That Exclusive Honey

V.

For five months they managed to keep their relationship a secret, but it was difficult because it cut into how much time and how much they could see each other. It caused her to make career changes as well. Instead of the numerous releases, she do two albums this year and one tour at the top of next year. Though she was a perfectionist, her indecisiveness, sometimes came and bit her in the butt, but this time it worked out. They both were making changes to spend more time together, but in order for Leati to do the same, they had to tell their friends.

"You're worrying too much,' Leati whispered.

He came up beside Nashae as she was fixing the plate settings on the long gold table. She rented out an Atlanta restaurant and turned it into a intimate dinner where the two of them would come clean to their closest friends. Family could wait as Nashae wasn't ready to divulge her relationship to them just yet, though she had plans to go home with Leati for a family cook-out in two weeks.

"I don't want them to be upset with us for not telling them. It's been five months."

Dressed in black, Leati leaned forward and kissed her temple. "We both have been hinting that we were seeing someone. If they haven't figured it out I don't think they will be too surprised its the two of us. I know for a fact they love you too much to be upset, plus, they understand what that privacy means to you."

"It so selfish of me,' she replied. "I want to be so normal that I have my friends hiding things for me. Or I have to be involved in their planning if I want to attend. It's not fair."

"That's why we are coming out remember?"

He saw the way her brows were furrowing and how she was beginning to get tense. Leati sighed heavily and pulled Nashae in for a kiss. She had told him not to because he was messing up her lipstick, however, she relaxed in his arms.

"I know. I don't want them to be mad."

"I don't care if they are. I'm not dating them. As long as you are happy that's all that matters to me. I'm not doing anything different because of their opinion. I love them, but it means shit to me in the long run if it makes you upset."

"Don't say that,' she mumbled against his lips.

His hands smoothed up her exposed back to cup the back of her head.

"I mean it."

"I know."

"Nashae, the past five months have been some of the best times I've had and that is because of you. I'm not losing that because of what someone else thinks."

She knew that without a doubt he meant it. That's what she liked about him. His was absolute in his decisions with no wavering. Once his mind was made up there was little room to argue about it.

♪♫♪♫♪♫♬

Nashae and Leati had stolen glances across the table from the moment they all sat down. There were multiple conversations going, drinks were being ordered, and food covered the table between them. It had only been twenty minutes, but Nashae wanted everyone to have at least one drink in them before she told them.

Leati suddenly cleared his throat and stood up. She knew what he was about to do and told him to do the honors because she might change her mind and the fleeting thought of running away had taken over. All eyes turned to him, including hers, and the table grew quiet.

Nashae clutched the fork in her hand as he began speaking about how much their friend group meant to him.

"I know Nashae had told some of y'all that there was something she needed to tell everyone." He paused and looked to his girlfriend. "Well, it's more so what I have to tell everyone."