Listen to All of Me by John Legend

My cheeks ached from the force of my smile, the kind that stretched so wide it felt like it might crack. I wanted to laugh, but a knot of emotion clung tightly to my chest, choking the joy from my throat. It wasn't the pictures—awkward, cringeworthy, maybe, but they didn't matter. It was the words, the tender, raw words scrawled beside each one, words of encouragement and admiration that struck me like a soft punch to the gut. Each line felt like a revelation, a piece of her heart spilling onto these pages for me to hold.

I traced my fingertip across the purple glittery ink, now starting to fade, as if the passage of time itself had dared to erase its beauty.

I hope you never find a reason to stop smiling.

It hit me with a weight I wasn't prepared for, like a wave crashing into the shore of my chest. Belvina—Vina—had written this. She, the girl who guarded her emotions like a fortress, had poured herself into this scrapbook, into me. It felt surreal, like a dream I might wake from at any moment. She, who had always been so careful, so calculated with her feelings, had created this for me. And I realized, in that moment, that she had seen me—truly seen me—before I even knew myself. She understood everything I needed, everything I was, long before I had the courage to say it.

A rush of warmth flooded my chest, and with it came a fierce, overwhelming love. I would do anything for her. Anything. The thought hit like a sharp breath, full of meaning, of desperate yearning. I'd swim again. I'd dive back into those dark waters if it meant I could be with her. Just for Belvina Gallardo. No one else.

I blinked away the emotions threatening to drown me, steadying myself as I stood before the bathroom door where she hid, a retreat from whatever she had just shared with me. My heart was still pounding, but the smile wouldn't leave my lips. I knocked gently, the sound a soft promise in the air between us, unable to stop myself from grinning like an idiot.

"Vixen?" I called but got no reply, I could hear her mumbling incoherent words behind the door.

"This is the most beautiful piece of art I have ever seen, I love it. You never told me you were a poet."

"Stop," she groaned.

"Honestly, Vixen, I love it."

"Liar."

"Can I come in?"

"No." Her voice was muffled, laced with distress.

"Please." The word escaped me, raw and earnest.

The silence stretched out, heavy and suffocating. My heart pounded as I waited, each second amplifying the ache in my chest. Then, faintly, I heard the soft clicks of locks being undone. The door creaked open, and there she stood — vulnerable and flushed, her hands flying up to shield her face.

I smiled, hoping to ease the tension, but she groaned, her fingers digging into her cheeks.

"I can't look at you right now. I can't even imagine what you're thinking after... after seeing that."

I stepped closer, careful and deliberate. "You want to know what I'm thinking?"

"No." She shook her head, voice quivering. "It'll just make this worse. I want to erase your memory of the book."

I gently took her hand, peeling it away from her face. She resisted, her gaze glued to the floor, her lips caught between her teeth. The crimson blush that spread across her skin was deeper than I'd ever seen, painting her embarrassment in vivid strokes.

"Look at me," I whispered, my fingers brushing against her skin like a promise.

She shook her head, a small, fragile refusal.

"Don't feel ashamed for letting me see this part of you," I continued, my voice steady, yet soft.

She sighed, a shaky exhale that turned into a nervous laugh. "I know... I just... I can't believe you saw that."

"I love it," I confessed, my words deliberate, unwavering. "The words in that book — they speak to me."

Her eyes finally lifted, meeting mine with a hesitant, searching gaze. Her dimples appeared as her mouth curved into a cautious smile. I cupped her face, the warmth of her skin grounding me as I leaned in, our foreheads gently touching.

"I love you," I breathed, the confession a steady heartbeat between us. "Thank you for always being there for me."

We lingered in that quiet space, the storm of emotions settling into a calm, shared serenity.

Then she broke the silence, her voice playful and hopeful.

"Can I trash the book now?"

"Hell no, I'm keeping it. This is an artifact I'm going to hold dear to my heart," I said hiding the book behind me.

"Fine but we are never talking about this book again."

"Why? I have questions," I frowned.

"Just a head up, keep the book somewhere I won't find it," she said with a mischievous smile.

"Got it," I smiled, I walked to the closet and locked the book in a safe. I changed the password so Belvina won't be able to unlock it.

I stepped out of the closet, brushing a stray thread from my sleeve as my eyes found her sitting at the foot of the bed.

"Are we still up for movie night?" I asked, the words laced with hope.

She glanced up, her expression unreadable. "If Andrew doesn't crash it."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "He's probably out at a bar after what I said to him." My voice dropped as I pulled my shirt over my head, feeling the weight of her gaze like a palpable touch.

I kicked off my shoes, sliding out of my pants until only my boxer-briefs remained. The air buzzed with unspoken tension, the space between us shrinking.

"See something you like, Vixen?" I teased, casting a playful look over my shoulder.

She tried to look unimpressed, her lips twitching. "Sadly, no."

"Really?" I smirked, stepping closer. "I could swear I saw you drooling."

She scoffed, shaking her head, but her blush betrayed her. I leaned in, placing my hands on either side of her, caging her in with deliberate intent, our faces mere inches apart.

I brushed my nose against hers, her pulse quickened. I moved my hand up her thigh and stopped at the waistband of her sweatpants, a soft gasp slipped from her lips when my hand crept in and cupped her. I brought my lips closer to hers, brushing them teasingly against her tempting soft lips. I pulled away when she tried to kiss me.

"I got my answer," I said walking to the closet, something hit my head from behind. I looked down at the pillow and smiled at Belvina who was glaring at me. A knock on the door stole our attention.

"I ordered Pizza, is anyone interested?"

"Yes, God bless you," Belvina sighed rushing to the door.

Andrew stood at the door when she opened it, he looked between us and asked, " Did I interrupt something?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Belvina said stepping out and closing the door. I smiled and looked around for my laptop. I perched on the bed and went through the files I had asked Elise to send to me. I spent a few minutes skimming through it before going for a shower.

I could hear Belvina's loud laughter as I walked down the stairs, I wondered what got her laughing so loud. I heard Andrew saying something and laughing, I found them at the dining. One box of pizza was empty and the other box had two slices left.

"Hey you," Belvina giggled, I noticed the bottle of beer in front of her. I looked at Andrew who was gulping one bottle of beer down his throat.

"I left you with her for fifteen minutes and you got her drunk?"

"She is not that drunk, right Belvina?"

"Uh huh," Belvina nodded and giggled again. I turned to him with a hard look, he raised his bottle of beer in a toast to me.

"She is not good with alcohol you moron."

"I'm fine, I just feel giggly," she said laughing.

"There is still more beer left if you want," he said to me.

"No, I'm good. Someone needs to be sober to babysit your drunk ass"

"Stop being an ass and join us," Belvina said pulling me to the seat beside her.

I grabbed one bottle of beer and Belvina clapped, squealing as if I just received an award.

I nursed a single bottle of beer, determined to stay sober as Andrew and Belvina dissolved into laughter over something that lacked any real humor. Belvina, barely into her first drink, was already swaying, her cheeks flushed with intoxication. I marveled at how she managed to stay on her feet.

Andrew, ever the instigator, dragged her to the living room. They cranked up the TV for karaoke, belting out lyrics between fits of drunken giggles.

I watched from the dining room, a soft smile tugging at my lips. Maybe having Andrew around wasn't the worst thing, but I couldn't let myself get too comfortable with it. Sooner or later, he'd be back on the road, touring across continents, and his presence would fade into the distance.

***

The next morning, sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a golden glow across the room. I walked to the glass wall and pushed the drapes apart, letting the rays flood in. Belvina was still out cold, tangled in the sheets. She'd passed out at the table last night, and Andrew had claimed the couch. I'd carried her to bed, careful not to wake her, and left Andrew to his own devices.

I placed a bottle of water and some painkillers on her nightstand before heading out for my morning run. The living room was quiet, Andrew nowhere in sight — he must have found his way back to his room during the night.

When I returned, sweat cooling on my skin, Belvina was still fast asleep. I showered, then went to check on her. Gently, I brushed her hair back and caressed her cheek. She hummed softly but didn't stir, her breath steady, though she still smelled faintly of beer. I smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead before slipping out of the room to fix her something to eat.

In the kitchen, I found Andrew perched on a stool at the island, shirtless and disheveled, eating cereal topped with raspberries. He barely looked up as I entered, his focus locked on the bowl in front of him.

"Rough night?" I asked, opening the fridge.

"You left me freezing in the living room, a blanket would have been nice," he hissed.

"You didn't look like you needed it," I shrugged.

He scoffed, and I laughed, pulling out my phone to search for a French toast and scrambled eggs recipe. Setting the phone on the counter, I grabbed a bottle of milk and a carton of eggs as listed on the screen.

"What are you trying to do?" Andrew asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Make breakfast for my girlfriend," I hummed, focused on gathering ingredients. He shook his head, brushing his long hair back.

I grabbed a glass bowl and a plate, reading the instructions aloud.

"Need help?" he offered, setting his empty bowl in the sink.

"Do you know how to make French toast?"

"No, but two heads are better than one," he shrugged, standing next to me in nothing but his boxers. I ignored his lack of clothing and handed him the phone.

"Okay, so first, we beat two eggs," he read, grabbing the eggs from the crate. I opened the bottle of milk as he cracked the eggs into the bowl.

"Careful, make sure not to get any eggshell inside."

"One more demand, and I'm leaving you to figure this out alone," he warned, making me grin.

"Done. Next, mix with half a cup of milk," we read together, following the steps precisely.

"Careful with the measurements. We want this to be perfect," I whispered as he added a tablespoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

"Where is she, anyway?" he asked, whisking the mixture.

"Still sleeping, thanks to you."

Andrew smirked, setting the whisk down. "I think we're good to go. Where's the bread?"

I grabbed the slices of bread, placed a frying pan on the electric stove, and soaked the bread in the mixture.

"How long is it supposed to soak?" I asked.

"It doesn't say."

I shrugged and placed the soaked brown bread on the hot frying pan. The sizzling sound made me feel triumphant.

"Look up how to make scrambled eggs," I said to Andrew who frowned at me.

"There are tons of sites here, I don't know which to pick."

I sighed and walked to where he stood, I snatched the phone from him and look up at the first one that popped up on the screen. 

"What's that smell?' Andrew asked, I was about to tell him he was the one smelling but the heavy smell of burnt toast reminded me I left the french toast unattended. The smoke alarm already went off and the beeping sound echoed in the house like a siren. 

"Oh shit," I ran to the electric cooker and turned it off. Andrew was laughing his ass off as I glared at the burnt french toast.

"So much for breakfast in bed," he said eating one slice of bread.

"What's happening?" Belvina asked running down the stairs like she was being chased by a ghost, she looked so pale and frightened as she rushed to me and grabbed my arm.

"Drama queen, it's just the smoke alarm," Andrew snorted, I took one egg and hit him on the chest. 

"You're lucky I have not taken a shower and egg is good for the skin, thank you."

I looked down at Belvina who looked disoriented as she looked at the mess on the counter.

"You're finally up," I wrapped my arms around her.

"My head is on fire," she groaned.

"You didn't even finish your bottle of beer," Andrew scoffed.

"You told me it tasted like mountain dew."

I couldn't help but laugh as Andrew gave her a lopsided grin.

"I have a 5 pm flight, can you drop me off at the airport?" he asked me, his expression flat like he didn't want to give away any emotion.

"You're leaving?" Belvina asked and he nodded. I knew he'd leave any moment but it still hurt to see him leave.

"I thought I will be dealing with your annoying ass for longer than a day," Belvina frowned and he smiled.

"I'm coming to the airport with you. I will run up for a shower,"  she said and pulled away. She grabbed one egg and threw it at Andrew then ran away laughing.

"Why did you even come here?" I mumbled crossing my arms.

"You know this had always been my dream, I will visit anytime I get the chance."

"Of course which will be my funeral right?"

"Don't be such a baby Adrian," he sighed taking another slice of bread.

"You don't even call Andrew! At least a freaking, 'hello, I'm still alive' or 'how are you, little brother' will be nice even if I get it once a year."

"You have every right to hate me."

"I don't hate you," I said quickly.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

"It doesn't matter, forget it," I said and left the kitchen.

***

I rolled my eyes as Belvina and Andrew sang along to an old song from the radio, we were on our way to the airport. Andrew and I had hardly said a word to each other since our conversation in the kitchen this morning.

"Who is going to be my backup singer now? Adrian's voice sucks," Belvina said looking back at Andrew in the backseat.

"Just come clean and admit you will miss me," Andrew said with a smug smile.

"When should we be expecting your annoying ass again?"

Andrew met my eyes in the rearview mirror before replying, "I can't tell. You know I love making a surprise entrance."

Belvina smiled and glanced at me. As if she could see through my thoughts, she placed her hand on my thigh and gave me a reassuring squeeze. I smiled softly and held her small hand before she could pull away.

"Are we still going to see Chloe tonight?" she asked, brushing her thumb against mine.

"Yeah," I replied, slowing down as we approached the checkpoint.

"When are you planning to steal me away for another trip?" she asked. It took me a solid minute to realize she was talking about our short trip to New York. Even though it ended badly, she beamed at me as if none of that had happened.

"I could get us a flight right now; you just have to pick a place."

"Hmm," she mumbled, striking a thoughtful pose that made me smile. She looked back at Andrew, who was busy on his phone.

"Mr. Wanderer, where's the best place to visit right now?"

"You can join me in touring Europe," he suggested without looking up.

"Belvina likes to have her family close. She wouldn't leave them to travel the world like it's the only thing that matters," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. An awkward silence settled over the car. Before anyone could say anything, I pulled into the parking lot.

"Here we are. Have a safe flight," I said, forcing a smile.

"I'll see you off at the departure gate," Belvina said, stepping out of the car with him.

I sat back and watched them walk toward the colossal airport building. I didn't know when I'd see him next. I just wished he'd be around more, but this had always been his dream, and I wasn't selfish enough to ask him to stay longer.

Belvina returned a few minutes later with a bag of bagels and a small gift box.

"He asked me to give you this. He wanted to give it to you this morning, but you were mad at him — and clearly, you still are," she said, placing the box on my thigh.

I picked up the black suede box and opened it. Inside lay a gold chain necklace with a matching ring.

"He cares about you, you know. And he feels sorry for not doing enough," she whispered, leaning closer to the console.

"I know," I mumbled, staring blankly at the gleaming gold jewelry.

"The bagels here are to die for," she moaned, savoring each bite. I smiled faintly and started the car, the hum of the engine filling the silence between us.

"Want some?" she asked bringing the bagel closer to my lips, I took a bite and nodded in approval at her comment.

"Oh my God, you have a big mouth," she said staring at the size I bit off, I laughed.

***

Kayden ran into Belvina's arms as soon as we stepped into the house. 

"Look at you growing so fast when your wife is not even born," Belvina said ruffling Kayden's deep brown hair. He giggled and showed her his tiny bracelet.

Tristan nudged me as we walked into the living room, toys scattered across the floor. Kayla sat in her makeshift play area, too absorbed with her dolls to notice us.

"She's upstairs," Tristan said to Belvina before she could ask about Chloe.

Belvina smiled at me, a silent 'see you later,' and headed toward the stairs with Kayden in her arms.

"Andrew didn't care to drop by and say hi?" Tristan asked, strolling to the small wine bar. He grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel's and two glasses.

"He was only around for 24 hours," I replied.

"He's gone already?"

"Yeah, we just dropped him off at the airport."

"Are you sad he left again?" he asked, handing me a glass.

I took it with a faint smile. "I'm used to it."

"I'm glad Belvina's back. How is she doing?" he asked, settling into the chair opposite mine.

"She's better. We're doing great."

He grinned. "I'm happy for you, bro."

"How are things with the twins? Getting used to daddy duties?" I asked, leaning back in my seat.

He laughed, then groaned. "Potty training is exhausting, but we had a win teaching Kayla to ride her bike."

"Hi, Kay," I waved at her, but she only glanced at me before returning to her dolls.

Tristan chuckled. "She has her moments."

We stayed downstairs, catching up and watching the NBA game. Chloe and Belvina eventually came down, but they disappeared into the kitchen, continuing whatever conversation they'd started upstairs.

We returned home past nine in the evening. Belvina went straight to the bathroom, sinking into a foamy bathtub. I joined her a few minutes later, and we lay there together — skin against skin, our bodies exploring each other in the quiet intimacy of the night.

It took a while before we decided to get out of the bathtub and prepare for bed. Belvina played one of her vinyl collections as I replied to a few business emails. She hummed to the song from where laid on her stomach on the bed reading a book, my t-shirt crept up her bum exposing her black underwear that hugged her perfect ass and her brown scarf held her large curls in place. I know we just made love in the bathtub but the sight of her like this was turning me on again.

"Let's dance," I said trying to find a way to distract myself. Her head whipped toward me with a playful smile plastered on her angelic face. 

"Come on," I urged, walking toward her and extending my hand for her to take. She sat up, biting on her lower lips.

Her fingers brushed mine, and in an instinctive motion, I drew her closer, the softness of her body pressing against me with a heat that ignited something deep inside. My hand settled at the curve of her waist, anchoring her to me as we moved together in perfect sync with the languid tempo of the music. The world blurred around us, the quiet thrum of the bass vibrating through our bodies, and all I could focus on was the sensation of her—so close, so real, so mine.

I could feel my pulse quicken, a warmth spreading through me that had nothing to do with the heat of the room. It was her. Always her. I still couldn't quite believe it, couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that this—she—was mine. The thought sent a wave of tenderness flooding through me, an ache so sweet it almost hurt.

As her head tilted gently to rest against my chest, I lowered mine, my chin resting atop the soft crown of her hair. Her breath, steady and warm, mingled with the thumping of my own heart, and I closed my eyes, as if holding onto the fragile weight of this moment.

"I love you so much, Vixen," I whispered, the words raw and desperate, as if they might escape me if I didn't say them now. The admission hung in the air, trembling with unspoken truth. I wasn't sure my heart even belonged to me anymore—it had been claimed long ago, and now, it was hers, completely. All of it. Forever.

"I love you too, Parker," she replied running her small arms down my back. I laughed when she grabbed my ass.

"Have mercy on my pancakes," I said and she burst out laughing.

"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you," I muttered cupping her face and brushing my finger against her dimple.

"I'm looking forward to annoying you for the rest of our lives," she beamed.

A quiet, certain sense of calm washed over me. In that moment, the future stretched out before us—endless and unknown—but it didn't matter. What mattered was this. Right here, right now. The love that pulsed between us, steady and sure, and the sight of her, this beautiful, amazing soul, smiling so effortlessly at me.

I leaned down, the world fading into a soft blur around us, and kissed her—gentle, tender, as if this kiss could hold everything I felt for her, everything we were, in a single, fragile moment.

THE END

I will be in the corner crying.