THE NEXT MORNING

Approaching a red light, Jamie stomps hard on his car's brake. He hits the steering wheel, feeling defeated. He pulls out his phone and sees that Veronica hasn't messaged him back, after asking her if he could come by before she flies out. With time not on his side, he decides to call her. "Please pick up," he whispers desperately. The call rings a couple of times before going to voicemail. He exhales forcefully, regretting not attending the going-away party last night.

___

Veronica tosses her cell phone into her purse before slouching into her seat, wearing sunglasses and a hoodie over her head. She has the whole row to herself with passengers still boarding the plane. "For the amount of money we pay for First Class, they should at least be able to give us hangover kits."

"No one told your ass to take shots all night. You knew you had a flight this morning," Sam scolds her, sitting next to Yemi in the next row.

"Yo, just let me live, son."

"Your New York accent just magically re-appears, huh?"

Veronica and Yemi laugh.

"Jealous?"

Sam chuckles. "I'm so glad you're not coming back out here."

Yemi smacks his arm, playfully. "Don't say that."

He smirks. "I say much worse when you're not around."

Yemi gasps dramatically. Veronica laughs at her, throwing her hand on her forehead at the sudden sharp pain. "Don't make me laugh, Yemi. My head hurts."

"I'm going to sit up there with you." Yemi starts to get up, and Sam quickly grabs her hips, sitting her back down gently.

In a sexy firm tone, Sam says to Yemi, "You going where?" Yemi rolls her eyes playfully, trying to hide how turned on she is by him.

Veronica turns around, observing the couple. "Y'all make me sick," she says laughing. "I don't know why you like him that much."

Yemi giggles.

"Hater," Sam teases Veronica before leaning down and kissing Yemi. Veronica pretends to vomit before turning forward in her seat.

"You know you love us," Yemi adds.

___

A beautiful woman, waiting outside of the church, does a double take when Tevin walks past her. She's 30-something, and her face is a mix between Ryan Destiny and Teyana Taylor. She squints, trying to get a better look at Tevin as he greets a couple of church members.

She jogs up to him. "Excuse me..."

Tevin turns to her, her beauty catching him off guard.

"You're Tevin, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Have we met?"

"No. But I've seen you in Jamie's IG stories a few times."

"Oh, did Jamie invite you?"

"Well... he told me he's a member here. So, I wanted to surprise him."

Tevin squints, trying to figure her out. "... What's your name?"

"You can just call me J." She studies his stare briefly. "Please tell Jamie I said hello. It was nice meeting you, Tevin." She gives him a roguish smile before sashaying away.

"J?" He ponders aloud. Then it clicks... "Oh shit. That's her."

___

The trio arrives in New York.

In the car ride from the airport, Yemi's eyes light up, viewing the vibrant city through the windows. Sam glances at her, admiring her enjoyment.

Veronica grins, loving how much Yemi captivates Sam. "Damn cousin. She got you smiling like that?" Yemi turns her attention to Sam, just as his smile disappears. Veronica laughs. "Don't try to hide it now."

"Yo. Shut up. I can't get you out of this car quick enough."

Yemi shakes her head, smiling at their bantering relationship.

*

After Sam checks into a hotel and takes his and Yemi's bags up to their room, he comes back out to the car where Yemi and Veronica are waiting. He gets inside and drives off.

*

They park in front of his parents' Brownstone, and Veronica is the first to hop out. Sam takes her luggage out of the trunk as Yemi walks up to the door with Veronica. Loud music is playing from inside, so Veronica rings the door bell, banging on the door simultaneously.

"This is exactly how it is every time I come to your house." Yemi smirks at her.

"Girl, where you think I get it from?" Veronica chuckles before noticing how tense Yemi looks. "Don't be nervous."

The door swings open, and Liliana appears in the doorway. "Heeeeyyy!" She sings, hugging Veronica. She then looks over at Yemi. "Who are you?"

"Oh, this is..." Veronica turns to Sam who's just made it to the door, hauling Veronica's belongings.

"What's up, Ma?"

"Hi, my baby!" Liliana hugs him tightly, before turning her attention back on Yemi. "Wait... V, is this your friend? You didn't tell me you made a friend."

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Oh shit." Liliana runs inside, leaving them at the door. "Hey y'all! V brought a friend over!"

"A friend?!" Larry yells out from the living room.

Entering the house, Sam laughs as Veronica throws her hands over her hips. "Y'all don't have to do me like that." Veronica does a double take when she catches Yemi snickering. Veronica smirks at her. "I see you're not nervous anymore."

Larry and Sam's abuela, Delores, stand up from the couch, smiling at Yemi.

"Meet- oh wait... what's your name?" Liliana asks her.

"Yemi."

Liliana turns to her family to introduce them, "Ye-" She stops, snapping her neck back at Yemi, realizing she's heard the name before. She looks at Veronica who starts to grin.

Veronica nods at her aunt, as if they are reading each other's thoughts.

Liliana eyes Sam suspiciously, and then focuses back on Veronica. "The one you told me about on Thanksgiving?"

"-Ma," Sam growing impatient. "Yes, this is that Yemi. She came here with me." He takes Yemi's hand, bringing her closer to him. "We're together now."

In anticipation, Veronica checks out everyone's quiet reactions. You can hear a pin drop. Yemi looks up at Sam, nervously.

Delores breaks the silence, "Together?" She questions in her heavy Dominican accent.

"Yep. Jeva. She's he's jeva," Veronica answers excitingly.

Delores' mouth drops before running up to Yemi, hugging her. "Ere un ángel."

"No ere graciosa, Abue." Sam expresses to his grandma, causing her to laugh and Yemi's eyes to dart up at him in shock.

"I didn't know you were fluent in Spanish."

"I'm surprised he still knows it. He only speaks it to his grandma," Liliana chimes in, stepping up to Yemi with welcoming arms. She hugs Yemi for a long time, relieved that her first born has finally found happiness. Suddenly, a look of concern washes over Liliana's face as she releases their embrace. "Oh damn. Does he hug you?"

"He's really good to me, so I overlook that," she smiles at Sam, warmly.

"I told y'all not to worry about my boy." Larry walks over like a proud father. He gives Sam a fist pound before extending his hand to Yemi. "I'm Larry... obviously the better looking version of your boyfriend."

Everyone laughs, and Sam smirks. "Y'all wildin'out."

Delores whispers something in Liliana's ear, causing her to laugh. "Mai, I'm not telling them that."

"I don't even wanna know." Sam shakes his head, already knowing his grandma probably said something inappropriate. "So, Ma, what you cook?"

"Food," his mother responds, sarcastically.

Yemi giggles. Sam takes her hand, leading her to the kitchen. "It's nice to meet you all," Yemi announces as everyone watches the couple in awe.

On their way there, Yemi whispers to Sam, "I love hearing you speak Spanish."

"Is that right?"

She nods, biting her bottom lip.

"You can't be looking at me like that here."

"Why?"

He backs her up, sexually, onto the fridge. "You want my family to catch you with your ass up?"

She giggles, shyly. "Can you speak Spanish to me when we're back in the hotel?" She winks at him.

"Nope." He backs away, creating a distance between them.

"Whyyyy?" She pouts playfully.

Sam chuckles. "I'll think about it."

She jumps up, gleefully.

"Don't get too happy. More than likely it won't happen."

She sucks her teeth, hitting him playfully.