Gabby had been ridin' high for weeks now. Between her candle business blowin' up and her new SUV sittin' pretty in the driveway, life was hittin' different. She felt like she was finally in control, like she wasn't just surviving anymore—she was living.
Zay had been gone a lot with his sneaker store opening, but even when he wasn't around, his presence was felt. He was always callin' or sending her random texts, keepin' her smiling.
One night, Gabby was in her workspace, packaging up some orders. She had her music turned up, vibin' to Summer Walker, when her phone buzzed. It was a FaceTime call from Zay.
"What's good, stranger?" she teased, answering the call.
Zay's face popped up on the screen, his grin lazy but smooth. "What you doin', boss lady?"
"Packin' orders," she said, holding up one of her candle boxes. "Tryna keep up with all these customers, you know. What about you?"
He leaned back, showing off the hotel room behind him. "Same ol'. Meetin's all day. I'm ready to come home, though. I miss you."
Gabby smirked. "You just miss my candles."
"Nah," Zay said, his voice dropping. "I miss you. Ain't nobody here tryna keep me in check or steal the covers at night."
She rolled her eyes, trying not to blush. "Whatever, Zay. You comin' back soon or what?"
"Two more days," he said. "And when I get back, we celebratin'. You been hustlin' hard, Gabby. It's time to show you off."
Two Days Later
Zay wasn't playin'. When he pulled up to Gabby's spot, he told her to get dressed and look her best. She put on a fitted black dress and some heels, slicked her hair back, and added a little gloss. When she walked out, Zay was standin' there in a fresh suit, lookin' like money.
"Damn," he said, his eyes sweeping over her. "You really tryna make it hard for me to focus tonight."
Gabby laughed, shaking her head. "You said look good, so here I am."
"Good? Nah, you lookin' dangerous," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the car.
They pulled up to a fancy rooftop restaurant downtown, and Gabby was in awe. The lights, the music, the vibe—it was all so much more than she'd ever experienced.
"Zay," she said, looking around as they sat down. "What's all this for?"
He leaned back in his chair, his gold chain catching the light. "This for you, Gabby. You been grindin', buildin' somethin' real for yourself. I just wanna make sure you know how proud I am."
Her heart swelled, and she tried to hold back a smile. "You always doin' the most."
"You deserve the most," he said simply.
They ate, laughed, and talked about everything—her business, his sneaker store, their future. For the first time, Gabby let herself think about what could really be next for them.
Later That Night
When they got back to Zay's place, Gabby was still on a high from the evening. She kicked off her heels and flopped onto the couch, sighing happily.
"You good?" Zay asked, sitting next to her and pulling her feet into his lap.
"I'm better than good," she said, leaning her head back. "Thank you for tonight. I needed that."
Zay rubbed her ankle, his touch sending a shiver up her spine. "You ain't gotta thank me, Gabby. I told you, I got you. Always."
She looked at him, her smile softening. "You really mean that, huh?"
He nodded, his eyes serious. "Yeah, I do. You somethin' special, Gabby. And I ain't lettin' you go."
Her heart raced, and she leaned forward, kissing him softly. "I ain't goin' nowhere, Zay."
As the night went on, Gabby couldn't help but feel like this was exactly where she was meant to be.
To Be Continued...
