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"Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child

Sunday, September 12th, 2021

Niko's POV

Everyone is due to meet for breakfast at 8:00 am in the dining room. I had it set up so Team A would be on one side. And, Team B is on the other. I agree with Kalani. We should do this every year. I'll chat with Shane, Cris, Janiyah, and Griffin later.

"Tatianna Kostopoulos, are you ready?!"

She came out of the bathroom wearing a skimpy robe that was tempting for me to rip off. "Woman, we don't have time for pleasure. We can do that later."

She dropped her robe, "Or we can do it now." She just made me lose my concentration. What does it matter if we are a few minutes late?

Kalani's POV

"Niko went all out for breakfast."

Adrian scanned the room and noticed a few missing. "He sure did. And, guess what? Niko and his wife are not downstairs yet. Neither is Shane and Bliss. Maybe they are working on making me a grandma."

She is one, hilarious woman. Her husband chuckled too. Of course, one of my kids is the ones late. I looked at my watch and it was 5 minutes after 8:00 am.

"Good morning, everyone." We looked up and it was Niko and his wife, Tati. She was walking like an old lady. Now everyone burst out laughing because of who was last.

It was almost near 8:30 am until Bliss and Shane finally graced us with their appearance.

"Uh sorry, we are late." Shane stuttered out as they sat on their teams. And, Bliss was not walking funny. Bliss and Kamea traded high-fives.

I heard Kamea ask Bliss, "What is your secret for walking straight?" Let me finish this conversation before it gets started.

"Now that everyone has graced us with their appearance, good morning contestants. We do have a prize, courtesy of Niko, for the contestants that were first. Bliss, Shane, Julian, Carly, Mason, and Andrea, congratulations on winning the first prize. Niko, tell them what they won."

Niko's POV

"An all-expenses-paid trip to any place you choose."

"Aww, thank you, Niko. That was really sweet." Bliss says and came to give me a hug.

"Thank you, Niko. We will put this to good use." That was Andrea.

"Thanks, Niko. You're the best." That was Carly.

"You're welcome. Everyone here is now a part of my family. Breakfast will now be served. Then, we will pick the captains for the bowling tournament."

Bliss' POV

Waiters came over to each of us and served us breakfast. We had so many choices - bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, french toast, juices, and Starbucks coffee. Yes!!

"This food is delicious, Niko. And, thank you for serving my favorite coffee in the world."

"You're welcome. Shane told me how much you loved Starbucks. Graeme told me the same thing about Janiyah."

"Aww, isn't my hubby sweet?" I glanced over to where Shane was sitting. He did the same thing to me. Shane winked, and I blew him a kiss.

"Starbucks is actually where Janiyah and I first met. I was a total jerk to her when she accidentally bumped into me." Graeme mentions to everyone.

Kam and I definitely are not shy. So, she started an interesting conversation. "How are you seriously walking straight?"

"I can't really explain it. The first few times, including our wedding night in August, I was very sore. About a month or so later, I wasn't sore anymore."

"Kamea and Bliss, please for the love of humanity don't go into detail about your skills." Cris heard us all the way across the room.

"Too bad that isn't a competition."

"Oh, my goodness! Girl, I said the same thing on the plane." Kam says in agreement. Kalani, Shane, and Cris sighed very loudly.

Shane's POV

"Shane, what are we going to do with our wives?"

"Bliss isn't the one I have to worry about. It's my mum. Cris, she is obsessed about Bliss and I giving her grandchildren. She texts me almost every day asking, "Where are the kids, Shane?"

"Shane, I get the same text messages," Julian added.

"So, when is my question going to be answered, Shane and Julian?" My mum says with her hands on her hips.

Tatianna chimed in, "Niko's mom and grandma ask us all the time when am I getting pregnant. You guys are not alone."

Thankfully, Kalani changed the subject, "Okay ladies and gents, that's enough about your sex lives. If everyone is finished breakfast, let's pick the captains for each team. And, since Bliss and Shane were late after their escapades, you both are the captains for this event. Bliss will pick a player from Shane's team and match them to a player on her team. Bliss, you can pick first."

Bliss: "Okay. I want Cris to play against Marco."

Cris sighed. Marco gloated, "You're going down, bro."

Shane: "Kam against Layla."

"Jeez, thanks a lot, Shane. Sorry Layla but prepare to lose."

Bliss: "Myself against Shane."

Shane: "Are you sure you want to do that, Darling?" A smirk was now plastered on my face.

"Game on, Landes," Bliss says confidently, and with her own smirk.

"Ryan against Julian."

Bliss: "Julian and Ryan against each other? Oh boy, interesting trash talk there. I pick Tati against Austin."

Shane: "Graeme against Noeli."

Bliss: "Kimmie against Mason."

Shane: "Rey against Sophia."

Bliss: "Carly against Ryder."

Shane: "Griffin against Cam."

Bliss: "Kimberly against Cris A."

Shane: "Niko will go against Janiyah."

Bliss: "Cocoa against Andrea."

Kalani's POV

"Now that everyone is paired, four teams will be on lane one, four teams will be on lane two, and 5 teams on lane three."

"On lane one, it will be Cris/Marco, Kam/Layla, Bliss/Shane, and Julian/Ryan."

"On lane two, it will be Kimona/Mason, Graeme/Noeli, Tati/Austin, and Rey/Sophia."

"On lane three, it will be Carly/Ryder, Griffin/Cam, Niko/Janiyah, Andrea/Cocoa, and Kimberly/Cris A."

I can't wait to see all of the trash-talking coming from lane one. I did that on purpose. "And, you can pick team names. Team A can be something. And, Team B will be called something. The bowling tournament starts at noon. Now, let's all have some fun. Shane and Bliss be on time. You can have your fun time later tonight."

11:30 am

Bliss' POV

"Okay ladies and gents, what should we call ourselves?"

"How about 'The Landes Crushers?'" Kam suggested. "Because let's face it, they are going to be crushed. Layla is my girl, but not today."

"I knew Kam would think of something. I can't think of anything. Cris is my bro, but I am going to have fun going against him. Let's go with Kam's suggestion," Marco mentions to everyone.

"I can't wait to see Bliss against Shane. Take him down, Bliss." Carly and I traded high-fives.

"How about we use each captain's last name, along with the word Crushers?" Niko suggested.

"That's a great idea, Niko. Say if you're the captain, it would be The Kostopoulos Crushers. Let's do it." Everyone agreed.

"For today, Landes Crushers it is. Let's do this!! Landes Crushers on the count of three........

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!!!"

"LANDES CRUSHERS!!!"

We then followed Niko down to his bowling alley. And, I was very impressed. On the way down, I went to talk with Cocoa. I absolutely love her bakery.

"Hi, Cocoa. I am Bliss. Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, Bliss."

"I love your bakery and would love to help you franchise it. We can talk later if you would like to."

"I would love to talk later. Thank you so much for your support."

"You're welcome. Us girls got to stick together and support one another. I got your back. Janiyah has helped me do so much with my business. Let's include her too." I gave her a hug before she went to her lane.

Shane's POV

"Knowing how Bliss and Kam are together, they came up with a name. So, what shall we call ourselves? Any ideas because I sure don't have any."

"How about 'The Fantastic Finishers' because after they finish talking trash, we can finish them off with a win." Layla suggested, then she said, "Shane, Cris, Andrea, and Julian I love Kam and Bliss very much, but man do they talk a lot of trash."

"Layla, we share your pain. And when it comes to Monopoly, forget it. Somehow Bliss always wins." Andrea added. I know every time we played together; she would always win.

"From within the past two years of getting to know my sisters, Bliss shows no mercy when playing Monopoly." Julian also added.

Bliss may be my wife, but every word they said is true - she is merciless. I am no saint either. I have been known to trash talk too much. So, she is not alone. Carly was right about me when it comes to Spades.

"Fantastic Finishers it is. Let's head down to the bowling lanes. After you, Tati." We then all followed Tatianna downstairs to the bowling lanes.

Bliss and her team were already downstairs. I walked up behind her, leaned down, and whispered, "Ready to lose, Darling?"

She turned around and whispered, "Ready to go without lovin' tonight?" We both laughed like crazy.

We saw Kalani, my mum, and dad walking our way.

"Okay, ladies and gents, team captains, do you have a name for your teams?" Kalani asked.

"Yes, we do. We are the 'Landes Crushers.'" Bliss says. I have to say that it is a good name. I sure wouldn't have come up with it.

"Let me guess, Kam picked that one." Cris shook his head and sighed, Julian, laughed. Kam and Bliss traded  high-fives with each other.

"Yes, I sure did. And, it will happen. Count on it."

"Our team name is the 'Fantastic Finishers' because as Layla put it, once you all finished trash-talking, we will finish you off by winning." Layla and I traded high-fives.

Kalani then says, "Okay, here is how it goes. I will observe lane 1. Adrian will observe lane 3. And, Brently will observe lane 2. Let the games officially begin. Bliss, pick which team you want to bowl first."

Bliss' POV

"I want Marco and Cris to go first."

Shane crossed his arms and said, "Layla and Kam next."

"Ryan and Julian are third."

"You and I are last." Shane had a stupid grin on his face when he said that. He doesn't know that I used to be in a bowling league. Ha! Well, it was years ago. But, nonetheless I was.

Marco and Cris chose their balls, then stepped up to the lane. Marco let Cris throw first. Cris threw a strike first. Then, Marco threw a strike.

"Losers can go first," Kam says to Layla. She just rolled her eyes at Kam, took her turn and threw a strike.

Layla turned around, bowed, then went to high five her teammates. Kam threw a strike too. Yes!!

Ryan and Julian went to take their turns. Surprisingly they were quiet. They both bowled a spare. Now it is me and Shane's turn.

"Ladies first," Shane says.

Wait until he sees this. I am about to wipe that stupid grin off his face. I got in my standing position with my ball. Then, after taking a few steps down the lane my ball went. Strike! Yes!

I blew Shane a kiss. "Your turn, Landes."

Shane took a couple of steps, then threw his ball. He bowled a 7-10 split.

"Shane, Shane, Shane, you might as well give up. There is no way you're getting that," Kam says. Shane didn't say a word.

He retrieved his ball and threw it down the lane. He actually picked it up! Shane came back and walked straight over to Kam.

"Uh, what was that, Kamea Fiore? I can't hear you." We all had a good chuckle at that.

Kam gave Shane a high-five. "Great pick-up, Shane."

"Thanks, Kam."

Even I have to give my boo a congratulatory kiss. Shane took a seat, then I walked behind him, wrapped my arms around him, and kissed his cheeks. "Expect your reward later," I whispered in his ear.

Shane grabbed my hands and walked me around so I could sit in his lap. Then, he kissed my cheeks.

"You guys are just so adorable. And, married for a year."

"Thank you, Kam. It's been amazing. And, I'm glad we live in Miami. I don't miss New York at all."

Marco and Cris took their turns. This time, Cris rolled a strike and Marco rolled a spare.

Kam and Layla took their turn. Layla rolled a strike. But Kam rolled a 7-10 split.

"I got this," she says as she releases the ball. The ball went right through the middle like a field goal.

"The kick is good!!" Julian yelled. We thought the same thing. Shane's team chuckled. Kam stuck her tongue at them.

Ryan and Julian were up next. Ryan threw a strike, but Julian missed a spare within a few inches.

"Better luck next time, bro. Need a tissue for your tears?" said Ryan.

We also heard Janiyah tell Niko, "Take that, my servant for a week!"

We all burst out laughing. Niko must have lost a bet.

It was me and Shane's turn. "Madam." Shane tried to let me go first.

"After you, Landes."

"Okay. It's your loss." Shane was about to throw his ball, then I whistled. He lost his concentration and threw a gutter ball. All he did was give me a devious grin. I pretended like I didn't do anything. Kalani was in the back laughing like crazy.

He eventually rolled a spare. Dang. I took my turn and rolled a strike. As I turned around, I bumped right into Shane's chest. "Oops," was all I said. Shane wrapped his arms around me and led me back to his seat. Then, he proceeded to tickle me to death.

I couldn't control my laughter while everyone took their turn again. "Shane let me go. My stomach hurts from laughing so much."

"Nope," was all he said.

"Please, Shane. I'm serious."

"I'm serious too," he says as he continues tickling me. Thankfully it's our turn again. Now I can breathe.

Shane let me roll first. And, as usual, I bowled a strike. I took a bow and sauntered back to my seat. My Landes Crushers and I traded high fives. Cris and Layla shook their heads.

Shane rolled a strike too and mocked my saunter. Okay, even I had to laugh.

Throughout the rest of the match, Julian and Ryan upped their trash talk.

"You snooze and you lose," Julian says first.

"Look at the score, loser," Ryan then replies.

Layla and Cris were the quietest ones. Well, Layla was until the 10th frame.

It's now the 10th frame.

Marco walked over to Cris, patted his shoulder and said, "Sorry los-er." And, Marco emphasized loser. He won his match against Cris hands down.

Kam lost her match with Layla. "Aww, is Kami, Wami quiet after losing her match?" Layla says as she does her winner dance.

Ryan won his match with Julian. " As MC Hammer says, 'Too Legit To Quit.'" He then did The Hammer Dance.

I was ahead of Shane going into the 10th frame, so I let him go first. He bowled a strike and a spare, which gave him a lead. He walked passed me and blew me a kiss this time. "Madam, it was nice beating you at bowling."

Ha! We'll see about that. I promptly bowled a turkey - three strikes in a row!

"And, like The Rock says, 'Can you smell what Bliss is cookin'?' Looks like Bliss won this, Landes."

We all took our victory dance.

Kalani's POV

This was too fun, watching all of the trash-talking back and forth from this group.

"Now that all three lanes have completed their games, it's time to award the overall winner. Adrian, which team won in lane 3?"

"The winner is the Fantastic Finishers."

"Brently, how about lane 2?"

"The Fantastic Finishers."

"Whoop! Whoop!" That was Cris this time. Cris, Layla, Shane, and Julian now did their victory dance.

"Lane one was won by the Landes Crushers. The overall winner for the bowling tournament is The Fantastic Finishers. Shane, come receive your team's award. Everyone, give yourselves a round of applause."

Shane's POV

"This was an amazing first day of events. Thank you, Niko and Kalani."

"Thank you to my team, The Fantastic Finishers. Round one goes to us."

Kalani's POV

"We also have awards for the highest bowlers from each lane. Adrian, who had the highest on lane 3?"

"The winner was Griffin," replies Adrian.

"Brently, how about lane 2?"

He answered, "The award goes to Graeme."

"And, lane 1 the winner was Bliss." Griffin, Graeme, and Bliss made their way to receive their award.

"Tomorrow, Kami and Cris are the captains."

Kami was grinning, and Cris sighed, not even knowing what the event is.

Griffin's POV

"Thank you for the award. It has been years since I even went bowling. I'm surprised at the results. Shane was right - So far, it has been amazing."

Graeme's POV

"Janiyah and I have built a mini-bowling alley in the basement of our Cali home. We love it. Bowling brings out the trash-talking for both of us, as everyone heard Janiyah give it to Niko. It's one of the many activities that we enjoy together. This was absolutely fun. Congrats to The Fantastic Finishers."

Bliss' POV

"Congrats to The Fantastic Finishers as well. Just like Griffin, I am surprised about my results. It has been years since I threw a bowling ball. Andrea, Jessie, and I used to bowl in a league before our parents passed away. Being surrounded by everyone here, whom I consider my family, reminded me of those times. Thank you all for a great day."

I walked back over to Shane and hugged him tight because I felt myself getting emotional.

"Lunch is now ready and set up in Niko's entertainment room across the way. Enjoy," announced Kalani.

Shane and I stayed back for a bit while everyone made their way to lunch.

"I could tell in your eyes you were starting to feel sad. Are you okay?"

"I really miss my mom, dad, Nana, and Jessie. Each of their deaths feels fresh - like it happened sometime this year."

"Would you like to leave or stay?"

"I want to stay. I just needed a moment to myself. I'm hungry now."

"Let's go join the others."

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Narrator's POV

Later in the evening.

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Bliss' POV

"That was a good game we played. Congratulations on winning."

"Thank you, Darling. We were both winners. I never knew you were in a league."

"I never got around to telling you. I love bowling. We should do it often."

"How about we build one like Niko in the basement? There is plenty of room."

"Let's do it. Then, I can give you private lessons." As I came out of the bathroom, I had on a sexy, red negligee with a red, silk robe.

You all should see the look on Shane's face. It's hilarious! He peeled the covers back and patted the bed, like he was ready to pounce.

I seductively walked over to the bed, laid down, then pretended like I was going to sleep.

After yawning, I told him, "Goodnight, Shane."

"Goodnight, nothing woman. You heard what Kalani said about saving it for later. You're seriously wearing that and don't think anything is going to happen?! What happened to my reward?!"

"Who knows what event we have for tomorrow? So, let's get some rest." I then proceeded to lay my head on my pillow and could not stop snickering. I know Shane was irritated. I let him sulk for a few minutes. I love teasing him. It's so easy.

After a few minutes, he laid his head on his pillow and mumbled under his breath, "You are evil and unbelievable."

It was hilarious! So, I turned around and started caressing his arm. "Lover Boy wants some of Bliss, doesn't he?"

Shane took my hand off his arm and turned the light off. So, I stripped down the covers and sat on him. Then started laughing.

"You are so easy to tease. Let's do this. You know you want to."

"Darn right." Shane is awake now. We suddenly switched places and I was laying on the bed. "We'll see if you are laughing when I am done with you. Be prepared to lose your breath. Goodnight, ma'am."

"Goodnight, Daddy Shane."

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Opening bowling picture is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / tilo

Bowling alley is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / Irochka