"I think that's the girl," Blair whispered to Bailey.
"Let's ask her," Bailey encouraged.
"No, what if we get in trouble."
"We're not doing anything wrong," Bailey reasoned. "I'm gonna ask her." Without a second thought Bailey walked over to Samara with Blair tagging along behind her. "Excuse me," she said to Samara. Samara stopped what she was doing and turned around.
"Hey cutie!" she beamed. "What's up?" Bailey cut right to the chase.
"Are you and Uncle Zay boyfriend and girlfriend?" she inquired. Samara was caught off guard. She looked down at the little girl with no clue on how to answer that. Though her and Zay clearly liked each other, they hadn't worked out all the details yet.
"Girls leave her alone," Demi reprimanded calmly. "How many times have I told y'all to stay out of grown folks business."
"Yes ma'am," Bailey said glumly.
Blair perked up, "Um. We also think you're really pretty and we like your hair," she added. "Are those your natural curls?"
Demi looked over at Samara. "I am so sorry about these two," she said getting up. "They're extremely inquisitive. I'm afraid they get that from me," she replied sweetly. She looked at Blair and Bailey. "Girls come have a seat in the dining room while mommy get's y'all breakfast, okay."
Samara smiled. "Oh, it's no problem. They're adorable."
"Aw. Thank you," Demi smiled as she rounded them up. As her and her girls were heading out of the kitchen, Demi gave a quick look over her shoulder at Samara, who had just went to check on the pot of coffee. It wasn't until that moment that she wondered about her too.
After a few short minutes Demi had now returned back to the kitchen. Samara figured that since the girls talked about her so much that she should at least formally introduce herself to their mom.
"Um...I'm Samara by the way, but everyone just calls me Sam. I'm Zay and Zen's friend."
Demi looked over at her, almost shocked that she was speaking to her again, but not because she was stand-offish or anything, but because she'd might actually get a chance to find out more about her.
"Oh. Hey. I'm Demetria," she smiled. "But I go by Demi." She gave a small laugh. "I see we all got nicknames around here."
"Yeah, apparently so," Samara grinned. "Nice to meet you Demi. And your two girls."
"Yeah, you too," she smiled politely. Demi leaned against the counter and rubbed her basketball sized belly. "So," she started, "I know my girls've been asking a lot about you...and now I can't help but ask, are you...Zay's girlfriend?" Samara looked up from the mug she was taking a sip out of. She was caught off guard. "Sorry. I don't mean to pry," Demi said in her defense. "It's just that...he hasn't mentioned or brought anyone home since um...what's her name," she snapped. "Oh God. I just saw her last night." Demi held up a hand to her forehead. "This pregnancy brain is killing me," she groaned.
"Lovie?" Samara laughed.
"Yes," she smiled with a sigh of relief. "Since Lovie. That's her name. Lovie. Thank you." Demi looked at Sam and they shared a laugh. "So tell me," Demi said in a sororal-like tone. She walked over to the cabinet and grabbed a few plates. "Am I looking at a future sister-in-law or what?" she grinned. "It's sort of a big deal that he's brought a girl home so please excuse my excitement."
Samara chuckled and replied, "Well, I'm not sure, but Zen seems to think so."
"And...do you agree?" Demi asked as she fixed the twins plates. "Can you see a future with him?"
"I honestly haven't thought that far. Zay is my best friend and we're still figuring out what's next, so I guess all I can say is stay tuned." Samara smiled.
"Well," Demi said heading towards the dining room with Blair and Bailey's breakfast, "I hope everything works out for you two. We all just wanna see him happy."
"Thanks," Samara smiled. "Me too."
..
After Demi had served her girls and made a plate for herself, Zay and Izzy came walking loudly down the hallway towards the dining room and kitchen.
"Uncle Zaaay!" the girls squealed as they stopped mid bite to rush up to him. Zay scooped both of them up in his arms and hugged them. Izzy walked into the dining room and kissed his wife, apologizing profusely for being gone for so long.
"It's okay Izzy," she smiled, accepting his loving kisses. "You're off the hook. This time," she teased. Zay walked into the kitchen with his two nieces hugging him tightly. They had the biggest grins on their faces. All three of them. Samara was pouring coffee into her mug when they came in.
"Uncle Zay," Bailey started. "Can we ask you a question?"
"Of course. What's up niecey?"
"Is the pretty girl with the hair your girlfriend?" Blair said pointing to Samara. "Cuz I think we saw you hugging her last night."
"Well," he said putting them down, "The pretty girl with the hair is named Sam." He looked up in Samara's direction. "And she is a girl and she is my best friend," he smiled, "so, essentially, yes, she's my girlfriend." Samara held her stomach and tried her hardest to contain her laughter.
"We knew it!" Bailey and Blair gave a quick cheer before rushing back to their seats so they could finish eating breakfast. At the table, Demi and Izzy shook their heads and laughed. Their twin daughters never ceased to amaze them and this day was no different.
Back in the kitchen, Zay was eyeing Samara over from a distance. She blushed. "Good mornin'," he said walking up to her.
"Mornin'," she smiled back. Zay moved in closer. One look at him and Samara could tell what he wanted. "No Zay," she smiled, trying to create distance between them. "What if they see us?" she whispered.
Zay looked back into the dining room and saw his brother and sister-in-law talking amongst themselves while the twins were busy stuffing their faces. He knew they wouldn't pay them any mind, but for Samara's peace of mind he moved her out of their view before kissing her. "Better?" he grinned as he took her in his arms and kissed her slowly. Samara mumbled the word "yes" against his lips and then wrapped her arms around his neck. Zay smiled and picked her up, sitting her on the counter in front of him. In one breath Samara was giggling at his eagerness, and in the next she was moaning warmly against his mouth as his lips savored hers. When they broke away Samara grinned up at him.
"What?" he grinned back.
"I like being here with you," she whispered. "Like this...I mean." She grew quiet and ran her thumb over his lower lip just before he grabbed ahold of her wrist and kissed her there until his lips found a space to rest on her clavicle. When Samara instinctively leaned her head back, Zay saw it as the perfect opportunity to playfully and seductively tease her neck. "Zay, stop it. You're gonna leave a mark," she giggled as she leaned into him, her arms carelessly draped around his neck.
"Well well," Zen said interrupting them. "What's going on in here?" She looked between them and smiled. Samara blushed and buried her face into Zay's chest.
"Oh. Don't be shy now," Zen teased. Zay looked like he wanted to make their case, but Zen didn't let him.
"You don't owe me an explanation," she grinned. "I already know."
"Know—?" Zay started. Samara lifted up her head and interjected.
"—About us...and my feelings for you." Zay looked at his sister and then back at Sam. He tried to hide his smile, but his efforts were thwarted when Samara traced the outline of his mouth making it plain to see that she was resisting the urge to kiss him again. "We can talk about it more tonight," she said biting her lip.
Ignoring the heavy sexual tension between the two, Zen smiled and said, "Tonight? What's happening tonight?"
"We have a date," Samara beamed.
"Oh my goodness!" Zen gushed. "Finally!" Samara laughed and shook her head. "Sis, find me later. I'll ditch Lovie and help you get dressed," she said in a hushed tone.
"You're the best," Samara grinned. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Zen winked. "Anyway," she said looking between Zay and Samara, "The girls are on their way down for breakfast so if you don't want them in your business I suggest y'all make like a banana and split."
"Girl, you ain't gotta tell me twice," Samara said hopping off the counter. "Good lookin out."
"Don't mention it. Family gotta stick together," Zen winked.
"Good Morning!" Angel said in a sing-song voice. Amber, Lovie, and Zara weren't too far behind them. "Sam, where were you last night?" Angel asked. "We were still up late. We came to your room to get you, but you weren't there. It was like two in the morning, I think. Right Ambie?" she said turning to her.
"It was something like that," Amber mumbled tiredly.
"Oh. Sorry girl. I didn't realize my presence would be missed." Samara teased. Angel chuckled and smiled at her.
"It wasn't. Who said that?" Lovie scoffed as she sat down on a bar stool. Zen was about to say something, but Samara stopped her and spoke up instead.
"You know if you have an issue with me being here you can go, because unlike you I was invited. I didn't have to plan a sleepover with Zen to stay the night."
"Girl, what?" Lovie said turning to look at Samara. "You've been knowing them for all of two seconds and think you doing something?"
"Well clearly I am. Which explains why you feel so threatened by me being here. All I do is breath and you got an attitude. Clearly you bothered." Everyone else in the room remained in one spot and sort of looked around at each other, unsure if they should intervene or not.
"Bitch, I don't have the time to be worried about you!" she rebutted.
"But you're worried about what I might have and that's the same thing," Samara said matter-of factly. "But I suggest you pack it up sis because ain't nobody over here checking for you."
"Oh shit," Zen mumbled to herself. She knew that that last comment was a dig at Lovie about Zay. The other girls remained clueless. Zay stood off to the side shaking his head. Figuring that this had gone on long enough he spoke up.
"Yo Mar," he said clearing his throat. "I'm bout to run to the store," he lied. "You still ridin'?"
"Yeah. Let me just grab my jacket," she said staring at Lovie as she walked past her. When Samara was out of sight Lovie was quick to address Zay.
"Why are you always so hell bent on stepping in for her?"
"Lovie, she is my best friend. I'm not gonna stand here and let you disrespect her."
"Disrespect her? Did you hear how she was talking to me?"
"Yes Lovie, but you started it!"
"I didn't start anything! I simply made an observation and she got mad."
"You been throwing jabs at her for the past two days now. What did you expect?"
"Of course you take her side, but you didn't hear what she said to me when she first got here—"
"—Take accountability for the part you played!" he interrupted.
Lovie talked over him. "AND you probably aren't going to, because when it comes to her I get kicked to the curb! We used to be friends."
Zay took a second to take in what she said. "Lov, it's not like that."
"No. Yes it is. It is like that, Zay! We can't even catch up, because she's always around."
"Ar'ight, well, if it's that important to you then we'll hang out."
"When?" she asked folding her arms.
"I don't know yet."
"Of course you don't, but you always know when you're gonna see her!" she said referring to Samara. Amber, Zara, and Angel made eye contact with each other. They were starting to put two and two together now.
"That's because we're friends. We make plans together," he said matter-of-factly.
Lovie looked pissed. "Oh. So we're not friends?"
"Hey Zay. You ready?" Samara said walking into the kitchen and cutting Lovie off.
"Yeah," he said giving one last look at Lovie. "Let's roll. Zen. Text me if you need anything," he said over his shoulder.
"Okay," she replied, though she knew it was a ruse. Zen watched them leave and admired them from afar. She loved how they were always so in tuned with each other, and how when needed, Zay and Sam were always there to bail each other out. Although things had just gotten a little intense, she found herself smiling in thought of Zay and Samara's possible happiness together. And though she still considered Lovie a friend, it was hard for her to feel anything for her when she was the cause of her own unhappiness.
Lovie looked at Zen and noticed the smile on her face. "Glad that I could be a source of entertainment for you," she said visibly annoyed.
"Lovie. Get a grip. If you really wanted him back you would have contacted him years ago, but you didn't, so stop complaining that he's not all over you." Zen rolled her eyes and headed towards the doorway. "I'm headed to the outlets...if anyone—not Lovie—wants to come," she said over her shoulder, "you're more than welcome."
"Shopping?" Angel questioned. "I'm in. Just let me gather myself real quick," she said making a beeline out of the kitchen. Zara and Amber were quick to follow. They too, loved a good Christmas sale or any sale for that matter. Having nothing else to do, Lovie sat down on the kitchen bar stool in deep thought. There's gotta be a way to get through to Zay she thought, but how?
...
