Page 150 of The Ninth

Devyn: I love you too! Tell K3 we said thanks for paying for....everything.

I cackled.

Me: I’ma thank him good enough.

Devyn: Ew. Bye!

I placed a delivery order for things to make catfish and spaghetti for Kenzo. He knows I would rather go home, change, and go to dinner...But I know what he wants and that’s my priority right now. K3 already made sure I felt like the only girl in the world from behind bars. Just being with him all day, holding hands and rubbing on each other...plus the salon?! I needed to show my love to him in any way I could.

Today has gone so good...I couldn’t help but think he was going to propose to me soon.

****

As soon as Kenzo and I got home, I washed my hands and started cooking. The entire time he was worried about K4 and how he felt after the shots. I told him this is exactly why our kids were going to be fucking spoiled now. I couldn’t help but laugh when he asked what I think I am.

I made the best fucking fried fish you could scrape your fork across. Seasoned, big, and flakey on the inside. Perfect. The spaghetti definitely was hitting too. I wanted a salad so I made one to replace my spaghetti. Doggy Treat ate all three.

“Crybaby, I don’t know if you’re trying to help yo nigga stay fit or get him fat! Thank you, my wife!”

“Of course,” I giggled.

After eating, I rubbed his stomach while speaking to him about the salon. How grateful I am for it and just how much I miss him in general. I expressed how I never wanted to be separate from him again to which he promised I wouldn’t be.

We took a shower together while our cookies were in the oven. I put a facemask on him as he sat in between my legs, smoking a blunt and watching a scary movie I always told him about.

I was sitting on the couch above him, retwisting his locs. He let out a deep chuckle,

“What?”

“One, you watching this scary shit knowing damn well your knees is going to be shaking when I leave. So I guess I’m not leaving. And two, you forced Kelisha to teach you to do retwists seven years ago so I would never sit between a hoe’s legs.”

“AND WHAT ABOUT IT?! BITCHES BE BOGUS AS HELL! YOU DOWN THERE BETWEEN A HOE LEGS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL EAT IT!”

“Oh yeah?!”

“SHUT UP!”

He laughed as I twisted the last loc extra tight. Fuck is he playing with. Tying down a durag, I ran the blow dryer over them, making sure they were laid. We shared our cookies and almond milk while watching the rest of the movie once finished. As soon as it was over, we took the facemasks off, brushed our teeth, and crawled into the bed.

K4 laid on the bench, snoring softly as the fan blew just as low. I left the blinds open, allowing the moon to shine into the room and illuminate Kenzo's face. He was only in boxers while I wore a slip dress. It was another piece I was saving just for him. For the past twenty minutes, he’s just been staring into my eyes, stroking my cheek, kissing my face.

“I’m so in love with you, Kenzo...” I whispered. The emotion was heavy in my voice. “Every time I remember just how much I love you, it leaves me breathless. I can’t believe you’re home with me. Somebody pinch me...”

“For the last time, I’m sorry I put myself in the position to be taken away from you. I let my emotions get to my head. Cassandra, thinking about you crying in that street when they took me eats me away every single day. I love you with everything in me. Never once have I considered loving someone else. You’re my entire heart, G. I promise to love you, always. Cassandra...”

He sat up on one arm, holding my head in his hands. His eyes were rimmed with tears, but he didn’t let any of them fall. This is it. He’s going to ask me to marry him. But I love him too much. I can’t do this.

Tears started flowing down my own face as he leaned down, kissing them away.

“Will y—”

“Kenzo, I can’t do this. I can’t do this to you...”

My silent tears turned into sobs as he held me. His face was soft, understanding how emotional the moment was. But the harder I cried, the more his face dropped. The deep frown let me know he knew exactly why I was crying.

“I’ve never loved someone like this. I never will. I’ve never put someone before you or cared for them as I care for you. You’re the only man I’ve given myself to completely. Kenzo, I want to marry you, you know that. But it just hurts. It hurts because I love you. And because I love you, I can’t lie to you or hide it anymore. He—”

“Stop,” his deep voice cut me off. I watched his eyes close. He let out a deep sigh, shaking his head softly. “I’d rather you lied and married me than ruin a day so beautiful. Why the fuck you choosing to break my heart after a day like this?”