;i love you; it's as simple as that

Hearing your girlfriend is rant can be one of two things; funny a fuck, or sad as hell.

Mine was a mixture of both. Not only did my little brunette spit fire have a sharp tongue and a brain full of creative insults - I also knew the situation caused her a lot of stress.

All she wanted was answers.

Why couldn't her parents give her that?

Luckily for me, I was going to win the worlds best boyfriend title when she sees what I have up my sleeve for tonight.

"My sister giving you a hard time?" Eli teases as he walks out the steaming showers with a towel wrapped around his waist.

I snort. "Depend what you mean by a hard time." I wink.

I can't help but laugh as he grimaces. "Fuck, man. I don't wanna hear that shit."

"Watch how you speak to your captain then, little bruva." I smirk over at him.

Eli rolls his dark brown eyes. "Fucking idiot."

I chuckle, shoving on my fresh shirt and shaking my damp hair.

"Wadd up, Cap." Jason beams as he lands a slap in the middle of my back. "Where ya taking my girl tonight?"

I pop a brow and smirk over at him. "Your girl?"

He drops his towel in front of me with absolutely no fucking shame. It's almost comical.

"Yeah, my girl. My bestie. My BFF. MY homie. My likke camomile Tee." he grins, dragging his shorts up.

I can't help but snort and scoff at the same time. This fucking guy and his friendship with my girlfriend was unruly.

Never have I know Jason be friends with a girl and not boned them.

I grab my bag and boop his nose while smirking over at him. "For me to know, and for her to find out." Turning my back, I throw my two middle fingers over my shoulder. "Later, motherfuckers."

Just as I exit through the door Jason calls out. "I'd fuck your mother."

I roll my eyes and snort.

Prick.

Turning on the ignition and connecting my phone to the bluetooth, I clicked on Bella's playlist she made me a while back - full of songs by British rappers - and set off towards my girls apartment.

Much to my amusement she was stood outside, looking like a who damn meal, screaming down the phone at her brother.

No doubt he rang to try rat on me for pissing him off in the locker room - don't dish it out if you can't take it, little man.

I pamp my hooter and hang my arm out the car while she holds a finger up to me telling me one minute.

I can't exactly hear what she's saying but she doesn't look happy. Hopefully tonight will cheer her up.

Finally, my girl gets in the car, smelling like vanilla and cherries. So fucking sweet.

I lean over and peck her lips. "You look beautiful."

She smiles up at me. "You look beautiful."

I shake my head with a smile.

Little shit.

I pull out the lot of her apartment complex and take off towards the city.

"So where ya taking me?" she pipes up, flicking through her playlist.

I snort, and knock my phone outta her hand, replacing it with my hand. "You can't be patient, no?"

Now she's the one to snort. "Do you even know me?"

I sigh playfully. "I know, ask a stupid question." then I eye her as we come to a stop at a red light. "You okay?"

She blows out an exhale and nods. "Yeah. They just piss me off, so now I have to play detective while trying to study ready for midterms. Nightmare."

"Anything I can do to help? I ask, pulling off.

She gives me a small, half smile while tucking a dark curl behind her ear. "It's alright. Thank you though."

Placing my hand on her thigh, I give her a reassuring squeeze. "I got you, baby. You know that."

She clicks her tongue and grins. "That you do, Baller."

Around thirty minutes later I pull into a small, tuck away bar - already spotting his car, I pull up beside it and kill the engine.

I watch as Bella's golden flecked eyes look around curiously. Dumbstruck look on her face.

"Where are we?"

Ignoring her question I chuckle. "Come on, Bella."

I pop open the door and jump out, Tori doing the same, her black heels clacking against the gravelly ground.

I round the hood and meet her in front of my car, placing my hands on her shoulders, I look down at my shortstack and smile.

"You know I'd do anything to make you happy, right?"

She nods, furrowing her brows in confusion.

"And I love you more than anything else in this world?"

She smirks. "Even more than playing ball?" she pops a brow thinking she's a smart ass.

I snort. "Way more than playing ball, Bella."

She grins up at me, pushing onto her tip toes to place a peck on lips.

Fuck, man. The love I have for this girl!

I take her hand and lead her into the dimly lit underground club.

This place is always a crazy night.

Red, green and yellow string dividers with fairy light wrapped around draped down every single wall, latino posters from past bands and framed photos of beaches are scatters across the walls. A long, dark wood bar sit in the corner with multiple bottles of spirits lit up by red LED lights, around five stools sit on the opposite side. A few tables are places around the edge of the room while the middle is a huge dance floor that's already crowded with both genders, mixed races and every age dancing and having the time of their life.

I always loved it here.

As we step through the beaded curtain, Sean Paul - Like Glue was blasting out the speakers, wasting no time, Tori raised our arms, hands still interlocked as she began swaying her hips in front of me, leading me further into the bar.

I love how this girl doesn't need a drop of alcohol in order to have a good time.

Walking in like she'd been here a million times as multiple wondering eyes land on her.

Yeah, I'd look at her too, bro.

I lean down and whisper in her ear, "look ahead of you, Bella."

I feel her body tense and shiver under my closeness but she does as I say.

Lifting her head from the floor, it takes her a moment before she darts off and leaps into the open waiting arms of my best friend.

That's right. I'm a fucking solid 10 on the boyfriend scale.

I brought Cammy back, only for the night, but it was better that nothing.

I watch as he catches her and spins her around wearing a lip slitting grin.

"I can't believe you're here!" She squeals as he places back on the ground. "You look so good, oh my god, the guys are gonna go ballistic when they know you're in town!"

Me and Cammy greet each other with a damn right manly man hug, patting each other on the back then releasing.

Bella is still so excited, nothing can seem to wipe the smile off her face.

Cammy already ordered us all a drink as we took a seat at the bar, Bella sitting between us.

"Malibu and coke, right, Tee?" Cammy smirks down at her. He knows damn well that's her drink.

She nods.

Then Brick and Lace - Love is wicked comes on.

Bella squeals so loud she scared the shit outta me and Cammy, making Cammy jump so high his beer shot out the top and down his shirt.

"Ahh, I'm going to dance!" she announces then runs off before we could even respond.

I turn on my stool, and Cammy copies, both of us leaning with our elbows and backs on the bar, looking out on to the dance floor where Tori's already lost in the music. Eyes closed, hips teasing, arms up, hands in hair as her lips move with the lyrics of the song.

An old African-American man slides up besides her and holds out his hand, he's obviously no threat as she smiles at him and places hers in his waiting palm, he spins her around and she giggles.

I chuckle to myself.

"You're like done for with her ain't ya?" Cammy speaks up beside me, I cast him a side look to see his eyes are locked in on Bella too.

I bring my bottle to my lips. "So fucking done for, bro." I admit, knocking back a big swig.

"So when you gone tell her?"

I shake my head. "Not tonight if that's what you're asking."

"That's not what I'm asking, and you know it ain't."

I drop my hands to my knees, my bottle hanging between my fingers between my legs and I turn to face my best friend. "I'll tell her soon. We're in too much of a good space to be springing it on her now."

I hear as he sighs. Bella is still dancing with the old man as he tips her back over his forearm, her curled locks hanging and looking shiny as fuck.

"Knowing you, you'll keep putting it off until leaving day comes. Tell her, Mads, or I will." He warns, before dropping his bottle on the bar and heading straight for Tori, interrupting their dance and stepping in.

He's right, and I know he's right.

I just don't want him to be fucking right.