𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝

𝟹𝟶

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"Dommhm No..." I whimper trying to get a grasp at her hand as I felt her slip it in

"Why yah stop?" I looked up with hooded eyes

"Yuh jus-"

"Mnm. Put it back in."

Okay, so I know y'all must be confused-

Girl we ain't. We know yuh cyah keep yuh word. Bout need time fi tink.

....lets....yeh.

Few hours earlier...

I took one last glance in the mirror, turning my head left then right. Everything was on point. Makeup soft but clean. Edges laid. Dress hugging me just right, without trying too hard. I wasn't trying to go all out tonight—it wasn't that type of celebration. But it still felt big.

The Blake family project had fully launched in August. Months of me pouring out everything I had. I worked late, led meetings, rewrote pitches, cried a couple nights—yeah. It was real. And now it was finally done. Successful. Official. Real.

Tonight was just about celebrating that with the people who mattered.

Aniyah messaged me earlier to let me know she reserved a section at one of the clubs uptown. Nothing too wild, just us—her, the team, some of Dom's friends, and of course... Dom. I tried not to think about her too hard, but my chest had a different plan. The way things had been between us lately? It was only getting deeper. We never said anything out loud, but the closeness? It was undeniable.

I grabbed my bag and checked the time. Late, but not too late to be fashionable. As I made my way to the car waiting outside, I couldn't help but smile to myself. I felt good. Nervous... but good.

The second I stepped into the club, the bass hit me square in the chest. Heavy, rhythmic, like it was trying to sync with my heartbeat. The lights were low and golden, flickering across bodies on the dancefloor. I spotted our section easily—raised up a little, tucked away with a view of the whole place. Aniyah was waving with one hand, drink in the other.

"There she is!" she grinned the moment I stepped in. "Di real MVP!"

The rest of the team clapped, cheered, even raised their glasses. I felt my face warm up immediately.

I laughed, holding up both hands. "Unuh gwan easy, mi nuh do dat much."

"Lie yah tell" Aniyah said, nudging me. "Yuh run di whole ting. From first draft to launch. Stop play humble now."

I gave her a playful side-eye but didn't argue. Deep down, I was proud. It felt like the first time in a while that I'd done something that really... mattered.

She gave me a drink and I took it happily. I glanced around, taking in the crew. Familiar faces, people I had built this thing with. Then I saw her.

Dom was leaning against the far wall of the section, drink in hand, watching me. Not smiling, not talking—just watching. Her eyes were like magnets. Every time they landed on me, I felt pulled in.