Brothers: From Boys to Men

Nice To Meet You

It was Friday night and the group date was approaching. After Bakari hit up his boys, they immediately hit him back that they were in. This would give Ryder the chance to vet the new group of women entering her circle. She was battling with whether or not she should tell her good friend Ciara about the meet up, in which she'd be meeting the girl vying to be her exes official girl.

"So Bae!?....you nervous?" Jonathan asked catching Nina's attention as she turned to face him.

She smiled faintly at his term of endearment. They hadn't made things official yet, but between their intimate phone conversations and spontaneous meet ups, whether for sex or just to put eyes on one another...The two had developed deep feelings for each other.

Nina sighed. "A little, I haven't done this in awhile. My last relationship we had the same mutual friends."

"Well you don't have anything to worry about because my boys are cool as fuck. And luckily you kind of already met them."

"I get that babe, but still these are your best friends! The very men who would be in our wedding- Boy! Why are you smiling so damn hard!?" Nina asked mid sentence.

Jonathan had the biggest grin on his face.

"You wanna marry me!?" He asked humorously earning a playful eye roll from her.

"First of all that's not the point. The point is these are very important people in your life whose opinions matter. I'm sure if one them said they weren't feeling me, your mind would be all over the place about me."

Jonathan could only shrug and nod.

Nina had a point. The opinions of his brothers meant a great deal to him. A negative opinion wouldn't exactly end his relationship, but it would make him reevaluate some things.

"And yes! Technically I do want to marry you. At twenty-eight any man I date, I'm dating to marry and have children. That is unless you tell me that's not what you want."

"Hmm...well for the record I'm on the same wave as you." Jon said lastly before they both settled into a comfortable silence.

"Oh! I almost forgot my older brother is coming too." Jon interjected and Nina nearly broke her neck to scold him.

"Seriously!? Your brother Jon?...I'm gonna shit myself." Nina whined feeling butterflies in her stomach as she was stricken with a wave of nerves.

Jon couldn't help the ungodly chortled that left his lips, as Nina gave him a death stare.

**********

Minutes later Jonathan was pulling into the parking lot of the upscale bowling alley Bakari had rented out for the night. From the few cars that were in the lot, he spotted the familiar three which meant he was the last to arrive.

Cutting the engine he exited the vehicle, before strutting to Nina's side.

Nina smiled taking his hand before they made their way inside the venue.

The fellas and their dates were seated on the couches in front of their lanes chatting it up, as they listened to a playlist Reeves played through the speakers of the alley when Jonathan and Nina entered together.

"There my boy go! What's up nigga!?" Reeves greeted him with a man hug.

"What's good!— he then turned to Nina.—you already know Nina since you linked her Mya together."

"Of course! Good to see you again." Reeves said giving her an appropriate side hug.

"Yes! Good seeing you too....hey girl!" Nina said greeting him and Mya who also got up to hug her and Jon.