her.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who's an only child, didn't have many friends growing up, and didn't have any family members close to her age. she was her only friend.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who part of her discipline comes from having a strict mother. her father was hardly home, always working late or out of town for a business trip, but he kept their lights on, mouths fed, and pockets full. with her father always gone, her mother had to take on both roles, making sure her grades were up to par and that she stayed in her ballet classes. she wasn't allowed to quit, her mother was going to make it her mission for her daughter to be the best of the best even if it meant she had to be the bad guy.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who is blunt. her mother always told her to be straightforward and honest, people shouldn't play games or lie.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who hardly has time for romance because ballet is her entire life, but when she does, she runs a strict program. she doesn't have time for her heart to be broken, or for the games that people play. commit to her or leave her alone.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who was raised in the city. which means, she's not only book smart, but also street smart.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who's apartment is so clean it looks like it's not even lived in.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who is a very loyal friend. she may not have had many friends as a child, but her adult friendships are important to her and she wouldn't trade them for anything.

ᝰ.ᐟ ballerina!reader... who finds joy in the simple things of life. when her life isn't consumed by ballet, she's curled up on her couch reading a book while one of her favorite records plays in the background. strolling through the park and having a picnic after. walking through a museum, entranced by the exhibits. all done by herself, sometimes she's accompanied by a friend or two.

dividers: @/cursed-carmine

His mind sifted through things but it wasn’t hard. If it wasn’t the bar or his family, you always occupied Ledger’s mind.

You weren’t drunk at all when he reminisced on meeting you the first time. Not drunk, just sad. He memorized your smile and your laugh.

He didn’t allow your decision to be distant to make his mind forget about you, even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to. You were far too memorable.

Still he answered: “Not in a while, thankfully.. everything’s been really good”

Scotty nodded, taking a scoop of his ice cream from the plastic spoon. “I’m happy for you, Ledger, I really am”

Except Ledger Ward knew his best friend. He could feel how somber the man was despite trying to be supportive. Ledger frowned softly.

“Is everything okay with you? You seem down, ‘s not like you, Scott”

Scotty shrugged his shoulders, letting off another sigh, “I don’t know…”

“Sure you do, it’s just a matter of wanting to talk about it.. Do you wanna talk about it? You don’t have to if you don’t want to”

Scotty stared down at his cold bowl, twirling and swirling the plastic spoon through the thick, softly melting custard.

“Have you ever felt unhappy with yourself at different points of your life? I’m not talking a fleeting feeling or thought but genuinely unhappy?”

Maybe it was a white lie to get Scotty to keep talking but Ledger nodded. Truthfully, life had been pretty good for him so far— even being retired from the league, he still found himself out of a small hole of depression. But life felt livable. He never felt unhappy. Ever.

“For sure I have” Ledger feigned, “I take it you’re feeling the same way.. now?”

Scotty nodded, he finally sat the ice cream bowl down on the table. He gave Ledger a somber once over.

“You’re my best friend, Ledge, so I trust you won’t repeat this until I’m ready to do it but…” Ledger’s heart raced in anticipation, “‘m gonna be a Dad”

Ledger’s eyes almost bugged out of his head, his body leaned forward in surprise.

“Scotty, I didn’t even know you were dating— congrat— dude, this is fucking huge, holy shit!”

Except Scotty’s body language didn’t look the same as Ledger’s at all. He swallowed.

“Why aren’t you excited? This is good, right?”

“What do you define as good?” Rhetorical. “I just… I’m not in a good place at all with her— with my g-girlfriend”

“In what way?” Ledger pressed.

“The baby is mine but it’s not… from her” Scotty peered into his best friend’s eyes, Ledger didn’t need much to get caught on.

“You cheated on her, Scott?” The dirty blonde nodded shamefully, his head dipping into his hands, fingers threading through his hair.

Ledger made out the sounds of soft sobs coming from his best friend.

“I just… I’m such a fuckin idiot, man. We’d just been fighting so much, arguing over small shit.. most of it my fault.. a-and I slipped up. I slipped up and cheated”

Ledger nodded but it wasn’t to understand Scotty. Truthfully, he was disappointed. He always bragged on Scotty being a great man. Great, trustworthy, honest, respectful.

Right now, Ledger wasn’t seeing any of those traits. But he tried his best not to judge him.

“Does she know?”

Scotty again nodded. “She cursed me out like I deserved but… after that she went radio silent on me and not in the way I was expecting. She’s so calm as if it didn’t happen and it’s scary”

Ledger frowned softly, wiping a hand down the side of his face and letting out a breath.

“I want to make it up to her but I also have to think about my kid and being there for them. I haven’t been a good man, Ledger, I might as well start now”

“I’m saying this as your best friend of many years but how confident are you that this is your kid? Let alone this person is telling the truth?”

Though somber, Scotty sobered up a little. “Because it wasn’t like a one night stand, we’ve been seeing each other for a little bit. It was the reason my girlfriend and I started fighting in the first place. I know I’m the father”

The air went quiet between the friends. Both on two different pages but trying to keep love at the center. Ledger Ward didn’t know how to feel.

“If you had to choose, sticky situation aside, who would you choose?”

Taking a deep breath that reverberated throughout his body, Scotty squared his shoulders.

“My girlfriend” Scotty murmured, “I wish I knew why I am the way I am but she’s been with me through it all. It would be her”

And with the many things Ledger Ward heard at Genni’s Creamery, that was the one thing that made the most sense.

“Can you just tell me where you’re going, Chiara? This isn’t making any sense”

Michelle Cassidy watched her best friend from her cross legged position on the bed. She held a stuffed animal in her lap and caressed it nervously.

Chiara Elaine Batiste sat at Michelle’s vanity, straightening the freshly blown out mane. She’d just ran the straighteners through one final time before declaring herself finished.

After that, she put the respective tools away and began getting dressed. All black as the evening as showing its face. Slim fitting dark jeans, a regular black tank top, a black throw on jacket, and the kicker? Black combat boots.

Seeing you getting ready wasn’t necessarily the issue, it was the fact that this added to your odd behavior since Michelle Cassidy was informed of the worst.

Your boyfriend had a baby on the way by another woman.

If Michelle had it her way, she’d snap her fingers and your boyfriend would have his dick ripped off of his body.

It was the way Michelle would’ve been the one to walk you through said emotional storm and reassure you… except, you’d been doing that already.

Self regulation?

You continued getting ready, “I just have to go run an errand… take care of something, it won’t take long”

Even your tone was soft but stoic. Warm but stone cold. You said it so Michelle wouldn’t question you further.

But you clearly didn’t know your best friend that well.

“W-what errand? Take care of what? Can I come with you at least—“

“No” you immediately shut down. Michelle sighed.

“Chiara… is this about Scotty?”

You wouldn’t let it show but your body froze for a moment, almost like a bucket of ice was just tossed down your back. Still you readied yourself, applying lip liner and clear gloss.

“I just wanna talk to him, Michelle. Is that a crime?”

Michelle took a quiet breath, gripping her stuffed animal.

“Is talking all you plan to do?”

You giggled, “if you’re worried about me falling back into his advances, then don’t be. This is the most clearheaded I’ve ever been about Scotty and I want nothing to do with him. I just want to give him one last time to explain himself… for my comfort..”

Michelle swallowed, “it’s not that I’m worried about, Chiara”

Both women went quiet. For the first time, Chiara peered at Michelle through the mirror, her gaze softly darkened. For the first time in the friendship, Michelle could see the look in your eyes and it was one she didn’t recognize.

Call it a gut feeling.

“What is it that you’re worried about, Michelle?” You tilted your head, “you think I’m gonna kill him?”

Michelle Cassidy really didn’t want to say it. Because saying it would confirm that she didn’t know her best friend like she thought.

Suddenly you let out a loud laugh. It was your typical belly laugh in the tone that Michelle had always heard except she wasn’t comforted by it.

“Come on, Michelle, when have you known me to be homicidal?”

“I’m telling you, man, there’s no way LeBron’s record is getting broken. I don’t care what superhuman they put up against him, it’s not happening!”

Ledger spoke through his laugh, softly tossing his head back against the cushion of Scotty’s passenger seat.

“Do you seriously think so? You don’t think there’s someone out there that the NBA is cooking up to beat this man?”

The car made a soft hum against the asphalt of the highway. The trees were thick and placed beautifully, decorated with the greenest of leaves. The sky was turning softly into the evening.

“Hell no, Ledger, hell no. They might get close but it’ll never be enough, I just know it”

“You think your kid will love basketball as much as you?”

Since the news had been disclosed and his somewhat ill feelings, Scotty finally smiled at the thought. He shrugged.

“Hopefully, I don’t know who else I’d talk to about this”

Ledger also shrugged, “what about your girlfriend? She’s not into sports?”

Scotty shook his head vigorously making Ledger chuckle. “She wouldn’t be caught dead”

Ledger only shook his head, inside the car went silent. Soft, comfortable, but prying. Still looking out the windows, Ledger did just that.

“So tell me about this girlfriend. How come I’ve never heard about her, known her, met her, everything. What’s the deal?”

Scotty kept his sigh quiet, the smile that was on his face just gently faltering. He shrugged.

“Well” he began, “I’ve known her for a while now and we kind of clicked right away. She’s um.. she’s a really private person so.. I just wanted to be respectful of her preferences when it came to her meeting the special people in my life. She hasn’t even met my parents yet. I think it’s a matter of making sure she’s comfortable, y’know?”

Ledger nodded, “d’you think she’ll want to after all of this? I mean, it sounds like you still care about her and you want to be with her but how does she feel?”

Scotty bit the inside of his cheek, changing hands on the steering wheel to nervously run a hand down the side of his face.

“I tried to talk to her after she found out— after I told her. She was too busy on a night out on the town, she didn’t want to hear a word I had to say. I don’t blame her. She blocked me and ghosted me for almost three weeks. I’d go through her friend to check on her.. told me she was seeing some guy at the time… my karma, I guess”

Something in Ledger Ward perked up a little but he hid it well. His face rested against the cool window, taking in the view. But his mind raced.

Why was this sounding so familiar?

“She was seeing a guy?” Ledger echoed, a soft frown to his brows.

“That’s what her friend told me.. also told me to kick rocks and leave her be, said I should be with my real family instead of her. But then she unblocks me after those 3 weeks and we try to work it out… that’s when she goes radio silent”

Though Ledger was a busy man through and through, he never forgot about you. You— Chiara Elaine Batiste.

Ledger hadn’t had a real girlfriend in a while but the time he spent with you could’ve qualified enough for him to ask you out.

3 weeks.

You’d never told him in real detail why you were putting space between you two. It just happened, you just had to let him down gently.

3 weeks you spent together. 3 weeks full of his greatest moments with a woman. 3 weeks he listened to you talk about a guy you never named once. 3 weeks he heard your cries and complaints, he was always there to wipe your tears and kiss your head.

3 weeks…

No, this couldn’t be—

“W-what’s her name, Scott?” Ledger inquired, his frown now deepening.

Just as Scotty opened his mouth and ready to lie to his best friend, a background music on the car’s stereo aux suddenly ceased. A sign that someone was calling.

‘Chiara’ is calling’….

Scotty immediately pressed at the screen, ending the call. But Ledger saw it already, his heart sank.

He opened his mouth but the air was cut through again by a call.

‘Chiara’ is calling’….

The dirty blonde once again ended the call.

“You’re you” Ledger breathed out, now sitting up straighter in his seat and turning towards Scotty.

Scotty frowned, “what do you mean?”

‘Chiara’ is calling’….

“You.. I-I know her… and she told me all about you”

Scotty looked taken aback, “Chiara? My Chiara? How the hell do you know my girlfriend?”

But before Ledger could respond, the weight of the car was suddenly jerked and harshly hit from behind, sending it a bit haphazardly on the road. Both men fell forward in their seats, Scotty quickly gained control.

“What the fuck?!” Scotty coughed out. Both men looking through the respective mirrors. Scotty glanced through his rear view mirror, Ledger looked behind through the window, a car closely trailed Scotty’s truck.

They gulped, going pale. Though Scotty looked paler. Panic set within the energy of the vehicle, Scotty pressing on the gas pedal harder to try to create space.

“Chiara” they said in sync.

“How do you know it’s her?” Ledger asked.

“I know her car. How do you know it’s her?” Scotty pressed.

“I’ve been in her car”

Scotty once again opted to press his best friend but you rammed him once again, a lot harder this time. The men once again jerked forward.

“Fuck!” Ledger winced, “t-try to get away from her or something! Do something!”

“You don’t think I’m trying?!” Scotty yelled back, his foot pressing even harder on the gas. “This road only goes straight, I can’t fucking turn anywhere unless of the road—“

“Then go off the road—“

Another hard hit into Scotty’s car had the worst happening. Scotty’s face hit the steering wheel, nose first. His foot slipped off and onto the brakes, except the car wasn’t stopping at all.

Blood pooled from his nostrils as he glanced over at Ledger, foot desperately hitting the brake pedal.

“M-my brakes aren’t working— Ledger, fuck! My fucking brakes aren’t working!”

Bam!

Another hit officially ran Scotty off of the road and down, deep into the bank of the wooded area. A crash was imminent, the front ramming into a tree.

Everything went black for both Scotty and Ledger.

.

Somehow through hazy vision, a smoking car, and injuries, both men crawled out of the destroyed car through their respective doors.

Ledger Ward dragged himself three feet from the car and stationed himself upright against a thick oak tree.

The smell of gas and burning rubber, the sound of Scotty’s car alarm going off, and even with his eyes closed, Ledger could see the flickering of his headlights.

Glancing around himself, Ledger noticed blood coming from his side, a cut deep in his stomach, staining his Henley.

Not to mention the thick glass shard jabbed in his femur and the pain from his left arm. He couldn’t see the blood on his face but he felt it— cuts on his head, to his lips, and from under his nostrils.

“S-Scott—“ Ledger coughed, “S-Scotty?”

His head was stiff, still turning to locate Scotty. Scotty found himself a patch of land collapsed on his back.

From where he was lying, Ledger made out blood coming from Scotty’s mouth, staining his teeth as he winced.

“‘M h- ov-over here. L-Ledger.. w-where are y-you bu-buddy..”

The sound of leaves crunching and heavy duty boots sounded from Ledger’s left.

He was too badly hurt to try and spare a look, all he prayed is this was someone that heard the crash and was coming to help them.

The footsteps only got closer. Closer to him. Vision going in and out, spotty. Ledger felt a hand caress the side of his face in a manner meant to be comforting.

The heavy boots walked away from him and instead, towards Scotty. A soft voice tsk’d, approaching him closer. Ledger’s head tilted against the oak tree, fully watching the scene before him through faltering vision.

A figured draped in black squatted down in front of Scotty. Long dark hair cascading down their back.

“Oh, what things could’ve been, Scotty” the voice muttered. “You’re already dying, I’ve pictured this more times than you know”

“P-Please.. Chi— ‘m sorry, I’m s-so sorry.,” The dirty blonde weakly responded back.

Thankfully, Ledger’s vision was clear enough to see a shiny thick blade emerge from air almost. Neither injured man reacted as fast as they wished.

“I’m not”

With an arm held out, gripping the knife.

“H-Hey, w-what’re you doi—“

“No!” Ledger painfully called out but it was too late.

The knife plunged deep in Scotty’s chest. The blonde gurgled more blood from the mouth, pooling at the sides. The blade was suddenly snatched out but that wasn’t what killed Scotty. The punctured repeatedly — over and over and over and over again.

His front a mess, body went as limp as it could, eyes cold and lifeless.

Using Scotty’s tee, the blade was wiped clean and placed back where it came. This time Ledger’s eyes were blurry with tears.

He watched the assailant stand up, roll their shoulders, and turn on their heels.

Soon, said heavy footsteps were making ways over to Ledger. Despite what he couldn’t see, he still made out a face.

He frowned, watching officially as the clearest, most gorgeous face crouched down in front of him. Except it was the last face Ledger expected… or wanted to see.

“Chiara?” He murmured, tears streaking down his beautifully bruised face. You reached out and cupped his face, a frown of mock sympathy wearing you.

Scotty’s blood on your hands stained Ledger’s face.

“Oh baby… what’re you doing here?” You sickly leaned in and gently pecked Ledger’s lips, “this wasn’t meant for you, you weren’t supposed to be here.. or see that”

You pecked his lips again, moving to kiss his cheek and wipe his tears. Your hand on his face slid back to his neck and up into his hair.

“W-why did you d-do this, C-Chiara?” Ledger cried.

You frowned, looking down at the man before you so horribly injured and bloodied all over. You ignored his question.

“Look at you, my baby… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” you kissed on his face. “I’ll take care of you, okay? Don’t worry, I promise I’ll make it up to you”

You gripped his hair tightly.

“Just forgive me when we see each other again, okay?”

With an arm yanked back, you brought Ledger’s head into the tree, hard. His body fully slumped over against the tree, eyes closed, and out cold.

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chapter 7 out reallll soon 💕

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from the back, jaafar just stood there watching you, a quiet, mesmerized smile on his face. he admired you so much in that moment, looking at you like you had personally hung the stars in the sky yourself. you were so confident and completely in control while being so poised and graceful.

when the rehearsal finally wrapped up and everyone moved over to the banquet hall for the dinner portion of the evening, you made sure you slid into the seat directly next to him. he was already at the table waiting for you, and the second you sat down, you let out a huge sigh and slumped down in your chair, resting your tired head completely against his shoulder.

jaafar let out a soft chuckle, naturally wrapping his arm around your shoulders to pull you a little closer. “tired of saving the city, batman?” he joked, his fingers gently stroking the skin of your arm.

“extremely,” you muttered, closing your eyes for a brief second as the familiar, comforting scent of him washed over you.

the two of you continued to laugh and whisper jokes back and forth, entirely locked into your own little world, until the bride and groom finally made their way over to the head table and took their own seats across from you.

“you two seem to be getting along really well,” the bride pointed out, a massive, knowing smirk spreading across her face as you quickly sat up in your seat.

even though you had moved, jaafar’s arm remained draped protectively around the back of your chair, his fingers lightly brushing against your shoulder. you looked down at your menu, trying to hide your your smile but jaafar didn't look away, though; he just looked at you and smiled, a tiny bit of a shy blush creeping up his own neck.

"she literally saved the entire rehearsal," jaafar told the bride and groom, his voice filled with so much genuine pride that it made your heart skip a beat. "i think your coordinator was about to quit before she stepped in."

"oh, please," you laughed, nudging his side with your elbow, your face still burning. "i just wanted to make sure we actually get married on time tomorrow."

"well, i appreciate it," the groom laughed, leaning over to clink his glass against jaafar's. "and i appreciate you looking after my cousin, too. he hasn't smiled this much in months."

the comment was casual, but it carried a weight that made jaafar quiet down for a second. his grip on your shoulder tightened just a fraction, a silent acknowledgment of the truth in his cousin's words. you looked up at him, offering a soft, reassuring smile that told him he didn't have to explain anything.

as the food was served, the dinner turned into a beautiful, lively celebration. jaafar was incredibly attentive the entire night. whenever you needed a refill on your drink, he was already pouring it for you. when the loud speeches started and everyone was clapping, he would lean his head down close to your ear, his warm breath sending shivers down your spine as he whispered funny commentary about what people were saying.

at one point, your friend in the bridal party from across the table called out to you. "so, ms. bestselling author, is this giving you any inspiration for your next sequel?"

the entire table turned to look at you, and you felt your face go completely hot for the second time that night. "absolutely not, i'm off the clock this weekend!" you defended quickly, laughing as you covered your face with your hands.

jaafar leaned in, his shoulder pressing warmly against yours as he looked down at your blushing face. he murmured softly, just loud enough for you to hear over the chatter of the room. "maybe i should read your book. see if i can learn a few things."

your stomach doing absolute backflips at the intense, sweet look in his dark eyes. "you don't need any tips, trust me," you whispered back, boldened by the wine and the closeness of his body.

it was jaafar's turn to blush then. a beautiful, genuine smile broke across his face, and he looked down at his plate, shaking his head slightly. he couldn't believe how effortlessly you could disarm him.

after a few more hours of drinking, laughing, and sharing stories with the rest of the bridal party, the dinner began to wind down. you looked around the room, realizing you hadn't spotted his father anywhere. "i thought you said your dad was going to be here tonight?" you asked softly, leaning closer to him.

jaafar glanced toward the entrance, shaking his head with a small, apologetic smile. "he called right before we started. his flight got delayed coming in, so he's just going to head straight to the hotel tonight to get some rest. you'll definitely meet abu tomorrow at the wedding, though. i'll make sure of it."

"well, then i'll hold you to that," you smiled, turning your head so your noses almost brushed. "i still need to see if you actually look as much like him as i think you do."

"i guess you'll just have to wait and see," he smiled, his gaze dropping down to your lips for a fleeting second before meeting your eyes again.

as the night finally came to an end and everyone started heading to their cars to get some rest for the big wedding day, jaafar walked you out to the parking lot just like he had the first night. the air was cool, and the heavy excitement for tomorrow was hanging thick in the atmosphere.

"tomorrow's the big day," you said, stopping by your car door.

"it is," jaafar agreed, stepping close into your space. he didn't even hesitate this time; he wrapped his arms completely around your waist and pulled you into a deep, lingering hug. you buried your face into his neck, your hands resting against the broad expanse of his back.

he held you tightly, pressing a soft, barely-there kiss against the side of your hair where your curls rested. when you finally pulled apart, his hands lingered on your waist for a beautiful, quiet moment.

"get some sleep, batman," he murmured, his voice incredibly soft and filled with an emotion he couldn't fully hide anymore.

"you too, jaafar," you smiled, stepping into your car.

as you drove away into the night, jaafar stood under the parking lot lights, a deep exhale escaping his lips. his heart was beating fast, and as he lifted his jacket to his nose, the intoxicating, warm scent of your vanilla perfume was all over him once again.

you’d gotten to the venue early the next morning to make sure everything was in place just as it should be. the sun was barely up and you were in full work mode—rollers still tightly tucked into your hair, your makeup freshly done, and a matching set on so you could move around easily. you definitely didn't expect to bump into jaafar this early, but he had fully expected to bump into you.

he’d planned it, actually.

he knew you had a long, grueling day ahead of you making sure every single detail was in order for your best friend, and he wanted nothing more than to bring you a hot coffee to help you through the morning. when you finally noticed him standing outside through the glass doors while you were talking to one of the bridesmaids, you excused yourself really quickly before walking down the steps toward him.

“jaafar jackson, what are you doing here so early?” you asked, a bright smile breaking across your face before you wrapped your arms around him.

god, he smelled amazing. even at seven in the morning, he carried that crisp, clean scent that instantly made you feel grounded.

“best man duties,” he replied with that signature, low chuckle that melted your insides. “i also wanted to bring you coffee this morning. i know it’s a busy day for you too.”

“that’s really sweet of you, jaafar. thank you.” you took the warm cup from his hands, your fingers brushing against his just long enough to send a quiet spark up your arm.

before he could say anything else, one of the bridesmaids practically screamed your name from the top of the stairs in a total panic. you let out a dramatic, playful sigh. “i would love to stay and chat, but it seems like my services are needed.”

“that’s okay, i’ll see you soon,” he said softly.

you thanked him one last time for the coffee before spinning on your heel to go help save the day once again. jaafar stood there on the pavement, his hands tucked into his pockets, just watching you walk away. he liked that so much about you—how incredibly caring and attentive you were to everyone around you. he could feel his admiration for you growing day by day.

by the time the clock struck twelve, the quiet morning was a distant memory and it was finally time for the wedding to begin. wedding guests were being directed to their seats in a steady flow, the instrumental music was playing softly through the chapel, the groom had taken his place at the altar looking nervous but ready, and the bride was looking absolutely beautiful in her room. everything was perfect.

you and the rest of the bridesmaids walked down to the holding area right outside the chapel doors, where you’d wait before making your grand entrance down the aisle. when jaafar stepped into the space and laid eyes on you in your bridesmaid gown, every single ounce of breath completely left his body.

you looked so beautiful. the blush color of the gown clung to your skin perfectly, your hair cascading in soft, glossy curls over your shoulders, and your vanilla perfume creating a sweet cloud around you. he wanted nothing more than to tell you over and over and over again exactly how stunning you were. but in fear of seeming completely obsessive and scaring you away, he thought one simple compliment would suffice.

“you look so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with a genuine emotion that made your stomach do an absolute backflip.

he offered his arm, and you smiled up at him, wrapping your hand around his bicep. “thanks hun, you look really handsome as well.”

before you knew it, the coordinator was signaling your cue. it was your guys' turn to walk. you stepped out together, matching each other's stride perfectly as you walked down the long aisle, all eyes on the two of you. then came the flower girl, and finally, the doors opened for the bride.

as gorgeous as your friend was standing at the back of the church, jaafar just couldn't seem to take his eyes off of you. he watched from his side of the altar as you began to tear up at the mere sight of your best friend walking toward her future. you looked so incredibly proud of her, your eyes glistening under the chapel lights.

she’s such a pretty crier, he thought to himself, catching a stray tear with the side of your finger, and he couldn't help but chuckle quietly to himself at the slightly weird, soft thought.

he averted his eyes for a second, looking over toward his cousin who was also standing on the verge of tears at the altar. the raw emotion in the room suddenly brought him back to his own wedding just a year prior. he remembered standing there, remembering how he truly thought he’d found the one he would do the rest of life with. boy, was he wrong. what he went through during that public, painful split was something he wouldn't wish on anyone—not even his worst enemy.

but looking at his cousin right now, jaafar really, truly wanted this to work for him. jaafar figured if his cousin—the man who had quite literally sworn off settling down in their twenties—could get married and look this happy, who’s to say that he shouldn’t be open to falling in love again?

and while the bride and groom were exchanging their deep, heartfelt vows, jaafar’s eyes couldn't help but drift back to you once more. because not only had he come to completely admire you in this short amount of time, but you had entirely changed his perspective. you had single-handedly dragged him out of that sad, dark place he’d been trapped in for the last six months.

as if sensing his gaze, your eyes locked onto his across the altar. you shot him a quick, reassuring wink, and jaafar's smile bloomed even bigger, a soft flush rising to his cheeks. he definitely liked you, and there was absolutely no turning back now.

once the ceremony wrapped up, everyone transitioned over to the grand reception. just like at the rehearsal dinner, you’d been seated right next to jaafar at the head table, but tonight, he wasn't sitting alone. he had the most adorable tiny human sitting right on his lap.

“hi handsome, what’s your name?” you said, your voice softening instantly as you took your seat next to them.

the three-year-old looked up at you and smiled a big, toothy grin that looked shockingly familiar before saying, “abu.”

you visibly gushed, your heart completely melting at how cute he was in his tiny tuxedo. it wasn't long at all before abu bakr ended up climbing right out of jaafar’s arms and moving straight into yours, resting his little hands on your shoulders.

“oh my, i think he likes me, jaafar,” you giggled, adjusting him comfortably on your lap.

“how could he not?” jaafar replied, his voice laced with a deep, quiet meaning as his eyes locked onto yours.

jermaine soon came over to the table to collect his youngest son before dinner started, but not before warmly introducing himself to you. you introduced yourself back, your face hot as jermaine smiled knowingly at his son.

after the dinner was cleared, the lights dimmed and the dj suddenly played fool for you by ceelo green and melanie fiona per the bride's special request. the soulful, upbeat rhythm instantly filled the room.

“i love this song!” you gasped, your face lighting up as you grabbed jaafar’s arm. “dance with me!”

before he could even think about protesting, you were already dragging him out onto the dance floor with the rest of the wedding party. his hands naturally found their place right around your waist, and you looped your arms comfortably around his neck as the two of you began to rock and sway to the music.

jaafar was completely amazed by you all over again. the way you moved, the way you laughed, the way you didn't care who was watching. he just couldn't stop smiling down at you.

oh, how he wanted to kiss you in this exact moment. he wanted to pull you flush against him and taste the sweetness of your lips, but he knew it wasn't the right way—not here, not in front of his entire family and a room full of strangers.

the song eventually ended, but jaafar’s hands didn't leave your waist right away. his arm stayed draped snugly around you as you walked over to talk to the ecstatic bride, and it stayed there as you finally walked back to your seats. he was so completely infatuated with you, and you were just as deeply wrapped up in him.

when it came time for the bridal party toasts, you stood up and gave a beautiful speech. your words were flawless, speaking elegantly about resilience, growth, and not being scared to love again even when life gets heavy. you spoke about how you’d never seen two people more perfect for one another, wishing them endless happy times for many years to come.

when you sat back down, jaafar leaned in close. “that was really sweet,” he told you softly.

“it was easy, i meant every word. i really am happy for them,” you said, looking at him, and he could’ve sworn your eyes genuinely twinkled under the reception lights.

the bouquet toss happened shortly after, and amid the laughing and shoving of the single women, the flowers flew straight through the air and landed perfectly right in your hands. you held them up in shock, and across the room, you caught the groom winking directly at jaafar.

jaafar chuckled, shaking his head as he realized his cousin had been up to this the entire time—the placement, the pairing, the setup. it was his plan from the very beginning. jaafar looked over at you holding the flowers, your smile radiant and beautiful, and for the first time in a whole year, he could actually see love waiting for him in his future.

your bedroom looked like a literal tornado had hit it by the time you were supposed to leave. you went through three different dresses, four tops, and two pairs of your absolute favorite pants before you finally decided on your final outfit. your hair hung in soft, perfect curls over your shoulders, and you sprayed your signature vanilla-scented perfume on your wrists and neck. you took a deep, shaky breath in the mirror before grabbing your car keys and heading out the door.

he’s just a man, you told yourself over and over again on the drive there, trying desperately to calm the frantic beating of your heart.

but the truth was, you were only this nervous because you didn't date. not often, anyways. it was honestly a little crazy and ironic that you were a literal bestselling romance author, yet you barely experienced anything remotely close to romance in your real life. you felt like the men you did try to date were always intimidated by you in a sense.

you had done really well for yourself financially and career-wise, and some guys felt genuinely threatened by that. they would make passive-aggressive comments, sarcastically offering that you pay for the dates, or even calling you nicknames like "big money." it was a massive turn-off. the other guys you met just had really serious character flaws. you had tried to turn some of their red flags into yellow flags in the past, but you always ended up getting hurt in the end. which was exactly why you had stopped trying.

but things felt completely different with jaafar. you had genuinely surprised yourself with how forward and open you were whenever you talked to him. his natural softness and genuine charm made you feel so safe, so confident, and so beautifully girly. you absolutely loved that feeling.

when you finally arrived at the restaurant and handed your keys over to the valet, you noticed jaafar was already standing outside waiting for you.

"hey, how are you?" he said softly, stepping toward you and wrapping his arms around you.

the hug was incredibly nice and so warm. it ended way too soon for your liking, and honestly, judging by the slow way he let go, it ended too soon for his liking, too.

"i'm great, and yourself?" you asked, looking up at him.

"i've been really busy, but i'm glad we got a chance to hang out before the wedding," he replied, his dark eyes crinkling with a sweet smile.

"so am i," you smiled back.

the two of you then walked inside the restaurant, him opening the door for you. you had never been to this specific spot before, but jaafar swore by it. he walked up to the hostess and told her that he had made a reservation under the name jackson, and she quickly escorted the two of you to your seats.

at first, the conversation was light and easy. you talked about simple things like the upcoming wedding and what it was like for him growing up with so many siblings and cousins in such a hectic, famous family life. you talked about what it was like with your own siblings and what your life looked like growing up. you shared crazy stories from your undergrad experiences and gave him the full details on how you and the bride had first met.

somehow, the topic shifted, and jaafar casually mentioned that his baby brother was legitimately only three years old.

you stopped, staring at him. "jaafar, you're joking."

"i promise i'm not," he laughed, pulling out his phone and beginning to show you pictures of the toddler.

"aww, he's adorable," you cooed, looking at the cute screen. then your eyes widened as the math clicked in your head. "wait... well, how old is your father?" you asked with a completely shocked expression on your face.

"jermaine is seventy-one years old," jaafar said with a grin.

"this is insane," you laughed, shaking your head in disbelief.

"abu will actually be at the wedding, so you can meet him," he told you.

"aww, i'd love to meet sweet face," you teased softly, looking back at the picture of the little brother. "he actually looks a lot like you to me."

jaafar looked up, a little surprised. "you think so?"

"i do," you smiled genuinely. then, you asked him what he looked like as a child.

the two of you immediately began scrolling through your phones, exchanging old baby pictures and laughing at the memories. before you even realized how much time had passed, the waitress was already approaching the table with the check. jaafar naturally reached out and took it from her, and you let him, appreciating the old-school gesture. neither of you wanted the night to end, but you comfortingly knew you would see each other tomorrow anyway.

as you stood outside waiting for the valet to bring your car back around, jaafar insisted on waiting with you.

"i had such a great time. thank you, jaafar," you said, turning to face him in the cool night air.

"so did i," he murmured.

the two of you stepped into each other's space and hugged once more. this time, the embrace lasted much longer than the first hug, both of you holding on tightly before you finally had to pull away and get into your car. as you drove off, jaafar stood on the sidewalk and took a deep breath, swearing once again that he could smell the faint, intoxicating scent of your vanilla perfume lingering on his clothes for hours afterward.

It was October 3rd—the day after the wedding. Fall in the States. Warm and comfortable on the Portuguese coast.

Early. God, it was early—4 AM.

The city had rested peacefully. Cars had stopped whizzing down the streets hours ago. The birds sang themselves to sleep. The lights had dimmed.

Sheets lay wrinkled on the king-sized bed. The comforter hung off the edge of the bed. She’d abandoned the updo the moment they stepped into the suite. Her hair—scattered, edges fuzzy, curls wild—fanned around her angelically.

She was close. Tucked in his side, her face pressed against his neck. Left hand underneath his collarbone—rings heavy on his chest. She pressed close. Squeezed him in her sleep. Fear unaddressed. That he’d be gone when she awoke.

God, don’t separate me from this…

His throat bobbed.

One. Two. Three times.

He lifted his hand—the left. The room was dark; couldn’t see the jewelry, but it was there. Heavy. Permanent.

He’d never take it off. He’d brand it to his flesh. Wouldn’t flinch when the skin burned and split down the middle. The softness of her lips would be healing enough.

His teeth clamped on his bottom lip. Eyes squeezed shut for just a moment. Eyelashes damp. He blinked rapidly, fighting to keep his exposure from unraveling.

But she felt it. The tear. The way it landed on her temple and slid down her cheek. She sat up, slow and unaware. "

“Wait, wait,” she murmured. “What’s wrong?”

The mattress sighed beneath her weight. She tucked her leg between his. Close.

He shook his head. “I’m okay. Promise.”

Amara frowned in the dark. “You’re crying.” She wiped his eyes, rings cold against his warm face.

“I’m good. I’m good,” he replied. “I’m…overwhelmed.”

Please…

“By what, baby?”

Jaafar smiled. She couldn’t see it. The way it wavered. Not for sadness. No. Something deeper. More embodied.

“Gratitude.”

-

what started as a brief exchange about the groom's tastes turned into endless, rolling paragraphs of text messages during every pocket of your spare time. within days, the awkwardness was completely gone.

you found yourself naturally reaching for your phone the second you woke up, checking to see if his name had popped up on your lock screen. the conversation shifted from the wedding to your daily routines, and soon, you were exchanging silly tiktoks from a quiet burner account he used, testing each other's sense of humor and finding an easy, comforting rhythm. you liked him—deeply, genuinely—and the effortless way he matched your energy made you believe, with growing certainty, that he was starting to feel the exact same way.

until you asked:

when are you coming back into town?

the casual text sat on the screen, and the minutes began to stretch. one hour passed, then two. you watched the little typing bubble appear, dance for a few agonizing seconds, and then vanish. it happened over and over again. he was there, staring at the screen, actively thinking about what to say, but completely refusing to send it.

a quiet, familiar knot of anxiety tightened in your chest. you couldn't understand the sudden hesitation. you hadn't asked for a declaration of love; it was a simple question.

you decided to force yourself to back away.

you chalked it up to him being busy with his grueling schedule, setting your phone face down on your desk to let your mind drift into the one place where you had total control: your writing.

you had recently released a young adult romance novel that had unexpectedly skyrocketed onto the bestseller lists, and the sudden success meant your publishers and readers were already loudly demanding a sequel. for hours, you drowned yourself in the fictional world of characters who figured out love a lot easier than real people did. by the time you finally closed your laptop and checked the time, it was almost ten o'clock at night.

on the other side of the screen, jaafar was practically drowning in his own head.

he hadn't meant to take two hours to respond. in fact, he had spent the entire time staring at your message until the blue light of his phone blurred his vision. his thumb had hovered over the keyboard, paralyzed by a sudden wave of panic. when are you coming back into town? the words felt heavy, loaded with a weight he wasn't sure he was ready to carry. was it an innocent question about wedding prep since you were both running the bridal party? or was it an invitation? a date, possibly?

he couldn't decipher your intentions, but more terrifyingly, he couldn't decipher his own.

he knew he liked you. he had known it from the literal second he met you. but the sheer depth of that attraction was terrifying for a man who was still picking up the pieces. fresh out of a divorce from a relationship that had lasted for nearly his entire youth.

for as long as he could remember, his identity had been tied to someone else. he had been a boyfriend, a fiancé, a husband—he didn't actually know who jaafar was just by himself.

the irony wasn't lost on him; he was incredibly grateful that you just saw him as jaafar—not a jackson, not a movie star, just a man. but the moment that reality required him to step forward, his survival instincts kicked in. he panicked.

in a desperate bid to clear his mind, he forced himself into a frenzy of busyness. he threw himself into tasks around his space, putting his phone in another room, trying to force the memory of your laugh and your beautiful smile out of his thoughts. he told himself he was protecting his peace.

but as the hours ticked by and the house grew quiet, the harsh truth settled in his chest: he wasn't protecting himself. he was just self-sabotaging out of fear and he didn't want to lose the easy warmth you brought into his life.

finally, with a shaky breath, he walked back to his phone and picked it up. it was late, close to ten, when his name finally lit up your dark screen.

jaafar: i’m so sorry for the late response, i got completely caught up in some things here. i’ll actually be back in the city later this week, by thursday afternoon.

you watched the screen as another text immediately followed, your breath catching in your throat. the words carrying that familiar, polite gentleness that always made your heart ache.

jaafar: if you're free, and you'd want to, i would really love to hang out. just the two of us.

standing in the quiet of your bedroom, the lingering sting of the two-hour silence dissolved instantly. a slow, brilliant smile spread across your face, the familiar warmth rushing back through your veins as you read the message.

despite the fear keeping him back, he was still trying his best to reach for you.

i’d love to.

when he stepped into the role of his uncle michael, his entire world expanded at an crazy pace. the creative fulfillment was unmatched, a profound joy he would always be grateful for, but the sudden, blinding spotlight that followed brought a wave of public scrutiny.

fame didn't just knock on his door; it broke it down, robbing him of the quiet peace he had always fiercely protected. the pressure worsened the cracks already existing in his marriage, stretching the distance between him and his wife until the silence in their home became too loud to ignore.

the divorce was finalized in the winter. the aftermath left him hollow, sad, existing in a state of quiet, emotional hibernation.

so, when his cousin’s wedding invitation arrived, jaafar’s initial thought was to find an excuse. but this was family. & he was always raised to never turn his back on family. a deep love for his cousin won. he promised himself he would keep his head down, play the part of the supportive groomsman, and retreat back into his quiet world the moment it was over.

the social gathering before the wedding was designed exactly for that—to break the ice and merge two families. the backyard of the engaged couple’s house was alive with music, a low, rhythmic bass vibrating through the patio floor while the warm evening air carried the scent of summer and expensive perfume.

jaafar stood near the edge of the crowd, a drink in hand, politely navigating the small talk but secretly counting down the hours until he could leave.

across the lawn, you were standing with your old undergrad line sisters, completely oblivious to his presence. you had trusted the bride implicitly when she told you that you’d be walking down the aisle with her fiancé's cousin. you hadn't asked questions or demanded a picture; you just laughed and accepted the assignment. it was her day, whatever she wanted.

you were in your element, laughing into your glass, the soft, amber string lights reflecting off the silk, blush pink dress you’d chosen for the night. the color complimented your skin beautifully, making you practically glow against the dark backdrop of the garden. your hair was styled in neat braids with loose, boho pieces framing your face—a detail jaafar would notice the second his eyes accidentally drifted your way.

he froze for a fraction of a second, his gaze lingering on the way you laughed, completely unbothered and grounded.

before you could finish your drink, a familiar hand wrapped firmly around your wrist. your friend—the bride—pulled you away from your circle with an excited, mischievous glint in her eye. "come with me really quick," she urged, hauling you across the grass toward the quiet edge of the patio. "he’s gonna love you. the both of you are so sweet."

you barely had time to smooth down the front of your silk dress before you were standing directly in front of him.

"jaafar, this is the girl i was telling you about," she introduced effortlessly, vanishing back into the crowd before either of you could even blink.

left in a sudden, quiet pocket of the party, jaafar looked down at you, and the protective walls he had built over the last six months suddenly felt incredibly fragile.

for jaafar, the reaction was instant. he thought you were simply beautiful. his eyes traced the elegant drape of your dress before settling on your hair, fascinated by the curly pieces he still didn't know the name for—a detail you’d later laugh at him for when he clumsily tried to describe them. he was completely enamored.

"hi," he said, his voice a low, melodic cadence that instantly calmed the sudden nerves in your chest. "it's really nice to meet you. i guess we're walking down the aisle together."

he was, without a doubt, the most soft-spoken, sweetest man you had ever encountered. when he smiled, a gentle, genuine expression that sent a sudden, completely unexpected flutter of butterflies straight to your stomach.

"it looks like it," you smiled, tilting your head up to meet his eyes. "she told me i was paired with her fiancé's cousin, but she conveniently left out how charming you were."

a genuine, slightly surprised laugh escaped him, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. you were flirting. with him. he couldn’t believe it. "well, i'm glad she kept some secrets. it gives me a chance to make a good first impression."

the conversation flowed with an ease that neither of you anticipated. when jaafar asked what you did for a living, your face lit up in a way that captivated him entirely.

"i'm a writer," you confessed, a small, self-deprecating smile playing on your lips. "i write romance. i guess being a hopeless romantic all my life actually paid off."

"there are worse things to be," jaafar murmured softly, his eyes locked onto yours. "writing about love sounds like a beautiful way to spend your time."

you thanked him before asking what he did for work himself. he replied saying that he took a break from his music career to pursue acting.

you watched his face, the soft lines of his jaw, the specific structure of his brow as he talked, until a sudden wave of recognition washed over you. the pieces clicked together all at once. "wait," you said, your eyes narrowing slightly. "you just did the michael movie last year, didn't you?"

jaafar’s smile turned slightly shy, a classic, modest reaction that belonged entirely to him. he braced himself internally for the usual onslaught of questions, the sudden shift in energy that always happened when people realized who he was.

but instead of prying, you just offered him a warm, deeply genuine smile. "wow. that's amazing, congratulations. you must be incredibly proud."

and then, you simply let it go. you didn't dwell on the film, the fame, or his family name. you shifted the topic right back to a joke your friend had made earlier, completely refusing to treat him like a celebrity. a physical wave of gratitude washed over jaafar. you were treating him like a human being existing in the present moment, a rare luxury he hadn't realized he was starving for.

the two of you continued to talk for what felt like hours, discovering shared tastes in music and laughing about the chaotic energy of wedding rehearsals. jaafar found himself laughing more than he had in the last half-year combined.

finally, the crowd began to thin, and the reality of the late hour caught up.

"i should probably head out," you said softly, checking your phone. "the bride expects us up early tomorrow."

"let me walk you to your car," jaafar offered immediately, not wanting the night, or the feeling you gave him, to end just yet.

the walk through the quiet driveway was peaceful, the cool night air a stark contrast to the humid afternoon. when you reached your driver's side door, you turned around to face him, leaning back against the car.

"see you at the rehearsal dinner?" he asked.

"i'm pretty sure the bride would kill me if i missed it, so i’ll definitely be there," you joked.

you stepped forward, offering him a slight, polite hug goodbye. it was a brief touch—your arms brushing against his shoulders, the soft silk of your dress whispering against his shirt—but as you pulled away, your scent lingered in the space between you. it was something warm, sweet, and distinctly feminine, a mixture of vanilla and something uniquely yours.

"drive safely," he said, watching you get into the car.

as your taillights vanished down the driveway into the night, jaafar stood there for a moment, hands shoved into his pockets. he took a deep breath, and he could have sworn that your scent followed him, wrapping around him like a quiet promise.