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Imani

The basketball game was a real nail-biter. Dylan's team, the Hawks, nearly beat the division's top team, the Outlaws. The boys were close to winning, but their opponents prevailed in the end. The long line of sad faces leaving the changing room made Imani pleased to take her son to lunch to cheer him up.

But lunch only lasted an hour. After buying garlic bread to go with spaghetti for dinner and wallpaper at the hardware store, she ran out of ideas for things they could do together, and Dylan couldn't wait to get home. She had no choice but to drive across the bridge while gripping the wheel. She felt uneasy and tense. Garrett's sudden appearance this morning had enraged her.

What in the world was she thinking? Could they move on from the past and become friends again? It was all or nothing this time. She relaxed and fiddled with the radio at a red light three blocks from home.

"Do you like Garrett?"

Imani quickly looked at Dylan, who stared at her with expressive brown eyes. "Why are you asking that?"

"Because he makes you smile." Her son's happy expression moved her. "I want you to be happy like Christopher White's mother is with her boyfriend. The man is kind and treats him like a son."

"What are you getting at, Dylan?"

He beamed. "I think Garrett will be good for you."

She took a deep breath and traveled through the intersection once the light changed. "He and I are friends."

"Why not become his girlfriend?"

"Dylan, I can't think about that. My focus is on you."

"I'm fine with him being my stepdad."

She glanced at him again with a small frown. "Where are you getting this from?"

Dylan shrugged and looked down. "I just want the best for you, Mom."

Her heart began to melt again.

"You're really pretty. And the team thinks so, too. Christopher said..." As they entered their driveway, Dylan continued. "My friend said that his mom didn't have a boyfriend for a long time because she didn't want to upset her kids. But none of them cared." His chin stuck out. "Now, the whole family is happy."

"Dylan..."

"He is different from the others," he added, with a hint of sadness in his voice. "He's not like Dexter. Garrett won't hit us just because we left the refrigerator door open."

"Baby, that man had no reason to hurt either of us. People like Dexter deserve to be in prison. And after what he did to you," she said in a weak voice, turning to face her son. "We had to run. Our life in New York is over, and he will never find us. Dexter had no idea where I grew up. You don't have to worry about him coming after you, okay?"

Dylan nodded slightly, shedding a tear. "I want you to be happy."

"I know, baby. I am happy with you."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Imani put the car in park and spotted Garrett's truck parked on the side of the road. She let out a soft sigh, turned the engine off, and looked at Dylan. She hesitated, unsure if this was the right moment to talk about Garrett, but they needed to.

"Listen," she began, but her son cut her off.

"I don't mind you two being together. He's a good person."

Just then, the man of the conversation appeared around the corner, holding a ladder and a hammer. He hadn't changed clothes, and the old, ripped jeans and faded gray T-shirt only added to his masculinity. His appearance made her heart quiver. She liked it when Garrett didn't shave his face, especially when he wore gray.

Dylan smiled and went on. "If you don't want Garrett, Felix told me that his dad thinks you're sexy. His name is Connor. He never stops looking at you at basketball games."

Wait. Huh?

"Dylan, stop playing matchmaker." Imani leaned over and kissed his cheek. She knew he didn't like displays of affection, but for now, he didn't seem to mind.

"I'm completely and amazingly one hundred percent..." She paused and breathed deeply, then shook her head. "I'm one hundred and fifty percent satisfied with our lives. Just the two of us."

A profound sense of emptiness overcame her when she spoke those words. In general, Imani was happy. She had moved forward by pulling herself out of an abusive relationship. She loved her home, job, friends, and family in Alabama.

But she also missed having someone love her.

And loneliness consumed her.

When Dylan exited the car, Garrett looked at them. Her emotions responded naturally, as they always did. Imani's heart raced, and her cheeks flushed with heat.

Garrett's eyes never left her until her son moved forward and hugged him. She realized it then. Really understood what was happening with her.

None of the other men would love her as much as he did. As long as they were both single, no one else in the world mattered. Not now. Not tomorrow. In five or ten years, it wouldn't make a difference. Garrett Beaumont still owned every part of her, even the parts she kept hidden. Her heart and soul belonged to him.

Knowing she would never find love like his was a sad thought, which meant she would have a lifetime of solitude. Imani knew she would never be content with another man. Garrett's flaws and failure to inform her about his conversation with her father were irrelevant if they were still in love. His connection with her was unparalleled, and he would always be her greatest love.

She sniffed, cleared her throat, and grabbed her bags before exiting the car. If she showed an ounce of emotion right now, Garrett would ask her questions she didn't want to answer. As she approached them, Dylan eagerly recounted one of his plays from the game. Garrett focused on the boy, and she watched them from the side.

When Garrett looked up, Imani nearly fell. She gathered herself, straightened her shoulders, and tried to remain calm. She reached out and brushed Dylan's tousled hair.

She looked at Garrett and said, "You're still here."

"Yep. Can't get rid of me that easily." He put his tools and ladder down and turned toward the house. "I finished the porch and raked the backyard. The old oak tree in the back needs trimming. If a strong gust of wind comes through, a few large branches may end up hitting the roof, creating a hole."

Damn. Something else she overlooked.

"I was about to grab the chainsaw. That is if you want me to trim them now."

Imani breathed deeply to calm down. This was her chance to finally move on from their troubled past. Or she could just thank him for all the work he had done. Tell him that she appreciates everything and wants him to leave now. A wise woman intent on self-preservation would do that. That kind of woman would send him away without hesitation.

But she continued to stand there, gazing at a face she had loved and never forgotten. Being friends with Garrett was a complicated situation, and their relationship could never be purely platonic. Who the heck was she fooling?

It was never going to work.

They had sex the second he came back into her life.

Imani considered giving him another chance and realized how far she had strayed from her original plan of never letting him break her heart. She had finished her journey to protect herself and was now slowly moving toward a happier path.

Meeting Garrett's gaze, Imani said, "Thank you. I appreciate all that you've done for us."

"Isn't Mr. Beaumont the best?" Dylan hollered.

She looked at her son and smiled. "He sure is."

Garrett inhaled a breath and licked his bottom lip. "It's no problem. I'd do anything for you guys. I'll always be here for you."

"How is your grandpa doing?" Dylan inquired, staring up at him.

Garrett looked down and patted the boy's shoulder. "My grandfather's health has improved since I arrived in town. Things are going well for him."

"That's great," Dylan said, smiling.

"It is," Imani added. "Why don't you both come inside while I start dinner?"

Garrett nodded as they all began walking into the house. He and Dylan disappeared into the living room, while she made her way into the kitchen.

"Ugh. Why is love so complicated?" she murmured to herself as she took out a pan. To prepare dinner, Imani filled it with water. She quickly placed the garlic bread in the freezer and rushed to her bedroom to change. Everything had to be ready before Ellie, Brian, and their twins showed up for their Sunday night get-together.

While changing into old jeans and a Pink Floyd T-shirt, she heard Dylan shooting hoops with Garrett outside. She put her phone on an end table, grabbed her earbuds, and began adjusting the drywall piles in the living room.

Imani liked working with her hands because she had grown up around construction zones and helped out when needed.

Once the music started, time flew by. Her shoulder started hurting by the time she laid down the last pile. She placed the wallpaper rolls against the wall, groaned, and stepped back to check her work.

Shakira was up next, and she sang along to "Hips Don't Lie" while walking the room and inspecting each area. It was important to clean the walls before applying wallpaper. She took out her earbuds, glanced at the clock, and realized she had less than an hour to shower and finish cooking dinner.

"It looks good in here."

Imani turned to see Garrett leaning against the doorframe. "I thought you were outside."

"I was. Dylan and I played a game, and then I finished stacking wood behind the shed." He scanned the room. "Not many women I know would spend the evening organizing their house like this."

"Maybe you know the wrong women."

"You're probably right."

Imani tugged on the hem of her T-shirt, catching his gaze on her chest as she sweated. The issue? The old, thin fabric clung to her curves.

His eyes darkened, and the temperature rose.

"I need to..." she began, her voice cracking. "I have a lot to do before our friends arrive. And I need to take a shower."

"Well, I can finish up here while you bathe."

"No, I've got this." She let out a breath. "You've already done a lot, Garrett. I'm sorry for how I treated you this morning."

"Apology accepted, Imani." There was that smile again. A wicked, sensual, and knowing smile. "Friends help─"

"Each other out?" she answered for him. "Got it." She gasped at the thought of saying the words she had been thinking about for so long. There was no stopping her now. "I've got some bread in the freezer and a pot of water on the stove for the spaghetti. You are welcome to stay if you want." Was she really inviting him to stay for dinner?

She was, and it felt good.

Garrett looked just as shocked as she did. "Are you sure? I was going to get some fast food and then head home."

"That's why I'm inviting you. You need to eat a home-cooked meal, not fast food." She inhaled deeply and cracked a grin. "I want to make sure you eat something good tonight. That's it."

Garrett took long, measured steps toward her. Imani's heart pounded like a drum machine, making her dizzy. She was sure he noticed it.

Silence fell as he stopped a few inches from her feet. The closeness they shared revealed to her that he felt the same way.

"Thank you for the invitation." He reached out for her hand, surprising her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened with astonishment. She may have squeaked or moaned when his free hand touched her cheek.

"You had a smudge there." Garrett gently rubbed just beneath her earlobe, and by the time his hand dropped, she craved his touch even more.

"Garrett..." She caught a whiff of his breath, which carried a hint of peppermint.

After closing his eyes while his fingers trailed down her neck, Garrett asked, "Can I explain something to you?"

"Okay."

He opened his eyes to meet her gaze. "You mentioned earlier that you had wanted to hear my side of the story, why I left, and what happened between your father and me."

She sniffled and shook her head. "None of that matters now. I should focus on moving on and not dwell on the past."

"The problem is that, Imani, I can't let go until I tell you everything. I almost contacted you back then, but Ramón told me you met someone and posted your wedding announcement in Enigma Models magazine."

He looked at her, as if he needed to think before continuing.

"After reading the article, I knew I needed to let you go. You found someone who could provide everything I couldn't, and I didn't want to cause trouble. I could never explain what your father and I discussed, or why he and my family drove me away. If I did, I would spoil your happiness. You didn't deserve any of that."

Imani listened to Garrett's confession, standing still. Hearing him put her happiness first and never consider destroying her love with her husband meant more than she realized. It showed that her ex cared about her well-being.

"Anyway," he said, breaking away for a second to run his fingers through his hair. "I'm grateful that fate has given me this chance to make amends, redeem myself, and talk to you again. The last thing I want to do is push you away."

"Thanks for saying that," she whispered, cupping his cheek. "I forgive you, Gray."

He trembled while holding her close to his chest. "You do?"

"Yes."

Garrett looked deeply into her eyes, their faces close together. "May I kiss you, Imani?"

She swallowed, nodding in surprise. Her only desire was to feel his tongue dig deep into her mouth and caress her tongue. Despite her initial irritation, kissing him has been on her mind all day.

He took a deep breath and passionately kissed her, strengthening their connection. Her emotions surged when their hands intertwined. With this kiss, she absorbed everything. Imani held onto him, breathless, and embraced the moment.

She was on the verge of giving this man another chance, considering Dylan's feelings about him. Having her son's approval meant the world to her. Garrett wanted her to have faith in him again and let go of the past. All of that was over, and she could start over with him now. She had seen a future with Garrett since they were teenagers, and she needed to live in the present.

He suddenly stopped, his tongue flapping over hers. Garrett whispered, "I know we still have a lot to work out, but kissing you has always been the best part of my life. I want to love you, but I know I can't be selfish. I will wait until you are ready, Mani. I promise I will never hurt you again."

His admission rocked her to the core. What could she say next?

Imani almost vomited after getting a whiff of her body odor. "I need to go shower now," she said.

"Sure." Garrett turned his attention toward the staircase and looked back at her. "I'll go upstairs to check on Dylan."

"Thank you. I shouldn't be too long."

He smiled as he caressed her cheek. "Take as much time as you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Imani nodded and hurriedly made her way to her room. She locked the door. It was silly, really, because it did not keep him out of her head as she had hoped. She imagined Garrett joining her in the steamy shower. All she could do was feel, taste, and smell him.

He sincerely made amends, going from being her ex-fiancé to a friend. She tried not to fall in love with him, but perhaps she should consider it. Maybe she should follow her instincts and open up more.

Yes!

That was exactly what she had to do. Allow him to continue making things right while they enjoy their time together. Starting now.

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