Page 80 of Juliet's Echo

How could he ambush me like that and say something so stomach-turning? Did he really see a woman's accomplishments as the result of generational favor?

As much as I wanted to answer his calls, respond to his texts, or acknowledge the noticeable way Echo kept randomly asking how he was doing, I held my ground.

For the last few days, everybody had been working overtime on Psalm's behalf.

Like he promised, he came over for dinner sometime that week after speaking with Echo at the studio earlier that morning. My father grilled him the way most fathers grill young men interested in their daughters. My mother was delighted because she knew Mrs. Mitchel and insisted Psalm came from a good home. And Echo...

Well, Echo was Echo.

That alone made me wonder if there was anything I should know about that went down during Psalm's meeting with him.

Then again, Uncle Optimus bragged about Psalm frequently, and for Echo to casually bring him up in conversation just totemperature-check my feelings meant the man had obviously grown on him.

A little.

Maybe.

Enough not to bury him in the backyard.

I flopped into my gaming chair and stared through the sheer white tulle curtains hanging from the window overlooking the front of the house. It had become my favorite pastime these last few days.

I barely spoke to Yahya or Mega either. Both of them wanted me to cave and make up with Psalm.

Traitors.

The lights in my room flashed, someone was ringing the doorbell.

Ignoring it, I shifted in my chair. Echo was outside deciding between two motorcycles a dealership had sent over for him to test out. He could have answered the door.

Five minutes passed before the lights flashed again.

And again.

At this point, it had to be Yahya and one of her many surprise visits. Echo was probably being petty and making her ring the bell instead of letting her in.

Peering through the curtains, I expected to see him outside.

Instead, Echo was pulling away from the house on one of the new bikes.

Nice choice, Choo-Choo.

The matte hunter green paint alone was enough to make me jealous.

Sucking my teeth, I stood and headed downstairs to let my crazy but much-needed best friend inside.

My father had drilled one rule into all of us growing up: always check the security monitor before opening the door, even if you think you know who's outside.

So that's exactly what I did.

The second the camera feed appeared, my stomach dropped.

Psalm.

Standing at the front door.

Holding the largest bouquet of roses I had ever seen.

He had to have gotten them from Rue down at Rose & Rue Florals. Only she could make flowers look that luxurious.