Chapter 15
F amily Game Night
We all had a blast for family game night.
The harder liquor was brought out, and people that had been shy or reserved started to loosen up.
I loved how well my family got along with Jason’s, and Rasheed’s parents were cool too.
Embarrassment washed over me for a moment when he introduced me to them as his sweet trouble, but Sandra and Elliot were obviously used to their son’s shenanigans and didn’t give me a hard time about it.
Sandra reminded me of my mom in some ways, so it didn’t surprise me that she and I got along so well.
She had a sweet, nurturing spirit that it was easy for me to cleave to.
We walked the grounds and chilled by the pool together, and she told me a few stories about Rasheed as a child that had me dying laughing until he pulled me away.
After that, we swam a few laps before a few of my cousins joined us, which somehow led to more drinking and another nap before dinner and game night.
Spades, Monopoly, dice, and charades were being played in all areas of the den and living room.
I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Mama’s side of the family so carefree, and I made sure to take tons of pictures and videos.
When the younger crowd went to the game room to smoke and play pool, me and Rasheed gravitated toward one another.
I knew how to play a little, but I really made lucky shots because I didn’t know what I was doing completely.
Rasheed took the time to not only explain where I needed to hit the ball and how I needed to hold the stick, but to show me too.
When he pressed his body against mine, the feel of his chest and hardened dick made it almost impossible to focus on the game.
I’d never deny he and I had chemistry, but there was something else brewing between us too.
By the time people started to trickle out and go to their own rooms, I was tipsy and in a very good mood. Paisley found me hiding in the corner and plopped down on the recliner next to me. My eyes shifted toward Jason, Tyler, and Rasheed as they talked shit about their last game of pool.
“Sooo,” Paisley cooed before erupting in a fit of drunken laughter. “Wassup with you and my brother?”
“Who is your brother?” I asked with a laugh of my own.
“Rasheed! Don’t play on his top like that. You know you like that man.”
“I mean… he’s cool. He’s very attractive. I like him. Nothing’s going to come from it though.”
“Why not, Sissy?” she whined, making me laugh again.
“I told you I wasn’t looking for anything right now. Plus, did you forget he lives on the other side of the United States?”
“So? You barely be seeing your men anyway. What difference does it make?”
“I just… realized I did that because I didn’t really like them.
With Rasheed, I like having him close already.
Usually if a man talked to me as much as he did or always found his way next to me it would annoy me, but with him, I find myself searching for him as soon as I enter a room.
I don’t know if I could handle him being almost two thousand miles away. ”
Her mouth cracked before lifting into a smile that mirrored SpongeBob’s when he found out Squidward liked krabby patties.
“Ah this is so exciting.” Paisley pulled me into her arms and squealed. “You like him! You really, really like him!”
“Paisley, shut up,” I demanded through my laugh as I pulled her arms from around my neck. “Go take your drunk ass to sleep.”
“Oh, this is going to be amazing,” she said as she stood and staggered out of the game room. “You’re gonna move to LA and we’re going to have our babies together and be married to best friends. I can’t wait !”
I covered my face and groaned as she left, and all eyes were suddenly on me. “She’s just drunk,” I said as I stood and briskly made my way out. “And joking.”
2:00 AM
I couldn’t sleep. After tossing and turning, I decided to go and get me something sweet to eat.
Rasheed was on the same wave because I found him in the kitchen stealing cookies like some kind of sexy racoon.
He jumped slightly then chuckled when he realized I was the one who caught him.
I licked my lips at the sight of him shirtless with his pajama pants hanging loosely.
His chest was covered in tattoos, and between that and his eight pack, I was convinced nothing could make this man sexier.
“You couldn’t sleep either?” he checked as I leaned against the island.
“Nope.”
“Want a cookie?”
I nodded as he pushed the container of cookies over to me. There was chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and sugar to choose from. I grabbed a chocolate chip and peanut butter one before sitting on the bar stool and sliding the container back over to him.
“Why are you still up?” I asked as I poured us both a glass of the milk he’d set out.
“Thinking ’bout you.”
At first, I thought he was just playing or flirting until I saw the serious expression on his face.
“What about me?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to talk to you. Hold you. See that pretty ass face. Beautiful, actually.”
“I think our nap was too long,” I decided, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach from his compliment.
“Nah, it was just what I needed. I just needed more. Sleeping like that with you earlier, so peacefully, made it hard for me to fall asleep by myself.”
“Same,” I unwillingly agreed. Silence found us for a while as we ate our cookies, then he struck up another conversation.
We talked a little more about our families and careers.
He had several rental properties in Miami, Los Angeles and Malibu.
He also had a yacht that he rented for half a million a week in the summer, and when he showed me pictures of it, I understood how he was able to charge that price.
It was big, beautiful, and fully staffed when people rented it.
I loved the flexibility of how he made his money because it allowed him to spend his days traveling and doing whatever else he wanted.
He admitted that he spent all of his twenties selling drugs, specifically while he was in college majoring in chemistry.
His plan to be a chemical engineer changed when he made enough money to buy the yacht and rental properties.
Now, he made millions while employing a small staff to ensure all of his properties were clean and well managed.
I loved that.
I commended him for doing what he needed to do to make his money yet stopping the illegal shit when he no longer needed to do it.
A lot of people grew addicted to the rush and fast money, the power and notoriety, and ended up dead or in jail because of it.
Now, at thirty-five, Rasheed was living a luxurious, legit life.
We continued to talk about nothing, all the things, and everything in between until the sun started to rise, and that was the first time I’d had a conversation with a man and actually enjoyed it.
He wasn’t asking questions just to appear to be interested.
Rasheed genuinely liked talking to people.
It was refreshing, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
When the cleaning and catering staff came in, we said our goodbyes and went to our rooms. I climbed into bed, unsure how long I’d be able to sleep, with a smile on my face. That time, sleep found me quickly.