Still

30.

Chapter Thirty

"Nigga, I cannot believe you have us on a fuckin' boat," Malik admired as the yacht sailed through the beautiful Miami waters.

"In Miami, nigga!" Jourdan replied excitedly. For Malik's bachelor party, he decided to do something that Malik would actually appreciate. Malik was all about brotherhood and friendship. Strippers and the likes weren't his thing, so instead of some outlandish party that he wouldn't care about, he decided that a yacht trip would do them good.

They were all on their third or fourth shots at this point. The sun was beginning the set. "This shit is beautiful," Zakari mumbled, admiring the view.

"You ever been on a yacht?" Elijah asked. They were all sitting at the dining table on the boat's deck. At the moment, they were waiting on dinner to be prepared by the private chef that Jourdan hired.

Zak shook his head and allowed the dark liquor in his glass to swirl from his wrist work. "Nah," he answered. "Never really traveled too far from Houston."

"What?" Malik asked incredulously. "So, you don't travel?"

"I mean, not to like Miami and shit. I've definitely never been outside of the country," Zakari replied. He put the glass to his lips and allowed the sensation from the dark liquor to burn his throat.

"That's wild!" Elijah exclaimed. "Mai loves to travel. She swears someone is taking her ass to Montego Bay."

"She's been hollering about that shit for years now," Malik added. "Every time you ask her where she wants to go —"

"Montego Bay!" Jourdan mocked with a roll to his eyes. "She gone have yo ass every fuckin' where when that baby drops."

Malik laughed. "Man, we finna be some baby sittin' ass niggas, man. Mai ain't gone ever have her kid."

"Shiiit," Jourdan commented, shaking his head. He looked down to his phone, checking up on a few of his social medias. It was something that he found himself doing lately, now that he was on his press tour. One wrong thing and it could jeopardize everything.

"Maia is not letting that baby miss them trips to be cooped up with us," Elijah replied, shaking his head.

The men fell into a comfortable silence as they all took in the scenery and their current lives. They all had different things going on in life and very different experiences. While their paths crossed, none were familiar.

"How's it feel about to become a married man?" Zakari asked Malik, breaking the silence.

Malik never turned his attention to Zakari. Instead, his focus remained on the setting sun and the sound of the water. "Y'know, before, I said nothing would change. Bri and I's relationship would stay the same and shit, but that's a lie. This shit is like stepping into a new realm. I'm about to see the love of my life transition from fiancé to wife. We're about to share last names and have babies and shit. I'm really about to be out here on some family man shit."

Jourdan cut his eyes over to his brother. "You deserve this shit," he replied. "Your mom would be proud."

The mere mention of his mom had him downing the remaining liquor in his glass. "Don't start that shit, man."

Cracking a smile, Jourdan placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not tryin' to make you cry and shit, but you know your mom's would've been over the moon about this shit."

"My baby's gettin' married," Malik said, mocking his mother. When talking about his mother, he always made sure to share her highlights. "She would've planned the whole damn thing."