So, the next day Amiyah woke up to the smell of bacon. She stretched her body and got up. First used the bathroom, then she went downstairs. She found Lamar standing in the kitchen cooking.

Amiyah walked up to him and leaned him down to her level to kiss him. She gave him and he kissed back.

"Good morning", she said.

"Morning. How did you sleep?", Lamar asked.

"Good...did you even sleep at all?", Amiyah asked.

"What you mean?", Lamar said.

"Well I went to sleep at 12 a.m. last night and you were still downstairs", Amiyah said. "It's 7:30 now and I doubt I felt you in the bed"

Lamar didn't say anything.

"If this is about your dad then you should talk about it", Amiyah said. "You do know you can share things with me right?"

"...I just...I despise that man...yet I feel like I'm becoming him", he said.

Amiyah continued to listen.

"I can tell you always had motivation around you growing but me? I didn't have that. It was always about how I wasn't good enough. My mom...she tired to get my dad to cut it out but he would um...", Lamar began to change up what he was saying. "She just couldn't, because he wouldn't let her so she just stopped all together. Daren he was a good brother but we were opposites. He was "popular" and I was...lame. It's enough that people at school used to bully me, but to have those words "you're not good enough" come out of your own dad's mouth...it just makes you think you are", he said as he looked Amiyah. "But then I met you and you made me feel good about myself"

Amiyah smiled. "Well, you're good enough to me", she said.

"And ever since I have been...thinking about you everyday and I know that well...the whole sneaking into your home and setting up cam-"

Amiyah stopped him. "That's the past", she said when her hand up and her eyes closed.

Lamar looked down. "I just wanted you in some type of way...so bad", he said.

Amiyah looked up at him. "...what about your last girlfriend?", Amiyah said. "Did she...did she really commit suicide?"

"Yes", Lamar said.

Amiyah nods as she looks to the side.

"She reminded me of you before she passed. I thought that I'd never get you so I believed that she was the...second best", Lamar said. "May she Rest In Peace"

Amiyah looked at him.

"I love you", he said.

"...I love you too", Amiyah replied before kissing him. "What's for breakfast?"

"Waffles, bacon and eggs. I know you like your strawberries, so you can get some out the fridge", he said.

"You know me so well", she said as she walked to the fridge.

Lamar shook his head and smiled a little.

Amiyah didn't really wanna think about how things started between them because she didn't want to even think about that side of him. She was just feeling more comfortable and open with him again.

———————-

The sooner or later, Christmas Day came. Amiyah was currently coming down with a cold so Bianca came over.

"Time flies so quick", Bianca said while she was in the kitchen.

"I know right", Amiyah said.

Bianca walked out the kitchen with a bowl of soup and a sticky note.

"You know you didn't have to make me soup. I'm not that sick. I could've made my own", Amiyah said.

"I know, but that's what I do", Bianca said as she handed her the bowl and the paper.

Amiyah read the note.

📝: Cameras still in here?

Amiyah looked at Bianca as she put the note down. "No. I took them down", Amiyah said.

"Alright cool", Bianca said.

"Why?", Amiyah asked.

"Just asking", Bianca said.

Amiyah started eating her soup.

Suddenly, it was a knock at the door so Bianca got up and opened it. It was Lamar.

"Hey, Mar", Bianca said.

"Hey Bianca". Lamar replied "merry Christmas"

Lamar walked into the house and he held a big gift bag.

"Oooh, purse?", Bianca asked as she shut the door.

"That is for Amiyah to find out", Lamar said.

Amiyah put the bowl on the end table.

"You sick?", he asked.

"Just a little cold but I'm fine", she said.

"Your nose is red", he said.

" Rudolph", Bianca said with a chuckle.

"Hush", Amiyah said with a smile.

"I'll just wait to give this to you then", he said.

"Why?", she asked.

"I don't think it's the right time to give it to you that's all", he said. "I'll just wait until you're feeling better"

Amiyah and Bianca made a face.

"What does her being sick have anything to do with a gift?", Bianca asked.

Lamar looked at Bianca. "Bianca, I'm sorry if this offends you in any type of way but this is between me and Amiyah alright?", Lamar said.

"Well, excuse me", Bianca said.

Amiyah looked at Bianca then at Lamar. "She has a point", Amiyah said.

"Because the second half of this gift is for us to go out and we can't do that because you're sick", Lamar said.

"Oh okay", Amiyah said. "Well I'll just get your gift from upstairs then"

"No just finish your soup", Lamar said.

"The soup is fine, I just don't have an appetite. I don't know why but it's making my nauseous", Amiyah said.

"Uh uh, you saying my soup nasty?", Bianca asked.

"No, I'm saying that I guess my tastebuds are out of whack", Amiyah said. "You know I love your cooking"

"Mmm", Bianca said.

Suddenly, Amiyah gets a text message and it was from Dominic. She read it and it said, Merry Christmas stranger. I hope you have a great day.

Lamar was watching Amiyah as she typed back. "Who's that?", Lamar asked.

"Everybody has been texting me Merry Christmas all day. This one in Dominic...We haven't talked in months", Amiyah said.

Lamar nods.

Amiyah got up and walked upstairs.

"I don't mean to be in anyone's relationship or sex life for that matter but do you guys use protection?", Bianca asked.

"Yea", Lamar said.

"Every single time?", Bianca asked.

Lamar made a face. "Why are you asking me this?", Lamar asked.

Bianca raises her eyebrows. "Do I really need to explain or do I need a middle schooler to tell you what I'm thinking", she asked.

Lamar looked down after he realized what she was talking about.

"Exactly", Bianca said.

Amiyah came back downstairs, and she had a gift bag in her hand and she handed it to Lamar.

"I hope you like it", Amiyah said.

Lamar sat down and pulled out the first thing he saw and it was a jacket.

"Oh shoot. I fuck with this", Lamar said as he stood up and tried it on.

"Good. It fits", Amiyah said. "And it looks good, but go ahead. Something else is in there"

Lamar sat back down and pulled out a piece of paper, it was folded up. He kinda made a face because he didn't expect to see that. He opened and read it.

"Can I please open my gift?", Lamar read before he looked at Amiyah.

Bianca chuckled.

"Please. I have one more thing for you but I really wanna see what you got me now. I'm not even that sick. Its just a little sniffles", she said.

"Did you write this while you were upstairs?", Lamar asked.

Amiyah nods.

"Okay, Amiyah", he said as he reached over and handed her the gift. "Here"

Amiyah smiled as she took the tissue paper out. She didn't see anything but a book.

"Any gift is special because a person didn't have to give you one my Lamar...a book? Really?", Amiyah asked.

"What?", he said as he stood and walked to her. "Reading is good for the brain.

"Yes, but this woman does not enjoy it", Amiyah said before she opened it to the book and the middle of the pages had a square whole in it with a black box sitting inside.

After she did that Lamar got on one knee.

"Oh my god", Amiyah said.

Bianca covered her mouth.

Lamar took the jewelry box out of the book and opened it. Amiyah laid eyes on a beautiful ring.

"Amiyah Wilson...We have been together for 11 months now and I know that this may be too soon for you, which is why I understand if you say no... but it's not for me, because I know for a fact that I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, be committed to you, and love you until we get old. I know I have flaws but I'm working on them and you've made me better than ever. So much better that I think it's okay for me to ask you this question. But before I do, I just wanna say that I swear to you that I will always protect you, I will never hurt you, and I will treat you like the queen you are.. so, Amiyah...will you marry me?", Lamar asked.

Amiyah was fanning herself to keep from crying. She couldn't believe he was asking her this. As much as she wanted to say yes, because she was waiting for years for the day that somebody asks her to be their wife and she has grown to love Lamar but it was another side of her that was scared because it was something so knew. Because Amiyah didn't normally let her fears dictate her decision, she answered his question.

"Yes", Amiyah said.

Bianca looked down for a moment then back at them. Bianca was happy for her best friend. She was just worried about her safety with him as usually. She felt like the more Amiyah lets Lamar into her life, without getting professional help, the more attracts he will become and the more unstable he will be if Amiyah were to end things or so something he doesn't like. Bianca did feel like he was growing but she also felt like anything could bring that other side of him out at any time. She always trusted Amiyah's decisions, so she wasn't going to say anything, except for being happy for her, but she just hoped that Amiyah was doing it because she actually loved Lamar and felt safe with him and not because she feels forced or because it was in the moment and marriage is something that she had been waiting for so she just said yes to the first person to ask her.

Lamar put the ring on Amiyah's finger and they kissed.

"Congratulations", Bianca said

Amiyah and Lamar pulled away.

"Now what's the second part of the gift", Amiyah asked.

"Truth be told.. there is no second part. I was just nervous to ask in front of Bianca", Lamar said.

"Oh wow", Amiyah said.

"Now, where is my second gift", Lamar asked.

Amiyah sighed. "I mean I don't know if you'll like it or not but...I can't tell you right now. You actually have to wait..."

Lamar sighed. "Oh come on", he said.

"Listen, it may come sooner than you think", Amiyah said. "It's up to you on when you find out"

Lamar made a face.

"You'll see", she said. "Trust me"

"Okay, whatever", he replied as he stood up. "I'm about to get ready for work"

"Forensic scientists don't get Christmas off?", Bianca asked.

"I was just the unlucky one that got put on shift. Besides, holidays is when the most amount of stuff goes on", Lamar said as he walked to the door. "They need somebody smart to help with the evidence"

"And they picked the smartest", Amiyah said.

"Thanks baby. But I will see you two later. Bye", Lamar said.

"Bye", Amiyah and Bianca replied.

Lamar left and Bianca locked the door.

"So is the second gift that you're pregnant?", Bianca asked.

Amiyah made a face. "What? No?", Amiyah said.

"Oh come on. I'm not dumb. I can feel it", Bianca said.

Amiyah sighed. "Okay. Yes, I'm pregnant and I'm still trying to figure out a way to tell me. I wanted it to be creative", Amiyah said.

"Damn...too bad it isn't his birthday I would've had something perfect...but I still have another idea. Get dressed", Bianca said.

"Where are we going?", Amiyah asked.

"You'll see", Bianca said.

"Okay", Amiyah replied. Amiyah got up and went upstairs to get dressed and they left.

TO BE CONTINUED.... DONT FORGET TO COMMENT AND VOTE💛