Dangerously in Love

The clock had just struck eight when excitement bloomed across Michelle's face like a rising sun.

"My baby's on her way home," she whispered to herself, doing a playful little dance that only love could conjure. Tonight marked their fifth anniversary, and Michelle had spent months quietly crafting the perfect evening.

The clock had just struck eight when excitement bloomed across Michelle's face like a rising sun.

"My baby's on her way home," she whispered to herself, doing a playful little dance that only love could conjure. Tonight marked their fifth anniversary, and Michelle had spent months quietly crafting the perfect evening.

The oven timer chimed.

She pulled out the romantic dinner she prepared—Taryn's favorites—and set everything neatly on the dining room table. Just as she began fixing their plates, she heard the front door open.

Right on cue.

"Baby, where you at? I'm home. Something smells good," Taryn called from the foyer, her voice warm and tired.

Michelle glided toward the sound, her smile softening as she took in her girlfriend's face.

"How was work, babe? I missed you."

"It was great," Taryn said, breathless with excitement. "I just closed a million-dollar account for the company. So you're looking at the new senior stock broker at Lewis & Belle's firm."

"Congratulations, bae! I told you you were gonna get that position!"

Michelle kissed her—long, loving, and full of pride.

When they finally broke apart, she rested her hands on Taryn's cheeks.

"Close your eyes."

"Woman, what are you up to?" Taryn laughed.

"Just hush and trust me."

Michelle led her into the dining room, the smell of food growing richer with every step. Taryn's stomach growled loud enough to echo.

"Somebody's hungry," Michelle teased.

"Damn sure is. Now stop playing, girl."

"Alright... you can look now."

Taryn opened her eyes—and froze.

Her jaw dropped as she took in the candlelit table, the polished silverware, the feast laid out like a celebration fit for royalty. A few beautifully wrapped gifts sat waiting beside her plate.

"Babe, what's all this? Did you know about the promotion before I did?"

"No fool," Michelle teased. "This is for our anniversary."

Taryn blinked, a shadow of realization crossing her face.

"That's tonight?"

"Did you forget that tonight marks five years we've been together?" Michelle asked, her irritation slipping through.

"Chelle , I'm so sorry. I've been so caught up with securing this account, it slipped my mind."

"I go around saving lives all day and I haven't forgotten I've been dating you for the last five years."

"I know, I know... it's not an excuse. Please forgive me?"

As much as she wanted to stay angry, something in her chest softened.

"Fine. Let's just eat before the food gets cold and I lose my appetite."

They sat down.

Silence filled the space between them—tense, sharp, unavoidable.

And because the air was already heavy, Michelle—being the Scorpio she was—decided to cut right through it.

"I've been thinking," she said suddenly.

"About what, bae?" Taryn asked between bites of lasagna.

"Well... it's been five years. I wanna know what's next for us."

Taryn put her fork down.

"I thought we agreed the next big thing was buying our first home together."

"Yes, but I also mentioned kids and marriage. And you always avoid that part—like you're doing right now."

Taryn sighed and gathered herself before speaking.

"My love... I just don't think marriage and kids are what we need right now. I just became a senior broker, and with your crazy hours at the hospital... do you honestly think we can add that on our plate right now?"

"It's called compromise," Michelle shot back.

Taryn opened her mouth to respond—

But her phone rang.

"It's work. I... I have to take this." Her eyes lingered on the screen a little too long.

Michelle rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.

Taryn answered—but didn't realize her cheek had pressed the speakerphone button.

"Hello?" she said.

A woman's voice, bright and clear as daylight, filled the room:

"Hey babe, when are you coming home? The kids and I miss you dearly."

Silence swallowed the dining room whole.

Michelle felt her heartbeat slow... then crack... then shatter.

The world blurred around the edges as tears welled in her eyes.

"Baby, you there?" the woman asked again from the phone, oblivious to the storm she had unleashed.

But Michelle couldn't hear anything anymore.

All she could feel was her heart breaking—loud enough to drown out the rest of the world.

⸻

Hey you all! I haven't wrote a story in years. However, my spirit has been reintroduced to an old passion. I wanted to wait until I had 5 chapters ready for you all to have something to hold you over until I have time to write more. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but Spirit said to post this prologue and to see how y'all like it. Once I see how this performs, my plan is to start posting consistently on my off days Monday and Tuesday.

Dangerously in Love will not be what you are expecting.