Wow this is my dream house. It's perfect for Isabela, Mateo, and I. Maybe, after graduation, even a big dinosaur could probably fit.

I think he grew overnight.

Giggling, I think back to how he hit his head on my bedroom door frame last night. Don't worry, I did a neuro nursing assignment because he was being a big baby, saying I need to rub it. His assessment came back normal and, for intervention, he got kisses to the head.

I smile at him being silly, poking out his lip and trying to spend the night by tucking himself in my bed and almost killing Conor, I swipe down and my eyes widen at this breathtaking home.

This is perfect.

My heart leaps as my eyes scan this perfect Cape Cod-style home almost similar to the house Max grew up in. It has the perfect amount of windows, an open field, a front porch, maybe not this color but this is the only pin I'm absolutely in love with.

My smile begins to fade. I right click and save a pin to my dream home board, nibbling on this soft honey cornbread Lexi made strictly from her heart and the extra honey I requested is just salivating my mouth for more.

Frowning, I keep looking at Pinterest at all the homes I could possibly consider living in.

No arguments.

No smoky scent.

No yelling

No broken dishes.

The words out of Mamà's screaming mouth replay in my mind like a hit repeated song.

"Carlos, estoy harto de esto, no puedo lidiar con eso por más tiempo. Quiero el divorcio! (Carlos, I can't take this anymore, I can't live like this. I want a divorce)!"

I will never forget the shattering sound of their wedding cake plate brokenshattered against the wall, something I wanted to use for my wedding... Even for their twenty fifth anniversary coming up, I had planned harder than my Quinceañera that was around the corner.

Estás arruinando nuestra familia. (You are ruining our family.)

How could she speak for us when she didn't even ask for this? Just because she was fed up with Papá doesn't mean we were.

I frown, sticking the rest of the cornbread in my mouth and exiting my Pinterest app.

My attention draws to Rabbit Eater and I last night at Sakura Japanese Restaurant, after the ferris wheel ride. He planted a nice sloppy kiss on my cheek after eating broccoli again! He said just because he doesn't like it doesn't mean he'll stop eating it, as he taunted me by showing it mushed up in his mouth. I don't think I could ever kiss him again, knowing he ate broccoli so freely. I'm still appalled he kissed me, getting some broccoli pieces on my mouth.

I shiver at remembering feeling the bumpy slither of broccoli on my lip, well, more or less because Jaylan used his thumb to swipe it off.

"Lizzie! "Lexi calls, making me shimmy myself down in my blanket.

I truly think my boyfriend has a vegetable eating problem, like an addiction problem. He eats carrots, cauliflower, kale, eggplant, celery, green beans, and brussel sprouts for fun! I mean, I'm not a complete anti-vegetable eater but I like peppers, corn, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. You know, the good stuff. Not rabbit food.

Jaylan says the reason why I wear glasses is because I didn't eat enough carrots.

Not true!

"Lizzie!"

It's a myth.

Bad vision comes genetically andddd not eating enough fruits and veggies. But I'm not telling him that second part.

He is lucky I like him.

I really like him.

"Lizzie!" Lexi calls from the hallway and I sigh quietly, shifting myself.

It's a tragedy how healthy he is but at least I don't have to get after him about not taking care of himself. Well, besides his ankle but he listens to me, which matters a lot.

"There you are! Lizzie, the guys will be here soon! And you are still on Potato duty." Lexi flings up my comforter, shining the bright led light in my room.

"Can't Max do it?" I whine at her sock-covered feet because cutting potatoes is hard work.

"Maxine went to go get the crabs and drinks, and get out underneath there!" Lexi commands, stomping one of those feet.

"Alright alright, ahorita (I'll be a minute)," I grumble, furrowing my brows and pushing myself out from under my bed.

I have to find a new hiding spot because now everyone knows where I am. Maybe I'll go to the cleaning closet.

"Potato duty." She points the stainless steel spoon at me.

I pull the comforter down and turn my body, laying flat on my back.

All the unweaverly emotions with the uncertainty is really stirring deep within me. I wish there was just some way Isabela and I could just salvage our parents relationship like Halle and Annie from the Parent Trap. I mean we work as a team granted Mateo wants no parts of it because all he cares about is coming to America and escaping it all like I did.

Been there, done that, and there is no escaping.

Pulling Conor, Olivia, and Fredrick all close to me, I rest my chin on Conor's stomach with a smile of just how Isabela and I have tried so hard to keep our family from falling apart.

Like one time we tried writing letters from Mama to Papá in our sloppy handwriting to rekindle their love.

I hate that Mamà doesn't understand that. I know she has tried and waited for Papá to change but why couldn't she just look past that and love him for him. The Papá who would bring home flowers everyday after work, working extra so we could go on vacation and things around the house. Or the cute notes he would leave her on the refrigerator next to Isabela and I's notes.

Why couldn't she remember how they would dance in the kitchen at night, kissing each other as Isabela and I peeked at their love?

Why did she have to wait 'till after I left for college to get the process going for them to get a divorce?

Whimpering, I place Conor to the side and sit up, drawing my attention to the mirror with my sloppy bun probably from being under the bed mostly all morning studying with my headlight. Marcus decided to sneak in early this morning to have kissy time with Max before they went to workouts this morning. Jaylan sneaked into my room this morning to do the same, well, more or less climbed on my bed and jumped on it, making it almost BREAK!

But I like his kisses, so soft, warm, inviting, enticing.... Amor En La Calle kisses... He even touched my mangoes this morning.

I sink my teeth into my lower lip of his warm hand taking me back to memory lane Friday night. Ugh, I got to catch up on my show. Between Jaylan and Nursing School, I haven't had the time.

Opening my photo app, I begin to delete the photo bomb of Jaylan's newest selfies, who was supposed to be taking my new background photo while my phone.The more I get to know Jaylan the more, the more he fascinates me.

Like how he takes a shot of protein powder shirtless every morning, like an insane weirdo for a power up. I told him that's not good because he will get it into his lungs and get pneumonia.

He shaves his beard every morning. That's why it's always perfect.

Or how he likes to tease me only to express his appreciation for me.

Mi Novio.

He likes fruit chews, which are disgusting, but he comes in handy with it when I'm stressed and have to get my emergency bag of candy stash out of my secret place so Maxine or Lexi don't find it.

But the one thing I hadn't expected about Jaylan is how he admires my body... more like worships it. I mean, I know we haven't experienced much but I know when the time comes... I won't regret it, especially when his eyes just darken like the forbidden maple syrup that makes me want to dip in more, to have more of a taste of every time. My mind still gets foggy thinking of his bare hands cupping my mangoes or locking eyes with me while sucking my big toe. I can't believe he did that!

Giggling, rising to my feet I look at my full body as my face grows warm thinking about Jaylan's reactions. I love his reactions to whatever I wear. It could be as simple as my avocado pajamas and he goes nuts, looking at me with so much heat in his eyes that my skin warms where he looks.

Stretching my limbs, I walk to the door being welcomed with OLD BAY and Ellie Mai loudly blasting from the kitchen.

Today was supposed to be girl's day but now it's girls and guys day. Maxine is not happy about that, but let's be honest, she enjoys a family gathering just as much as I do. Typically, girl's day has a no boys allowed rule, which has been like that since, well, freshman year when we cooked pizza rolls in the common area of our dorms and brought them back to our room. Sitting on Max's bed and watching a movie, drinking, and socializing about new beginnings and highlights of the week was the start of our tradition.

We only have exactly ten days left and honestly, I want to spend time with my Grass Eater before he leaves.

Frowning, I lift my eyes up to see Lexi swaying her hips in her cute love crab apron, pouring vegetable stock unmeasured into a stainless steel stock pot. Warmth spreads across my chest watching in her own world making dinner for tonight. "Ooh, no I'll never get over you until I find something new, That gets me high like you do, yeah yeah!" Lexi sings.

Tonight is Lex's choice tonight for dinner. She wanted a seafood boil and of course we got Maryland crabs, lobster tails, sausage, shrimp, potatoes, and corn on the cob. I'm glad it's her choice because if it was Maxine's it would probably be something flavorless and healthy. I hate quinoa.

Crinkling my nose, I giggle, watching her wind her hips back to the counter and chop the corn on the cob, half-tossing it carelessly and plopping it in the boiling water. She turns, arching brow quietly, lip singing, and handing me a red potato. Grabbing my avocado apron, I tie it around my waist and she hip bumps me holding a corn stalk as if it's a microphone twirling around me.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Lexi teases, pressing her lips.

Wait, what was I looking for in the beginning? Lexi lifts up the first pan of the honey cornbread with a hole in the middle and I sheepishly grin.

"You are something else." Lexi laughs, peeling the corn stalk back.

Giggling and moving my shoulders up and down, I slice the red potato in half as the front door quietly opens. "Finally you are back!" Lexi frets playfully, walking out the kitchen.

A smile continues to pull across my face as I think about Jaylan and his sweet words last night. My Giant Beanstalk's words keep getting better every day, especially last night when he said, "The most honorable thing is that your pain turned into passion to become a nurse. That's what makes a good nurse." The butterflies blew kisses when he said that, with his added head massage comforting my heart.

He is so good with his words and communicates them accurately, definitely a good quality in a man

Oh, Olivia and Fredrick's Papi gets me all tingly inside.

I smile thinking, shaking my head how he wanted me to say it .When I used Frederick's large arm to wave goodbye to him, I said it again. His eyes got so dark, it was almost spooky. Papi is just another word for Daddy, not sure why he's so hung up on it.

I giggled at his poked out lip because I refused to say it but he tickled it out of me. Which is completely unfair but the mini kissing session was worth it, however, not almost having to resuscitate Maxine from her walking in from coming home.

I shake my head as Maxine grabbed him up, well... tried too and escorted him to the door. I thought we were past the throwing out stage but I just never know what goes through her mind.

Smiling big, I place some more potatoes in the boil with the seasonings of old bay, pepper, fresh lemon, paprika, garlic, tons of thyme, and red onion. I'm surprised our neighbors haven't knocked on the door for some leftovers yet.

"It smells sooo good in here!" Maxine walks in the kitchen and places three large paper brown bags on the counter.

How did she carry that without having to go in her car each time?

"Did they have cupcake wine?" Lexi peeks in the bag and her shoulders slumps.

"I looked everywhere Lex, all the basic bitches took it, plus I got slightly distracted." Maxine laughs softly, pulling out my favorite wine instead, good old Suther House Pink Moscato.

"What were you distracted about?"

"Marcus," I tease and Maxine cuts her eyes at me.

I sheepishly grin because Marcus came over last night to welcome Max home, with hugs and kisses. He swept her off her feet, then carried her right into her room. I didn't get to see her until, well, nine am this morning. They must have been playing games like Jaylan and I too.

"No, not that nincompoop." She waves her hand, pulling out a Sutter Home White Zinfandel.

I open the cabinet, grabbing my wine glass when Lexi waves this specially made white seafood boil cup she found at some novelty shop close by that sells a lot of Maryland stuff like crabs. She also got us this red and white table cloth and newspaper just for the night. She really has gone out for her dinner theme tonight.

"So what distracted you?" Lexi says, opening the wine bottle with the bottle opener with ease.

I can never do that, I always end up crying and giving up, saying my liver will be okay for the night. I bet Big Dinosaur could do it, flexing his muscular, veiny, tattooed hands and opening it with no problem.

Where was he when I needed him when I failed my first nursing exam? I literally cried more because I couldn't open the bottle and then actually got seventy four. Getting seventy four is failing nursing school... It wasn't easy to earn the A.

Maxine sighs as Lexi pours the wine into her cup scrolling through her phone. She holds up a photo of Noelle and her new baby brother.... Her. Noelle Elizabeth Russo.

"He sent it this morning, she had the baby this morning," she softly says, turning off her phone and walking into the kitchen.

"She is getting so big. Maxine I can't wait to see her." Lexi pokes out her lip and Maxine bites the inside of her cheek.

"She is.... She's going to be third grade this next school year," Maxine gloats softly.

To think she was in kindergarten not too long ago, time really flies.

"The best grade, science," I add, holding my hands up and clasping my face.

Maxine snickers softly and opens the brown bags, bringing a stronger aroma of Old Bay more than it usually is.

"She's going to be a great big sister," Maxine softly says, stroking her thumb over her phone.

"Just like you," Lexi reassures, rubbing Maxine's back softly.

Maxine nods, tucking her phone into her joggers' pocket and pulls a crab out of the bag. With no hesitation, she licks the clumps of old bay in the crab.

"I can't wait to see her after school, I want to take her to Maine to go whale watchin.. If Chris allows it and my dad," Maxine admitted softly.

"Count me in." Lexi beams.

"Me too, if I can," I say, covering my mouth and they both slant their eyes.

"Speak positive, Lizzie. You'll get the approval, my dad is working on it." Maxine points her finger.

As much as I appreciate the extra help from Maxine's dad, I really do hope it helps speed up the process because getting my green card means more to me than everyone else could ever know. Maxine's dad has a slight problem with commitments, so I hope he really kept his word since the last time I saw him on our facetime meeting being a legal representation for me. I would be able to see my family finally by at least December to celebrate Christmas because I can't travel outside the U.S. for six months once I obtain it.

"She's had a growth spurt since last October," Lexi adds, smirking and cheering up Max.

Talking about Noelle is a sensitive subject but not talking about her makes the situation worse. Noelle is my twin and we have the same name. In Mexico we call that tocayo, but there is no word for that in English. I think that's why we bonded so quickly or maybe it's because she wanted my stuffed Winnie the Pooh. But I knew she would take good care of it.

Noelle shapes who Maxine is and has grown to be. It was very hard for Maxine to open up to Lexi and I when we would find her crying and drinking a whole bottle of red wine before she passed out on her dorm bed. She says to not feel is the best feeling in the world but it's not a good feeling when she had to be transported to the emergency room for alcohol poisoning in our sophomore year.

Finally, she told us she couldn't see Noelle because she was sick with measles after Chris and his wife Erica refused to get her vaccinated. Only Noelle's elementary school refusing to let her in unvaccinated changed their minds.

He is not a nice guy.

The last time I met Chris was when we went to the Poconos last October for Fall break so Maxine could have supervised visits with Noelle but he wouldn't give her space to enjoy the moment of the two.

It warms my heart to see Maxine turn into real Mama mode and not with me, thank God. The mama mode my Mama uses is nowhere close, because she's not concerned about her decisions affecting her children.

Chris though, is awful. He kept making Noelle feel like him and Maxine were going to be together, like a family. I've been there too, with Mama promising us things would get better between her and Papá but lied to us taking us on vacation to announce they were getting a divorce. Talk about a vacation to remember.

I sigh deeply and take a sip of my wine, swallowing a bee along with trying not to think of the gut churning feeling of, 'We are doing this to better our family, our love for you all has not changed for the three of you."

I shut my eyes, remembering having to help Isabela use her inhaler as Mateo shouted at Mamà and Papá for taking us all the way here to tell us that when he could of went to futbol camp. He really wanted to go that year because a UCLA scout was there. He still hasn't really forgiven me for making us take that family vacation instead.

I sigh, blinking my eyes and sipping again. Maxine arches her brow at me and I let out a smile.

"So, is Noelle coming to graduation with your parents?" Lexi asks, walking into the dining room table with the fresh honey cornbread, placing them on the table and I can't wait to get my hands on some more.

Lexi called her mom about the recipe and I love hearing the two of them talk, as if they were best friends and they are! I love when Mamà Lori and Papá Gary come from Philadelphia to bring delicious food sometimes for our Sundays. However, I think Jaylan's Aunt Lisa makes the better Mac and Cheese, what little I got before Jordy's serving size.

Sometimes I wish Mamà could come but I rather not see her at the same time. She has talked about visiting, especially for graduation but I'd rather just do it alone instead of having to face an awkward situation where her and Ricardo are together looking happy while Papà, Isabela, and Mateo sit from a distance.

I sigh sorrowfully as I sit at the table, grabbing the knife to cut the cornbread. Even with my taste-testing hole, which I put on Jaylan's piece, we have enough.

"You know, my dad and I don't want Chris coming here because Marcus will kill him." Maxine sighs.

"I want to kill him too," Lexi gloats, smacking my hand from getting a middle section of the corn bread.

I giggle and take a bite in a cute way and she arches her brow at me.

"I'll just have to wait." Maxine bangs her hammer to open the crab, cracking it right open.

"Just ask your dad, Max," I softly say, moaning softly at the perfect corn and honey ooey, gooey cornbread.

"It's not that simple." She takes a piece of crab meat in her mouth and arch my brow in spite of my awe of the cornbread.

"Well, we are adding it to the prayer list." Lexi walks over to our white board, which lists all our prayers that we have for this year. It also lists which ones have been answered, except Maxine's one night stand with Micheal B. Jordan.... I think everybody has that on their prayer list....

I actually erased mine out of my phone notes, so it's just down to one... a certain soon-to-be NBA draft star...

"What are you smiling about?" Maxine arches her brow at me.

I couldn't help but giggle because I haven't told them about Jaylan and I's steamy telenovela moment this last Friday night. I was honestly waiting till tonight to tell them.

"Oh, I know that face." Lexi smirks, wiggling her eyebrows and sitting down.

"She is glowing...." Maxine's eyes grow ten times her body and she holds her chest, breathing heavily. "You didn't even let me give you the talk or teach you anything!"

Maxine pokes her lip and touches my face, getting sprinkles of Old Bay all over.

"I didn't give up my flower." I furrow my eyebrows.

"Oh thank God." Maxine breathes normally.

Lexi smacks her lips playfully, rolling her eyes then looking at me. "How was your guys' little sleepover?"

"It wasn't a little sleepover," I correct her.

"Sleepover," they say in unison, like Tia and Tamera.

"It... it was not," I start when they both give me a look like I will never convince them. "Well, we played a game."

"AGAIN!" Maxine's jaw drops and I move my shoulders up and down.

"Elizabeth Mariaaaaa Lucero," she stretches the a in my middle name with her nasally, Boston accent.

Lexi leans forwards, resting her elbow on the table and cupping her chin with her hand. "What was on this game?"

"Don't act like you don't know, count in Spanish to eight and kiss his abs." I narrow my eyes at her chewing hard down on my cornbread.

Maxine gapes her mouth open while Lexi holds her belly and leans back. "You did, didn't you!" Lexi cackles as I try not to but my lips tremble from holding back my laughter.

"He didn't land on it." I crinkle my nose at her and she wipes her eye cackling away.

I grunt and finish my corn bread, narrowing my eyes at her. "You liar, I know you did! What else did he land on?" Lexi playfully presses her lips.

"Lexi!" I furrow my brows because she likes teasing me about being naughty so Maxine freaks out.

"Do tell." Maxine bounces up and down in her seat.

"We just got to know each other more and.... Umm, he... touched my mangoes." I cover my very warm face and they both squeal loudly.

Saying it out loud still doesn't feel real.

"Lizzieeeeeeee! That's huge! His hands were big, weren't they?" Lexi teases, which only makes my cheeks warmer.

"Did he see them?" Maxine adds.

"No." I muffle through my hands and also lick the residue off from the cornbread.

"Do you want him to see them?" Maxine smiles, taking a sip of her drink.

My hands lower slightly. "Sorta?"

I would be lying to say I didn't like it. His massive hands slipping under my shirt made me want to burst into candy. At first I didn't know what to think but the more I think about it.... the more I want to do it again...

I sink my teeth into my lower lip as they both grin wide at my naughty confession.

"Girl, stop playing! You know you want him to." Lexi purses her lips and I giggle, trying to rub away the blush.

"I... well.. I never ha-"

Maxine catches my wrist and looks at me with her dark, forestry eyes. "You'll know when you're ready and we know you are... Please let me teach you some things, I want Jaylan to bust a nut like a ninth grader before ev-"

"Alright, Max. Damn." Lexi presses her lips and cracks a smile.

My face is probably red as a tomato, because even though I would like Jaylan to see me naked, it's still all new for me. I mean, after all, we've known each other for what? Almost a month and half, I mean is that too early or...

"You do what's best, and don't let him talk you into anything you're not comfortable with," Maxine assures me.

"He was actually really gentle and kind about it. He even looks and sounds like he's scared to touch me sometimes, like I'm some kind of porcelain doll," I admit quietly.

"He should be scared," Max deadpans with narrow eyes. "Because I'll kick his ass if he tries anything."

"Me too." Lexi nods and pats my hand. "Don't worry, Lizzie. We'll remove pieces of him that he'll never find again."

I furrow my eyebrows at them and their choice words and they both laugh, drinking their drinks. Lexi goes back in the kitchen to finish up the boil while I get another piece of cornbread.

"So, did Jaylan earn twenty stickers?" Maxine presses her lips, eating another piece of crab meat.

"He did." I say romantically.

"Ooooooo," they both say in unison.

"So, what's his reward?" Maxine arches her brow.

"It's just a sleepover," I murmur softly and Lexi snickers.

"It's just a sleepover," she mimics my voice.

My voice squeaks higher. "I don't even sound like-"

"DOCCCCC, let us in!" Jaylan interrupts us, making Mary Kate and Ashley grin at me devilishly.

Furrowing my brows at them, I walk into the kitchen and press the intercom button to let them in.

"Not a word." I point my finger at them as their smiles grew bigger. The sound of loud elephant steps echo through outside from the herd of our big men probably with their big bellies ready to eat. The butterflies in my tummy must have had a sugar rush because they are flying around like crazy lately.

A gentle knock comes from the door and I open it with all three men grinning but my twin is not here.

"Where is Jordy?" I look around and Jaylan sucks his teeth, coming in, wrapping his arms around my waist, and walking us backwards in the door. "Don't play me like that, Chuckles."

The woody vanilla aroma coming from his clothes makes the butterflies in my tummy get intoxicated. I giggle as he kisses the side of me over and over. Maxine scoffs, cracking a crab leg from where she still sits at the table.

"Mannnn, baby, it smells good in here!" Stephen comes in with a few games in his hands.

"I'm in the kitchen!" Lexi beams.

Stephen places the games down on the coffee table and walks right in the kitchen, where a lip lock sound echoes loudly through our home.

I've said this once and I will say it again. I've never seen Lexi so freely happy and in love with someone who loves her for her. Stephen knocked on a closed door that Derek slammed hard, then tried to double lock so no one would get in. But with Stephen's light knocking, constant communication, honesty, kind gestures, and friendship, they've bloomed into something beautiful.

I couldn't ask for anyone better than him because seeing Lexi cry night after night... Losing herself pulled my heart and watching the process of Lexi grow to where she is to our senior year really is rewarding.

"Maxine, wait for everybody to eat the crabs!" Lexi's voice scolds from the kitchen.

I pull Jaylan's hand and walk him to the dining room table, sitting him down next to me. He places one his hand on my thigh automatically and drapes his other arm around my chair. I scoot closer to him, in my permanent whole underneath his armpit. He plants a kiss on my forehead and rubs my shoulder.

"I don't know who is worse, you or Lexi," Maxine grumbles.

Marcus chuckles and drapes his arm around Maxine, who plucks it off like he's some type of bug.

"Oh, don't act like you didn't like Marcus helping you lift weights this morning," Jaylan taunts, so I playfully pat his arm with a giggle.

"Hot seafood coming through!" Stephen strides from the kitchen, pouring the seafood boil right across the newspaper.

Hot steam raises the air temperature and the enticing seasonings hit my nose. "Sorry about the lack of potatoes, someone failed at potato duty," Lexi taunts the dining room table.

I shrink in my seat and Jaylan laughs, looking right down at me with a smile. "There is plenty." My eyes shift at the plentiful slick corn cobs and few potatoes.

"Figures a vegetable eater wouldn't want potatoes", Jaylan teases.

I grunt and wiggle deeper into my space in Jaylan.

Everyone laughs, filling our home and the feeling I've been feeling all day becomes heavier on my heart. Seeing everyone's relaxed faces, even Max's, and the sense of gathering together sinks me further into Jaylan's side.

"Here let's pray, since some people have a lack of patience." Lexi flicks her eyes back and forth at Maxine, who smashes another crab with her hammer before looking up, and I.

We all gather our hands and bow our heads as Lexi lets out a soft sigh.

━━━━━━━✿━━━━━━

A mix of Feel Good R&B playlist fades in the background as Jaylan stares into my eyes. He smiles, warming my skin and I sink my teeth in my lower lip as he inches away from my face.

"Can you eat me?" I say and Jaylan grins big.

"Yes."

"Am I a vegetable?" My nose wrinkles.

Jaylan smirks but a flash appears in his eyes. "No."

I smile big. "A dessert?"

"Yes."

"Am I a pie?"

"No."

"Cake?"

"What kind?"

"Uhh.... strawberry, chocolate, vanilla-"

"Yes, Babe." Jaylan tosses the card but the timer ends.

He squeezes me tightly as we are on our fifth round of Headbands this evening. Jaylan and I have been rocking it out and Maxine keeps swearing up and down that we're cheating but we're just that good.

I wish Jordy could have come, but he went to go to an NBA game, the Washington Wizards, with his Dad. Jaylan said it is important they are together because they don't get much time like that since his Dad is in the military.

The boys inhaled the food like a vacuum but Jaylan said there was no way us three tiny girls could have finished all of it. He is wrong because we have made big meals before and ate all of it. Junior year Maxine had an Italian theme night and we ate all the spaghetti. Actually, I had a pretty bad tummy ache after that.

I don't think I have eaten spaghetti since then.

I rub my tummy as Stephen turns the timer and Lexi giddily leans forward, looking right into Stephen's eyes.

Jaylan scoops me into his arms and kisses my cheek. "You did good, baby." He breathes into the shell in my ear, making me shiver a little.

His body's so warm, giving me a little of a flashback of our time together on Friday night together. I flicker my eyes up at him and he smiles down at me as Lexi gets the answer for Elephant right. Maxine grunts, nursing on her sixth glass of chardonnay.

"Yes, yes,yes they live in water!" Stephen cheers on Lexi, not even near identifying her card of Turtle.

"I'm lost!" Lexi frets as my eyes watch the sand trickle down fully to end their time.

"Aw, it's alright, babe," Stephen comforts her and Lexi grunts.

"We win!" Jaylan boasts, rattling me around in his arms and making me dizzy.

Holding my head from the room spinning, I groan out at the sore winner, "Jaylannn."

Everyone laughs, Marcus lets out a sigh. "We have to do this more when we come back."

"This was a one time thing Marcus," Maxine corrects and I furrow my brows at her.

"Don't act like you didn't enjoy your time with my boy." Jaylan smirks, sipping on his Modelo.

I had to switch his drink up on him because the gold contrast against his tattooed hands makes the butterflies in my tummy do a conga line. He looks so sexy drinking it, tipping his head back and his throat bobbing as he swallows.

Maxine narrows her eyes, pressing her lips at Jaylan and sipping into her glass. Marcus whispers something in her ear, causing her to choke on her drink and playfully hit his arm.

"I can't believe it's ten days starting today." Stephen holds Lexi tightly and she rubs his head.

I furrow my brows and Jaylan kiss them because he most of knew what I was thinking about Stephen taking my head masseuse

"I know. Coach is already got all this shi- crap jammed back this week," Marcus groans.

"I haven't even started packing." Jaylan arrogantly smiles, and I narrow my eyes at him for his irresponsibility.

I gasp and look at the big dinosaur because he is always doing things at the last minute! He smirks while taking a sip of his beer and I furrow my brows at him.

"Of course you didn't. That's why we are always late to depart, thanks to you and egghead." Maxine shifts her eyes at Marcus, who grins big.

"Not true. Jordy's the one who always forgets something. What was it last year? His jersey." Marcus grins and Jaylan shakes his head.

We all laugh again and allow the R&B music to fill in the silence that follows.

"Man, I can't believe we are declaring Tuesday already." Marcus sips again.

Jaylan applies pressure on our clasped hands and I softly touch his hand. "I know.. It's hard to think about.'' His eyes shift down to his beer.

"It's hard to think in general we are almost to the end." Stephen rolls his beer in his hands.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but you guys did push through this year," Maxine says bitterly but I know she means it.

"Awww." Lexi placed a hand over her chest.

Jaylan softly chuckles and adjusts me in his arms. "Do you guys do anything for that?" I genuinely ask.

"Like what, celebrate?" Marcus sips on his beer.

"Well, yeah." I nod.

"It's like a whole sentence we say." Marcus grins and shakes his head, but my mind is already in planning mode.

We need UMD colors.

"But that's a big deal, right?" I emphasize and look at the Salad Enthusiast, who nods.

"It is but I expect a party when we come back." Marcus lifts up his beer.

I shake my head at his nonsense and look at Jaylan again, who's now staring at the wall a bit. I place my hand on his arm and he looks down at me with a half-smile. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I'm sorry, like Marcus said... Just a sentence." His shoulders lift.

"No no no!" I shake my head and get up from the sofa.

Lexi laughs.  "Uh oh."

Uh oh is right.

"No pues wow! (of course!)" I grumble softly, throwing my hands in the air.

I go to our closet close to the front door and go through some party storage bins. After digging a little, I pull out a brown envelope and turn, looking at everyone with arch brows.

"Jaylan, I didn't think I had to use this emergency party planning but dating you, I'm not surprised I need it already." I narrow my eyes on him. "We need an emergency trip to Party City."

Jaylan chuckles as I toss the brown envelope in his lap. His eyes soften in appreciation and he looks up at me with a warm smile like he didn't deserve it.

Which he does.

Something Mama has always taught me was to always keep an emergency party planning fund... which right now feels like the only advice she's giving me that I still believe in.

Edited and spiced by still_just_me