**Yasmine's POV**
I woke to the weight of August's arm draped across me, his chest warm and steady beneath my cheek. For a moment, I stayed still, listening to the low hum of his breathing.
"Good morning, baby," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
"Good morning," I smiled, feeling him loosen his hold so I could sit up.
Upstairs, I padded into the bathroom, took care of business, and moved through my morning routine — face washed, teeth brushed, hair tied back. By the time I stepped out, the steam curling around me, August was coming in to do the same.
In the closet, I lingered in front of the racks. Last night, after his breakdown, we'd decided we'd go see his son first thing this morning. Today wasn't just any day — it was the day I'd meet Chase. Four years old, August had said, with a smile that had been half pride, half pain. I was excited, but my stomach carried a little knot I couldn't quite explain.
I settled on an oversized red sweater, soft enough to feel like a hug, and slipped on the socks-and-shoes combo my mom had given me for Christmas. After a touch of makeup, I went downstairs.
The smell of sausage and fresh biscuits greeted me before I even reached the kitchen. August was plating breakfast. We ate quietly, exchanging small smiles that felt like we were saving words for later.
---
In the car, I hooked my phone up to the aux cord and pressed play.
Beyoncé's Best Thing I Never Had poured through the speakers.
August groaned. "Ugh, I'm so tired of hearing this song."
"I don't care. Drive," I said, grinning.
This song had been my obsession for weeks. Every time we drove anywhere, I played it. It wasn't even about him — it was just my song right now.
"WHAT GOES AROUND COMES BACK AROUND, MY BABY," I sang at the top of my lungs, pointing directly at him.
He swatted at my hand. "Get your hands out my face, Yas."
"I THANK GOD I DODGED A BULLET," I belted, making the same dramatic gesture again.
"Yas, what I say? You do this every time. Ima start beating your ass," he muttered, stopping at a red light.
"You nervous?" I asked, ignoring his threat.
"Nah. For what? You?"
"Yep. I am," I admitted.
"No need to be. Chase will love you, like he'll love me."
I smirked. "I doubt it. You're an asshole."
"I'm your asshole, though."
"Yeah... don't remind me."
"Oh, you got jokes now?" he laughed.
"Always."
But then, his expression softened. "It's just... what if he doesn't like me?"
I tilted my head. "Didn't you just say you weren't nervous? Look, you're his father. That's something he's needed his whole life. He's going to love you, August. And he's going to need you."
He squeezed my hand, lifting it to his lips for a kiss. "You're right, baby."
The rest of the ride passed in a comfortable silence.
---
When we pulled into the driveway, he cut the engine and looked at me.
"You ready, ma?"
"I stay ready so I don't have to get ready," I grinned.
He laughed. "Man come on."
We stepped out, walking side by side up to the door. August knocked, and we waited. And waited. It felt like twenty, maybe thirty minutes before the door finally opened.
And then my breath caught.
Standing there was her.
Marcel's mother.
"Hey, welcom—" she began, then froze. "Yasmine?"
"Hello, Mrs. Lisa," I said carefully, my smile polite but tight.
"You two know each other?" August's voice cut in, laced with confusion.
I swallowed. "August... this is Marcel's mother."
His brows pulled together. "Marcel? Your ex Marcel?"
"Yup." My voice came out flat.
"Oh, shit. Wow," he muttered.
---
In that moment, my excitement to meet Chase tangled with something else entirely — unease. The boy I was about to meet, this sweet four-year-old I'd already started caring about in my head... his grandmother was the same woman who had once looked at me as nothing more than the girl who broke her son's heart.
Now she was August's son's grandma. Which meant, in a way, she was suddenly close to something I loved. Too close. And that scared me — not because I didn't want to love Chase, but because I knew love made you vulnerable. And this woman... she'd already seen me at my weakest before.
But I kept my smile on, even as my heart kicked up in my chest. Today was about Chase. And nothing — not even this twist — was going to change that.
