"I'm glad we were all able to make it today." Micah's therapist, Vivian, smiled wide as she joined us in the small conference room.

It was a little after eight in the morning and it seemed like we were all tired except for Vivian and Micah.

"So, we've been talking about Micah getting out of here next month. How is everyone feeling about that?" She looked over at Miracle with a raised eyebrow, motioning for her to go first.

This was how most of our meetings with Micah and Vivian went. We'd go over some of the things she talked to Micah about the week prior and give us all a chance to express how we feel about the topic at hand and we'd end with Micah's thoughts and feelings. It wasn't a conventional therapy session but it worked for us.

"I'm excited to have him back home. I'll be going to the 10th grade next year and having him home would make the transition less stressful. I'm trying out for the volleyball team next year too, so I'd love to have him there in the stands supporting me and cheering me on." Miracle smiled at her dad.

Next there was Micah Jr. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't need him back home. I mean, my aunt and uncle are doing a great job at making sure we're okay and I don't want it to seem like I feel any way other than that but I'm a growing man going into my senior year and I need you there pops. I need you there all the way too, without the drugs clouding your mind. I miss you man; I miss the time we spent together. I miss helping you out down at the real estate office and cleaning all those damn model homes man." He chuckled a little and shook his head. "Next month can't come fast enough," he admitted while holding back tears.

"Well even though I'm grown and I'm not your kid, I need you home too big bro." Moriah chuckled. "You are my voice of reason, you remind me that there is a bigger picture outside of the life I used to live. I'm not trying to die a party animal and you would always ask me that whenever I'd tell you about my wild nights and the different chicks I was dealing with. I'm trying to settle down and look at life differently but it would mean more if you were out of here, at home, so I could drop by and come bitch to you about my girl not acting right or shit bro, just anything. I miss you man. And I'm ready for you to get the hell up out of here," Moriah ended, causing us all to laugh a little.

"Okay, Marley?" Vivian motioned for me to speak.

"Well, I guess I feel more like the kids do about this situation. I don't have a good relationship with Mom and Dad and you've been the closest thing to a parental figure in my life for the past eight years now and I can't stand not having you around. Now I'm not just saying this because you've literally made sure I was set for life." I giggled. "I'm saying this because I miss you. I love you and to be honest I need you. I need you every day I wake up. That's why I call every morning; hearing your voice, knowing that you're okay makes my day go smooth. It gives me the strength I need to get up and care for MJ and Miracle in your absence. Having you home won't take away all of our problems including your own but having you home will make it easier for all of us to help each other make it through. I understand that you needed this time to heal and get healthy again and I respect that but this month can't go by fast enough." I laughed as he pulled me into a side hug.

"Micah, care to tell your family how you feel about coming home next month?"

"Well, Marley you already know, I had my doubts a few weeks back." I nodded. "I've had time to think about why I was afraid and hesitant about coming back and being back in the real world and I realized it was natural for me to be nervous but in recognizing that I couldn't allow fear to take over my emotions and come home doubting myself. I've lived without drugs before and I can do it again. I was lucky enough to have a great team working for me down at the real estate office. I mean we haven't been having any problems and my manager along with my assistant have been keeping everything in check. I'm going to come home and go to all of your games princess." He looked over at Miracle. "I'm going to make sure you have a whole list of houses to clean when I get back home too Jr." He chuckled.

"We're going to be a stronger unit when I get out of here. I'm never going to turn my back on any of you. Moriah, Marley, y'all might as well be my damn kids because everything I'd do for MJ and Miracle, I'm already doing for y'all and it's going to stay that way. You four are my world. Without y'all and of course Marlow even though she's not here, I wouldn't have anything. I'm sorry for letting y'all down. I'm sorry for not coming to y'all when I was at my weakest all out of fear of letting you see me at such a low point. I know now that that's what we're here for; to keep each other's head above water. Moving forward I'm going to do everything in my power to keep this structure as strong as it was before Diana left us, before I forgot that I have you all here to love and care for. I can't quit on us again and I'll be damned if I do. When I come home, I'm home for good," he finished while looking at all of us through teary eyes.

By the end of our session there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even Vivian had shed a few tears during our talk and I think this talk is what we all needed. I needed to know that Micah was confident in coming back home again. I needed to know he wasn't going to back track and go back to what put him in here in the first place. I was definitely looking forward to the next month and what life would bring us in the next few months after Micah came back home.

"So y'all legit spent the whole weekend together?" Lola asked while pulling me into my office at the salon.

"Not the way you're thinking. I slept at my house and he slept at his house. We just spent Saturday celebrating his birthday and he spent Sunday thanking me for Saturday." I smirked.

"Y'all fucking already?!" she asked bluntly.

"No whore, you know me better than that. His mom had Isabella for the weekend, so he invited me over to his house for lunch. After lunch he gave me a full body massage and my bra and panties stayed on the entire time," I mentioned before she got any ideas.

"He had those hands all over you and you didn't give him the box?"

"Damn Lola, we're only dating. Like, he's not even my boyfriend. We're technically allowed to date other people without getting mad at each other." I laughed and shook my head. "I thanked him, cooked dinner for us and the kids. MJ picked Miracle and Bella up and we all ate at Eli's house before we went home."

"I'm all for moving slow and all that but damn." Lola sighed. "Oh and thanks a lot bitch! Thanks to you going all out for Elijah's birthday, Sean's ass is expecting some next shit from me this year. Remind me to cut you when you get to work," she joked.

"Shut up and Sean should know I'm like that with everyone on their birthday."

"Yeah, no Marley. I mean you're a beast with the birthday gifts but Sean told me what you did and that on top of the gifts you picked up for him from the mall, you dropped at least three stacks on that man for his birthday."

"Okay and I sent you and Sean to Paris last year for your birthday. How much do you think that cost me?"

"Where the hell are you getting all this damn money from?!" She laughed into the phone.

"It's not as much as it seems. I literally only have to pay for my utilities at home and Micah handles the bills here at the salon, not to mention it's paid off. I have a savings account for when I finally start a family and I have a little bit saved up that I use to spoil my loved ones with."

"Yeah whatever. I need you to teach me how to manage my money, seriously."

"I got you. I mean Sean would kill you if he found out you were trying to pay a bill or something so it really shouldn't be that hard to start a savings account and start putting some money away for your wedding and my god babes." I giggled while she eyed me.

"You got an appointment in like five minutes, get out of my face. I'm trying to ask you for legit guidance and your ass over here talking nonsense."

"Whatever, remember Sean talks to me. If anyone knows what he has planned for you two, it's me." I smirked while leaving the office.

I don't know why Lola wanted to act like she didn't know Sean wanted to marry her mean ass. Not to mention he talks about kids every chance he gets. It's no secret, he's in love with her and he's not trying to let her get away from him again. I personally loved their relationship despite their ups and downs. They made it out stronger than before and if you ask me that's what makes a relationship; knowing you can survive the hard times with each other and come out of the situation together. I personally couldn't see Lola with anyone else and it was the same with Sean, so I was all here for the wedding and babies. I'm ready for it, actually.

Once I was done with my first client, I took a walk since everyone else was busy. Hell, even Lola was in the back with a lady who wanted permanent eyeliner and some beauty marks done by her. That's what I meant by Lola brought in extra money to the shop; she was going to make money wherever she went and could probably make more money outside of the shop but the fact that she was blessing my shop with her talents made it easy for me to make her my business partner. She was a real one for sure.

In the middle of working on my client's nails, in walked Elijah, like clockwork, dressed in his navy blue auto mechanic one piece. The sight alone had me clenching my thighs together. The man was a sight to see, something about seeing him all grungy in his work clothes made me want to jump on him though. See, thing is I kind of always felt this way, the only difference is I could express my feelings now without sounding like a creep or at least not care about sounding like a creep.

"That man literally looks good in anything," Nia, one of the nail techs shook her head and eyed Elijah.

I shot a nasty look in her direction before placing my attention back on Elijah who was grinning extra hard. I know he caught the look I gave Nia.

"What's up mama," he greeted me before bending down to kiss my cheek.

"Nothing, I know you're here for lunch but it's going to take me another 30 minutes to finish her nails," I said motioning to my client.

Eli gave the girl a polite nod before putting his attention back on me.

"Aight well, how about I go pick the food up and we eat in your office or some shit."

"You're not worried about getting back to work?"

"Ma, that's my damn shop, they'll be fine without me." He smirked on his way out of the salon. "I'll be back."

I couldn't stop grinning if I tried.

"Your man is fine as shit," the teenage girl said while turning back to look at me.

"He is, isn't he?" I smirked and went back to filing the acrylic down on her nails.

It felt good to not have to deny my attraction to Elijah because I'm sure a few of the ladies here were ready to get me checked out if I denied it any longer. No one in here knew about my status with him other than Lola and I kind of wanted to keep it that way. Not that I didn't trust the girls here, I just didn't want them in my business and now Elijah had officially become my business, even if we were just dating.

As promised, he was back damn near as soon as I finished my client's nails. He had picked me up a vegan pizza with actual vegan cheese this time causing me to laugh at Micah's reaction to my cheeseless pizza. The first few minutes in my office were spent with me letting him know how the therapy session with Micah went this morning. After catching him up he went on to tell me he was supposed to go visit Micah tomorrow and that made me feel warm on the inside knowing that they were really growing a little bond.

"Aye so you ready for this first date I got set up for us?" he asked, taking a bite into his gyro.

"I'm ready." I nodded with a smirk. "Are you going to tell me what we're doing?"

He looked at me like I was crazy and laughed loudly.

"Nah, I'm not giving you a chance to shut me down. It's going to be fun and to be fair it's completely out of my comfort zone."

"When is it?" I perked up waiting for his answer.

"Friday night. I was thinking Thursday but knowing your ass you don't want to miss work, so I signed us up for Friday."

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow taking in his choice of words...sign us up? What the hell did this man have planned? Like it better not be some next shit or else I swear we're fighting.

Instead of questioning him any further I just nodded my head and went back to my pizza.

"C'mere ma." Elijah motioned for me to come over to him while wiping his face and hands with a napkin.

"What you want Eli?" I asked with a smirk, getting up to make my way over to him.

"I tell you how good you look today?" he asked while pulling me down on his lap.

"You kind of did just now." I giggled while getting comfortable.

"Mmm well, you look good as fuck," his deep voice vibrated through me while he ran his hand down my thigh.

I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes, reminding myself that no matter how long it's been since I've had sex, it would be completely wrong for me to jump this man's bones inside my office right now. He used his index finger to turn my head towards him. I don't know what it was but when our eyes met, I lost it. I mean, I attacked this man's lips as if my life depended on it. He was all over me and I was not letting up on him. Every now and then he'd break the kiss to suck or bite my neck and it was almost as if he knew exactly what to do to my body. He knew me too well. Making out with this man shouldn't have me picking out wedding colors in my head but he was just that damn perfect.

In no time, I was straddling him and tonguing him down as if we were not at my place of employment. I mean yeah it was my shop but still, this wasn't right. Not to mention it was too soon for my little hot ass to be in here trying to get in this man's pants.

Elijah let out a low grunt and palmed my ass, before standing up with me still wrapped around him. When he sat me down on my desk, I just knew he was about to give my ass the business right here in my damn office but what I didn't expect was for him to break the kiss and step away from me.

"Damn Marley," he huffed while rubbing his hand down his face.

"Okay so that wasn't supposed to happen," I said while playing with my nails, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Nah, what was about to happen next wasn't supposed to happen, so I'm going to carry my ass to work before I go back on all that moving slow shit and give my moms another grandkid," he said, causing me to giggle.

"Goodbye Elijah." I looked up from my nails and smiled at him.

"I'll see you later ma." He returned my smile and left the office.

Almost as if she could tell I was in here misbehaving, Lola's ass entered not even 2 minutes after he left.

"Shut up Lola." I laughed and shook my head.

"Nah bitch, why Eli just leave out of here with your lipstick all over him and why your brown ass sitting in here with hickies all over your neck."

"Stop lying!" My eyes damn near fell out of socket when I pulled my compact mirror out and saw just what Lola was talking about. "Oh, my word, I'm going to need you to get some make up or something and help me cover this up. Last thing I need is for Miracle or MJ to see this shit."

"Sis, you're grown. Plus, they know all about you and Eli wanting each other. Shit they knew before you and Eli knew. If anything, Miracle's ass is going to throw a party and MJ is going to hit me up for that $50 he bet me on." She shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little bit.

"Y'all ain't shit, I mean not even a little bit." I shook my head while inspecting my neck.

"So..."

"So what?" I looked up at her with my nose turned up.

"Did y'all fuck or nah?"

"Lola get out!" I balled a napkin up and tossed it at her head while she slipped out of my office door.

After cleaning my office my phone started going off. I rolled my eyes and smirked when I saw it was a Facetime call from Elijah's annoying ass.

"What do you want, sir?" I asked causing him to chuckle.

"Yooo." He let out an obnoxious laugh and pointed in the camera. I knew he was talking about the hickies.

"Okay one, you're childish as fuck for that and two, why do I feel like you did this shit on purpose?" I eyed him.

"Nah it really wasn't on purpose. You just taste so damn good." He smirked into the camera.

"You're an asshole." I mugged him.

"Let me make it up to you." He licked his lips and leaned back in his seat.

"No Elijah, you're too damn tempting and I'm not trying to be in a room alone with you for at least another week." I couldn't help but laugh at my damn self.

"So, you want me?" He smirked.

"What do you want?" I asked while sitting down in my office chair.

"You," he replied simply with a sly smile on his face.

"Slow and steady," I reminded him.

"That how you want it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. His deep voice sent chills down my spine.

"Okay and now, I hang up." I laughed before hanging up the phone.

I shouldn't have kissed him; I remembered him telling me it had been well over a year since he'd had any kind of sexual contact with a woman and I knew it had to be hard. Shit, it was hard enough for me to behave after two months. I mean, I knew that if we got serious, sex would soon come but in the same vein, we were both grown ass adults. I knew he wasn't fucking with anyone else and neither was I. What was the real point behind waiting to give him the cookie? I mean, we were friends before anything and as a friend I knew he was backed up and needed a good stroke or two. Shit, so did I.

I shook myself out of my thoughts and decided to call it a day. It was getting late and I didn't want to be here any longer, the sooner I got home the sooner I could talk myself out of going to Elijah's house and giving him every damn thing, he needed from my ass.

"Bitch, where the hell did you disappear to? You better not tell me you went to give that man some ass," Lola's voice hummed through my car. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"No, I'm going home and getting ready for bed and before you say anything, yes I know it's only 6:25 but I'm trying to stay out of trouble and every bone in my body wants to..."

"Bone Elijah's fine ass, yes bitch I know."

"Be real with me Lola, that's hella hoeish isn't it?" I sighed while merging onto the highway.

"I mean if that's how you see it. I see it as two consenting adults fulfilling each other's needs."

"Ugh, of course you'd say that." I shook my head. "I don't know. I want to Lord knows, I want to but we just agreed to date. How the hell am I going to give it up before the first date. I let him get it that easy and it's like well, what's the point of trying to win her over. Hell, why make her mine if she's already willing to give me the pussy."

"I feel you, even though we both know Eli isn't like that. I feel you, so what's the move? How are you going to play this out?" Lola asked.