I watch Essence sleep with her hair covering half her face. She looked so peaceful as she slept. kissing her forehead and went to do my hygiene routine. I decided to head to the kitchen to make us breakfast. I didn't have class for the day but I knew she did. Essence was picky about break so I just made us some grits and bacon with some fruit. I leaned against the counter scrolling through IG waiting on the food to finish. I decided to post a picture of Essence and end the rumors once and for all. Its been going for almost a month and I felt like I could finally clear the air.

She's mine and I love it 🤤😍 My best friend became my girlfriend 😉 No need to question it anymore 😏 THATS ALL ME #MyQueen #MySquishy #ForeverMyLady #BaeWatch

...

I smiled at the post before going back to the stove. Just as I was gone I felt Essence chest against my back as her arms wrapped around me.

"So that's how you feel" she kissed my bare back

"You know it" I turned around and kissed her "Good morning baby"

"Good morning"

We got our food and headed back to my room to eat. Everyone was already headed to campus but my boys had a habit of coming back home whenever they felt like it and I didn't want to be bothered with them. We ate and watched tv as we always did when she spent the night. She had already called and checked on the twins before they went to school so there was nothing to distract us.

"Baby" she called

"Yeah"

"I just wanted to call you baby" she laughed "I can't call you that"

"Why?"

"Feel weird" she shrugged "I'll stick with bae or baecon"

"That's fine with me baby" I kissed her "You okay?"

"Yeah" she sighed

"Nope" I turned off the tv "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing I promise" she tried to smile again but it didn't reach her eyes "Trust me"

"I do but I also know you"

She chuckled "How about this? You go with me somewhere, no questions, and I'll tell you what's on my mind when we leave"

"Don't you got class?"

"I'm not going this week. I already told all my professors"

"Ess seriously what's wrong?"

"Pharaoh you gotta trust me"

"Fine"

"Go put on a shirt"

"We going now?"

"Yep"

She got up and put on her sneakers to match her casual leggings and a t-shirt. I decided to keep on my sweats and put on a shirt as well. Once we were done, I grab my stuff and we headed to her truck.

We road in the car singing and laughing until I noticed we were leaving Atlanta. I turned off the radio and turn to face her as she drove.

"Yo we only been official for a couple hours. I don't think I've done anything worthy of death"

She laughed looking at me "I said no question bae. You just gotta trust me. And no I'm not going to kill you"

"That's what you tell me. Just know my brother and Cole got my location, and I told my momma I was with you"

"I hate you" she pushed me "It's not that serious. I just want you to meet somebody"

"Who?"

"Just got to sleep, damn" she turn the music back on shaking her head

I leaned over and kissed her before getting back comfortable in my seat. If Essence said just ride then I definitely was gone trust her with where we were going. We talked some more about random things for a while, then we just listen to music as she drove. I decided to play random games on my phone but before I could open the app I got a text from Harmony.

I shook my head before turning off my phone. I wasn't about to entertain Harmony's bullshit.

"What's wrong?" Essence caressed my cheek "You huffing over there so speak up"

"I don't even want to get into it right now"

"We can talk about it later if you want" I felt the car slowing down "We here"

I looked around and saw the sign for Phillips State Prison. I didn't speak, but I looked at her with my eyebrow raised to show every bit of confusion.

"Wha---"

"A year ago... a year ago I was in the hospital holding my moms hand watching her take her last breath. I don't want to spend today crying about her. I want to be happy and spend the day with you... and my father"

"Damn baby" I grabbed her hand "Why didn't you tell me? I could've---"

"I've been trying not to think about it but" she paused looking at me "I want you to meet my father Pharaoh"

"He's here?"

She nodded without looking at me.

"How long he been locked up?"

"Since I was sixteen"

"Damn"

"I'll explain more once we leave. I can only spend 4 hours with him"

"Okay baby"

"He can come off intimidating and he's a ting rude... but he knows about you so he should be relatively nice"

I nodded before kissing her "I got you baby"

She smiled before we got out the car and headed inside the prison. I had never seen this side of life. I mean my father had clients who went to jail from time to time, but never prison. The only person I knew that even experienced this was Cole's dad, who visited his younger brother. He never talked about it though. Essence however seemed so comfortable. I watched the process of being searched and everything, feeling awkward only to look over at her and it seem like nothing.

Eventual we were done getting check in and were taken to an empty room, waiting for her father to come. It didn't take long for a man to be lead into the room by a guard. The door was closed before Essence jumped up and ran to him. She jumped in his arms and he held her close. I could hear her crying and my heart broke knowing it had to be hard to lose your mother and your father be in jail.

They held their embrace for a minute before he looked up and his eyes landed on me. He kissed her head before saying something to her and letting her go. She grabbed his hand and walked him over to me. I stood up once they were in arms reach.

"Papi this is Pharaoh. Rao this is my dad Hortio Sundae"

"Nice to meet you Mr---"

He grabbed my out stretched hand and pulled me into a bro hug with his first against my back.

"Thanks for taking care of my daughter young buck. I appreciate that" he let me go "And everybody calls me Sunny"

"Papi you can't be grabbing people like that" Essence pulled me back "Gone have him scared"

"He aint scared"

"But---"

"I'm good Ess"

"Come on" her dad smiled "Let me talk about Ess as a little girl"

"Papi!"

We all sat down and her dad told stories about him and her mother when they had her as teenagers. It was amazing hearing about how he started his business from nothing. Essence was tearful sometimes but for the most part she smiled and enjoy reminiscing with her father.

"Papi" Essence grabbed my hand under the table "I did want to tell you something"

"What is it?" He raised he eyebrow

"Pharaoh is my best friend... but now we're... together"

I gave a closed lip smile at Essence before looking at Mr. Sunny who had a blank face. He shifted in his seat before he sighed.

"Sunshine you're grown and have to make adult choices... including relationship and dating. As long as you're safe and happy I'm good"

"Of course papi"

"And you" he looked at me "Just know I'll protect my daughter at any cost"

"Papi—"

"No he needs to hear this. I'm not trying to scare you youngin... but I want you to know the reality of what I'll do for mine. You hurt her... I'll hurt you"

"I understand. I'm not going to hurt her Mr. Sunny. She's too special to me"

Before he could respond, the door open and a guard stepped inside. He signaled to Essence's dad who stood up. Essence immediately followed, hugging him tightly. I could hear her sniffling trying to hold in her tears. He kissed her head before releasing her. He nodded to me and I grabbed her holding her close.

Essence cried in my arms for a minute, breaking my heart before she calmed down enough to walk out. When we got to the car, I made sure to take the drivers seat so she could chill. She didn't really talk much so I just turned on her favorite playlist of mine and drove in silence. We stopped and got food half way home, but she barely ate and fell a sleep shortly after.

Since she was asleep, I took her phone to call Mazi. He had the twins for the day and I wanted to take them out with us. He was cool about it and even thanked me for the idea. I drove to urban air just thinking about Essence and all that I didn't know about her. It amazed me that we go so far but still had so much to learn about each other... but I was ready to learn it all.