensity of our connection.

I could see her eyes flutter open slightly, catching her own reflection, and a soft, breathless moan escaped her lips as I lightly tapped her behind. The sight of her watching herself, watching us, sent a jolt of electricity through me.

"See that, baby?" I whispered, my voice low and rough. "See how perfect this ass looks in my hands?"

Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and I saw a flicker of vulnerability, and raw desire. Watching the way she was spread out over me, I couldn't resist pulling her up higher on me, and reaching down to slip a finger inside her folds and circling her clit, making her moan in her haze. I loved the way that sounded, and she was getting wetter by the second.

"Derek," she moaned, eyes still closed, head on my chest.

"Morning, Princess," I said low.

"What are you doing to me?" she grumbled, voice tired but filled with need.

"Want me to stop?" I asked with a smirk.

"Please, don't," she said, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

I chuckled. "I'm just taking care of you," I told her, using my free hand to move all the hair out of her face.

"You don't have to make up for five years of celibacy in one weekend," she cracked, eyes still closed and buried in my chest.

"Forget you, I'm making up for eleven years of being away from you," I quipped, a smirk tugging at my lips.

She playfully slapped her hand on my chest.

"You sure you wanna do that?" I asked, challenging her, my eyes glinting with mischief.

"I do what I want," she teased, her voice low and sultry, a daring look in her eyes as she met my gaze.

"I make this body do what I want," I challenged back.

"Derek—"

"Bet I bust these pipes right now," I growled, my voice low and menacing.

"Oh God—" she gasped, her words cut off as I flipped her onto her back with a swift, practiced motion. "Derek, it's too early for this shit, let me wake up properly, damn."

"That's what I'm trying to do," I said, positioning myself next to her, but propped up on one elbow so I could hover over her, a devilish grin spreading across my face. I lightly slapped her mound, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "Wake up, kitty! Daddy wants to play."

I slipped two fingers inside of her, feeling the immediate response of her body, and went to work as I watched her face. Her eyes were still closed, but I could see the pleasure washing over her, her lips parting in a silent moan.

"My—my—" she stammered, trying to find her voice.

"Your what?" I challenged, my fingers deep inside her, never slowing.

"My mattress, you're gonna mess up my mattress," she said desperately, her eyes finally fluttering open, filled with a mix of need and worry.

"Little ass mattress…I'll buy you a new one. Plus, you got mattresses in LA... in New York..." I smiled, the thought of our future together making my chest swell with a fierce protectiveness. My bi-coastal homes were now hers as far as I was concerned, and I couldn’t wait for her to see them.

She gripped the sheets so tight, the sounds coming from her a mixture of a whimper and crying. I was in awe as I looked down at her, the raw pleasure on her face making me feel more powerful than ever.

"You're fighting it, Des. Let that shit go," I encouraged, knowing her body wanted to release but the sensation was different for her. She was scared. Clearly, none of them other dudes she had been with had taken her to these heights, made her squirt, but she was gonna give it to me right now. She was gonna let go for me, just like I hoped we could let go of the past.

"I'm gonna pee on myself!" she screamed in a panic.

I laughed. "Nah, that's me taking you somewhere you never been. Let me take you there. Let go so I can take you there." I begged kissing her neck and shoulder.

Tears streamed down her face as she bawled and shook, finally breaking like a dam and giving me just what I wanted. She screamed so loud that Miss Jenkins' nosy ass would probably call the cops again, thinking Destiny was being murdered. But I was enjoying the water works.

“That’s it, Princess, give it to me,” I coached, my voice low and soothing.

“I hate you,” she cried, laughing a little through her tears, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry for all the times I wasn’t there,” I said sincerely, my voice thick with emotion as my fingers continued to dance. “I won’t ever leave you again, okay?”

“Okay!” she cried, her body continuing to contract and fall apart for me, her eyes locking onto mine, filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry,” I apologized again, holding her gaze until she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore.

She tried to get a hold of herself, but I kept rubbing her, making her squirt some more. Her body responded to my touch like it was tuned to my frequency, hitting all the right notes to bring her higher and higher. She shook and cried out, her legs trembling, as she made a mess all over the sheets.

"I know just what to do with this body, Des," I grinned, watching her struggle to catch her breath, her body trembling. The sight of her, sprawled out, vulnerable and utterly spent, was a vision I'd missed more than I could ever admit. I looked down at the glistening liquid and creamy evidence of her release between her legs, then back into her eyes. "All that for me? God damn. Did you even know you could do that?"

She tried to steady her breathing, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and lingering pleasure. Her lips parted, but no words came out, just a soft, breathless sound that made me want to go again. Her chest heaved, and she shook her head slightly, a dazed look in her eyes.

Her hands came up to grip my arms, her fingers digging into my skin as if she needed to anchor herself to reality. "I never…oh God, Derek," she whispered, her voice shaky, eyes locked onto mine. "Too good..."

She continued to shake and gush as my hand worked its magic, knowing all the right buttons to push. Finally, I slowed down my movements, but suddenly she slapped my hand away, closed her legs with her hands between them, and turned from me, whimpering and groaning.

I leaned in, wrapping my arms around her from behind, my lips brushing against her ear. “I got you, alright? You’re safe with me. Always. I’m never letting you go again.”

She sniffled, her body still trembling. “Why would you make me feel so good? Why would you do that?” she asked deliriously.

“Shhh,” I whispered, chuckling a little bit, kissing her shoulder. “I got you. Let me hold you.”

She nodded, her breathing slowly evening out as I pulled her close, feeling the rhythm of her heart gradually calm. She relaxed into my embrace, her breaths becoming steadier.

"I love you," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but I knew she heard me.

"I love you too," she whispered back, her voice shaky but sincere.

I peppered kisses along the curve of her back, each touch a tender promise. Aftershocks rippled through her, causing her to shiver against me. After causing her so much pain, I took immense pride in knowing I could bring her this much pleasure.

"That's it, baby," I whispered against her skin, my lips brushing her shoulder. Her body still trembled, and I held her tighter, determined to be her anchor, her safe harbor.

I thought about all the ways I could make it up to her, ways far beyond the bedroom. I wasn't just gonna be the man who loved her right in bed; I was gonna be the man who loved her right in every aspect of life. She deserved to be spoiled, to be treated like the queen she was.

"I'm gonna spoil the shit outta you, Des," I murmured, my voice filled with a mix of determination and love. "You deserve everything and more."

She sighed, her body slowly relaxing, the tension easing from her muscles. "I don't need a bunch of stuff, Derek. I just need you."

Her words hit me hard, right in the chest.

"You got me, baby. You got all of me," I promised, my voice thick with emotion. “But that’s the point. I don’t just want you to have what you need; I wanna give you what you want too. And don’t think I don’t see some of them bags you got round here. You don’t treat yourself all the time, but I see you do every so often with bags. Whatever you got your eyes on, saved in your shopping carts, it’s yours.”

I continued to trail kisses down her back, each one a silent vow. I was going to be the man she needed, the man she deserved. No more running, no more excuses. I was all in, ready.

“I wish I didn’t love you as much as I do,” Destiny finally said after a few minutes of us laying in silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her statement shocked me, but I gave her room to explain. This was the time we had been on this weekend, nothing but truth and confessions. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, pressing down on my chest.

“You have so much power over me, and I hate it,” she said, her voice trembling. “I thought I had moved on, thought I was strong enough without you, but here I am, falling all over again. I can’t stop loving you. And it scares me.”

I reached out, taking her hand in mine, my fingers tracing the lines of her palm. “Des, you’ve always had the power. You don’t even realize it. You’ve been in control this whole time,” I said, my voice low and steady, trying to calm the storm inside her. “Even your words have this incredible power. You told me you never wanted to see me again, and this is literally my first time back since then. Every time I perform, I picture you just so I can function. You’re my anchor, my muse. I haven’t been able to keep my hands or my lips off you since we got here—you have power over me, Des. You control me in ways you can't even imagine. My heart beats for you.”

She turned and looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise and something deeper, something that made my heart race. I continued, my fingers tracing soft patterns on her skin, “I can’t front about any of this. I’m excited about you, Des. About us. You own me—heart, mind, body, and soul. And if I could spend every day proving that to you, showing you how deep my love runs, I would. I will. I want to spend my life making you happy, showing you that my love for you is endless, boundless. You are everything to me, and I’ll never stop trying to be everything for you.”

I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. “I know I messed up. I know I made you feel like you were nothing when you’re everything to me. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. You have to believe that. Loving me isn’t a bad thing, Des. It’s the best thing, you’ll see.”

She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek. I leaned in, capturing that tear with my lips before pressing them to hers. Our kiss tasted like all the raw emotions we had unleashed this weekend—desperation, longing, love, and pain—all mingled together. Her tears mixed with our kiss, adding a salty tang to the sweetness of her lips.

I pulled back slightly, our foreheads resting against each other, our breaths mingling in the quiet room. "I’m here, Des. I’m not going anywhere," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

She opened her eyes, the vulnerability in her gaze hitting me like a punch to the gut. "You better mean that, Derek," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't go through losing you again."

I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the remnants of her tears. "I swear, I mean it."

She let out a shaky breath, her fingers clutching at my shirt as if grounding herself. "Okay," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I kissed her again, this time slower, more tender.

“Who have you been with that I might know, so I can stop streaming her music…or watching her shows,” she suddenly asked after she ended our kiss, her voice firm but trembling, as if she had been holding this question back for a long time.

My heart skipped a beat, the weight of her question sinking in. More uncomfortable conversation, ok.

“I haven’t been with anyone who matters, Des,” I said, my voice low and husky, trying to convey the truth of my feelings. “No one compares to you. No one.”

“Names,” she commanded, her voice growing firmer, more insistent, eyes boring into mine.

I searched my memory, a pang of guilt hitting me hard because the truth was, I’d been with a lot of women. Actresses, singers, groupies, regular girls—anyone I could close my eyes and pretend was Destiny, even if just for a moment until the illusion faded and I was left empty again.

“Names, now,” she repeated, her eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten.

I took a deep breath, my mind scrambling to recall the names. “E’Lana…uuhhh,” I stammered, feeling the guilt claw at me. “Ashley Hamilton, GG Javes… Penelope Christopher.”

“That’s it?” she asked, her voice icy, cutting through me.

“Famous girls you might know of, yeah,” I replied, feeling the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. The silence that followed was suffocating, her eyes never leaving mine.

Destiny’s gaze softened just a fraction, but the hurt was still there, simmering beneath the surface. “You were with them, but you were thinking about me?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

“Every single time,” I admitted, my voice raw with honesty. “I tried to forget you, tried to move on, but I couldn’t. No matter who I was with, it was always you in my head, in my heart.”

She looked away, tears brimming in her eyes. “I hated you so much for leaving,” she whispered. “I hated you for making me feel like I wasn’t enough.”

I reached out, gently turning her face back to me. “You were always enough, Des. More than enough. I was the one who wasn’t enough. I was scared and stupid.”

She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving mine. “Did you love any of them?”

“No, Des. Never. It was just…it was just trying to fill a void that only you could fill,” I admitted, my voice breaking with the weight of my confession.

She nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. “I needed to hear that, Derek. I needed to know.”

“I understand. I’m sorry, Des. For everything,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine for any hint of deception.

She leaned into me, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. The past was still a shadow between us, but we were stepping into the light, one day at a time. And I was determined to prove to her that I was worth the second chance she was giving me.

“Anybody I need to know about round here besides Johnathon?” I asked her, trying to keep my tone light.

“No…just the guys at school way back. Nobody around here,” she confessed, her voice steady.

I nodded silently, processing her words. Truth was, I didn’t give a fuck who Destiny was with as long as she was with me now, though she wouldn’t put a title on what we had yet. But I was curious, and since she asked me, I asked too. Fair was fair.

“Alright,” I said softly. “Anything else you wanna ask me?”

“Yeah…why would you fuck E’Lana? She is one of my favorite singers and now you’ve ruined her music for me,” she chuckled, a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity in her eyes.

“My bad,” I replied, feeling a bit sheepish.

“Bet some of her songs are about you,” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Me and E’Lana? That was a setup by our publicists—power couple shit. From the jump, it was a business transaction. Award shows, paparazzi shots of us "casually" out and about, all staged by our teams. But then she started to fall for real, and I wanted to fuck, bad. Next thing I knew, I was in a highly publicized relationship that was barely real.

When her team pitched the idea of a joint tour, it made me cringe. Spending that much time with her? Nah, she was the girl everyone wanted, but she wasn’t Destiny. We eventually faded out, though she’d still hit me up for a late-night dick if we were in the same city. But it was always empty, always felt like a hollow imitation of what I really wanted.

E’Lana might have been the world’s fantasy, but Destiny was my reality, the one I couldn’t shake, the one I needed.

“I actually wrote a couple of ’em for her,” I admitted.

“No way, which ones?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

I took a deep breath, recalling the late nights in the studio, trying to pour my feelings into lyrics that didn’t quite capture the depth of what I felt for Destiny as E’Lana assumed they were about her. “’Lover’s Lament’ and ‘Echoes of You’.”

Destiny’s eyes widened in surprise. “You wrote ‘Lover’s Lament’? That’s one of my favorite songs. I never knew…”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice tinged with regret. “I was trying to channel everything I felt, everything I couldn’t say to you at the time. I wrote a lot of songs, hoping you would feel me and know I was reaching out.”

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “Really?”

“Yeah…some of my joints too…dropped some Easter eggs that only you would know, but I’m sure you avoided my songs.”

“I have, as much as possible but you’re so damn famous, it was hard,” she admitted. “But maybe now I can do it. See what you’ve been saying to me.”

“Been trying to communicate the only way I knew how,” I said, my voice softening as I looked into her eyes.

Her fingers brushed against mine, a gentle touch that sent a shiver down my spine. “I think I’m ready to listen now,” she whispered, her eyes shimmering with something hopeful.

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I’ve been waiting for this, Des. For you to really hear me.”

She smiled, a warmth spreading across her face. “Well, I’m here now. Ready to decode all your secret messages.”

I chuckled, feeling a rare lightness in my chest. “And I’m ready to explain every single one of them.” I shrugged, feeling the weight of the past lift a little. “Just wanted to make something good out of the mess I made.”

Destiny looked at me, her eyes softening. “You did. Look how successful you turned out. And now, we get to make something good together.”

I smiled, pulling her closer. “Yeah, we do. And I promise, no more ruining your favorite artists.”

She laughed, the sound light and freeing. “Better not. ‘Cause I don’t think I can take another one.”

“Noted,” I said, kissing her forehead. “From now on, it’s just us making our own music, our own memories.”

She nodded, resting her head on my shoulder. “Sounds perfect.”

As we lay tangled in each other’s arms, the room filled with the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the window, I took her hand in mine, my lips brushing gently over her fingers. Destiny's eyes met mine, and sparked a memory.

“Speaking of memories…Des, do you remember the first rap I you wrote in ninth grade?” I asked, my voice filled with nostalgia.

She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and amusement. “Of course, I remember. You rapped it to me in the hallway, trying to impress me.”

I chuckled, kissing her hand again. “Yeah, and you laughed at me.”

“I didn’t laugh at you, I laughed because it was cute,” she corrected, a grin spreading across her face. “You were so nervous.”

“Okay, you remember it?” I asked, my eyes locking onto hers, a spark of hope in my chest.

She nodded, her smile widening. “How could I forget? You put it on a CD for me in 10th grade, for our anniversary.”

“Still got it?” I asked, my voice tinged with hope, needing to know she hadn’t truly let me go.

“Of course I do,” she replied, her voice soft but steady.

I tried not to show how much her words affected me, but the weight of them hit me hard. That CD was more than just a gift; it was a piece of my heart, and knowing she kept it all these years meant everything.

I started, my voice filled with the rhythm of our youth. “Yo, yo, Destiny, girl, you’re my shining star,
I’ll take you out someday, in my mama’s car.”

She laughed, the sound filling the room. Then she took over, her voice soft and playful. “Your smile’s like the sun, brightening my day,
I’m dreaming of the moment you’ll come my way.”

I kissed her hand again, continuing with a grin. “We’ll walk by the river, hand in hand,
Write our names in the sand, together we’ll stand.”

She sighed, her eyes reflecting the fond memories. “You always knew how to make me smile,
I knew right then, you were worth the while.”

I chuckled, the lines bringing back the innocence of our teenage years. “I’ll be your king, you’ll be my queen,
Together we’ll conquer, it’s the ultimate dream.”

She leaned closer, her laughter mingling with mine. “My rhymes might be cheesy, but they got heart,
But one thing I know, we’ll never be apart.”

I kissed her hand once more, our eyes locking. “Even though I’m young, I know you are the one,
My love for you, girl, had only just begun.”

We both laughed, the shared memory wrapping around us like a warm blanket.

“You still remember it all,” she said, her voice filled with wonder.

“Of course I do, Princess,” I replied, pulling her closer. “Those words were the start of everything.”

She snuggled into my chest, her eyes closing as a contented sigh escaped her lips. “We’ve come a long way. I love you, Derek,” she whispered.

“I love you too, Des,” I said, kissing her forehead. “Always have, always will.”

I pulled up to my parents' house in Destiny’s car and made my way inside, shocked to see my parents and Ant all at the dinner table, their eyes following me as I headed towards my old bedroom.

“What y’all doing?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice gave away my surprise.

“We live here, fool. What you doing here? We ain’t seen you since Friday,” my father said, giving me a pointed look.

Ant laughed and took a swig of his beer, clearly enjoying the situation.

“I been taking care of some business,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

“You’ve been taking care of Destiny from what I heard,” my mom added with a smirk, practically force-feeding my father a salad like he was a child.

“God damn, Ant!” I spat at my brother, feeling betrayed.

“I didn’t say shit,” Ant said, putting his hands in the air defensively.

My mom slapped him on the back of his head. “Don’t say shit in this house.”

“We ain’t stupid, boy. You came back to Juniper to see about Destiny, acting like you care about your parents,” my dad quipped with a chuckle, shaking his head.

“I did come to see y’all old behinds,” I countered, trying to maintain my composure.

“Mm-hmm,” my mom said, raising an eyebrow.

“Man, have you even washed your ass since Friday?” Ant asked, turning his nose up in exaggerated disgust.

“Just over there hunching, ain’t it?” my mom added, her tone teasing as she kept forcing salad on my dad.

“I took a couple of showers, thank you very much,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “And she has a washer and dryer. She washed my clothes and gave me a toothbrush.”

Ant snorted. “Yeah, sure she did.”

I sat my ass down and leaned back in the last empty chair, letting out a deep breath. The weight of their eyes bore into me, judgmental and curious. I couldn’t dodge the truth any longer, so I faced it head-on.

“Me and Des gon' figure this out. It's me and her till the end. I’mma marry her, have some kids. We talking and working it out,” I said, feeling defensive under their scrutiny.

My father leaned forward, his eyes piercing through me. “Boy, talk is cheap. You’ve been back in town for 2 minutes and talking about marriage and kids, crazy ass. How you gon' prove to that girl that you worth her time and tears?”

Ant nodded, leaning back with a smirk. “Yeah, D. Words ain’t enough. You gotta show her.”

“I know that,” I snapped, my voice rough with frustration. “I’m not just talking. I’m here, ain’t I? I put work on hold to be here, to make things right with her. Ya’ll know I never take this much time off.”

Everyone looked at me in agreement. I was a workaholic. Mainly because it kept my mind off the hole in my heart, God willing that wouldn’t be the case going forward.

“Talking, huh?” my dad said with a smirk. “That what they call it now?”

I shook my head, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “Y’all annoying as hell.”

“All jokes aside, what’s going on between you and Miss Destiny? She’s such a wonderful girl; it’s a shame how you did her,” my father said, shaking his head.

My mom joined in, looking at me with disappointment. “My God, we didn’t raise you like that. You really fucked things up.”

“Ma, you can’t use the f-word,” Ant interjected.

“I say what I want,” she snapped with a shoulder shrug. “I’m the queen of this castle. Anyway, you hurt her bad, Derek. It’s gon' take more than a few days and some sweet words to fix that. You gotta be patient, gotta be consistent.”

“I know, Ma. Trust me, you don’t know how much I’ve been apologizing. She’s yelled at me, made me feel like shit, but I’m manning up and taking it. The last couple days been a lot, but she loves me, and I love her more than anything. We’re gonna work this out and be together,” I said, my voice filled with determination.

My mom shook her head, her eyes softening. “Love ain’t enough on its own, Derek. You gotta put in the work every day.”

“I know that,” I replied, my voice steady but intense. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”

“Words, Derek,” my father said, his voice like gravel. “Actions, son. Actions.”

“I hear you, Pop,” I said, leaning forward, my eyes burning with sincerity. “I’m here for the long haul. I’m gonna show her every day that I’m the man she deserves.”

Ant, leaning back in his chair, nodded slowly. “You better be. ‘Cause if you hurt her again, you’re gonna have to answer to us.”

“Ant, I get it. I won’t let her down,” I said, feeling the weight of their expectations settle on my shoulders.

My mom sighed, reaching across the table to touch my hand. “Just remember, Derek. Love her right, and don’t give her a reason to doubt you.”

“I won’t, Ma. I swear,” I said, squeezing her hand gently.

“Son, if you mess this up again and Destiny decides to kill you, I will help her bury your body,” my father added, his tone dead serious.

“Swear y’all always liked her more than me,” I complained.

“We do!” all three of them said in unison.

I couldn’t help but laugh, despite the serious undertone of the conversation. “Alright, alright. I get it. I’ll do right by her. I promise.”

“Good,” my mom said, softening a bit. “We just want you to be happy, and we know you won’t be unless you fix things with her. And we love her, I’ve always wanted her to be my daughter in law.”

“I will,” I said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “I’m gonna fix this.”

“Then go on,” my dad said, gesturing toward the door. “Don’t just stand here talking about it. Be about it.”

“I am. Matter of fact, I’mma pack an overnight bag and head back over there,” I said, standing up.

“Good!” my dad said, surprising me. “I didn’t want you all in the house cramping me and your mom’s style anyway. Messing up our talking time.”

“What?” Ant and I said in unison, our faces reflecting the same shock.

“Y’all heard me. Shit,” Dad said, shrugging nonchalantly.

“That’s nasty,” Ant said, grimacing like he just swallowed something foul.

“No, that’s love. Y’all don’t know nothing about that,” Dad retorted, his voice laced with a challenge.

“I’m tryna see ‘bout it,” I smiled, thinking of Destiny and the life I wanted with her.

“Well, hurry up and pack your shit and go then,” Dad said, waving me off like he was shooing a stray cat.

“Damn, so you don’t wanna spend no time with me? I see how it is,” I teased, feigning hurt.

“You can come by whenever since you’re here for damn near a month. We’ll see you plenty,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin.

Mom laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“You gon’ let your husband talk to me like that?” I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “We’re happy you’re home, son, but we know the real reason why you’re here and we’re not gonna get in the way of that. The door is always open.”

“No, it ain’t. Stay with Destiny. And call before you come over here unless you wanna hear some talking,” Dad said with a dismissive wave.

“Nasty as hell, man…traumatizing me and my brother growing up, making all them sounds at night when we needed to get some sleep for school,” I said, pushing the chair back with a smirk.

“So what? All you did at school was fight anyway, ain’t learned a damn thing,” my father quipped, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

“If you and Destiny have kids, I hope they not as bad as you was,” Ant added, shaking his head like he was reliving the nightmare of my younger days.

“I wasn’t that bad,” I defended myself, though even I knew it was a weak argument.

They all looked at each other, sharing a knowing look before busting out laughing, the sound filling the room with a warmth I hadn’t felt in years.

“Hate y’all, swear,” I said, shaking my head as I walked over to the fridge to see what they had to drink in this motherfucker.

As I rummaged through the fridge, grabbing a cold bottle of water, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I had my family, I had Destiny, and I was ready to fight for the life I wanted as I ushered in my 30s.

As good as it looked on the outside, the fame, the money and lots of opportunity, something was missing, and I was finding it here in my little hometown.

I cracked open the bottle and took a long drink, the cool water soothing my parched throat. “Y’all barely got anything in this fridge anyway. It’s stocked at my girl’s house,” I said, heading towards my old room to pack my things.

“Ain’t no big-ass knuckleheads here no more eating up all the damn food. What I need a stocked refrigerator for?” my father shot back, his voice gruff but tinged with amusement.

“When you gonna bring her over, Derek?” Ma asked, her eyes softening. “I run into her all the time at the supermarket and stuff, but it’s been awkward. I’d love to talk to her, tell her how proud I am of her. And she’s doing so good with the Jubilee.”

“I’ll bring her by as soon as she’s comfortable. I probably gotta let her throw some more punches at me first,” I joked, trying to keep the mood light.

“I hope she beats yo ass for real,” my dad muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

I laughed, but there was a part of me that knew he wasn’t entirely joking. I reached my old room, the door creaking as I pushed it open. It was like stepping back in time—posters of hip-hop legends on the walls, my old rap notebooks collecting dust on the shelves. The memories flooded back, but I wasn’t that kid anymore. I was a man on a mission, determined to rebuild what I’d broken.

I grabbed my Louis Vuitton duffel bag from the closet and started throwing clothes into it, my mind racing with thoughts of Destiny. The way she looked at me, the way her touch sent electricity through my veins, the way her words cut deep but also healed old wounds. I was in this for the long haul, no matter how many times she made me bleed.

I slung the bag over my shoulder and headed back to the kitchen. “Alright, I’m out. I’ll catch y’all later,” I said, my voice steady with resolve.

“Good luck, son. Make us proud,” my dad called after me, his tone softening just a bit.

“I will,” I said, determination etched in my voice. “I’ll show her, and I’ll show y’all too.”

Ant raised his beer in a mock toast. “Here’s to you not fucking it up this time.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said, rolling my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

Destiny and I had a long road ahead, filled with more fights, more tears, and hopefully, more love than either of us could imagine. But I was ready. Ready to fight, ready to heal, ready to be the man she needed me to be.

When I got back to her place, the house was quiet. She was in bed, light snores escaping her lips. The scent of her soap lingered in the air, a reminder of the shower she must’ve taken while I was gone. Her hair was damp, and she wore a big t-shirt. My baby was tired—not just physically from all the hard work planning the Jubilee and the nights filled with passion, but emotionally too. As happy as I was, this making up shit was draining. But if I had to push through the discomfort to get to the life I knew we could have, so be it.

I put my duffel in her closet and stripped back down to my boxers before crawling into bed with her. I positioned her on top of me, her head resting on my chest. The weight of her, the warmth, it was everything I needed.

“It’s just me, baby,” I whispered as she started to stir, soothing her back to sleep with gentle shushing. She snuggled into me, finding her comfort in my arms. “Get your rest,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head.

She was knocked out again in no time, her breathing steady and calm. The moment was perfect. I grabbed my phone, snapping a picture of us. One day, I’d show this to our future kids and say, “This is when Mommy and Daddy found their way back to each other.”

As I lay there, the future felt bright and hopeful. We had a long way to go, but we were on the right path. With Destiny in my arms, I knew we could face anything together. This was just the beginning of our second chance, and I was determined to make it count. The love we had was worth every fight, every tear, every sleepless night. It was worth everything.