Chapter Twelve-Jamal
1586 Words
For the last two months, things with Dre had been… good.
No.
Really good.
Jamal had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in a relationship without constantly waiting for something to go wrong.
There were still moments, of course.
There were always moments with Andre.
Every now and then, when Jamal started getting dressed to leave, Andre would look at him with that expression.
That look.
The one that said, Really? You’re leaving again?
And sometimes Jamal would have to laugh, walk back to him, kiss him, and remind him that he wasn’t actually disappearing.
But things were different now.
They were trying.
Both of them.
They texted more.
They called more.
They found little pockets of time whenever they could.
Sometimes Jamal would show up at Andre’s apartment after work just because he missed him. Sometimes Andre would drive across town simply because Jamal had said, I want to see you.
They had learned how to make the little moments count.
And Jamal loved that.
He loved them.
He loved Andre.
More than he sometimes knew how to explain.
And tonight…
Tonight had been perfect.
Jamal was lying across Andre’s chest, one arm wrapped loosely around his waist while Andre’s fingers moved lazily through his hair.
His eyes were closed.
He was comfortable.
Warm.
Safe.
And completely unwilling to move.
Andre had always been good at making him forget the rest of the world existed.
There was just something about that man.
The confidence.
The warmth.
The way Andre touched him with such familiarity.
The way he knew exactly when Jamal needed affection without Jamal having to ask for it.
Andre was easily the sexiest Black man Jamal had ever known.
And unfortunately for Jamal’s sanity, Andre knew it.
“You’re smiling,” Andre murmured.
Jamal opened one eye.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m literally lying here.”
“Exactly. And you’re smiling.”
Jamal rolled his eyes and buried his face against Andre’s chest.
“You’re annoying.”
Andre laughed softly.
“And yet you’re still here.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Jamal smiled again.
He couldn’t help it.
This was what he wanted.
This.
The quiet afterward.
The cuddling.
The teasing.
The feeling of belonging somewhere.
He lifted his head slightly and looked at Andre.
“You’re very pleased with yourself.”
Andre raised an eyebrow.
“Shouldn’t I be?”
Jamal laughed.
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Too late.”
Jamal shook his head before settling back against him.
His fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of Andre’s shirt.
He had already made a decision.
He was staying tonight.
He had found a loophole.
A very convenient one.
There was a project at work that was almost finished. Almost.
Technically, he hadn’t submitted it yet.
Which meant everyone at home still believed he was working on it.
His mother knew he had been buried in it.
His father knew.
Even Malik had asked him about it.
So Jamal had a perfectly reasonable explanation for why he wouldn’t be home tonight.
He could stay here.
All night.
Until morning.
Maybe even until ten.
The thought alone made him smile.
Andre noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Jamal.”
“Nothing.”
Andre looked suspicious.
Jamal simply smiled and closed his eyes.
A few minutes passed.
Then Andre shifted slightly.
Jamal felt him look down at him.
“Baby?”
“Hmm?”
“You staying over?”
Jamal opened his eyes.
There was something almost hopeful in Andre’s expression.
It made his heart ache.
“If you want me to.”
Andre immediately frowned.
“Baby, don’t start.”
Jamal laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“Are you staying?”
Jamal looked at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Yeah.”
Andre’s entire face changed.
It was such a small thing.
Just a smile.
But Jamal knew Andre well enough to see how much that answer meant.
“Yeah?” Andre asked.
“Yeah.”
“All night?”
“All night.”
Andre kissed his forehead.
“Good.”
Jamal smiled against his chest.
It still surprised him sometimes.
How much Andre appreciated the smallest things.
Jamal had spent so much of his life around wealth that expensive things rarely felt extraordinary anymore.
Cars.
Watches.
Designer clothes.
Private dinners.
Vacations.
Luxury.
He had grown up surrounded by all of it.
But Andre?
Andre could make a night together feel like the greatest gift in the world.
And Jamal was slowly learning that effort mattered more than extravagance.
He was still thinking about that when Andre suddenly reached toward the floor beside the bed.
“Wait.”
Jamal lifted his head.
“What?”
Andre reached for his bag.
“What are you doing?”
“I got something for you.”
Jamal immediately sat up.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Dre, what is that?”
Andre pulled out a small box.
Jamal stared at it.
“Dre.”
“Open it.”
Jamal took the box carefully.
“You bought me something?”
“Open it, baby.”
Jamal smiled as he lifted the lid.
And then he froze.
Inside was a beautiful charm bracelet.
It was delicate but masculine enough to suit him, made with polished metal and tiny details that caught the light.
But what made Jamal’s heart stop were the two charms.
An A.
And a J.
His fingers trembled slightly as he touched them.
“A and J,” Andre said softly. “Andre and Jamal.”
Jamal looked up.
For a second, he couldn’t speak.
“Dre…”
Andre smiled.
“Happy fourth anniversary, baby.”
Jamal’s mouth fell open.
“Oh my God.”
Andre laughed.
“You forgot.”
“I—”
Jamal looked back at the bracelet.
“I forgot.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Oh my God.”
He covered his face with one hand.
Andre laughed again.
“I can’t believe you remembered.”
“Of course I remembered.”
“But I didn’t.”
“I know.”
Jamal looked at him, suddenly overwhelmed.
Four years.
Four years since the beginning.
Four years of stolen moments.
Four years of phone calls.
Four years of arguments and apologies.
Four years of learning each other.
Four years of loving a man who had never stopped choosing him, even when Jamal made that choice difficult.
And Andre remembered.
Of course he remembered.
Andre always remembered the little things.
Jamal looked down at the bracelet again.
“You really got this for me?”
Andre nodded.
“I wanted you to have something that reminded you of us.”
Jamal swallowed.
“You are so ridiculous.”
“That’s not a thank-you.”
Jamal leaned forward and wrapped both arms around him.
“Thank you.”
Andre held him tightly.
“You’re welcome.”
Jamal closed his eyes.
“I love you.”
Andre kissed the side of his head.
“I love you too.”
For several minutes, neither of them said anything.
They simply held each other.
And somehow, that meant more than any expensive gift ever could.
Later that night, Jamal stayed exactly where he had promised.
He didn’t sneak out.
He didn’t make excuses.
He didn’t check the time every twenty minutes.
He simply stayed.
He fell asleep with Andre’s arm around him and the bracelet resting on the nightstand beside them.
For once, there was no fear attached to tomorrow.
Just sleep.
Just warmth.
Just them.
⸻
The next morning, Jamal woke to the smell of food.
He opened his eyes slowly.
The other side of the bed was empty.
“Dre?”
No answer.
Jamal frowned and sat up.
Then Andre walked into the bedroom carrying a tray.
Jamal blinked.
“What are you doing?”
“Good morning.”
Andre placed the tray carefully across his lap.
Breakfast.
Coffee.
Fruit.
Toast.
Eggs.
Everything arranged neatly.
Jamal stared at him.
“You made me breakfast?”
Andre shrugged.
“You’re staying in bed.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Jamal smiled.
“You really know how to treat me like a princess.”
Andre leaned down and kissed his forehead.
“I’ve always known.”
Jamal looked at him.
There it was again.
That feeling.
That simple, quiet happiness.
He reached for Andre’s hand.
“Come here.”
Andre sat beside him.
Jamal leaned against his shoulder.
The bracelet was still on the nightstand.
He reached over, picked it up, and fastened it around his wrist.
The A and J rested against his skin.
Andre watched him.
“Looks good.”
Jamal smiled.
“Very good.”
“You like it?”
“I love it.”
Andre kissed his temple.
Jamal looked at the bracelet again.
A.
J.
Two letters.
Four years.
One love.
And for the first time in a long time, Jamal allowed himself to imagine that maybe this could be more than stolen nights.
Maybe one day, he wouldn’t have to find clever excuses to stay.
Maybe one day, staying with Andre would simply be normal.
For now, though, he had this morning.
This bed.
This man.
This bracelet.
And the quiet happiness filling his chest.
Jamal smiled.
“Feed me.”
Andre laughed.
“You’re spoiled.”
“By you.”
“Definitely.”
And Jamal didn’t argue.
Because he was.
Completely.
Happily.
And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
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