Page 76 of Lyric Squared

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The door of the plane closed and those steps that I’d been watching had finally disappeared. With both of her hands clenching the seat, Lyric prepared for takeoff. As the crew began speaking over the intercom, all around me faded into black. Allthat was left was Lyric’s face. Her gorgeous face with brown eyes and lips that I loved to kiss. And then there was me. Just her and I.

Remembering her childhood anxiety of flights although she loved hopping from one to another, I extended my hand for her to grab. Once she looped hers into mine, I pulled her in my direction and onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her, assuring her that she had nothing to worry about. Once we were finally in the air – cruising, that’s when I felt the wetness from her eyes against the cloth of my shirt.

“Crybaby,” I joked, pulling her deeper into my chest and kissing her forehead.

“I love you, Keanu,” she cried harder.

“‘Til death,” I responded, finally able to close my eyes and relax.

A state of tranquility consumed me because she was now in my arms. It wasn’t long before her light snoring induced a peaceful slumber of my own. Neither of us opened our eyes again until the plane’s wheels were back on the ground.

Everything was private.The villa. The pool. The jacuzzi. The showers that were just outside of our dwelling. The view of the water. The deck. Everything. It was as if we’d stepped off the plane and onto our own island where I could love Lyric out loud and without restrictions. That’s exactly what I planned to do.

The rest we’d gotten on the plane, hours and hours’ worth was enough to have us both energized long after the tour of the villa we’d call home for the next two days. So when wewere alone again, we both decided that showering and finding somewhere to have drinks and fill our bellies was the best course of action.

So that I wasn’t tempted, I stayed far away from the window and glass door that led to the shower as Lyric handled her business. I was determined to keep my dick in my pants the duration of the trip. My only goal was strengthening our mental and emotional connection so that we’d both have something concrete to present to her people when the time came.

A month. That’s all I was giving her. That’s all the time she had to gather herself and share her secret with her brothers. Otherwise, we’d have to say goodbye to one another. I wasn’t prepared to live my life in secrecy, and I wouldn’t allow her to do it, either.

“She got nine or ten niggas. I might rob ehh one,” I rapped along with Gotti as he spit over the beat.

“Matching APs rocking Prada.”

Unpacking both our overnight bags, I bobbed my head to the beat. I’d advised Lyric not to bring too much because I had every intention of hitting all the shops she loved and emptying my pockets for her. She could have whatever the fuck my money could buy.

“Ninety-nine opps but where yo shooters at. What y’all shooting at? I got ninety-nine soldiers and I can feed ehh one. All the guys that got a bond, I done freed every one.”

When the music stopped and the beat was no longer thudding on the Bluetooth speaker, I looked over at my phone. Nanny’s name lit the screen. Without hesitation, I picked it up and slid the little bar over to answer.

“Old lady.”

“Whatever. Will you be spending that trip alone or did she come?”

“Come on, Nanny. Stop playing with me. You know she came.”

“Hmmm. I was kind of hoping she didn’t,” she admitted.

“Are you serious right now?”

“Dead serious. I hope she gives you a run for your money.”

“Why would you say something like that? I thought you loved me?”

“I do, but your head too damn big sometimes. Somebody needs to humble your ass for once.”

“She ‘bout it,” I confessed.

“I know she gone be the one to do it. I know she is. And I’m going to be watching from the sidelines every time.”

“I’m about to hang up on you, old woman.”

“Hang up on me and that’ll be the last time you see your fingers.”

“You’re threatening me and you’re all the way in Dooley, Nanny. And you wonder where I get this tough shit from.”

“Oh, hush. I got to get off this phone. I’ve got shit to do.”