For Your Love | Keith Powers

Four.

The next few weeks passed in a haze of bliss for Yara and Lucas. Their connection grew deeper with each passing day, and the walls they had both built to protect themselves slowly started to come down. They were discovering new things about each other, bits and pieces that fit perfectly like puzzle pieces falling into place. Yara found herself thinking about Lucas more often than she wanted to admit, and Lucas, for the first time in a long time, felt like he had something solid to hold onto.

It was a Saturday morning, and Yara sat at her kitchen table, sipping her coffee while Leigh played quietly in the living room. She scrolled through her phone, smiling at a text from Lucas.

Lucas: "Any plans today? I want you and Leigh to meet some of my friends."

Yara felt a flutter in her chest. Meeting his friends—it was a step forward, one she hadn't realized she was ready to take until this moment. Lucas had been so understanding, never rushing her into anything, but she could feel the natural progression of their relationship. It felt right.

Yara: "Sounds good. Leigh and I are free after lunch. Where should we meet you?"

Lucas: "There's this little park near my place. Perfect spot for a picnic. 2pm?"

Yara glanced over at Leigh, who was playing with her toys. "How about a picnic today, baby?" she asked with a smile.

Leigh's eyes lit up. "Yes, Mommy! Can we bring the big blanket?"

Yara nodded, her heart warming at the excitement in her daughter's face. "Of course we can."As they packed up for the picnic, Yara felt a sense of anticipation building. Meeting Lucas's friends meant stepping into his world, a place she had only heard about through their conversations. She wondered what they would think of her and Leigh, but deep down, she knew that if Lucas had chosen these people to be part of his life, they would be kind and welcoming.

At the park, Lucas was already waiting with his friends when Yara and Leigh arrived. The moment he saw them, his face lit up with a smile that sent a surge of warmth through Yara. He waved them over, and as they approached, Lucas crouched down to greet Leigh first.

"Hey, kiddo," he said softly, offering her a high-five. Leigh, ever the shy one at first, hesitated for a moment before tentatively giving him a small slap on the hand. Lucas grinned at that, standing up to greet Yara.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, his eyes lingering on her for just a second longer than necessary.

Yara blushed slightly, feeling that familiar flutter in her chest. "Thank you."

He introduced her to his friends—a tight-knit group who had clearly known each other for years. There was Sam and his girlfriend, Mia, both of whom greeted Yara with warm smiles. Then there was Nate, the jokester of the group, and Emily, who gave Yara a knowing look that said, "We've heard all about you."

As the afternoon wore on, Yara felt herself relaxing more and more. Lucas's friends were easy to be around, full of laughter and good-natured teasing. They treated Leigh with kindness, including her in conversations and games, and Yara couldn't help but feel grateful for how easily everyone had accepted her daughter.

At one point, Yara and Mia found themselves sitting on the picnic blanket while the others played a makeshift game of soccer with Leigh.

"You and Lucas seem really good together," Mia said, her tone warm and genuine. "He talks about you a lot, you know. We've never seen him like this."

Yara looked over at Lucas, who was laughing as he gently kicked the ball toward Leigh. The sight of him, so at ease with her daughter, made her heart swell.

"I wasn't expecting this," Yara admitted softly. "He kind of just... happened. But I'm glad he did."Mia smiled knowingly. "The best things usually do."

Later that evening, after they had said their goodbyes to Lucas's friends, Lucas pulled Yara aside as Leigh ran ahead to the car.

"I want to meet your friends next," he said, his voice steady but laced with a hint of nervousness.

"I want to know more about your world, too."

Yara smiled, appreciating how Lucas was always so respectful of her pace. "I'd like that," she replied. "We can set something up for next weekend."

Over the next few weeks, Lucas slowly integrated himself into Yara's life even more. He met her closest friends—Nina and a few others—at a casual brunch that felt like it had always been meant to happen. To Yara's relief, her friends adored Lucas. They teased her about how happy she seemed and made a point to tell Lucas that he had better not screw things up. Lucas took it all in stride, his charm and humor winning them over in no time.

As the summer rolled on, Yara and Lucas found themselves spending more and more time together. Leigh grew attached to Lucas in a way that both warmed and frightened Yara. He was always thoughtful with her daughter, knowing just the right balance between fun and responsibility, and Yara couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if Lucas were more than just her boyfriend—if he were part of her and Leigh's family.

One evening, after Leigh had gone to bed, Yara and Lucas sat together on the couch, the soft glow of the TV casting light around the room. Lucas had been quiet for most of the evening, and Yara could tell he had something on his mind.

"What's going on?" she asked, resting her hand on his.

Lucas turned to her, his expression serious but full of love. "I've been thinking about us," he said softly. "About what we're building. And... I want more, Yara. I want us to be a real family. I want a future with you and Leigh."

Yara's heart skipped a beat at his words. She had been thinking the same thing but had been too afraid to say it out loud.

"I know it's fast," Lucas continued, "and I don't want to rush anything. But I also don't want to hold back from something that feels this right. You and Leigh... you're everything I didn't know I needed."

Yara felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but they were happy tears, tears of relief. She had been so scared to let someone in, so scared to trust again after everything she had been through. But with Lucas, it felt different. It felt safe.

"I want that too," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I want a future with you, Lucas."

Lucas leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, and in that moment, Yara knew that she wasn't alone anymore. They had found each other, and now, they were building something beautiful together—a life, a future, a family.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Yara couldn't help but think about how far they had come in such a short time. It had been unexpected, unplanned, but it was perfect. And for the first time in a long time, Yara felt like she could finally let herself dream about tomorrow—about forever.

That was until she met his mother.