Can I Get It

A Debt of Gratitude

CHAPTER EIGHT
A Debt of Gratitude

Eliza sat in the cozy corner of Mike and GG's living room, the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the warm, inviting aroma of cinnamon and vanilla candles.

GG was perched on the arm of the couch, her ever-present confident smile gleaming as she sipped her espresso. Mike, on the other hand, was leaning against the mantle, a mug of his own in hand, eyes locked on Eliza with a knowing look that made her stomach tighten with curiosity.

"GG, Mike, I don't get it," Eliza started, her voice steady but tinged with frustration. "Why did Mike feel the need to make Arthur feel like he had to start a business just to fit in with you all? He's already doing everything he can to be part of my world."

Mike's brows furrowed, the smile slipping off his face as he set his mug down on the mantle. The room fell into a heavy silence as GG's expression shifted from playful to somber.

"Eliza," Mike said, voice low and tinged with emotion, "I had to do it. You have to understand where I'm coming from."

Eliza's eyes darted between the two of them. GG's lips pursed together, her expression unreadable but the slight squint of her eyes told Eliza that she knew this conversation was going to take an unexpected turn.

"I don't understand, Mike," Eliza admitted, her voice wavering. "Arthur isn't just some guy I'm seeing. He's serious about me, about us. He's been working hard to make our relationship work. Why push him to do more?"

Mike stepped forward, his eyes softening as he took in Eliza's worried face. "I didn't want Arthur to feel like he was falling short, Eliza. I know how your friends are. Rasheeda and Keyshia—they say it outright, and they don't hide their judgments. When I first got with GG, I was in the same boat as Arthur. I had nothing to my name but ambition and a deep love for her. But I knew I had to show her, and the world, that I wasn't just some guy who was along for the ride."

GG nodded, her eyes warm as she looked at Eliza. "I know Arthur's not just some guy, Eliza," she said, her voice fierce with conviction. "But Mike's right. We all want you to be surrounded by people who make you feel supported and respected. And sometimes, that means we do things we think are best, even if they come off the wrong way."

Eliza sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I get that, but pushing Arthur to start a business—he's already feeling the pressure of being with a successful woman. He doesn't need more of that from our friend group."

Mike's gaze softened even more, and he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "When you invested in my company, Eliza, I had nothing. I was drowning, and it felt like everyone was waiting for me to fail. But you believed in me when no one else did. You took a chance on me, even when it was risky for you. I didn't ask for it, but I needed it, and I'll always be grateful. This—what I did for Arthur—it's just me trying to pay that favor forward."

Eliza's eyes widened as the weight of his words sank in. "Mike, you didn't have to do that," she whispered. "Arthur's not me, and I didn't ask you to help him."

"You didn't have to," Mike replied, eyes full of understanding. "But I know how it feels to be underestimated, to feel like you have to prove yourself just to belong. I know what it's like to want to fight against that, to want to show people that you're more than what they think you are. Arthur reminded me of myself, Eliza. And if he's willing to take that leap, I want to be there to catch him."

The room was quiet for a moment, the soft hum of the city outside blending with the crackle of the fireplace. GG looked at Eliza, her eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and support.

"I'm sorry if it came off as too much, Eliza," Mike said, his voice still hushed. "But I thought if Arthur saw a chance to create something of his own, it might give him the confidence to hold his head high. He's a good man, and I know he's trying to prove himself to you. I don't want that to be the burden that breaks him."

Eliza's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She felt torn between being angry at Mike for putting Arthur in such a position and feeling grateful that someone saw Arthur's worth the way she did. It was an act of kindness, a push that was rooted in love and understanding, and Eliza knew that despite the rocky road, Mike had done it with the best of intentions.

"Arthur's proud, Mike. He doesn't want to feel like he's trying to earn approval, not just from me, but from everyone who looks at him and sees only what he doesn't have."

Mike's face softened, and he nodded. "And that's why I did what I did. Because if he sees he has a chance to build something for himself, then maybe he'll feel like he's enough as he is. And if he does that, he'll know he's worthy, not just for you, but for himself."

Eliza's heart ached as she listened, understanding now that Mike's words came from a place of love, not just for Arthur but for her as well. This was Mike's way of returning a favor he could never repay, and Eliza knew she couldn't fault him for that.

"I'll talk to Arthur," Eliza said, her voice steady now, but with a newfound softness. "I'll let him know that you were just trying to help, and I'll tell him that whatever path he chooses, I'm behind him. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone but himself."

"Thank you, Eliza," Mike said, giving her a small smile. "And if there's anything you need, you know where to find me."

GG reached out, squeezing Eliza's hand. "You two are stronger than you know. Just remember that."

Eliza left Mike and GG's house with a renewed sense of purpose. She knew Arthur had been feeling the pressure of fitting in, of proving he was more than just an outsider. And though it hurt that Mike had pushed him in a direction that made him uncomfortable, she understood why it had happened. Sometimes, the people who loved you saw things in you that you couldn't see yourself, and they tried to push you toward those possibilities, even if it meant taking risks.

When she walked into Arthur's apartment that evening, the first thing she noticed was the way he looked at her, tired but hopeful. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel like he had to change or prove himself for her sake.

"Hey," he said, a smile breaking through as he stood up from the couch.

"Hey," she said back, a soft smile forming on her lips. "Can we talk?"

Arthur's eyes met hers, searching for any sign of what was to come. He took her hand, and for a moment, there was only the sound of their breathing and the distant hum of the city.

"I know you've been feeling the pressure, Arthur. And I know it's not just from me. I need you to know something. You don't have to prove anything to me, or to anyone else. You're enough just as you are."

Arthur's expression softened, his eyes shining with a mixture of relief and uncertainty. "I don't want to disappoint you," he said, voice barely above a whisper.

"You could never," Eliza said, pulling him into an embrace. "And if you ever feel like you're not enough, remember that you are. No matter what anyone else says, you're more than enough."

And as he wrapped his arms around her, Eliza knew that they would face whatever came next, together. Because no matter what, Arthur was her heart, and that was all that mattered.