Valentine is 22 and just graduated college with a PHD in Child Development. After her parents died on her birthday and she was thrown into the foster system she developed a passion for kids and their mental capacities.
Her life was regular to her n...
(Another long ahh chapter cuz yall been eating with the commentssss yall know I love me sum comments keep them coming I love to see them 🫶🏾💕)
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The sunlight spilled across the Airbnb's polished hardwood floors, warm and wide. Big windows framed the skyline, and everything about the apartment screamed peace sleek kitchen, velvet couch, plush bedding.
But the air?
Heavy.
Valentine lay still in the sheets, head on Quincy's chest, eyes open, staring at nothing.
He smelled like skin and sleep. His breath tickled her forehead.
She didn't move. She didn't want to.
Because movement meant talking. And talking meant pretending she wasn't unraveling.
"You awake?" Quincy's voice came slow, still raspy from sleep.
She didn't answer right away.
"Yeah," she said finally, her voice dull.
He ran a hand up and down her back, easy, instinctive. "You sleep okay?"
"I guess."
A pause.
Quincy's fingers stilled. "Val..."
"Where's Valley?" she asked, cutting him off. Her tone didn't rise, didn't fall. Just flat.
Quincy blinked. Sat up slightly behind her.
"I had my nana come get her early this morning. She just got back to New York. I didn't think she needed to be around all this. Or hear any of it."
Valentine nodded once. "Okay."
He watched her for a second. "That alright with you?"
"You already did it."
The words were cold. Not angry. Not kind. Just... dismissive.
Quincy stared at her, confused. "Yeah... but I asked if it was okay."
She shrugged. "I said okay."
He sat all the way up now, pushing the covers back. "Valentine."
"What?"
"You talkin' to me like I'm a stranger. Like I just woke up in your bed by accident."
Valentine didn't respond. She got up, pulled her hoodie from the back of the chair.
Quincy's brows furrowed deeper. "You really gon' do that? After everything?"
"Do what?"
He stood, watching her slide her arms into her hoodie like she was suiting up for war.
"Shut me out like this."
Her hand paused briefly on the zipper. But she didn't look at him.
