I Want You Close | The Other Side Of The Game Series

TWENTY-NINE

J A N E L L A

My body placed itself onto a vacant chair next to Sasha, who was stuffing her face with the food I had just finished preparing for my family and friends because today was the day my dad had texted me about all those weeks ago, today I took over cooking from my parents because they didn't feel up to it.

"You put your foot in this." She declared, bobbing her head to the nonexistent music around us.

"Nah her whole body went into it." Jermaine remarked, letting me know he was also enjoying the food.

"That's the same thing Nina said when she first tasted my cooking." Dad broadcasted, drawing my eyes to him as they filled with confusion that I soon voiced by asking,

"Nina?"

"Simone, you'on know her? This generation is headed downhill."

"You should have neva asked, you know he always playing." Gabriella stated with a shake of her head, already knowing he was about to tell a lie.

"I ain't playing, Nina and I used to go to the same high school." He defended, not breaking character for a second.

"They had school back then?" Alessandria asked, making the room erupt with laughter.

"We did, and I had pictures of the two of us but Sandra accidentally threw them out."

Grateful for moments like these.

"You shoulda become a writer instead of a chef unc." Ariana voiced, and we all silently agreed, but that silent agreement was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing.

I offered everyone sorry looks as I brought the device into my hand to read the caller I.D.

Zaheel

"Excuse me." I mumbled before moving out of my chair and headed outside, away from earshot which is when I chose to answer with, "Hello?"

"Hey are you busy?" He questioned me as my body rested its weight around the veranda's railing.

"Sort of."

"Oh, alright I'll talk to you later then."

That was what he said, but I decided to pay more attention to the way he said this and by doing that my ears picked up his tone announced that he was upset about something which made it challenging to even remove the phone from my ear let alone hang it up.

"No, no." I interjected, hoping to interrupt any move he was making to end the conversation and when I realised my words had completed their mission, I spoke once again, "Are you alright?"

"...Uh, something happened at work and it's got me a little stressed." He informed me, not saying much about the situation and this decision didn't surprise me because I realised Zaheel didn't really like to talk about the things bothering him unless I showed him I didn't mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"...Not over the phone."

"Is that yo sneaking way of saying you wanna come over my house?" I inquired, a grin playing on my lips as amusement laced my tone.

"No, that's my way of saying I wanna see you right now, wherever you wanna meet." He expressed, and I could feel my heart and stomach fluttering in a way that had me light headed because these words told me he just wanted to be near me.

Flutter.

I loved this.

I enjoyed it.