Page 6 of Lyric Squared

But, just like Laike, sometimes I put my real estate license to use when my clients were searching for homes. Selling homes weren’t my passion but the career allowed me to store extra cash in the bank to cover the expenses of my lifestyle. The bill was hefty but selling two to three multi-million dollar homes a year covered it for the most part. My brothers covered the rest.

With the fob strapped to my visor, I lifted the garage and backed out slowly. Once my front end was in the clear, I lowered it. Remembering both Laike and Luca’s warnings, I stayed put until it touched the pavement. Coming home to an unwanted guest inside of my home was their worst nightmare and when my garage was installed, the chances increased substantially.

With it came a gate that Luca had installed along with a new security system. When it came to my safety they spared no expense or detail. I was thankful for it, too. Between the two of them, my dad could hardly do his fatherly duty. They were too busy thinking that I was solely their responsibility.

On my way.I texted my best friend and brother’s wife, Ever.

See you in a few.She responded, immediately.

It would, indeed, only be a few minutes. She and Luca lived only ten minutes away, higher in The Hills. Their home was a dream. Laike had designed it beautifully, but the final product was more than either of us had imagined.

I exited our thread after seeing her response and slid my finger down my screen. Teyana Taylor’sLet’s Buildwas next on my playlist. Without a second thought, I pressed play. Then, after taking a quick glance at my surroundings, I began to reverse out of my driveway.

The gate opened as I pressed the button to separate it into two parts. When I was out of it completely, I pressed another button to seal it, again. With Teyana’s voice booming through my speakers, I watched until it the metal met at the center.

The route to Luca’s place was as scenic as they came. Everything along it was beautiful. The same could be said for my home but the higher in The Hills, the more dreamy the entire environment became.

The narrow roads led to astonishing views and breathtaking homes that were owned by people whose skin resembled mineand those with a bit more melanin infused. It was always a joy seeing Black faces watering grass, taking walks, and washing their cars in the driveway. Channing was the epitome of Black culture, every inch of the city. And, we loved it for that.

It wasn’t long before I was pulling up to Luca’s gate. I pressed the numbers required for entry, and the gate opened for me without hesitation. The long, spiraling driveway was one of my favorite features. It was much like mine but on a larger scale. During our monthly Sunday dinners, it was iconic to walk outside and find our fleet of vehicles lining it.

I pulled to the very beginning of the gate without an issue. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I’d be the last to leave. I helped Ever put my babies to bed after each of our Sunday dinners to take a bit of the stress off her and Luca’s hands. Though they worked well as a team, it felt so good helping out. I preferred the task alone, but she couldn’t help herself. She never could when it came to her girls.

The little one that she was carrying would be making his debut soon, and I could only hope that she’d release the shackles she had clutching her ankles when it came to parenting. It was her life. She had all the help in the world, but she still managed to care for the girls on her own. With Luca’s help, of course, the tasks mostly stayed between the two of them.

There wasn’t a need to sound the bell when I stepped onto the porch. Luca knew that I had arrived. His state-of-the-art security system and his insanely accurate intuition kept him on his toes. When the door of his home swung open and he stood on the other side of it with Elle in his arms, I wasn’t surprised.

“Just weird.” I scoffed, shaking my head.

“Just ready,” he returned, pulling me inside and into his chest. “Hello to you as well.”

“Hello, Luca,” I responded, inhaling his familiar scent.

He was home for me. Laike was home for me. But, Luca, he and I had a connection that was so much deeper. He’d rescued me. As I was dragged across the parking lot of my apartments, my skin getting second and third-degree burns from contact with the concrete, and my eyes swollen shut he pulled into my complex. At the sight of me being beat to a near pulp, he lost all control, firing a single shot into my ex’s head and killing him. Kill shot. His had landed him in jail for eight years, and for the entire eight years, my heart broke a little more each day.

I didn’t think I could ever repay. But then he met Ever, and somehow I felt like she was my consolation prize. Not that she was an item or could replace the years of his life that he’d lost but her being in his world made it so much better and helped me sleep a little better at night knowing that I was the one who connected them.

Together, they’d built the cutest family that didn’t seem to stop growing. I could only hope that Ever wasn’t tired of giving Luca the children he desperately desired by the time I finally found someone to call my own and give him babies, too.

He’d saved my life. I’d sent him a love that he could grow old with. Our connection was just different. Besides, he was the oldest and he treated me as such. Without verbally doing so, he reminded me of it every day of his existence. Even his tall, thick frame brushing against my shorter, thinner one revealed our dynamic.Big me, little you, it read and not in a negative light either.Big brother, little sisterwas more accurate.

“TT Lyric!” Emorey’s little voice burst through the air.

I lowered my gaze in search of the body that matched but didn’t see her. It wasn’t until I witnessed Luca’s legs part that she appeared. She had him wrapped around her pinky finger, and he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. Ever giving him so many girls was right up his alley although he played like he was desperate for a son. He’d told me time and time again how muchthe girls reminded him of me and how much more he loved them just for the simple fact.

Luca was only four when I was born, but there was no way you couldn’t tell him that he wasn’t my father from the moment he laid eyes on me. He was my protector. He was my peace. He was my heart. So, seeing him with girls of his own was always tear-jerking.

“Where’s Emorey?” I pretended not to see her, turning in every direction but the one she was in.

“I’m here, silly, between Daddy’s legs.”

“Oh, there she is.” I gasped, laying eyes on her again but acting as if it was my very first time.

“Yes. Here I am. You want to go to my room with me, TT?”

“Of course, Em. I came early to spend a little time with you girls. Where’s Essence?”

“She’s in our room.”