“Ajori, I know he was an absent father.”
I folded my arms. “Here we go.”
“No, no… hear me out,” she continued, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. “God expects us to forgive, so can you? Just for today? Because forgiveness might come with a receipt, and I’m trying to see what Dior talking about in person.”
Kyrin chimed in, nodding. “Sis, I gotta side with Lainey on this one. Life is too short to be holding grudges…” He paused, then added with a grin, “…and too expensive to turn down free stuff.”
I reared my head back in astonishment. “Wow.”
Lainey pointed at him. “See! Even the little one agrees.”
“I’m not little,” Kyrin muttered. “I’m financially underdeveloped.”
That took me out.
I playfully rolled my eyes, shaking my head. “Y’all are ridiculous.”
“Richand ridiculous,” Lainey corrected. “Get it right, boo!”
As they started talking over each other about what they were about to get, I drifted for a second. My thoughts pulled me right back to my father.
I hope this isn’t his way of trying to make up for almost thirty years, because some absences can’t be filled with luxury.
A little over an hour later, we were riding through narrow, winding streets that looked like they belonged in a movie. Stonepavement, luxury storefronts, and polished glass buildings lined both sides. High-end didn’t even begin to describe it.
Lainey was pressed up against the window like a kid on a field trip, practically narrating the entire ride as though she was live.
“And here we have Dior… Chanel…” she whispered dramatically. “Ooh! Is that a gold-plated mannequin?!”
Before I could answer, from the front seat, my father let out a quiet smirk. “You won’t be getting any looks today. Everything you see in these windows? It’s already yours if you want it. Don’t ask for prices… just point.”
Kyrin blinked, then sat up straighter. “Oh,” he said slowly. “So, I been belonging, I just didn’t know it yet.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that—at him. The excitement on Kyrin’s face and the way his whole mood shifted in seconds did something to me. For a moment, nothing else mattered but seeing him happy.
My attention gravitated to my father.
He spoke on money as though it didn’t exist as a limit, which made me wonder just how wealthy hereallywas.
The SUV rolled to a smooth stop in front of one of the stores, and the driver quickly got out to open the door.
The moment my feet hit the pavement, the energy shifted. Everything felt… elevated. The glass doors swung open effortlessly before we even reached them, as if welcoming us into an exclusive sanctuary. A luxurious scent enveloped us, which spoke volumes about the wealth contained within those walls. The place smelled like money and looked as if it had never seen a clearance rack. And from there, it was over. Kyrin was in heaven, trying on suits like he had three business meetings, a photoshoot, and an award show all lined up in the same week.
“This is how I’m pulling up to prom,” he declared, adjusting the jacket and checking himself out from every angle.
I leaned against the wall, shaking my head. “Kyrin, your prom isyearsaway.”
“Exactly. I gotta plan ahead.”
Alejandro chuckled quietly, watching the banter with a look I couldn’t decipher.
Lainey nearly lost her mind when she saw the wall of handbags. “OH. MY. GOD!” she whispered loudly. “If I pass out, just swipe my card for me!”
She paused.
“Oh wait… I don’t need to today!”
I rolled my eyes, laughing under my breath.