Islan-Dise

Chase love

Rain
~~~~~~

Zell drives through the woods, his jaw clenched, frustration radiating off him.
"Told you weeks in advance," he mutters.
"You'll come here, but my people ain't ever good enough. It's always a fight. You exhausting."

I glance back to check on my daughter. Taylor's curled up in her car seat, thumb near her mouth, half asleep.
"You promised," I say quietly, "you wouldn't bring that energy here."

"I know how to act," he snaps. "I got you out the hood—not the other way around."
He cranks up the heat.

I bite my tongue, but I'm tired of swallowing it.
"Guess I gotta keep reminding you—I already had my own apartment. Working two jobs when you met me. This ain't no fairytale, and I damn sure never wore no glass slipper."

"Pfft," he scoffs. "That ghetto-ass apartment?"

"I wasn't homeless, Zell. So this story you keep telling about saving me? It's tired. You can barely save your own damn self."

He reaches across and shoves my face.
"Watch your mouth."

I roll my eyes. "If all you came here to do was fight, we can turn the fuck around."

"We here now," he grumbles.

And we are. The car slows as we approach a beautiful house by the lake.
"Damn," I whisper, goosebumps rising on my arms. "It's just like Islan described it."

Zell side-eyes me.
"You and Islan talk too much. More than you talk to the nigga feeding you."

I suck my teeth. "Would you close your damn cum-catcher? Islan is family. I'm real tired of explaining that."

The second I put the car in park, I pop the door open.

"Rain—" he grabs my arm, fingers digging into my skin.
"You better not be smiling in nobody's face up in there—especially his—"

I jerk my arm free.
"Don't embarrass me."

I head straight for the back seat.
"Hi baby," I coo, unbuckling Taylor.

Her eyes flutter open. "Hey mama."

I hoist her onto my hip, grab her baby bag, and start toward the front door.

I hear Zell's footsteps catching up behind me just as the door swings open. Boon stands there—tall, broad, and fine as hell.

His eyes drop to Zell's hand reaching for me.
"Everything good?"

I try to play it off. "Yeah. I'm good. How you doin'?"

His eyes linger on Zell. "You sure?"

"Yeah," I answer, heart thudding. "Boon, this is Zell. My boyfriend. Zell—this Islan's brother, Boon."

Zell sticks out his hand. "Nice meeting you."

Boon doesn't smile. Just gives him a quick up-and-down.
"Yeah. Y'all can come in."

He turns and walks back inside.

I bite my lip, following behind.
Fuck... he is so fine.

****************

Tre
~~~~~~~

"How the hell do you cut the ham perfectly?" Islan stands beside me with the knife.

"I got it." I stand behind him, placing my hand over his. I press my crotch into his butt.

"Tre, it's too many people in here."