Journey of the heart(3)

Chapter 43: Building Dreams Together

The next morning, Mya woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains. She stretched, feeling the familiar warmth of Jaylen beside her. The peaceful quiet of the apartment was something she cherished—those rare moments before the hustle of the day began.

Turning over, she saw Zaria still asleep in her crib by the bed, her tiny chest rising and falling steadily. Mya couldn't help but smile. She had a big day ahead, but this was what grounded her—the calm before the storm, her little family.

Slipping out of bed, Mya made her way to the kitchen to start her day. Just as she began to pour herself some coffee, Jaylen appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"Morning," he said, his voice still husky with sleep as he walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You sleep okay?"

Mya leaned back against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "Yeah, I did. I'm just thinking about everything. I'm waiting to hear back from the investors. The anticipation is killing me."

Jaylen kissed her neck softly. "You ain't got nothin' to worry about. You and Melody killed it yesterday, and you know it. They're probably just taking their time to work out the details."

Mya nodded, grateful for his confidence. She wasn't usually the type to second-guess herself, but this opportunity meant so much. The café was more than just a business—it was a dream, something she and Melody had poured their hearts into for years. If the investors came through, it would be a game-changer.

"I know," she said, turning in his arms to face him. "I just want everything to go right."

Jaylen looked down at her, his expression soft. "It will. And even if it takes a minute, I'm here for you. We in this together, no matter what."

Mya smiled, feeling the tension in her chest ease. Jaylen always had a way of making her feel like everything was going to be okay, no matter how uncertain things seemed.

Later that afternoon, as Mya was getting ready to head out for a quick meeting with Melody, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the name of the lead investor flash across the screen.

"Jaylen!" she called, her voice trembling with excitement.

Jaylen appeared from the bedroom, holding Zaria on his hip. "What's up?"

Mya held up the phone, her eyes wide. "It's them."

She took a deep breath and answered the call, trying to keep her nerves in check. "Hello, this is Mya."

On the other end of the line, the investor's voice was smooth and professional. "Hi, Mya. I'm calling to let you know that we've reviewed your presentation, and we're very impressed. We'd like to move forward with funding your café project."

Mya's breath caught in her throat. "Wait—really?"

"Yes, really," the investor chuckled. "We believe in your vision and are excited to partner with you. Our team will send over the paperwork within the next few days to finalize the details, but congratulations, Mya. You and Melody have a bright future ahead."

Mya could barely contain her excitement. "Thank you so much! We can't wait to get started."

As the call ended, she turned to Jaylen, her eyes shining. "They said yes!"

Jaylen grinned, pulling her into a tight hug with Zaria still in his arms. "I told you, babe. I knew you had it in the bag."

Mya laughed, overwhelmed with relief and joy. "I can't believe it's really happening."

Jaylen kissed her softly, his eyes filled with pride. "You deserve this. You worked hard for it, and now it's paying off."

Zaria clapped her little hands, mimicking the excitement in the room, and Mya couldn't help but laugh. She had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it was real, it felt even better than she imagined.

That evening, after calling Melody and sharing the good news, Mya and Jaylen decided to celebrate with a quiet dinner at home. They put Zaria to bed early, and Mya whipped up a simple meal while Jaylen set the table. The atmosphere in the apartment was warm and intimate, a sense of peace settling over them.

As they sat down to eat, Jaylen raised his glass, looking across the table at Mya. "To your dreams coming true. And to building something amazing together."

Mya smiled, raising her glass to meet his. "To us."

They clinked glasses and took a sip, savoring the moment. Mya looked around the apartment—their home—and felt a deep sense of gratitude for everything they had built together. It wasn't always easy, balancing a career, a family, and a relationship, but moments like this made it all worth it.

As they finished dinner, Mya leaned back in her chair, watching Jaylen as he cleaned up. "You ever think about what's next?" she asked, her voice soft.

Jaylen looked up, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I do. I think about expanding my real estate business. I think about us traveling more, showing Zaria the world. And I think about the life we're building, how we're gonna keep growing together."

Mya smiled, feeling her heart swell with love for him. "I like the sound of that."

Jaylen walked over and sat beside her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "Whatever comes next, we'll handle it. Just like we always do."

Mya rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the weight of the day lift off her. With Jaylen by her side, she knew they could face anything. The future was bright, and together, they were unstoppable.