#dyry

Pedro Pascal

Maxwell Lord

Do You Remember Yesterday // TWO 

Din Djarin

Scattered Promises // TWO // THREE // FOUR //TBC….

Frankie Morales

Reunion

Triple Frontier

~ Pirate TF Boys x Mouse Reader plot blurb

Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson Masterlist

Oscar Isaac

Moon Knight

Searching For Stardust

ft Jake Johnson

John Boyega

They Cloned Tyrone

I Will Be Your End // TWO

- vampire Fontaine & Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac)

Laz Alonso

Home training -Butcher MM Threesome

No Pain No Gain

A Fresh Start ~ series

You Don't Have to Be Mad if You Don't Want To

No Good ~ A Detained 2024 fic

Miss Me?

Know the Ledge

Aaron Pierre

Rebel Ridge

Summertime Firsts

You Know You Love It

Let Me In

~ under Alex in Cross section

The Flash

Laying With The Devil

Flirting and Secrets

Cross

Alex Cross

Let Me In

~ ft. Terry Richmond

Name Game

John Sampson

Something Real

~ the rough drafts (and I mean really rough drafts)

Why You Always On the Road?

Pillow Talk

Just A Taste

~ prequel to Who's in Charge? under Both.

Not Without You

Stigma(tism)

Both

Some Things Never Change // TWO // THREE

Who's in control?` // TWO

~ connected to Just A Taste under John Sampson.

Aldis Hodge

City on A Hill

Something to Talk About

~ ft Alex Cross

Hard at Work

Sinners

No Funny Business

Seth Milchick

People Pleaser

In Fashionable Order

Mike Colter

Luke Cage

Stay for Coffee?

Can You Find Her? (Growing Pains)

~ Misty Knight Mystery

Anthony Mackie

Captain American

~ coming soon

Denzel Washington

Don Pedro

Homecoming

A Budding Desire

Other

What happened in time out?

This and That: Oscar and Pedro

“ I’m interested in Amani.” Maxwell was determined not to show how nervous and uncomfortable he was in front of Amani’s mother.  He wasn’t  going to lie to himself either. He’s fucked up and he knows it, but he's willing to try.

She studied him for a minute, Her expression unwavering.

“I understand what happened between you and Charlotte. You really cared for her and she hurt you. While I am definitely not happy with the way she treated you and how she handled her emotions, she is a troubled girl.” she paused, holding a finger to her lips. 

“However. . . I can only do so much as her stepmother. I would like to do more than what her father is willing to handle at the moment, but he’s insistent on sending her away to rehab again as always, and Amani has been taking it really hard.”

“I care about her so much,” he interrupted, “more than Charlotte, and I'm sorry if that makes me a bad person and you don’t want me around Amani, but being with her fills me with something more.” 

Max balled his fist tight enough to make his palms bleed. “It gives me purpose.”

A soft chuckle echoed throughout the room. It reverberated from a soft tickle in the back of her throat into a sound that echoed so loud in the walls of Max’s mind. His heart fell to his stomach, his palms started sweating, and he wanted to rip himself apart.

“Max, I don’t think you're a bad person,” she started tenderly, “but you have your demons as well, but I know you're taking action to deal with them.”

Max strained to keep the tears in his eyes, his head pounding as fast as his heart.

“What--- ”

“I’ve noticed  the small moments of when these dark thoughts tend to eat you up from the inside ou --- ”

“I’m not looking for someone to fix me!” he could say more in the moment. He could even do more in the moment but he didn't need to explain himself.

“All I know is I want to be with your daughter.” 

~

Amani pushed the door  into her apart with a sigh parting from her lips. 

It was not a place she was particularly happy to be staying at. She only bought it after her declared temporary separation from Max, and it was hurting her.

The wide balcony that opened up over the city, the large windows that gave the apartment a spectacular glow in the mornings. The already expensive and chic furniture it was equipped with and its two and a half rooms of lushness, did nothing to her emotions in her emotionally devoid heart.

However, she was welcomed with the soft aroma of something familiar. Something that reminded her where her heart was. 

“ I brought you leftovers from Luisa.” A low and level voice rumbled in her ear before strong lean  arms wrapped around her in equal comfort.

“Mmmh, what would I do without you, Javi?”

“Probably waste away worse than you're doing now that you and Max barely see each other anymore.”

A sigh escaped her lips, but it wasn’t like the first. Instead of weary and tired it had lots of layers. It said you're right. It said I want you to stay. It said I know. 

“Make me feel good.” Amani pleaded softly. Closing her eyes. 

“No.’ 

Amani whirled to face him with a frown. 

He was serious. 

Why was he so serious? 

“What's so different now compared to last week or the week before that? What's so–“

“Because I didn’t know how much you were hurting then compared to now,” he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her slowly into the counter, staring into her eyes, ”I didn't have to watch you almost say his name three nights in a row.”

His large hands wrapped around her jaw and squeezed until tears started to well in her eyes, “and if we have sex now your going to say his name and its going to hurt how we feel about each other in more easy than one.” 

He let her go and turned around, not letting her see the waves of emotion that rise and fall on his face. 

“ It would ruin our relationship forever. 

“Javi, that’s not a decision you and I get to make, and if we both don’t want to ruin what we have, then it won’t get ruined.”

Javi turned, giving her his work face.

It was a face Amani had learned to hate. A skill Javi has learned throughout the years to close himself off emotionally and physically from the people in his life to protect his emotions. If there was one thing she hated, it was being shut out. 

“I’m going to smoke a cigarette.” 

Just because things between her and Max have been taking a toll on her emotions did not mean that either of them cared less about each other and Amani couldn’t cheat on him. She wouldn’t dare do anything like that, no matter how upset she was with him for what he did.

It wasn’t fair, but that was life. Not fair.

It's not fair for Max to do wrong in favor of “helping her and the family”, it wasn't fair for Javi to think the future of their relationship rested on his shoulders. It wasn;t fair that the strain between Max and Amani affected so many of the people around them. Life isn’t fair.

Mustering up the broken pieces of her emotions, Amani brisked over to him in fury. Pulling him by his robe and making him face her. “Prove it.” she glared at him.

She wasn’t going to let him be right. He didn’t know everything. He was only being cruel because that's what Javi does when he’s upset. If he’s going down he has to take everyone else with him.

“Is that what you want hermosa?” he smiled, but his voice was agitated.

Amani kept glared at him.

Before she could let out her next breath, he was all over her. His lips chasing hers and not relieving pressure. Thick firm hands roamed her sides and along her body until one firm hand landed on her back. The other gripped her ass until she was firmly locked onto the firm warm plane of his chest. 

He moved his lips to her neck making sure to get every scrap of skin his mouth could reach, and a whimper escaped her lips. 

He held her tight in a way that she knew what he was saying. She knew what he was asking for. Stay….don't leave me. 

With one last kiss that stole her breath, He laid her gently onto the plush cushioning of her couch. In contrast to his gentle movements, he yanked roughly onto the clothes that still covered her, throwing the expensive business wear into some forgotten corner of the penthouse. 

With one swipe of a hand, his robe was loose and they were finally able to feel each other’s skin bare chested in each other's full glory. The warm deep tan of his skin held all the warmth of the world and it never failed to make her feel better in the worst of ways.

Warm thick fingers swiped through the wetness of her folds before making a move where she needed most.

“Please. . . don’t….” a moan deep within her chest escaped in a low ethereal sound that was music to his ears, making his fingers dance in feather light touches, “don't tease.” she choked. 

His thumb put a delicious pressure on her clit and his warm thick fingers pumped into her at a moderate pleasurable pace that moved with purpose, but not fast enough to make her lose her mind. 

Amani held him firmly to her chest as he gave him just what she needed, just what she wanted. Always so caring and always so attentive.

She kissed his neck in response. Biting and marking him the way he likes as a non verbal thank you as she washed his back in every moan, sigh, and whimper in praise.

Her back arched into his chest,and her legs began to shake, before a tidal wave of pleasure washed over her and raised her into another high beyond her belief, she cried out his name,

“Max!”

The guilt was instant. Loosening her grip, she tried to pull away. 

Javi didn’t let her. He held her closer and pumped his fingers faster and harder, burying his head into the crook of her neck as he worked his fingers into her, panting her name and murmuring words of encouragement.

“That's it, pretty girl.” he panted in her ear. The warmness of his voice sending her into a trance, “ride my fingers. Take what you need.”

“Max,” she moaned again without thinking. 

Javi noticed, and he made sure to rub his thumb in firm small circles around her clit. Pushing a third finger in, he hit the spot that made her walls flutter relentlessly.

“Say it again!”

She dug her nails into his back, but that wasn’t the response he wanted.

With a slap on her ass out of nowhere she yelped and jerked  her hips, making his fingers push into her. She whimpered in response.

“I thought I told you to do something.”

Amani moaned, desperate to give him what he wanted, but she didn’t remember. 

“Please. ..she gasped. I need more”

Javi shook his head as he felt pressure at the back of his eyes and a dull ache in his head. He shook away whatever sadness wanted to show in his eyes, holding it together for her.

He hit the same spot over and over again, dragging the pads of his fingers on the same spot, forcing another cry of Max's name from her lips. 

Amani didn’t look at Javi as he eased onto her and laid his head on her shoulder. 

“I told you so.” He grabbed the blanket off the backrest and draped it around them..

“What about you?'' She ignored his statement. 

“You don’t want me to take care of you?”

“It can wait,” he draped an arm between her breast and pulled her close to his chest before kissing her on the top of her head, “Get some sleep.”

It wasn’t lost on Amani that he was holding her to sleep the same way Max did. Regardless of if he had to work the next day or leave for another business trip. No matter the thing or task Max had to do after, he never failed to hold her until she fell asleep.

And for the first time in a while she cried. 

~

Amani stirred to a numb buzzing phone, small rays of sunrise escaped from the window onto her face. She pulled the blanket to her chin and nuzzled further into Javi’s shoulder. 

“Get the phone.” she mumbled lowly into his skin.

“It’s your phone.” he huffed into her hair.

“ I never said it wasn’t”

Grumbling, Javi picked up the phone, “Javi. . . . Yeah, Max she’s right here,” Amani rose out of bead and whipped her head around, '' I took care of her for you. . .yeah.. . .you should probably ask her that yourself. . .you know how she is when you're not around. . .yeah. . .I understand. . . .here,” he handed her the phone. 

“Are you ready to pick up Allister from my mothers.”

Amani bit her lip. Savoring the sound of his voice, making sure she remembers it later. “I will be, how far are you out?” her voice croaked on the last word making her internally cringe.  

“Not far, but I'll stop for coffee to give you some time.”

“Okay. . . “

There was a stretch of silence. Neither one of them saying anything. 

“I. . .I'll see you when you get here, Max.”

“Sure thing.” 

Amani stared at her phone after hearing the ending dial that said he was gone. 

“Go get ready, hermosa,” Javi wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the head.

“Why are you already dressed?” She looked him up and down and saw he had already shoved on his jeans and held his shirt in his hands. 

“I don’t think Max can't handle seeing me and you like this at the moment.’

Amani frowned. 

This thing they had has always been a little confusing for her. It was hard to wrap her head around at first because if she’s only dating Max, what is Javi? Does he date other people? If he does end up staying with someone, do they have to add a fourth person to their life, or does she and the supposedly fourth take turns  with Max and Javi? 

There was something they decided not to tell her when she was younger, but she was much older now and the conversation was definitely coming up soon. 

“Don’t do that.”

“I don’t know what you're talking about.’ Amani calmly got up and wrapped herself in the blanket. 

“You're overthinking it.”

Amani bit her lip. “Did you and Max have sex with Charlette?”

Javi’s eyes darkened and that honestly surprised her. 

“I never liked Charlotte,” his voice was clipped and mild mannered, “Only Max did, so no . . .”

He momentarily paused. “No offense to your sister.”

“Just. . .asking. . .” she replied weakly. 

“You asked us both these questions years ago already? Are you changing your mind?” 

Amani’s heart dropped. 

“Javi sit.” She quickly sat down and patted the seat beside her. 

“ I’m not breaking up with Max, and I don't want to. Nothing can truly tear us apart from one another. I have to stand up for myself in this and make him realize some things. He’s been struggling with the same demons forever, but it's time to let them go. We have Allister now, and he can’t be the same man he was in the past. Things have to change. . .” She reached out and held Javi’s hand.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think about how my feelings and decisions would affect you in this. It must be scary to see both of us apart for so long and I don’t think we actually sat down with you and included you in all of this, and I feel horrible about it.”

She blinked a few tears away, ignoring how they were running down her face. 

“I want Max to realize he doesn’t have to do bad things to be the man he wants to be. That I'm proud of him more than words can describe and I know he’s going to be a good dad for Allister because he isn’t his father, but I did not get to tell him any of those things yet, because he’s out  stealing shit and selling it to the highest bidder.”

Javi gently brushed the tears away with a thumb. 

“I. .I understand. You. . .don't need to cry.”  

“I’m okay. Max is okay. We're all going to be okay.”

Amani didn’t know if he was reassuring her or himself, but she let him have his moment. Anything he needed. 

“I told Luisa I was taking the food over to Max’s and that I wasn't going to see you until the twins' birthday.. . .That’s why I'm dressed to leave earlier.” he said, changing the subject. 

‘Javi–”

“--you still love me?” 

Max was not supposed to be here and he was not supposed to hear this conversation. Yet, Mani couldn’t tell herself she regretted it. She didn’t know how to face him. Later. . .it had to be later. . .not like this. . . not right now. . .

Max set the cup holder of coffee and a small pastry bag on the counter before making his way to face them both.

“Let me take a shower. We can talk about it in the car. 

~

Amani wished Javi was in the car with them. She wanted to put this conversation off until she was ready. Whether that meant emotionally or once things in her life calmed down she was not sure.

“You said you still loved me in there. ..” he shifted in his seat and adjusted to a one hand grip on the wheel, his right hand landing on the arm rest, “did you mean it, or were you just calming Javi down?” 

The glance he gave her as his eyes momentarily left the road was quick but weighted, or was that her imagination. 

“Max,” she sighed, taking a sip of the coffee he brought her, “is this Starbucks?”

“It was convenient.” he frowned. 

“It always is.” Amani muttered to herself.

She might as well rip the band aid off.

“Did you hear everything?”

Amani felt like she could see the wheels turning in his head. Deciding if he wanted to lie to her or not. It was something she has grown uncomfortably used to, not because it's wrong to lie to the person who loves you, but because a small part of her worries about what other people might think. 

Is she okay if the love of her life is turning out to be a bad man? Did she ignore all the red flags from her youth up until now? Is she some gullible fool?

“Yes.” 

Amani looked at him for a second. 

“I know my word does not have as much worth as it did in the past, but I don’t have anything else to lose at the moment.”

“Max, I haven't left you. I--” 

“You don’t get to fucking say that anymore!” He yelled, banging his fist on the dashboard with one hand on the wheel.

“You're gone! You aren’t talking to me, you hardly look at me anymore,  and you can barely be in the same room as me! It was only a month ago when I helped you get over Charlotte's most recent relapse, and eventually you didn’t want me there either!”

 His voice cracked, “You aren’t at home anymore unless it's to take Allister with you at your apartment.”

“. . .You left.” 

“Just because I am not with you physically does  not mean I am out of your life forever. I have not thought about leaving you and I will not think about leaving you. On top of my love for you is Allister, and I could not think of hurting him in any way.”

She turned and looked at him.

“I don’t want you to do what you're doing now, because I know you're still doing it even if you don't want to talk about it. I’m not coming back home until you stop!”

Amani’s ears were ringing from all the shouting. She leaned back in her seat and bounced her leg, willing herself to keep it together. Only a few more minutes, and she would see her son again. Things were better when he was around.

Her and Max did not fight. All of their energy was focused on keeping their baby safe and happy. 

“I haven’t done  anything like that since you left. I’m legal, all the way”

Amani turned and looked at him. Not trusting  herself to say anything. 

“I didn’t say anything because I did have all these plans for whatever I wanted. Legally or illegally, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Into when it was what drove you away. I made a promise to never do anything to ever hurt you, but,” he pulled the car to a stop as they reached their destination, “I didn’t say anything about it because I’m not sorry.”

Amani opened her mouth but he waved a hand to stop her. 

“I’m not sorry for wanting whatever it takes to support and provide for my family. I know it's wrong dealing in shady business, but that's what rich people do. Everyone from every side has been telling me this as business advice so I took it and I did what I had to do with it.”

Max undid his seatbelt and grabbed her arm. Willing her to look at him and he spoke. 

“Everything your father had was passed down to him from his family and he passed that down to you. I don't have that, and As far as I know I don't have anything to pass down to that little boy in my Mother’s arms. 

“I am not sorry for that.”

Amani grabbed his hand and wrapped it in hers. She ignored Max’s surprised expression and brushed his knuckles with her lips. She closed her eyes and savored the moment of having him close to her again. 

“We could have built something together. Why did you never think of that? You want something big and I want something innovative. We could have built that empire, we could have moved mountains together. You didn’t have to go out on your own and it didn’t have to be something dangerous.”

“But those dangerous people are the same people we went to high school with. The same people you ran track and played soccer with. The ones who sat beside you in class and helped get ready for prom with.”

Amani whipped a tear threatening to fall down her face.

She kissed Max’s knuckles and shed him quietly. 

“It’s not about that Max. . . I was only angry under the presumption you were doing something illegal. I only left because of that as well, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to stay upset at you for that. It wouldn't be fair to be angry at you for a whole new reason. 

Amani cupped his face and brushed his cheek with her thumb. 

“But we will talk about an apology later. I want to see my son.”

Max kissed her hand. His face was expressionless, but it was enough information for her. 

Getting out of the car he opened her door and helped her out. Before making it to the door of his Mother’s, they both had on their best smiles.

“Max! My precious boy! Amani! It has been so long it's so good to see you! I am so happy to see the two of you together! I know baby Allister is happy to see his Mommy and Daddy too!” she cooed. 

Alister raised his tiny feet and hands out in joy at seeing his parents. He kicked his feet and babbled in joy as loud as he could, reaching out his arms towards his mother.

“Ally! I missed you so much! I bet you were the sweetest most nicest boy for your Abuela.”

“Yes, he absolutely was.” She tickled Allister's belly, making him twist away in laughter. “Let me get my things and we can go. Let Max get him settled in the car and you can come and help me grab my things.”

Max raised his eyebrows in a small warning, and Amani gave him a nod as a silent, I’ll be okay.

“Have you made your decision, mija. You know I would never judge you for whatever decision you will make? I will love you all the same.”

“You don’t have to be so dramatic Mama Luisa. I was never planning to leave him.”

“You weren’t? Surely you know most people will not believe you.”

If there was one thing the Maxwells have in common it surely is the trait of being carelessly blunt when they want to be. 

“All I ever wanted was for Max to respect me. It wasn’t so much what he was doing behind my back, but how he disrespects me whenever I confront him about it. He thinks the fate of our family relies on his shoulders only. I know what he’s been fighting internally about being a father, but it's not something he’s ever been alone in. He has had you his entire life to deal with them and he now has me, but somehow in the adult phase of our relationship he is pushing me out, and I can't take it. 

“But I can’t take seeing you suffer from my own pain.”

Amani frowned. 

“Max, tell me what you are up to? This has happened more than once today, and it doesn’t look like a coincidence.”

“I’ll head to the car. Thank you mija for helping me gather my things.” 

“I made a promise to myself and your mother I would never do that. I had to let you leave me, and I had to find a way to deal with it on my own.”

“But you don’t–”

“--yes, I do.” he placed both of his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from turning or looking away. 

“Some burdens people have to carry alone. To put that on you in hopes that I might get better is too much. I had to do a lot of internal work on myself before I could ever fight for you to come back into my life. It’s the same reason Charlotte doesn’t want you visiting her or calling her while she’s in Rehab this time. 

“But why is it too much to just say you're sorry to me? What can’t you say it?”

Max smiled at her. He smiled at her. 

He smiled at her and it was driving her crazy.

“What are you looking at me like that for? I'm confronting you about something! I'm standing my ground and I am asking for respect!”

Max just sat there looking at her.

 She was starting to go crazy.

“What Max! What!”

“Come here.” Max held out his hand and jerked his head towards the door.

The last thing she wanted to do was go outside, but something was willing her to go along with this nonsense. 

Amani twisted the doorknob and Max immediately covered her eyes with his hands. 

“Max, what are you up to?” she sighed. Utterly defeated and bent to his will. She gives up. Whatever he has going on she’ll go along with it. She has come this far and they have made more progress today than they have in a long time.  

“No peeking.” was all she got in response.

Amani let Max lead her to the same backyard she has seen hundreds of times for family gatherings. From reunions to birthday parties. 

“Are you ready?” 

“Yes, Max. I’m–” 

Speechless. She was speechless. In the front yard hundreds of little sparklers were stuck in the ground to spell two words, taking up the entire yard.

I’m sorry.  

In the O were several gift bags which made Amani narrow her eyes.

“I know it's not much for everything I put you through, but I wanted to say. I’m sorry.”

He walked out in front of the sparklers arms spread out wide he yelled at the top of his lungs. 

“I am so sorry Amani Chandler-Jones for hurting you!”

“Talk yo’ shit nigga!”

“Do what it takes to get that girl back!”

Were two of several things that were said out of many windows. 

“Thank you gentleman! That means a lot to me!” Max yelled back as if it was the most normal thing in the world. 

It all made Amani laugh. She couldn’t have one separately tearful moment without something absurd and unexpected happening. 

“Let me get a piece of dat ass!”

“You can come down here and get these hands!”

“You can’t fight! Square ass looking–”

“Why don’t you come down here and find out for yourself!”

“Can you two do this tomorrow you're ruining my moment!”

“Come on Mani, you know I was just playing! Yall both know good and well, he dont’ look like he from here no moe!”

“We love you TT! Tell your grandma I said hey!” Amani waved. 

Max looked at her, and her stomach started tying knots. A feeling she remembers from when they first met. How he used to make her feel every time she saw him. 

“I couldn’t say sorry in the car because I had already planned this. I know I might have hurt your feelings and seemed shity, but I had to go down hard to keep this a secret.”

“You can never do anything normally can’t you?”

“I didn't work hard for all my money so I could make this  moment normal. I’m going all in or I'm not doing it.”

Max picked up all the bags and brought them over to her, the sparkles finally blown out. 

“Now you're going to open up all these gifts, so we can go to a two year olds birthday party, to watch spoiled rich baby's run around and play games, and eat cake.”

“Don’t forget about the parent drama we’re going to have to sit through. Someone is either going to say Chase’s wife stole the party idea or they are going to steal it for their child’s birthday.”

“Don’t remind me. Last year some dad kept showing pictures of his completely renovated backyard with a giant girl and a tacky large pool.

“Ugh, those pools are so tacky. Please, tell me we are never getting a pool. I never want to be those type of people.”

“You're telling me, we're taking Allister to the mountains. Not a beach.”

~

Paparazzi was everywhere outside the gate of her brother Chase’s house. He was never fussy about that type of thing, but Amani knew better. 

Her older step brother was always an attention seeker. He could never handle it if no one cared about whatever he was doing.

Amani would have said something to Max about Chase’s typical behavior, but his mother was in the car and so was their one year old baby. 

“All these camera flashes are making my head hurt.”

“Better get used to it Mama Luisa, because Chase probably brought a few inside to capture every moment of the twins' birthday party.”

“What if you and Max had twins? Wouldn't that be lovely?”

“You're literally holding our first child.”

“It's always nice to have another.”

Amani rolled her eyes and Max grabbed her hand and kissed it. 

“Baby steps Mama. Besides, we both have very active careers.”

Walking to the door was harder than they thought it would be. 

Questions about Charlotte were being thrown around. Comments about their family’s future? If she and Max were having trouble? Were they back together?

“Max! Amani! You made it!”

“Allister is so cute! He’s so big now!”

“Bethany! It's nice to see you again too!”

“How old are the kids this year, two?”

Amani had asked a genuine and polite question, but Beth hadn’t answered. She looked down at Max’s hand on her waist, how close they were standing together, and the recent collection of gold jewelry that adorned her neck and ears, missing the matching bracelet on her wrist.

“Oh you know how kids grow.” she said absentmindedly, walking into the house, she kept looking back at them from time to time with a sly smile on her face.

Amani actually liked Bethany a lot. Probably, more than her own brother, but right now she was testing her. 

“There goes a moment to let everyone know we’re okay on a day that isn’t about anyone else.” Max said in her ear before kissing her head.

“I don't even want to think about it. She’s on her way to tell every mother, cousin, and aunt about us. Can we ever have one thing?”

“You expect this from the man and woman who stole our wedding day?”

Amani playfully hit him on the chest.

“Do you really believe that?”

“He literally proposed to his girlfriend  after I opened my heart and said I wanted to propose to you! We were supposed to get married first with the big house and have all the expensive birthday parties! Not them!”

Amani bopped him on the nose. “It's probably better things turned out this way. Were better for it.”

“Yeah, Max rested his chin on her head, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting Bethany and his mother pass them. 

“We also have more money at this point in our lives than they did, so our wedding is going to be bigger, better, and more tasteful.”

Max chuckled. She felt it rise from the middle of his chest to the pit of his stomach. 

He tilted her chin up and kissed her on the mouth. 

His lips were always soft. A contrast to the firm set of his jaw as he presses his mouth against hers, asking for more, and she gives it to him. She gives it to him and more, asking for something in return with the same eagerness. 

“Are you two done yet?”

Amani doesn’t take her eyes off Max for a second, ignoring the voice of one of her friends. 

She smiled. 

“Let's go eat an overpriced children’s cake and pretend not to hate my brother and his wife’s friends.” 

~

Lyla can honestly say that becoming a mother to two older children was not hard for her. They had a special upbringing much different from her first child Amani, and they did not quite accept her at first,  but that didn’t have an affect on the love she had for them in her heart. 

Losing a mother is never easy, but losing a mother at such a young age is another thing entirely. 

“Lyla!” 

The door opened and her husband made his way to the bed taking off his slippers.

“Today was a handful,” he drew the covers back, not minding the sheets, and draped them over himself, “ I can’t wait to get old with you and leave all that work stuff for the kids to fight over.”

Lyla twirled with the bracelet on her wrist, saying a quick prayer for courage.

“I talked to Max today.”

Charles hesitated before sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes.

“That Max. . . He's not a terribly bad kid, but I can’t say I like him. Nor his relationship with our daughter. I think she’ll be better without him.”

“More likely he is better off without her.”

“Lyla what–” 

“Don’t lie to me Charles the boy came here and told me everything she did to him. He even said he came to talk to you about Charlotte using him for her image and you told him that it would be good for him.”

Charles sighed before turning around to look at his wife. 

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said dejectedly, “ Every man wants to believe in the good side of his children, especially his daughter. I can believe she turned to drugs after the death of her mother, but I don’t see what can make her manipulate this bright and capable young man.”

“She’s scared and alone Charles.”

“But what makes her feel so alone! We are her family and we are here for her! I’ll pay for all the therapy, all the rehab, all the medication she may need to get better!”

“She's A teenager, and all that grief and pain form being an addict on top of losing a mother isn’t a good combination. When you're a teenager by itself the world feels so big and everything hurts a hundred times more. That doesn’t make anything she’s done right, Charles.”

“. . . It’s just the explanation.”

“That doesn’t explain why Max would ever agree to what nonsense idea she presented him with.”

“Because he didn’t know about any plan. He was genuinely in love with her until something happened and he found out her true intentions.”

“Is that what he told you today? Only his side of the story!”

Lyla stood up from the bed and briskly walked towards the balcony. She opened the door for some air. 

She wanted nothing more than to take the pain in this family way, but she can;lt do it by herself, but she’d let hell freeze over before her daughter suffers from somebody else's demons.

“Charles this isn't about any side!”

Charles followed her onto the balcony and she pretended to ignore him. She couldn’t dare look at him in this moment. 

“As he fell in love with Mani as he fell out of love with Charlotte.” she sniffled.

“What do you mean he’s in love with Mani?”

“You’d let him near her? After everything?”

“He’s a child Charles! They’re all children. He said he used to want some type of revenge against her, but after spending so much time with Amani and seeing her love for Charlotte, he let it go.”

“But do you honestly believe him? Why would he say any of that?”

“It's not really in what he said Charles. It's in what he didn't say.”

“He said. . .He said he learned to see Charlotte from a different perspective through Amani’s eyes, and he couldn't bring himself to do anything to hurt her. . .” She sniffed again. “So he let it go.”

“What did Charlotte do to this boy Charles?”

“Well after the modeling agency told her to get off hard drugs before she comes back as a break before she gets clean. Somehow the information was linked to the press, and people weren’t talking about her in the papers or on tv like they used to. “ he sighed.

“Charlotte took it pretty hard and wanted me to do something about it. I found a random image consultant, and she  told us all Charlotte had to do was date someone better than her, and make a statement that she was going on a sabbatical or vacation to get better and reconnect with nature and God and that the press would love it.”

“Oh, Charles.”

“As far as I know, the plan was getting the result Charlotte wanted, so I focused back on my work. I thought everyone was happy. I didn’t know she was hurting the boy–”

“Max! Don’t call him boy. It’s dehumanizing and degrading Charles. You should know better.” Lyla calmly interrupted. “As you were saying.” 

Charles gave Lyla a sad smile before continuing. 

“When Max came to me and started saying She was making him unhappy, and that she was spending time with other people. I brushed him off and told him to handle it like a man.”

“I. .I had no idea she was using again. I didn’t know she was literally sleeping with and dating other people while taking Max to all these places for photos and interviews. I thought it was regular child dating . .stuff.”

“Charles, he was so hurt and lost. But most of all. . . he never did anything to let the media and public know. He could have ran to tmz or somewhere. He could have sued us for emotional damage in return or something else just as serious.. . “

“Charles, this all could have turned out worse.”

“How is Mani holding up through all this?”

Lyla couldn’t stop herself from crying. She wanted to be strong for her family or show some type of stability that everyone else could rely on, but she was only human, and every human has a breaking point. 

‘She was so excited to have a big sister and Charlotte has done so much for her to adjust to this new life of hers. All she knows is that her big sister is being taken away from her. Even if she ended up taking care of Charlotte through some of the problems she’s having with addiction. She only saw it as helping Charlotte like she helped her. .”

“Oh, Lyla.” Charles hugged and rocked her from side to side, rubbing her back in gentle and reassuring strokes. “I'm so sorry. I should have done more.”

“She didn’t want Charlotte to go to rehab again. She doesn't know how many things we’ve tried before sending her there, and she does like Max, but she’s afraid of putting her heart out there again.. . Charlotte let her down.”

“Lyla, I don’t want to argue with you.” 

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked out at the cloudy sky over the moon.

“I can’t say I’m happy with this information, but I will trust you with whatever decision you want to make, but I want to keep talking with you about this about our family. 

“Can you tell me why you’ve been working at your old cubicle and not your office as the CEO of Ankh Tech?”

Amani fumbled with her hands for a second, not looking up, her mouth in a thin line. She wasn't even sure if counseling was  helping at this point. How many times was she going to have to tell the same story over and over again.

She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. “Every time I close my eyes I still see Charlotte on the floor of that office.” She let out a shaky breath before continuing. “I thought she was dead. I thought she died,” she fidgeted with her hands, ”and I know she’s not, but I don't like remembering any of it.”

“Knowing and being aware of a problem is the first step to getting better. I’ll talk with Mr. Chandler about how you need to take baby steps into your new position, but You need to know that this job is going to be different than any other managerial position. “ 

Her tone was light but firm. Nothing in the slightest was rude or condescending, but Amani didn’t want to hear any of it. She needed to accuse  her of it anyway because of how it made her feel.

“The office isn’t a big deal! I don’t need some big fancy office to prove how good I am at my job!” Tears started welling in her eyes and she hated it. She hated how small she felt. How weak and helpless it made her feel. 

“But you're the boss,’ The blond ponytail interrupted her. 

Amani didn’t say anything. 

“You are not only a boss but the face and symbol of this company.”

“.But I…..What if...I don’t want to let anyone down. My mother, Pops,” She choked out a sob, “I don't want to betray Charlotte and now she’s not here anymore.”

Amani flinched when she felt a hand brush her cheek. 

She was crying for real this time.

“What Charlotte did, she did to herself, sweetie,” She handed Amani a tissue, “You are not responsible for Charlotte’s actions.

~

“Maaaaniii.”

Amani looked up to the voice singing her name in surprise.

“Pops,” She questioned,” What are you doing here?” She walked from behind her desk to give her step dad a hug. 

“I heard you moved a few of your things in the new office, and I wanted to come and tell you how proud of you I am for everything you’ve done and for making progress.”

“Pops you don't have to be so dramatic, I only worked in here for an hour.”

“So what are you doing in here now, hmmm.”

“Just turning the computer on and giving the office a test run for when I'm ready.”

It's been three weeks since everything’s happened and Amani finally decided to take back at least some of the control she had over her lie. It was nothing compared to how she used to plan out every little step and move, but it was something and it made her feel better. 

“I know it's hard trying to get back to normal,” he grabbed her shoulders into an embrace, like she would disappear at any given moment, “I asked someone very close to the heart  in our family, and I Hope you give him another chance. I know he’s broken your heart in some way, but you can't go through this alone right now,and no one has helped you better at time like this than him.”  

As if called by some beacon, he open the door, “Amani.” He said nothing else, his brow furrowed. He had the nerve to look worried about her, but she pushed that aside. 

Her heart dropped to her stomach. 

“MAX!” she gasped in surprise as a tall broad figure pulled her in for a hug. A massive hand cradled her head to his chest and another wrapped around her. She could almost cry as the familiar scent of a spicy musk wood flooded her senses.

“I heard what happened.” His grip on her tightened before he let her go. The gesture gave her a chance to take in the man she once knew as a boy. Gone was his jet black ruffled hair, now replaced with a blown out and highly styled blonde brown. But those eyes felt like home. Her old Max was still in the face of this unfamiliar man in front of her. After everything he did to recently split him up, here he was, but only because her father was meddling and thrust him upon her and back into her life without her consent. 

His words struck something deep and hollowed within her. 

She blinked back unexpected tears. That line was the story of her life. No more ‘hellos’ or ‘how are you’. It was always about what happened and people promising to be there for her, call me when you can, let me know what I can do to help, or her least favorite, a frown and look of pity as they said nothing and jumped to their own conclusions before moving on. 

 “I haven't seen you in so long and now I'm embarrassed to say I would always think of you when you're not around.” 

Amani could only laugh. Most people only know a piece of Max from how he carries himself in the public eye such as on tv or interviews, but she’s seen every part of hin through youth to the people they were now. 

“If only you would have thought of me just as much before you attempted to ruin our relationship.”

He laughed loudly at her little quip. The sound vibrated off his chest and filled the room. She wanted to hear as much of that as possible. He didn’t laugh much when they were younger. She was surprised he was laughing at all, but they had to lie. They had to lie to convince the people around them that the finality of their relationship wouldn’t break such an obvious bond between them, but neither of them could hardly define what they wanted. 

“Why don’t we go somewhere and talk about everything?”

“That would be nice, Max” she replied softly.

~

Maxwell didn’t want to let her go when he hugged her. She looked thinner than she did in all her instagram and facebook pictures, that he shamelessly stalked for weeks when he got the call from his temporary ex-girlfriend’s father about her. Her eyes were swollen from crying and somehow hollow at the same time, bloodshot red, and tired.

Charlotte had almost taken everything from her and he hated the woman even more for it. He wanted to get straight to the point and talk about everything, but he knew Mani wouldn’t be ready for anything that intense at her fragile state. 

“You have the ultimate power of a company in the palm of your hand, and the first thing you do is put a specialty coffee shop in the lobby.” he playfully crossed his arms, “explain to me how that's good business.”

“Coffee is just as important to me as my job, and it’s way more practical than a shitty juice bar.”

Amani’s skin was too dark for her to blush, but Maxwell always knew her tell. She would either scrunch her nose, an awkward attempt to stop smiling that only made her smile more, or quickly look to the side to avoid eye contact with a hand covering her mouth. But his favorite was when she did both. Just like she was now.

“Charlotte always had a weird thing for juice and smoothies.”

The mention of Charlotte made her eyes gloss over for a moment and it made him want to rip himself in half.

“I figured we could take it easy today,” he quickly changed the subject, “I’ll shadow you as you go about your day as if i’m not even here.”

“Okay,” he waited patiently as she twirled her head with a hand on her chin in thought. The gesture was making his toes curl in his shoes. How the youngest Chandler was now the face of the family legacy, “I’m okay with that,” she started slowly, “only if you promise to be quiet for most of the day.”

Maxwell opened his mouth in shock. Not even remotely sure what to say. 

“Max, don't be like that. You know how much of a talker you’ve always been.”

“Are you aware of who I am?”

“Ooooh,” She dramatically wiggled her fingers as she raised her hands, “You’ve been on tv a few times. Big deal”

“I guess that’s a no,” He smirked and propped one leg over the other, “ I am a powerful and equally feared man. While you were in your sophomore year of college trying not to fail Economics 101, I was building the foundation of my own empire. No one has told me to shut up since I entered the field.”

“Well, I wish they had you cocky bastard.” she grinned. 

“I’ll have you know that I--”

“Ms. Chandler?” a barista at the newly innovative indoor cafe interrupted him, “ are you ready to start cupping the new roasts for the season?”

Maxwell chuckled at the way her nose crinkled at being called Ms. Chandler.

“Absolutely, you can bring some for this gentleman as well.”

Maxwell waited for the girl to leave before he said anything.

“Don’t ever call me a gentleman in public” he scoffed.

“I can call you an old man if you want me to.” she cheekily replied.

Coming back with a tray, soon there were several small cups in front of them and they were given large round spoons. 

Wasting no time, Amani carefully dipped each spoon in every cup before taking small sips from each, then writing a few things on an ipad before going to the next. 

“This one right here, the single origin, it's good but I feel the flavour profile isn’t that interesting. This blend however would be perfect for a House Roast this season. Either of these other two are fine or any other blend option, and I already know we talked about keeping the espresso blend the same as often as possible.”

“Do you want all of that on the website?”

“Definitely, people like transparency when it comes to everything they eat and drink these days. Give it a few months, but I want to start selling things online. The coffee market on the internet is pretty impressive these days.”

“Anything else, boss?” The girl bobbled off happily.

“No, that should be all for today Stephanie. I’m pretty sure we’ll be ready for this place to open up on Monday.”

Maxwell stared at her thoughtfully. 

“You're in the coffee business?” he said in disbelief. “Since when?”

“A month.” Mani pursed her lips.

“Since when did you learn so much about coffee?” 

She was incredible. She was mentally put through the wringer and her life was almost torn into shambles, but her saving grace, the one thing she could do without fail was run a small budding coffee shop.

“I've always been kinda picky with coffee, you know that.”

She was going to be the death of him. Yes, he remembers her talking about coffee every now and then, but that didn’t mean he knew she was some self taught coffee expert. 

“Well if you can do this, you can run Ankh Tech.”

“Those are two ocmpletely different things.”

“What about Ankh do you not understand?”

“Well.. there's nothing I don’t understand it's just that---”

“Then you can run Ankh Tech.” He said with finality.

Getting up he straightened his clothes. 

“Let’s go upstairs and you can prove to me whether you can do this or not.”

~

Maxwell quietly made his way to the Chandler manor pool. It was the second year anniversary between him and his girlfriend, and what better way to prove how great of a boyfriend he was than to surprise her with a git? 

He was wrong.

Seeing his girlfriend on a pool recliner with the random poolboy with one hand sliding up and down between her thighs with another fondling one of her exposed nipples was not surprising. 

Especially not surprising also seeing a bag of various pills nearby, just like the small bag of coke he discovered in her room last month.

He convinced himself the drugs didn’t bother him. He believed her when she said she was planning on quitting after she met him. How he made her better, How she was not only doing it for herself but for us. 

He ignored the revelation at the words after she met him because that would mean she was on drugs when they first started dating. But he loved her right. So there's no need to get mad at her because love conquers all.

Never again.

Without even making a fuss or yelling or letting her know he was there, he turned around. Slamming the door behind him. He stomped up the stairs and turned around the corner, making his way to the fancy home theatre. 

The new home theatre, where he knew he would find Charlotte’s best friend as well as sister. It was recently renovated for her because after Mr. Chandler’s late wife passed, he had remarried a woman with a daughter. When asking her what her heart's most desire, no matter how expensive, would be to make her feel more welcome at her grand new home, she shyly declared a home theatre would be nice. He was asuming shyly because that’s all he’s ever seen her as, whether in this house, with Charlotte somewhere, or at college.  

Curled up in a giant leather chair, she was surprisingly not watching Star Wars for the millionth time, but a movie he had never seen or heard of. He marched to the front, making sure she heard every step, but once he got there, he was unsure of what to do. 

He wanted to make her mad, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't channel his inner asshole, and stand directly in front of the screen and block her view. He couldn’t raise his voice at her, throw the remote across the room, or even toss over her bowl of snacks.

Defeated, he sighed loudly.

“What's wrong?” She paused the movie and looked towards him with undivided attention. 

“You want an anniversary gift?” He sneered. 

“Here,” he threw down the bouquet of flowers and the giant bag in her lap before flopping in the recliner next to hers.

He watched her slowly opening the gift. All he could afford was a NYU sweatshirt to his and Charlotte's respective school, flowers, chocolate. There was a surprise necklace, but he could easily return that and get his hard earned money back.

“She would have loved this.” Mani’s voice was small. But he was glowering at her and his standoffish attitude probably wasn’t helping either. Her lip quivered.

“I should have told you about the drugs. It's my fault I let it get this far between you two and now you're hurt because of it.” She half turned her body from him and looked away. 

He couldn't believe this. Before saying anything, he let the silence grow between them. He silently cursed to himself when he saw she was wearing an oversized shirt and probably really short sleeping shorts, but he personally hoped she just had underwear underneath the expanse of the shirt. He shamelessly stared at the generous amount of skin, she was unaware of what revealing that amount of skin in front of a guy meant. How much it meant to him. He didn't feel bad because he was  single at the moment and the idea of hurting Charlotte’s feelings by forming a relationship with her new younger sister didn't seem like a half bad idea at the moment. 

Indulging in the secret fantasy that he’s been hiding for so long isn’t a bad idea anymore.

“You're unbelievable.” She turned quickly at him in shock but he didn’t give her a chance to reply. “Your sister acts like a complete bitch not only to me, but to you as well, and you blame yourself.”

“That’s not--- ”

“Then why do you act like it was you I found with the pool boy’s tongue halfway down your throat?”

 “I knew about the drugs for a while, but it's getting old taking care of her because of it,” He laughed bitterly, “but I believed her when she said she loved me and that it was just something that I could help her through. 

He looked into her eyes and hoped she saw the answer she was looking for in his.  “I drew the line at her dragging her baby sister into it. You're not responsible for Charlotte.

“You still don't deserve it,” she shook her head adamantly, “and I could have stopped it.” Her voice was shaking and he fought down a wave of rage that he knew would only make it worse.

He stood up and kneeled in front of her. “Put the sweatshirt on,” he hid the pleading in his voice. Pretending she wasn’t looking at him with a confused look, face flushed from crying.

Tears were flowing freely down her face and he couldn’t take it. All he could do was blame Charlotte. 

As gently as he could he wiped the tears from her face with his hand. Her breath hitched at his touch and he ignored how the sound filled some dark pit of his body with warmth. He carefully lifted the sweatshirt and bunched it together so he could put her head through the shirt. He helped her put her arms through sleeves and then wiped more of her tears. He was close now and he didn’t ever want to break away.

“You were always better than her. Nice, kinder, warmer, more real. You saw me as who I was and not something to manipulate. If I wasn’t so wrapped up in a lie, surely I would have chosen you.” He was trying to sound confident and sure. Reassuring even.

Butt all he could hear was a lost desperate voice looking for answers. Some form of comfort. Standing up, he shook his head violently to scare away tears. He looked at the prettiest sad girl he’s ever seen in his life. A beautiful black girl who deserves someone to be there for her as she wanted to be for everyone else. 

He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips on her forehead. Staying a moment he savored the feeling of her skin along his lips before brushing them along a slow and tender path to her lips. He wouldn;t dare kiss them. Not right now, but that wouldn’t stop him from getting close to them. 

He could stay there forever. 

She didn't push him away and he would stay as long as he could before she started to hate him.

“See you around, Mani.” 

After brushing a thumb on her soft full lips, he stood up and walked out. Leaving Chandler's Manor with tears on his face and an empty heart.

~~~~~~