Wow 😯 ... I'm just speechless ....🤐!! I didn't imagine Brandon was going to come at her with all of that. I figured his family might be Klan, but d@mn, his brother is a straight up hateful @$$h0le!  For him to continuously bring negativity into Bradons life when he was simply trying to redirect it was so tremendously f'ed up!! 😡😩. My heart goes out to Brandon on that note. I think Brandon really could use some additional therapy ... for real. With all he had going on in his life, it's a wonder at his confindence in his ability to deal with Diya and her family. Especially given her father is a civil rights attorney. I'm glad and proud of Diya for her patience and willingness to hear him out. It goes to show how deep her feelings for him have fallen. I just hope they can continue to be open and honest with one another. With the challenges they're facing, they're really going to need that. I can imagine this party is going to be interesting. 

Now, Brandon could've done a lil more @$$ kiss in' if you ask me, 😏, but then again, I could tell he was struggling with feeling that he didn't even deserve Diya's forgiveness during his confessions, so I suppose I'll give him a pass this time 😉.  Dude just betts bring it in them sheets!  LOL 😜😋😄!

This installment was deep on so many different levels. Great update with a lot of clarification. BTW, I love the pace of this story. With all of the layers you've incorporated into this awesome story, it would be a true shame to rush it. So, keep bringing it the way you do! 😀

All I have to say is I love this story and I hope to God that they make it. 

This bittersweet chapter explained so much. I just hope that everything works out for them, they both seem to doubt it!

Why does Diya think she and Brandon are certain to fail?  Brandon's childhood was awaful thanks to Tyler.  I really dislike him!!

.... SMH... Love is Blind.... Diya is truly in love with Brandon despite his F'ed up history. Brandon... I can't say he doesn't deserve Diya what I can say is that they are both human and can't help how they feel despite knowing that the odds are against them. Well JJ you do a wonderful job creating human characters... I hate a tory where the characters are perfect and victims of situations... your characters are realistic and relateable... I like that you don't rush and keep the reader wanting to find out what happens next plus there are lessons to be learned from how these characters handle their issues...

Thanks for sharing you stories with us... 

It's been so long sine I've read anything on this site, but when I saw my favorite writer with a new fic, I was like, let me dig in!

Aww man, I don't know how you do it, but you've created yet another couple that I'm already cheesin, grinnin, and swooning over and it's just the first chapter! I love Brandon already and Diya is my girl. I'm curious aout the meaning behind Brandon's first tattoo and why he seemed hesitant to share that story, and his aversion to Diya's father owning his own law firm. Methinks it may have to do with civil rights as oppose to Diya and her father practicing law. Guess I'll see. 

The way you write chemistry between characters is really inspiring and it comes off as authentic and not forced. You can feel their attraction to one another, and it's not *just* rooted in lust, which is what I love the most and what I find to be absent in a lot of books, stories I've come across. 

Love this to pieces, can't wait to read the rest! You have another winner on your hands. 

Diya has some serious adjustments to make to be in this guy's world.  It's amazing how dark he has become since he went to see his mother and ran into his brother.  

Brandon and his brother have issues that seem to go back further than his ex.  Almost like, I hate you because mom always loved you more. You have to  reveal the issue  between these two. This is too much hate for us to not know what it stems from.

 How will Brandon break away from this cycle of hate that he and his brother obviously have for each other? 

 Diya needs to find out what's going on with them. I don't think she should let Brandon shut her out. Once he cools off she should let him know he can't leave her in the dark. She needs to let him know  she is all in and he needs to trust what they are trying to build. One way to prove how she feels about him.... let your know family know about your relationship.

I don't know. They probably  need to postpone any intimacy until they get rid of all the emotional baggage. I'm thinking about six months. 

Man this was intense. I can feel Diya's frustration and helplessness. Fom having a very "involved" family to having a boyfriend that doesn't share much of his past... Poor girl. 

You have a very particular writing style, with the way you structure your sentences in an uncommon way and use so many different ways to express or describe what's going on. It makes readers really focus on what we're reading, I like it.

Thanks for posting! I was looking forward to reading more of these two and this chapter didn't disappoint. Still looking forward to the next!

A

Great chapter.  I fell for Diya, poor woman!stay strong! Please update soon,  cannot wait...

Wtf? 

JJ, I must say you've done it again!  I just got caught up on this wonderful tale, and I must say that though I am Team Brandon, these last two chapters threw me for a loop.  Brandon is a complex character, and I get that he wants Diya to open up and tell him how she really feels, but that works both ways; he needs to be ready to reciprocate.  I know when you've been hurt in the past it's hard to open up and trust the new person to not add to your hurts, but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.

It'll be interesting to see where this couple goes from here...Branny has some explaining to do and it'll be interesting how he makes it up to Diya.  As always you have me totally invested in your characters and feeling their pain and angst.

Great writing as always; welcome back!

Damn girl