Like a lot of our alternate story endings, this one has lived rent-free in my head since I wrapped up Rayla and Ajani’s serialized romance Ray & Jay. I’ve been asked if their story would ever continue, and I don’t think so. But I did always plan to check in with them here and there, and we get to do that with our alternate endings.

That said, this one is definitely a new favorite. Rayla and Ajani do the one thing we’ve been waiting for them to do, and honestly thought they never would… return home to the Mensah mansion.

And baby, was it a time to remember!

Are you ready? Enjoy.

RAYLA

Only the sound of sterling silver utensils scraping gently against fine china could be heard up and down the table. Normally, the sound didn’t matter to me. I was used to my girl Calese’s forks scraping and clanking against dinnerware like she was in a race against herself to clear her plate.