Playtime Rules

Rule #27 Rules are Unfair

"How can I possibly make it work with a man that doesn't have his own place, drives a hooptie, and can't afford to treat me to the good things in life sometimes?"

Her friends gave her a blank stare after she ranted on about the pressure she was feeling about her relationship with JeVonte. She did not want it to be about the money but how could it not be? She did not mind spending her money on her friends or JeVonte but he would mind.

"Say something!" she yelled at them while they lay out on large beach towels enjoying the end-of-summer weather.

They were in Ocean City in Maryland for a quick weekend away, partying, drinking, and hanging on the beach. She had an ex fling there but she would not look him up. Being totally satisfied sexually with JeVonte, there was no need to look outside their relationship. Still, it was strange for her to have one guy at a time and not taste the rainbow. This was maturity on her part.

If only she could get over the differences between JeVonte and her income.

"What do you want us to say, Yan?" Janelle asked, body on ten even though she ate whatever she wanted and seldom worked out. "I like JeVonte Swing even though he nearly killed us with that workout."

"Yeah, he seems cool. What's the problem?"

Her friends were no help. Yet again she paid for the trip but did not see anything wrong with it. She made more than them and she wanted the getaway. It would be wrong to ask them to pay.

They did not need to know she was controlling her spending due to taking a financial loss. That's why they were in Maryland versus flying overseas. In her eyes, she saved a lot of money.

They still flew first-class, she was not in the poor house nor did she ever plan to be.

The trip away was necessary in her eyes. Get her mind off work for one, to think things through about JeVonte. Maybe this relationship life was not for her. Or maybe it was someone equally financially stable as her.

"What if...things are good now, but later, down the line, next year, or next month...I realize we're so different and I hate him or something? I should get out now before my feelings get hurt. He can't love me, he hates the fact that I have money and like to spend it on myself and you guys-"

"Wait, hold up!" Janelle stood from her spot in the sand. "You don't have to pay my way! I have money, honey!"

She chuckled at her friend. "You have guys that pay your rent, I can't ask you to pay for trips when I am the one that wants to travel."

"Yes, you can!" Cassietta blurted out. "Sheesh! If money is a problem, I got this."

"That is not the point, and you know this. I like treating you guys."

"But you don't have to. It's your money you earned, spoil yourself, not us," Cassietta said.

"I have the money, why not spend it!"

"See, you let money rule your life," Janelle stated as she sat back down. "You're thinking about money when you have a hot, nice guy that cares less about money. Yeah, maybe you're right, the two of you would never work. Poor guy...must be a loser."

She groaned at her friend for being blunt about it.

"True," Cassietta added. "She better stick to the rich guys, that treat her like a piece of property, sex you down and move on and marry someone else...or to your best friend."

Now that stung a bit.

"Okay guys, I get your point."

Janelle and Cassietta laughed. For the two to act as if they did not like each other much, they sure thought a lot. If it was not for her she wondered if they would even be friends, they were so different. Janelle, not used to higher things in life or having money, but working hard to live the good life. Cassietta grew up with all the privilege and money and did not work a day in her life for it.

She was somewhere in the middle. Where did JeVonte rank between them all? He was a guy that grew up with little and was happy with little.

"Listen! I don't make the rules about dating and money and for the man to make a bit more than the woman, or at least meet his woman part of the way." It was not the fact that JeVonte made less money than her, he made drastically less and gave away more than half of what he earned to his family.

"Stay wrong and single then," Janelle stated.

"You and your rules!"

Her friends could not help her. This was all on her to figure things out with JeVonte. When she had a moment alone in her room, she Facetimed him.

"Hey, pretty girl."

She swooned seeing his handsome face. Hands down the hottest guy she ever dated. Hands down, the nicest guy she ever dated. Hands down, the only man she was willing to change all her rules for. Her heart beat a little faster seeing him even if it was only a face on the screen.

"I miss you."

"Feeling is mutual. I hope you are having some fun. Get some sun but protect that beautiful body with some sunscreen."

Oh, what would have happened if she had not walked into his gym that day and met him? Not only would she not know this great guy, but she would be in the best shape of her life. She only wanted to tone...lose weight maybe. She dropped no pounds from working with JeVonte but leaned out and dropped her body fat percentage. Never was she one with a six-pack, and now they were peeking through. She had muscles!

"Only since I've been with you do I think of waking up and going for a beach run in the morning."

"Well...I wish I was there with you, baby."

That made her smile. Her thought was to invite him on another vacation, but she already knew what his answer would be.

"You're not working or anything? I know work has been stressing you out. Have fun and relax with your friends."

"I am."

"Because when you come back home...just you and me...I'm going to give you a workout."

Her body instantly steamed up at the thought of JeVonte working her body out in the best way he knew how.

"Okay, okay, I better build my strength up for you."

A/N: What is holding Yancy back? Is it just the money difference or something more? We all say money does not matter, but when there is a drastic difference, it's a big hill to climb over. Yancy will have to change her lifestyle if she chooses to stay with JeVonte.