𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.

Tyler had screwed up. Again. He knew it the moment Sadé stormed out of the restaurant, her curls bouncing with every furious step. He had gone too far this time—said something slick he couldn't take back. It wasn't that she didn't understand his humor, but sometimes Tyler forgot that his wit could cut as much as it charmed. And Sadé wasn't one to let anyone cut her, even him.

She'd barely spoken to him since that night. The calls went to voicemail. The texts were left on read. He even sent her a voice memo—his soft rasp pleading, "C'mon, Sadé. You know I didn't mean it like that. You know you're my favorite person, right? Hit me back." Silence.

Tyler wasn't used to silence. He was used to making noise—wild, colorful, chaotic noise—but with Sadé, it was different. She made his noise feel like music. He couldn't lose that.

So, he got to work. His first idea was to show up at her apartment. He pulled up in his baby blue Lancia Delta Integrale, the same car she used to jokingly call his "other girlfriend," blasting a playlist he made of all the songs she loved (and a few of his, because, well, he had to remind her he was Tyler). But when he knocked on her door, he got nothing. He slipped a note under the door—just three words in his messy scrawl: "I'm so sorry." Still nothing.

That's when he realized: Tyler, you gotta go big. Bigger than flowers, bigger than playlists. You're a creative, right? Create something she can't ignore.

The next morning, Sadé woke up to her phone buzzing nonstop. Messages from her friends, all with the same image: a giant billboard on Melrose, bold pastel letters screaming, "Sadé Etienne, I'm Sorry." Below it, in smaller font: "You're my best interest. Let me prove it." And at the bottom: a cartoon version of him with his signature hat, holding a bouquet of daisies—her favorite.

She wanted to be mad. She should have been mad. But damn it, her heart softened against her will. He was an idiot, sure, but he was her idiot. Who else would turn an apology into public performance art?

She didn't text him back right away. Instead, she spent the day pretending she wasn't grinning every time she thought about the billboard.

By evening, she found herself on the street in front of the billboard, staring up at it. She didn't realize Tyler was standing behind her until she heard his voice. "So... what do you think?"

She turned, arms crossed, trying to suppress her smile. "You're ridiculous."

"Yeah, but did it work?" He asked, his boyish grin spreading. He held out a small box—inside were the Chanel earrings she'd been eyeing for weeks but didn't buy because, as she put it, "I don't need them." Tyler knew she didn't need them. He just wanted her to have them.

Sadé sighed, shaking her head, but she took the box. "You're lucky you're cute."

"I know," He said, leaning closer. "But for real, I'm sorry. You know you're my best interest, right? I'm trying to do better. For you. For us."

Her walls cracked, just a little. "You've got a lot of work to do."

"I'm ready," He said quickly. "Starting with dinner. Your pick. My treat. And I promise I won't say anything stupid this time."

She rolled her eyes, but there was warmth in her gaze now. "We'll see."

As they walked back to his car, the billboard glowed behind them—a loud, colorful reminder of his love. Tyler didn't know if he was completely out of the doghouse, but he'd keep trying. Sadé was worth it. She was always worth it.

Tyler's palms were clammy as he opened the passenger door for Sadé. She slid into the car with her usual grace, but the air between them still carried the weight of her frustration. He walked around to the driver's side, hopped in, and gave her a hopeful grin as he started the engine. "So... where to?" He asked, trying to sound casual.

She glanced at him, her lips pursed in that way she always did when she was trying to decide whether to forgive him. "That quiet spot on Fairfax," she said.

"Done," He replied immediately, turning the wheel and heading into the Los Angeles traffic. "Anything you want. Dessert, drinks, the whole nine. Hell, I'll buy the goddamn restaurant if it makes you smile."

Sadé let out a reluctant chuckle, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm persistent," He corrected. "Big difference."

The ride to the restaurant was quieter than usual. Tyler kept sneaking glances at her, trying to gauge her mood. She wasn't texting or scrolling through her phone like she usually did when she was upset. Instead, she looked out the window, her face unreadable.

"I know I messed up," Tyler said finally, breaking the silence. "And I know a billboard doesn't fix everything. I just... I don't know. I didn't know how else to show you I'm serious."

Sadé sighed, turning to him. "It's not just about the billboard, Tyler. It's about you not thinking before you speak. You act like I'm just supposed to brush off every stupid thing you say because it's you. But I have feelings too, you know?"

Her voice cracked just a little, and it broke Tyler's heart. He wanted to pull over and fix everything right then and there, but he knew this wasn't something he could solve with a quick apology. "You're right," He began much more quieter. "I've been selfish. I'm so used to being the loudest person in the room that I forget to listen. But I swear I'm gonna do better. I mean it, Sadé."

She didn't respond right away. Instead, she studied his face, as if searching for the truth in his words. Finally, she nodded, just barely. "We'll see," She said, echoing her earlier response.

By the time they reached the restaurant, the tension between them had softened slightly. Tyler insisted on opening every door for her and pulled out her chair when they were seated. Sadé rolled her eyes at his over-the-top gestures but didn't stop him. Deep down, she appreciated the effort.

Over plates of shrimp Alfredo and mushroom sliders, they started to find their rhythm again. Tyler cracked a few jokes, keeping them light this time, and Sadé couldn't help but laugh at his antics. He told her about how the guy who owned the billboard thought he was insane for wanting to rent it just to apologize, and how he had to convince him it was for "the love of my life."

Sadé raised an eyebrow at that. "The love of your life, huh?"

Tyler froze for half a second, then grinned. "What? I'm just being honest. You're it for me, Sadé. You know that, right?"

Her face grew flushed with emotion, and she looked down at her plate, suddenly shy. "You've got a funny ass way of showing it sometimes."

"I know," He said, reaching across the table to take her hand. "But I'm learning. I'm trying. I just don't want to mess this up. I don't want to lose you."

She looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time that night, she let her guard down. "You're not gonna lose me, Tyler. But you've gotta stop treating me like I'll always be here no matter what. I need to know you take me seriously."

"I do," He assured, his voice firm. "I do take you seriously, Sadé. More than anything. I just... I don't always know how to show it the right way. But I'm gonna figure it out. I promise."

Her lips curved into a small smile. "Good. Because you're on thin ice, Okonma."

"Thin ice is better than no ice," He quipped, flashing her a cheeky grin. "And you know me—I'm great under pressure."

Sadé shook her head, laughing despite herself. "You're impossible."

"But you love me," He said, winking.

She didn't answer, but the warmth in her eyes said enough.

After dinner, Tyler suggested they take a walk. The night was cool and crisp, the city lights casting a golden glow over the streets. As they strolled hand in hand, Sadé leaned into him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder. It felt like old times like they were finally finding their way back to each other.

"You know," Sadé said after a while, "The billboard was a bit much. But it was sweet."

"I'm all about the big gestures," Tyler replied, wrapping his arm around her. "But I know I need to back it up with the little things too. Like listening more. And not being an idiot."

"That'd be a good start," She teased.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes, the sounds of the city buzzing around them. Finally, Tyler stopped and turned to her. "So... we good?"

She looked up at him, her eyes soft and forgiving. "We're getting there."

It wasn't everything, but it was enough. Tyler smiled, pulling her into a hug. "I'll take it."

As they stood there on the sidewalk, holding each other close, Tyler silently vowed to do better. For her. For them. Because Sadé wasn't just his best interest—she was his everything. And he wasn't about to let her go.