Please excuse ANY errors.

October 4, 1998

~Tia's P.O.V~

"It's nice working with you, Tia. I hope to do another project with you." David said giving me a quick hug.

"Hopefully, because you're a great actor," I told him.

He really is and he's a sweetheart. He gave me NO problems on or behind the set. Both David and Leon. Despite what Leon's film characters portray, he's a really chill guy too. He and I have worked together for the third time and he has NEVER let me down with his acting skills. Why are some of the cast here? Well, we ran into some technical difficulties at the last minute and had to re-record a scene that got lost. It costs money, but what I'll be getting paid for this film is even higher, fingers crossed.

"Did you get the thank you gifts?" David questioned.

"No..." I trailed off.

"The flowers. I had a card attached." David told me.

"With the chocolates?" I asked, pointing to him.

"Yes, that was me," David told me.

"The card didn't have a name is why I didn't know who it came from. Thank you." I told him.

"I told the flower company to add my name." He chuckled.

"Well, they didn't," I told him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," David replied.

"That's a bold move being that I'm sorta like your boss and all. What did you mean in the note?" I asked.

"Exactly what was on the paper." He chuckled.

"No... I mean was it a friendly gesture or what?" I asked him straight up, but still in a soft tone.

I don't want to come off as rude even if it was a romantic gesture. Nobody really knows if I'm single or not. Although, there are skeptics and journalists who're putting me with any guy they see me with. It's quite amusing, to say the least, considering how I haven't been with much of anyone.

"I'm interested in getting to know you on a personal level. Yes, it was a bold gesture, but I'm a bold guy. We're done with filming, so what do you say?" He replied.

Is he? He never gave me that impression. He was the most reserved out of all the main cast.

"Oh..." I nodded awkwardly. "David, you're a very nice guy. At least that's what I've observed. But what I'm getting to is that I'm in a relationship and have been for a while now."

"Oh, wow. I feel stupid." David scratched his head. "I asked Leon and he said you were single... I'm SO sorry for this. I-"

"No, it's fine because you didn't know and neither did Leon. As long as it doesn't happen again now that you DO know." I replied.

"I was summoned," Leon spoke as if he was a demon. "What's up?" He spoke in his regular tone.

"No, you weren't." David Bryan replied to Leon. "Again, I'm sorry about that."

"Okay." I nodded.

"What's going on?" Leon asked me.

"A misunderstanding. Leon, I'm not single." I told him.

"You not?" Leon's eyebrows rose. "Damn, my bad. I thought for sure..."

"No, sirree." I chuckled. "I'm not single. The last time you saw me I was, but not anymore."

"Oh." Leon looked to David. "Well, I enjoyed working with you. We all have. I'm going to go now..." Leon said awkwardly.

"Yeah, it was tons of fun and learning," David replied.

"Yes, it was." I nodded with a small smile.

We spoke a little while longer then we exchanged our goodbyes and whatnot. I spoke to the other cast members briefly as well. The only ones I have partly close to are Jennifer Lewis, and Leon because we've worked together. This was my first time working with David and he's cool too. After the cast left, the crew and I continued to work on the editing process.

It was late by the time I made it to my hotel room. I showered and cried. Today was one of those days where I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. No, I wasn't angry, just down. I had another dream about what happened in my childhood. Like I said before, therapy won't fix 100% of the problem, but it WILL definitely help. I still have my days every once in a while where the situation still gets to me.

I'm not the type of person who needs closure for things, but I feel like in this case, maybe it IS what I need. Maybe not. Maybe I'll just continue to have my days where I don't feel so good. It's weird because I've actually become a happy person over the past four years. It shows in the way I speak, walk, and demeanor.

After moisturizing my skin and putting on underwear, a house bra, and hair bonnets, I sat with my back against the backboard and a pillow in my lap. I took the phone off the hook to call Donald. As a distraction, but also because I REALLY want to hear his voice. We usually call each other before bed. Maybe he's already asleep or still at the studio. Nine times out of ten, it's the second answer.

I turned on the television and changed it to a darker setting. It's on the NBC channel and Sanford & Son is currently on. Honestly, I'm not even sleepy, just exhausted from my duties of the day. Tears poured from my eyes then I focused on the television.

"How 'bout I give you one across yo lip?" Fred asked Lamont. I laughed to myself. That's his favorite threat.

"Pops-"

There was a knock at my door. I wiped my face with my hands, stood up, and slid my feet into my slippers. I walked out of the bedroom to the living room of the hotel. The door is a straight shot. Then I looked down at myself in the realization of what I'm wearing. I grabbed my plush robe and tied it up once it was on. I then looked through the peephole. I wiped my face with the sleeve of the robe. A genuine smile spread across my face as I opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him with my eyes closed.

He hugged back, of course, wrapping one of his arms around my waist. We both rocked side to side. Then I pulled away. Jax glanced at us from the side of my door.

He took the stem of the flower out of his mouth. "For you of course."

I cheesed and stepped back and he took that as his cue enter my room. He closed the door behind him, his other hand still behind his back. He sat his bookbag down and pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

"Thanks, babe." I kissed his soft, plush lips. "You didn't tell me you were coming."

"I know, it was last minute," Donald replied. "You was ready for bed, huh?"

"DUHH..." I rolled my eyes playfully.

Donald disappeared into the bathroom after taking off his coat and I heard the water running. He came out drying his hands on a hand towel. He tucked his bottom lip. All of a sudden, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Baby, you okay?" He asked me.

"I'm good, Donald." I smiled. "I was just watching Sanford & Son."

"Mhm. Yeah, I hear you, but Tia... What's wrong with you?" He grabbed my chin and stroked the side of my face with his thumb. "What's up, baby?"

"So that's why you didn't pick up, huh?" I asked rhetorically. "How long will you be here?" I asked him.

"By the time you come back from work tomorrow, I will be out the door. Don't try to change the subject. You know I hate when you do that and that right there let me know something is wrong with you. You know you can talk to me about anything." He mumbled and dropped his hand.

"I know, I can talk to you," I said just above a whisper while holding his hands.

It's true! I know I can speak to him about anything. That's not the problem. The problem is that I don't want to sound like a broken record. I spoke to him about the situation twice directly and a few times indirectly in the past in these last two years. I just don't want to sound like a broken record at this point. I mean, it happened and he already knows. Why even speak on it again?

"Then speak to me, baby." The octaves of his voice dropped.

"It's just one of them days, ye know?" I chuckled.

"Ye-yeah." He nodded then looked down. "Tia?" He asked looking back up.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Baby, be honest with me, please. We usually are open about everything. I'm asking you what's wrong and you dodgin' the question. Tell me. It doesn't matter if you want me to just listen, a shoulder to cry on, or if you want advice. I'm here for whatever."

I sat down on the couch and Donald sat on the ottoman in front of the couch. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward.

"I get that, but I don't wanna sound like a broken record. I have a therapist already. You're my man. I don't want you to be worried about everything that goes on in my head. Things that you can even fix. Hell, maybe it's not something that could be fixed. I'm dealing with it, Donald " I explained to him in a soft tone.

"I get that. I do. I know I can't replace a professional therapist. I now know what you're talking about, but if it is about your childhood, then tell me that. I'll understand that and give you your space. Just don't leave me wondering in the dark trying to figure out the problem. We both don't like that, Tia." He reasoned. "Is that what's wrong?" He asked me.

I nodded my head slowly. "You're right and I'm sorry."

"Baby, it ain't always about being right. I want it to be a mutual understanding, that's all. You feel me?" He scooted to where he was sitting on the edge and squeezed my hand slightly.

I nodded as a couple of tears came from my eyes. "I do."

Donald let go of one of my hands and sat beside me on the couch. He pulled me closer and I curled up to him. "Want me to hold you or do you need space?" He whispered while rubbing my arms to comfort me.

"Hold me," I whispered as the tears poured down my face rapidly.

"Okay." He mumbled back. I curled up against his body.

We stayed in this position for about thirty minutes. When my tears wouldn't come down any longer, hiccups formed and my body began jumping because of them. I looked up at him and chuckled.

"I'm sorry. You didn't come all the way here for me to be doing this." I spoke through the hiccuping with a chuckle. I then wiped my face with the sleeve of my robe.

"Don't apologize. I came here for you and it just so happen to be what happens, then so be it." He paused. "Baby, I'm here and will always be. I know I said that a lot but I'm not gon' stop saying it until you understand. Talkin' 'bout soundin' like a broken record." He chuckled lowly.

I laughed lowly. "You don't." I slightly squeezed on his. "I love you, Donald."

"I love you." He squeezed back. "When's the last time you put somethin' in that stomach of yours, because I don't know about you, but I could use a meal."

"I could eat too." I nodded.

"Get ready. I already had somethin' planned for us before I arrived." He told me.

"This late?" I sat up.

"Yes, this late baby. It's late, and not much is open, but I still got you."

"Okay, let me go get ready. What genres of clothing?" I asked him.

"Comfortable." He replied.

I stood up and went into the bathroom to use the restroom. After doing what I need to do, I got dressed, fixed my hair, and washed my face. I came back out. "Where we goin'?" I asked, standing in front of him.

"Out. Together. Come on. You didn't take too long surprisingly." He chuckled and walked to the door.

"Rude." I frowned.

"It's not rude. I'm just not tellin' you. You gon' see when we get there." He licked his lips then put some lip balm on. He grabbed my keys hanging by the door. "Don't take it personal, baby. I'm driving by the way."

I eyed him at that last part. "Says who?"

"How else you gon' find out where we goin'?" He rose his eyebrows.

"True." I grabbed my coat, and gun and tucked it.

He opened the door for me and I walked out. He closed and locked the door. "We goin' solo, Jax. No need for you to come. Go get some rest, big fella." Donald patted his shoulder.

Jax looked at me for clarification. "You can do whatever it is you want, Jax," I told him.

Jax nodded and went next door to my room and into his. Donald and I walked to the elevators and waited for one to stop. It wasn't long before we stepped inside.

"We got the elevator to ourselves." DeVanté slammed the back of his hands on the first floor button. "Of course some shit gon down when it's a billion dollars on the elevator." Donald sang.

"You know what..." I trailed off laughing.

He laughed. "Ain't that what Beyoncé said?"

"It is but for entirely different reasons. " I chuckled.

"I always wanted to say that, but I'm not a billionaire. Next time I do say it, it's gon' be a better reason and imma be one myself." He eyed me and leaned back on the wall of the elevator. "Some things people never grow out of." He laughed at me then grabbed my hand, pulling in front of him, my back to his front. "It's just an elevator, baby."

"You scared of planes. It's just a plane, babe." I mocked, turning my head to him.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. "You too! You scared of planes too." He laughed as the elevator stopped at a floor.

A few people walked inside. Donald nestled his face into my neck after pulling me back. He doesn't want to be seen. He put his hands under my jacket and rested them on my bare stomach.

"You don't even wanna like to step foot on one. Me on the other hand ain't scared like you." I mumbled to him.

Donald began rubbing his hands all over my stomach. "Mm, you feel so warm."

"I'm hot and your actual hands feel good," I told him.

"These hands always feel good to you."

"You so damn cocky." The elevator stopped on the first floor so we stepped off. We made our exit our the hotel and into the starry sky. I quickly pulled my jacket off.

"You trippin', it's cold as hell out here. Where yo rental parked at?" Donald asked me.

"It's hot. Now, follow the boss." I told him with a smirk.

"A'ight. Mm. Mm. Mmmm. Baby, you look damn good." Donald told me.

I turned to him, walking backward. "What can I say? I try." I popped my imaginary collar. I saw a couple exiting from their vehicle.

"Hello." Donald and I greeted.

"Hello." They replied.

"You ain't even gotta try. You do that shit with ease. Effortlessly..." He said just as we made it to the car. "What up with you and these big ass cars?" He asked me opening the door for me.

I gave him a chuckle. "I do everything big, baby," I said preparing to sit down but turning my head once I heard a noise.

There's a guy standing there with a gun near Donald's head. "Empty yo pockets." This guy said to him.

"Get in the car and lock the doors. Get down." Donald mumbled very lowly to me. It was so low that I couldn't hear everything, but luckily I can read people's lips very well.

I frowned at his words, standing there. He squinted his eyes at me, basically telling me to listen. I reached for my firearm, cocked it, and shot the dude in his foot furthest from Donald and Donald elbowed him then shot the guy in his shoulder. The guy fell down to the ground. Donald walked up to the guy with the gun aimed at the guy. Donald stepped on the gun that fell from the dude's hand and kicked it away, underneath a car.

"Fuck is wrong wit' you!?" Donald yelled at the dude then chuckled. "I don't do well with guns to my head," Donald said aimed at the dude's head. Nobody does Donald...

"Please, don't kill me!" The guy yelled out with his hands up.

Blood poured from the person's foot. Donald chuckled again. "Would you have spared my life?" Donald tilted his head.

"Yes!" The guy screamed. "I promise, Imma stop! Please don't kill me." He pleaded.

"Show me your wallet," Donald ordered with his hand out. "Don't try nothin'. I'm tellin' you this because I got a quick trigger finger that won't hesitate to kill yo ass." He threatened.

I had my gun aimed at the guy, ready to shoot if he did pull out another weapon.

"Baby, PLEASE get in the car," Donald spoke to me not taking his eyes off the man.

I got inside the car and closed the door. I saw the couple popping their heads up ever so often to see what was going on from their car. Donald bent down and snatched his wallet.

"Kevin Wyatt. Aged: 23. Address: 7538 Westview Place." Donald read his ID out loud. "Now I know who you are and where you live. Get the fuck outta here! And find a job, a hobby, or somethin'! Tryna steal from hardworkin' people." Donald kicked him in his stomach hard. I could hear it from the car. "Dumb ass criminal!"

The dude groaned upon impact and held his stomach in pain. He struggled to get up but did eventually. He limped away from Donald. Donald turned to me once the guy was no longer in view. I turned my body back around too once I didn't see the guy. I got out, prepared to go back up to my hotel room.

"Everything is handled! Y'all can get out if y'all want!" Donald shouted loud enough for the couple to hear but continued looking at me.

"Thank you!" The woman yelled over to us.

"Yeah, thanks, man!" They said walking closer to the building.

"You welcome." Donald turned to them for a split second then directed his attention towards me. "I could've did that." Donald walked closer to me as I got out of the car. "While I appreciate that, you should've listened to me the first time I told you to get in the car. When I tell you to do things, I'm trying to protect you. You could've got shot, Tia. Please, don't do that again. I knew what I was doing. You know I stay strapped." Donald trapped me between himself and the car.

"If I had listened, neither of us wouldn't have known what would've happened." I raised my eyebrows. "Now, let's go back upstairs."

"Nahh, I'm not finna let that shit ruin plans." Donald backed up and opened the door all the way back up. I got in the car and he closed the door. He got in on the driver's side. "Wipe ye shoes." I gave him some wipes and gloves.

He wiped his shoes off then got all the way in the car. "Thank you." He said starting up the car then looking at me.

"You're welcome," I replied as Donald pulled off. "Would you have really killed him?"

"Between our lives and his... Hell yeah!" He nodded with wide eyes. "He showed his face which means he bold and didn't give a fuck. But uhh- I did click the safety button once I kicked the gun away from him. Once I did feel safe." He glanced at me then pulled off.

"A lil scare ain't ever hurt nobody. He'll probably think twice before trying to rob someone else and especially at gunpoint." I replied.

"Yeah, you should change locations just in case. Switch hotels." Donald told me.

"I have Jax and Redd with me 24/7 and I won't be here too much longer. The crime rate in this area isn't too high either."

"I understand that, baby. BUT just to be on the safe side. For me?" He turned to me when we stopped at a red light. "He saw both of our faces. What happened today can happen again. Not just with him, but with anybody."

I smiled. "Okay, love. I will do just that."

Donald moistened his lips then lifted my hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it. "Thank you, baby. That's all I'm asking." He shot me that panty-dropping smile. "We gon' find you another hotel in a low crime rate area that's also close to work."

"Okay. Where we goin' and do you know where you're going?" I questioned.

"What kinda question is that? I been to Pennsylvania a few times, baby. I KNOW my way around." He chuckled.

"I've never been around this way before, Donald," I told him.

"Figures. You know what they say, right?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

"What they say, babe?" I chuckled.

"All work and no play makes Tia crazy." He busted out laughing.

Our laughter filled the car. "It's Jack, not Tia and I'm not boring."

"That's what that means?" He asked me. "I know what each individual word mean, but I never took the time to- You know? I just thought it was funny when Jack Nicholson said that shit."

"Yes. It literally translates to all work and no rest makes you a boring person and bad for your health." I told him.

"Oh, then why don't it just say that? That's dumb." He shrugged.

"It is, but you know how it goes in literature. Everything is just poetic. You day something without actually saying it, but you still feel it how it's interpreted it. Most times. Other times it's confusing."

"I do." He replied as he made an entrance to The Main Event. "Here's where the play comes into place." He parked the car and turned off the engine. Donald got out of the car. I grabbed my purse and opened my door. "Nuh-uh. What you doin'?"

"Getting out of the car," I said in an obvious tone.

"You must've forgotten or maybe we been away from each other too long. You don't touch doors as long as I'm around, baby." He grabbed my hand as I stepped out of the car.

Donald closed the door. He bent down and placed his arm at the bend of my knee and the other on my back and lifted me up. I draped my arm behind his neck for support.

"What are you doing?" I laughed out to the night sky.

"Can't you see, babe? I'm practicin' for our wedding night." He mumbled and locked the doors. "Shit, you heavy." It felt like he was about to drop me.

"Donald, that a whole lie..." I trailed off.

"I know, woman. I'm jokin' here!" He spoke in the worst Italian accent ever.

"Please don't EVER do that grimy accent again. You sound ridiculous." I said cracking up.

He opened the door and walked us in. "I thought you liked Italian accents?"

"I do, but only when it comes from someone of Italian descent or someone who KNOWS how to ACTUALLY do it. Unlike yourself..." I trailed off.

"Aye, don't get at me because you good at accents. Teach me so I won't be so bad then." He laughed.

"There's not much to it. Just a roll of the tongue and voice control."

"I know how to do both of those things, it's just that I'm bad at the accent part." He stopped at the counter.

"Hello, what can I get for the both of you?"

"Hello." Donald and I said in sync.

"We just wanna look at the board," Donald told the worker. "I think we should get the unlimited pass. What you think?" He looked away from the board and at me.

"Depends on how long we stayin'."

"Until you tired and wanna leave. It's up to you..." He told me.

"I'm not tired, so I guess we could just get the unlimited pass," I replied.

"A'ight. Can you dig in my pocket and grab my wallet?" Donald asked.

"Yeah." I reached down into his pocket and grabbed his wallet.

"Woah!" He yelped out loudly by mistake.

"What?" I asked him.

"Baby, I know my wallet on swole, but that ain't my wallet. Wrong pocket, Tia." He whispered.

My eyes widened. "Oh, my bad. Put me down."

"A'ight." He placed me down on my feet. "The pocket I was referring to is my JACKET pocket." He said pulling out his wallet. "I swear, you did that shit on purpose."

"I didn't. I promise." I chuckled with my hand at the shoulders.

"Sure..."

"Are you payin' for the both of us or want me to pay?" I asked him.

"Why you keep askin' me dumb questions? You know damn well I'm payin' for the both of us. Kinda man, would I be to take you out and make you pay? Parents ain't raise me like that. Old school." He said paying.

"I was raised to not assume," I told him.

"That's embarrassing. With me, there ain't no assumptions when it comes to this. It's what I do, and have always done, baby." He rubbed his hands together as he spoke.

"Hands soundin' a lil rough there my dude." I pulled some lotion out of my purse. "Here."

"It's from them damn wipes and hand sanitizer." He said rubbing the lotion into his hands.

 "We eatin' first because ye girl is starvin' like Marvin."

"I'm with you on that, then we gon' play pool."

I placed my hand on my hip."Nuh-uh, you KNOW you gon' win and that's why you wanna play."

"Ya damn skippy!" He laughed.

"I guess you gon' be playin' with ye'self because I'm not even touching that stick."

"Uhh, your wording." He told me.

I guess you gon' be playin' with ye'self because I'm not even touching that stick. "Ohh..." I said realizing what I had just said.

"Yeah..." He mocked.

We ate at the diner then went to play games. "Guess what?"

"What's up?"

"You were right," I admitted.

"About what, love?"

"Remember you said that maybe I should look towards the cast? It was a cast member." I chuckled.

"Ain't nothin' funny about that, but I told you it wasn't no damn friendly gesture." He chuckled at the last part of his sentence.

"You JUST laughed and it's funny to me." I rolled my eyes.

"I laughed in reminiscent of what you said. Who though?" Donald asked me.

"D.B. The guy that plays Melvin aka Blue or The Blue."

"What he say? What happened?" Donald asked.

"The company didn't do the most important thing which is add his name and whatnot. He was told that I was single so that was his way of shooting his shot. He apologized once told him that I wasn't single. It was resolved and we moved on." I shrugged.

"Oh. You told him what's up and he was respectful about it, so it's cool. People will continue to flock to you 'cause you attractive." He shrugged.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... And why are we walking to the pool table?" I stopped on my tracks and let go of his hand. Then I crossed my arms.

"Because imma teach you how to play."

"But we can do that any time. I got a pool table at home and you always beat me. Let's shoot some hoops." I whined.

"So you can win? We can also play that anytime too."

"Ping-pong? We both suck at that and YES I know we can do that anytime, BUT we'll be learning together. Come!" I motioned and grabbed his hand.

He walked with me. "Damn, it seems to me that I don't have an option."

"Come. It'll be fun. I just don't hope you sweat out that perm." I laughed.

"Haha, very funny. So funny that I'm not even able to laugh." Donald squinted.

"Because the jokes on you." I laughed.

"Because the jokes on you." He mocked and I rolled my eyes.

"Hey?" I softly grabbed his goatee with my face close to his.

"Yeah?"

"I just want you to know that I love you no matter how this game ends. I just hope that you don't cry a river of tears." I finished, stifling a laugh.

"Get the fuck outta here, Tia." He said laughing.

"I mean, I'm just sayin'. I don't wanna hear you boohooing on the floor because you got the brakes beat off you." I said walking to my side, grabbing my paddle. "Bend over and take this ass-whoopin'."

"YOU gon' be the one bent over." He grabbed the paddle.

"We'll see which one if of us are bark and no bite." I threw the ball and he hit it.

It went back and forth like that for a few minutes. "Yeah, can't keep up with me, can you?"

"You breakin' into sweats." I laughed while staying focused. A known tactic that opponents use as a distraction. Talking is a form of distraction.

"I'm Venus AND Serena. You just Dennis Rodman." I said keeping my eyes on the ball.

Donald is surprisingly good that this game. "Dennis Rodman? What he got to do with tennis?" He said getting unfocused and missing the ball.

I smiled proudly. "That's one."

Donald grabbed the ball that bounced off the table. "You tricked me." He pointed to me.

"What makes you THINK-" I hit the ball he threw, "that?"

"Think? Oh, I know for a fact." He said hitting the ball.

"You breakin' into sweats, babe. I think you're the one you can't keep up with me." I laughed. "By the way, your pants are unzipped." I hit the ball and it flew his way. He looked down, missing again. "That was too easy!" I said laughing and shaking my head.

"A'ight, I'm about to go hard on yo ass. Step your game, love." He nodded.

"I got two points... So step up, how?"

"Just step it up." He laughed throwing the ball.

It bounces on the table then to me. I hit it, sending it back his way. A small group of people, seemingly teenagers caught my attention from the corners of my eyes. They're looking in our direction. I missed!

"HA!" Donald threw his hands up in the air. "I got yo ass!"

"Okay, it's still two to your one." I picked up the ball that fell on the floor. I got into my stance. "Ready?"

"Mhm," Donald replied and I looked off to the side. I bounced it his way just as there was a tap on his shoulder. That caused him to miss. "FUCK!" He yelled out in irritation, then turned around oh-so calmy. "Hello, how can I help you?" He said calmly speaking to the two people.

I snickered lowly at his frustration. I went over to his side to grab the ball.

"I'm sorry for distracting you, but aren't you DeVante Swing from Jodeci?" One of the teenagers asked.

I was bout to walk back to my side until he replied with a "No." He shook his head. I looked at him with my hand on my hip. Did this dude really just say no?

"You look IDENTICAL like him. That's WILD!" One said taken aback.

"Yeah, I know. I get that a lot. I appreciate the compliment though. It feels like an honor to be compared to him." Donald told them.

"I thought for sure that was him." One whispered to the other.

"That's crazy... Me and my girl was playin' a game and y'all made me lose." Donald chuckled.

"We're so sorry, sir. We'll leave you alone." Another replied.

"Thank you," Donald replied then they walked away.

"They both look like people on TV." I heard one say.

Once they were far away enough, I turned to him with my eyes squinted. "Why?" Is all I asked.

"Because people don't have respect. I'm over here trying to spend time with my girlfriend and they interrupt me. Not only that, they made me lose ANOTHER round." He replied. "That pissed me clean the fuck off. Do you want people comin' up to us the whole night interrupting the little time we have together? I damn sure don't."

I nodded in understatement. "True, but you still... Then talkin' about some it's a compliment to look like him." I laughed lowly. "You are something else."

"But you knew that though. If you get approached as much as me, you'd be pissed too with you antisocial ass." He licked his lips.

"Alright, it could a little annoying." I nodded. I work mostly behind the scenes, so my face doesn't pop up as much as Donald's in the media.

He licked his lips. "So we gon' finish this game or not?"

"We are." I handed him the ball. I went back to my side. Honestly, I don't think we're playing the game right. It's like we made up our own rules. 

Author's Note: Covid is what kept me away. It came out of nowhere, but I'm free from covid. Only left with some side effects. Anywho, do y'all believe in your partner not being your therapist? I do, especially when dealing with trauma. That whole conversation they had was DEEP.

Word Count: 5,780
Please don't forget to like the chapter and the ones to come if you enjoy this book. Also, feel free to leave a comment.

❤️Thanks for the support that you've been giving me. I'm very appreciative. WOW, we're REALLY on book two!❤️