Heaven.

THIRTY-SIX

September 28, 2017

Dinner smelled like heaven, no pun intended. Mom's famous Alfredo looking sexy on the stove, with breadsticks that looked straight out of a restaurant ad. The twins were making a mess, sauce all over their little faces, while Heather and Jonathan were already bickering about who got the last breadstick. Typical.

Mom sitting at the head of the table cleared her throat dramatically. Oh gosh. That move always meant one thing, she had something up her sleeve. "Okay, everyone," she began, folding her hands like she was about to announce the winning lottery numbers. "I've got big news." Please not another kid.

"Are we moving again?" Jonathan asked his fork hovering mid-air. Yeah no to that too. "No Jojo," Mom said rolling her eyes. "But we are going on a cruise." Ooooo she got moneyyyy. We travel but never been on a cruise so I'm definitely excited!

Heather was the first to react her face lighting up. "Wait a cruise? Like, a real cruise? On a ship?" She asked. "Yes a real cruise," Mom replied grinning. "It's booked. We leave in two weeks for fall break. It's a Caribbean cruise so stops in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cozumel."

Damn so soon. Heather practically squealed. "This is insane. Mom, how long have you been planning this?" I haven't been bothering her lately so I didn't get a chance to figure this out in advance.

"Awhile, I wanted it to be a surprise." She replied smiling. "Wow, we're gonna be on an actual boat. I gotta tell the guys about this." Jonathan said ready to pull out his phone but mom gave him that look. He put his hands up in defense and put it away.

"Alright fine, I'll tell them later but I can't wait to swim with the dolphins." He said already picturing it. I lightly nudged him. "I can't wait, I can't believe you kept this from us though." I playfully mug her. "Girl be quiet." I chuckled.

The twins were confused but I'm sure once we step foot on the boat they'll be excited. I don't think they've experienced anything like this before so this will be happy but hope mom don't try to put us on twin duty. I'm strictly there to relax.

"Yeah, I'll be in charge of the twins and this is definitely going to be a vacation for you guys. I know everything has felt like a lot with the new move, transition with twins, and new schools so this is a gift to relax and just enjoy yourself for the next 10 days." 10 DAY CRUISE?? Shawty must've got a promotion or sum.

—
"Wait so you're just gonna up and leave me like that? Who am I gonna talk to for the next week while you're not at school?" Zi says in the group FaceTime call.

"Ummm you're literally close with Sadie and nem, you'll be fine. Plus you got Jasmine now so there you go." I reply while sitting in my bed. "Not the same." She just shakes her head.

"Damn twin, don't come back with a new boyfriend." Myles says laughing. "What do you mean?" I ask confused. "Yeah bro. How would she get a new man?" Lia chimes in. "You know what they say, you always find a cruise bae."

I peep Quincy side eye the phone but continued playing the game. "Girl bye, Heav is there to relax, she not finding no man." Zi tells Myles.

"Right. This is a vacation, not Love Island. I'm going there to get away from the drama and relax with my siblings. Yet I might find a new guy best friend so shiii." I say receiving laughs.

"Damn gang, talked yourself out of a best friend." Quincy says to him. "Yeah right, she know better." I make a confused face.

"Nigga bye, I'll replace you with Q real quick." Talkin bout I know better. "Hey, don't involve me in this." Quincy says while turning his game off. "See he don't even wanna be your best friend, fucking loser." Girllllll.

"Never been a loser, always a lover." I blow a kiss and in return received fake gagging. "Gross don't ever do that shit again." He acts sooo disgusted.

"You should be lucky because don't nobody wanna kiss your hoe ass anyway." Yeahhh you tell him Zi.

"Ziti literally nobody was talking to you fam." Oh gosh here we go. I already know this is about to be a typical argument between them two.

At this point Quincy and Lia are used to it so they just roll their eyes.

I lowkey wanna ask Quincy why he looked at the phone like that over the little 'bae' comment but maybe I'm just overthinking it.

It just seemed like he wanted to say something but he didn't. I don't know.

"Alright alright shut that shit up. We all got plans tomorrow so let's start winding down shall we?" I interrupt. "Fine, you lucky me and my FRIENDS gotta get our beauty rest Myles." Zi says to him.

"Now you know nothing about you screams beauty but alright night." He rebuttals before quickly leaving the call.

Zi left right after, I'm guess to argue again. "Okay night my babies. Gotta watch a movie with my baby now." Lia says before dipping.

"Night Heav, see you tomorrow." Quincy says while looking at me. I'm not gonna yie he lowkeyyyyyy but we're just friends.

"Night Quincy, see you tomorrow." Yet right before I could hang up he stops me. "Why not just say Q? You always flip flopping." He laughs a bit.

"I don't know, depends on how my mood is I guess. Stop stalling and go to bed." I laugh with him.

We both tell each other goodnight again and leave the call. Wonder what that was about hmm.