Queen of Hearts ❤️

Chapter 40 Island Love

Damani

We pulled up in the driveway and I headed to the door with Julianna behind me. I looked around and saw that everyone we asked to come over was already at location.

"You sure bout this babe?" I heard Julianna asked with the babes rolling off her tongue. Know long man a wait to her that from her.

We have been in an official relationship since the night of the second date, that was approximately one month ago. Yeah, we hang out around everybody as usual, but nobody knows we dating for real this time. I think. We entered the house to be greeted by Aldane and Ali as usual. I'm starting to think mommy left them there to guard the door because I just can't understand why every time, I came over they're are on the couch watching Paw Patrol.

"How you'll doing" I greeted as I entered the kitchen.

"Mi love u, but a Julianna me wanna see"

"Seriously Ma. No love" I asked her, and she came up to me and gave me a hug.

"Your days done... A bayyy" Nickelia mocked.

"No worry yah mi boy u still mi number two"

"Ha! Ha pops"

"Hi everyone" Julianna said coming from the living room.

"Oww now see my baby here." Mama said pulling her into a hug, I love that my mom liked her, she liked her from the first time I bring her over here and she never stopped.

"Sissy" Nickelia squealed and got up to join in the hug.

"Too much love" Julianna struggled to say, and they both released her.

We join the others outside as Mama finished up whatever she was doing. We talked and laughed with everyone and not long after mama asked us to freshen up for dinner. Julianna sat across from me, her fingers nervously twisting around the edge of her wine glass, a gesture that was so unlike her. She was the fiery type, quick to chin up against the world, and more than capable of handling anything thrown her way. But tonight was different—this was the night we'd finally let the cat out of the bag.

"Damani, you sure this is a good idea?" she whispered, her voice tense but laced with that sultry edge that drew me in. Her dark curls cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face that could launch a thousand ships—oh, how I loved that look of uncertainty on her, even if it cut against her badass reputation. Anything or any reaction she gave was always sexy on her. I glanced over at my family gathering in the dining room, an array of faces lit by the warm glow of the light over the table. My parents, Marcia and Neil, were setting the table. My siblings, Dominic, Aiden and Nickelia were helping, while Aldane and Ali already took there seats, and were bickering over what was for dessert. The niggas coming inside fanning each other to get rid of the weed scent from the smoke they had. Julian drinking in the living room waiting to her take your seat. It was typical chaos, the kind that threaded comfort through my veins.

"Trust mi," I replied in my calmest voice, making sure to switch back to English from patois, even though I could feel the rhythm of the Jamaican lilt pulling at my tongue. "This is gonna be lit."

Julianna rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile fighting through. "You're so extra sometimes, you know that?"

Before I could reply, the front door flew open. "Hey! We're here!" Miles shouted, Kulture trailing behind him, her laughter ringing like music in the air. They had been dating for a few months, and their infectious energy lit up every room they entered and for some reason they were still flirting and enjoying each other company considering how they ended together. The gathering was about to commence, and I could feel tension curling in my stomach.