I nodded, letting out a small breath. “Yes, baby, this is nice.”
He smirked a lil’. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I rolled my eyes slightly, but I was smiling.
Once we were in the air, everything got quiet in a way I wasn’t used to. No chaos, no noise, just a smooth ride and space to think. I leaned back, turning my head toward the window, then at the TV, then toward him.
“You really be flying all over for diamonds? I thought they got shipped in.”
He nodded. “Hell yeah, my diamonds are hand-picked by me.”
“Hmmm…must be nice,” I said jokingly.
“It is,” he responded. “And now that you are with me, those trips will be even better.”
The flight attendant brought us some champagne, and Love lifted his glass in the air.
“To a new beginning.”
I tilted my head, wanting to question it, but I didn’t. “To a new beginning.”
We settled in and got comfortable watching whatever movie they had playin’. I dozed off at some point and woke up to hear the pilot saying we were a ‘bout to land.
I lifted my head off Love’s arm and stretched a lil’ with him watching me.
“Good nap?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, baby, it was needed.”
“Good,” he said with a smile. “We are about to land.”
When we stepped off the plane, the air hit different. Warmer, softer, a lil’ heavier, but it felt good.
I stayed close to Love as we moved through the airport, not even trying to figure shit out anymore. He held my hand tight in one hand, and our bags in the other as he led me to a man holding up a sign that said, “The Mayers.”
We looked at each other at the same time, and he winked at me. The driver took our bags from Love and led us out to his car.
The ride was the start to something amazing. I leaned against him, watching outside pass us. The view took my breath away. Everything looked untouched, calm in a way I wasn’t used to, like the world slowed down out here on purpose.
Love didn’t speak, he just kept his hand on my thigh, his thumb moving slowly like he always did. Every now and then, I caught him staring at me in our reflection like he was thinking. It made me smile without even trying.
“You like it so far?” he asked low.
I nodded, still looking out the window. “Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like this—I never been out of the country before.”
“Good,” he responded.
When we finally pulled up to where we were staying, I straightened up a lil’, my eyes taking in the place in front of us. It didn’t look like nowhere you just book last minute. It looked private…intentional.
We hopped out of the car, and I stood there taking it all in. When I turned around, Love was leaning against the car, taking pictures of me laughing.
“You ready to go inside?” he asked.
“Of course,” I responded.
Love took the bags and me and walked to the door. After he put the code in the door, he moved to the side, and as I opened the door, I almost passed out.
“LOVE!” I yelled, walking in, and that’s all I could get out.