33

Get You - Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis

Mariah's POV

She came back.

Not in a storm, not in a fire. Kamala came back like dusk—quiet, but certain. A presence I could feel settle into the room before I even turned around. She didn't say a word when she walked into my apartment. She just closed the door behind her and placed her bag down gently, like she wasn't ready to leave again—but not quite ready to stay either.

I stood in the kitchen holding two mugs of coffee I hadn't known if I'd ever get to share. My palms were sweating. My heart beat like it was terrified of being hopeful.

Kamala stepped toward me slowly. Her hair was in a bun, her gold hoops catching the light. That long camel coat of hers still wrapped tightly, like armor she hadn't taken off yet.

"I figured you'd be here," she said quietly.

"I—I made you coffee," I said, holding the mug out. "Still hot."

She took it from my hand, her fingers brushing mine, but there was no kiss. No "hey baby." Just this silence. Soft. Unsure.

We sat down across from each other at the little table by the window. The same table where I'd cried alone last week. The same one I kept checking my phone at.

"Thank you for the flowers," she said.

"I didn't know what else to do."

"I know," Kamala murmured. Her fingers tapped the rim of her mug. "That's part of the problem."

I swallowed. "I was scared you wouldn't come back."

Her eyes flicked up at me. "And I was scared I'd come back and find you texting her again."

I dropped my gaze.

"I haven't," I said. "I blocked her number. She texted me again after that night and I didn't even open it. I blocked her, and I meant it. I told her we couldn't be friends. That she... That I hurt someone I love because of her."

Kamala's jaw flexed. "You hurt me because of your choices, Mariah."

"I know," I said. "I know, and I'm not gonna sit here and say I didn't mean for it to go that way. Because I did. I made a choice. I liked the attention, and I liked the escape, and I ignored what it was doing to you. To us. That's on me."

Kamala blinked slowly, like that admission landed deeper than the dozens of "I'm sorry"s I'd already whispered into her voicemail.

"I was selfish," I added. "You didn't deserve that. You trusted me, and I made you feel like a fool."

Her mouth opened slightly, then closed again.

"And I talked to Karina too," I said, quieter now. "I told her that giving Michelle my number without asking wasn't okay. She tried to brush it off at first, but I didn't let her. I told her that when you're in a real relationship, people have to respect that. She apologized... and I made sure she meant it."

Kamala nodded, eyes on her coffee.

"I've never loved someone like this," I said. "I don't know how to do it perfectly. But I know I want to learn with you. And I'll spend every day proving that I can."

Her eyes finally met mine again. They were still wary, but they softened. She looked tired. And underneath that—relieved.

"I didn't come here to fight," she said. "Or even to talk, really. I just needed to see if you were still... you."

I smiled weakly. "I'm still me."

She took a sip of her coffee. "That's good. Because I've missed you."

Something inside my chest cracked open.

I got up, rounded the table, and she let me pull her up from the chair. Her hands went to my waist automatically, and mine cupped her face. We kissed—slow and breathless and soft. Like we were piecing each other back together one touch at a time.

"I still love you," I whispered against her lips. "So much."

"I know," she breathed. "I love you too. I never stopped."

And when I led her to the couch, it wasn't out of lust or need—it was because my body only ever felt like mine when she was wrapped around it. We didn't rush. We just moved, like the ache had finally been quieted.

Her hands slipped under my sweatshirt, and mine tangled in her curls. It wasn't spicy. Not yet. It was just slow and warm and safe. For once, we weren't trying to prove something. We were just... healing.

Later, when we lay tangled up under the throw blanket, breathing together in the quiet, Kamala stroked her thumb across my cheek.

"You're gonna have to earn back my trust, Mariah," she said softly.

"I know," I said. "And I will. Every day. As long as it takes."

Her lips curled slightly. "Good. Then we've got something to work with."

And for the first time in weeks, I felt like we could finally start again.

_______

Alr mofosssss!!! Time to get into the lovey stuff + more!!