I rolled over and felt like my bladder wouldn't wait for me to wake up. Leaving me no choice but to shoot out of bed and run to the bathroom. Guess gaming all night wasn't a good idea. I feel like I aged a lot but my looks have gotten younger.

Shaking twice, I went to wash my hands and check out if I should shave or not. But the black beard still looks fine since Isabella trimmed it last time. But my hair needs a redoing. The braids looked like old rope with sharp twines.

I dried my hands and crawled back into bed. Maybe I forgot that I had a new guest, because I took the shorter route and slammed right into Riley. She had to be awake because she easily put me underneath her. Maybe she thought I was trying to initiate intimacy?

Her lips pressed down into mine and I felt the former dryness. The flakes that dug into my lips. I didn't feel any yearning. There wasn't any tinge of regret or that touch of love that could curl your chest hair. It was just empty desire that left me feeling nauseous.

I gently pushed against her shoulders. I didn't know what to say other than to let her slowly come to the realization that things weren't like the past. I grew up in a sense or to be more adequate, learned to love what I do have now. Even if I didn't lose anyone, I am affected by others around me.

It took Riley one touch to understand my plight and she got off me as I scooted over. Sophia breath rushed into my ear, sending a tendril of a shiver down my spine.

"You don't have to worry if I disapprove. I'm happy to share with you if that's what you want." Sophie's words might have relayed one message but the emotional undertone said otherwise.

I rolled onto my side and stared into her eyes. "I understand what you are saying but I still have feelings for her. It isn't as deep as it first was and can't compare to what I have grown with you. My spirit and body are one and I am yours."

Isabella rolled her eyes but the sound of her heartbeat and the smell coming from her. She approved immensely of my words but there was another undertone that I didn't know to place? Regret? Pity? Embarrassment?

Instead of digging a trench in their friendship. I kissed Isabella and climbed out of bed. "My apologies for waking both of you. Go back to sleep, I am going to go process this and be back."

I grabbed my clothes and slipped out of the door. I shoved my feet into the jeans and pulled them up. I got one fist into a sweater when a door behind me opened. It wasn't all that surprising that miss red-head was awake at this time.

"Are you going out for a run?" Chloe asked.

I shook my head as I walked downstairs and out the door. Chloe was right on my heels as I stucked my toes into dirt-encrusted boots.

"Come on, you said you would train me but you haven't found any time recently." Chloe said in a whiny voice that annoyed me to no end.

"Because it takes work to create a foundation, I can live off of us. Not everybody can be as free as you plus didn't Amala train you?" I said as I stomp off the stairs.

"But she only knows the small amount you taught her. Which is basically to say how to dodge and throw a jab." Chloe continues to whine.

"That is all there is to know about the basics." I said to end the discussion.

My feet took me down the path towards the wheat field but I ended up cutting down a skinny row between the corn and wheat field. Chloe followed behind like a loud phone stalker. I angled along the lake, moving almost parallel with the curve of the moon.

It wasn't until I broke past the crops that I felt the cold wind stinging my arms. I glanced back to see Chloe still following even though her pale white arms were bedecked with bumps. Her rubbing them did nothing to assuage them.

It did not take us long as we both put our heads down to reach the treeline. I hid behind a thick tree as I waited for the third person to show up. Chloe rolled up close and if she had less breast and more ass, I would be comfortable with holding her. Instead it was like a separation where the wind was blowing through making it the same as not even hugging.

Thankfully, it took the dumbass only a few minutes to catch. I could hear her breath as the sounds of her rubbing her arms sounded like dry leaves rustling. Her steps were steady but the direction was unsure. She had stepped on a twig after twig and you could literally hear her sucking in a breath.

Sighing, I grabbed her as she stepped past. Riley threw a punch with her other hand. I released her and did something she probably didn't see coming. I grabbed her fatigue pants and tossed her into the lake. It was only the shallow end but that was shallow to me, not her.

"Was that necessary?" Chloe said as she blew on her hand.

"Want to bet you are next if you keep following me?" I said without an ounce of passion in my voice.

Chloe glanced at me then the lake and started a slow jog back to the running area. Riley headshot out the water and she started pedaling towards me. If she took any longer than that fin that was slicing through the water would have had a midnight snack.

She crawled onto the shore and fell onto her back. I don't know if she lacks any self preservation but she decided to lay down without any concern.

I walked on over and crouched down above her head. She looked up into my face with anger but maybe the Golden flames in my eyes made her anger drift away.

"I just wanted to talk." Riley said as she wiped her eyes once.

"I'm not mad or upset you decided to stay for a dumb reason like revenge. I can understand you don't care too much about your life, thus you try to act like a book protagonist who has epic plot armor but I don't want that kind of person around me. It's hazardous and very likely to blow up in my face. Thus I'm not going to restore whatever we had. I'm happy and satisfied with what I have with Isabella." I said my peace and climbed out my clothes before diving into the lake.

****

I walked into my house. Riley sat upon the couch in a corner, knees up as she flipped through a book. She wore a thick sweater and long jogging pants that hid her toes.

"Babe, breakfast will be ready in another twenty minutes. Why don't you go wash that fish shit off you?" Isabella said with a smirk.

I raised my eyebrows as a smile graced my lips. I jogged up to her and lifted her into my arms, ignoring her trying to move the mixing bowl away from me.

"Who smells like fish shit now?" I teased as I spun her in a circle.

"You still stink!" She responded in a playful way.

"But you don't now?" I asked in shock.

Isabella pecked my lips and gave me a stern look that broke a second later. "Put me down or I won't use the bacon."

I sat her down quickly. "Taking out the big guns. Oh whatever will I do."

Isabella smacked my ass, "go shower, that's what."

"Okay, fine. But see how you escape me later." I chuckled as I took the stairs two at a time.

Jacob looked at me and wrinkled his nose. "Bro, the lake is for fishing, not fishing yourself out of. You smell straight horrid."

I jumped into his arms and he shoved me back.

"Come on, now? You know that was straight rude. Should hug Mary instead. She likes cooking with grease anyway." Jacob laughed at his own joke.

I shook my head at the look his wife gave him. "Bro, you joked too early but she is cooking lunch."

Jacob's smile vanished as he turned around. "Baby, you know I was fooling around. I didn't mean that at all! Just trying to liven the mood."

"I didn't say a thing." Mary's voice came out of the room.

"That's why I'm scared. It ain't right for the baby for you to keep it all in. So scold me or come and love me." Jacob's voice faded as the door closed.

Shaking my head, I went straight into the shower and started scrubbing my skin as the shower sprayed me down with cold water. By the third wash, Isabella came in.

"Hurry up, I want to play the new game today." Isabella rushed me.

I cut out the water and grabbed the towel she held out. I did a sloppy job drying myself off but it can be forgiven. See Isabella was wearing a tank top and had her hair up in a ponytail with that one curvy bang. Light blue panties that did nothing to hide that camel toe.

She posed that mature beauty that had devoured all my attention.

"I know I look good. Now bring your big ass over and sit down." Isabella said with a wide grin.

"Yes ma'am," I said while sitting down.

I felt her grabbing a braid and the sound of the rubbing popping as she deconstructed it.

"What's with you and Riley?" Isabella said as she moved on to the sixth braid.

I shrugged, "don't know what you mean."

"Oh, are you ignoring her coming back dripping wet?" Isabella said as he popped me with that comb.

"That is exactly what I'm doing. Unless you feel like I'm too much man for you?" I teased which earned me another pop.

"With that.. you think you are too much? I didn't know awakening granted you delusion as well." Isabella shot back.

"Woah now. Don't aim below the belt or I'll have to fire back and we both know I'm a great shot."

"Think I'm scared? I'm perfect." She scoffed.

"Perfectly well rounded in the hips? Perfectly pregnant or is that bubble gut I feel on my arm." I took some quick shots.

"Oh, everybody wants to make fat jokes but you forget who has the razor at your throat?" She responded while yanking on a braid.

"What fat joke? I was just telling you how much I love and worship your body. I think you need to put on some more weight, just my opinion. I ain't never gone to say no to more ass." I said with righteousness.

"Boy, stop. All you can think about is ass this ass that. Learn to be satisfied, damn." She tugged my head back. "Lift your head back so I can wash out this shit."

"Who wouldn't talk about ass when their girl has it? You know what people brag about?" I asked and continued speaking. "When they go, I got a dime. I can then say my girl might not be a dime but she got an ass for days. That's a shut down on the spot. It's like going to a chicken place that only sells grilled chicken but your mate walks over with that crispy ass chicken and that honey biscuit. You just can't help but go, why is that not mine?"

"So you saying my best feature is my ass?" Isabella threw out a trap.

"Naw, we all know Latinas either have ass or they don't but one thing they have in abundance is that beautiful ass smile that makes you stop. Shit, I even backed up in traffic just to roll down my window and ask if she wanted to eat on me." I said when her nails gotta run through my scalp.

"Stop fronting." Isabella said. She lathered that shampoo right in.

I felt like I was at a saloon with the way she worked. I could fall asleep to these magic fingers.

"I ain't fronting. When you smile don't I smile back? When you call yourself dancing, don't I stop and stare?" I said with seriousness.

"If we could have kids, what would you want? A boy or girl?" Isabella changed the subject but I heard the smile in her voice.

"Boy." I said with no hesitation.

"Why not a girl?"

"Because I don't have to go through the four stages with a boy."

"What four stages?"

"Who left the TV on? Turn that shit down, baby stage. Damn you so adorable. Must have my genes, second stage. Can you go back to being adorable? You can ask for money now? Uh-huh, no. Pre-teen stage. Last stage is, when did you grow up? Oh hell naw! Take that ass right back inside. You can't be my child, my mother was flatter than the stop sign. We used to call her flat bread. Can I have my child back? When you graduating?"

Isabella started laughing and crying. "Shut up."

"With boys you don't have to worry about that. You got the cute baby phase and he's stuck to his mom all day. Got the adorable child phase and you can make him laugh easily. Feel secure with life cause he can't do shit wrong. Then that phase where he starts crushing on girls. So you have to toughen him up. Last stage you ain't gotta worry cause he forgets what a curfew is. Oh, he ain't home yet. Let's go out. Hurry up, woman! We gotta go before he gets home. What you mean you can't fit that ass in those jeans? Just put on a dress, GG."

"You so stupid."

I decided to shut up since she had hot water in her hands. When she got to lathering my face, I ain't going to lie. I had a moment where my heart stopped. Definitely as that straight razor got closer. Nobody is comfortable with a woman with a straight razor. Just one slip and it somehow found its way to your balls.

This is why men really don't cheat on their women. A good woman knows that keeping a mind in line doesn't require complicated mathematics. They don't have to get one over. Don't need to check the phone. They just sit your ass down, pull out the shaving cream. We are already going baby, I love you. You know that right? Quiet after she lifts that blade up.

The moment we check ourselves in the mirror.. oh, damn. That's fire. Where you learn that at? I gotta post this. My baby is well-rounded. Baby, let's go out. I think you need some new clothes, right?

Isabella finished up and washed the cream away. Touched me up with some alcohol and then took the towel away like she just painted Mona Lisa.

But when I turned to the mirror, ain't going to lie. I was happy as a dog with a bone. I got to making different faces, tilting my chin up and down. Turning side to side but it looks good all around.

I wrapped my hand around her waist, my palm resting on her ass. "Want to go on a picnic?"

Isabella rolled her eyes, "don't you need to go patrol and help set up that outer wall? When did you get time to start having a picnic?"

"When my girl looks this good.." I shook a piece of her ass.

Isabella pushed me away and walked over to the trashcan to shake the hair out. "Alright, stop with all that nonsense. Get to work or you won't be eating dinner and dessert."

Shit, say no more.

I grabbed a black pinstripe suit, taking my time to put it on. I rolled up the sleeves and walked downstairs with a little extra step.

Jacob raised his head from his plate as I walked into the kitchen. He gave me a once over before snorting.

"What? You don't like the look?" I said as I threw my hands out.

"I didn't even say anything." Jacob said as he took a sip of his coffee.

"How about I tell your wife that Izzy knows how to use a straight razor?" I said as I fixed my plate.

"Bro, don't start. You already did me a disservice this morning." Jacob sat down his coffee cup a little hard.

"How's that my fault? All I wanted to do was give my bro a hug. Who knew you would open your mouth." I said as I scoop my food into my mouth.

"How are you going to help me set up the wall? I thought your powers were over summer? I didn't know summer had to do with shit in the ground." Jacob said as he pushed his chair back.

"It encompassed everything done during the summer and shit that impacts summer. Thus I'm all rounded." I said as I chased a thick biscuit down with lemonade.

"You are addicted to that shit. Going to rot your mouth out one of these days." Jacob joked.

"It's worth it. Shit is like heroin. Once you get a hit, you just can't stop." I cleaned my bowl with the last piece of biscuit.

I slipped it into the dish water and slink on over to the door.

"Naw, fam. If I have to wash my plate, you have to as well." Jacob raised his voice.

I threw a glance at the stairway as I opened the door. "Washing dishes for suckers!" I said as I closed the door quietly and ran to the golf cart.

It cranked up so smoothly. I threw a glance at Tyler and Arthur who pulled up on one.

"You guys ready?" Arthur asked as he checked out my fresh line.

I got to rubbing my chin all smooth like. "You like? My girl got me right."

Tyler rolled his eyes, "you like a pretty bitch with your hair down. I might just gotta shoot my shot."

"Fuck off with your jealous ass. Jacob be down in a second. He has to wash dishes." I broke into a smile.

Amala walked over with a skinny blonde. The blonde had a camera in hand and backpack on.

"Hey, Kay. Can we talk to you for a second?" Amala said as dropped into a seat beside me.

I didn't even say go ahead but okay.

"This is Scarlet. She used to be a big time reporter then transitioned into setting up her own studio publishing things she advocates instead of things that produce ratings." Amala introduced her.

I held out a hand and the lady shook it. She did have a TV smile but she was kind of small to me. I didn't mean like small small. I mean like no visible breast. She had on shorts but no ass. Maybe my priorities mess up.

"I'm Kaden but you can call me whatever you feel comfortable with." I introduced myself then turned serious. "So you want to do some kind of online report on us? Promote or denounce us in the name of public safety?"

Scarlett smirked, "no. I just wanted to show the people who are still stuck in their homes what to look out for when choosing communities to go to. After all, the world is changing and much of it isn't going to be like how it used to be."

I nodded, "okay. So you don't need my permission for that. You can walk around all you want and record shit. So why are you looking for me?"

"Wait til it's your turn to wash dishes. I'm dirty all the dishes." Jacob said as he closed the door behind him.

"That's some real petty shit. Good thing, the women decided I don't have to wash dishes." I said while laughing.

Jacob foot stops on the last stair. "What the fuck? I do so much more than you? I got a shade darker while you look like a yellow popsicle."

I shrugged, "maybe because I'm better looking?"

Jacob laughed, "just because you let your hair down like a woman doesn't mean you get privileges. Taking advantage of the people, that's what you are doing."

"Woah, now. Don't be like that. Tyler already making plans to butt fuck me and now you think I'm pretty too. Arthur, you better watch out. I am closing in." I barked with laughter.

"I'm sorry, you're going to need more than a trim and long hair to close that gap." Arthur shot me down.

"Who lined you up anyway?" Tyler said.

"Izzy did, with a straight razor." I said.

Arthur winced, "I'm not at that level. I wouldn't trust my girl with a blade anywhere near me. Not with all the attention I get. Might end up the pussy I'm chasing."

We laughed and I motioned for Scarlett who was filming us to sit her ass down. She climbed in and we drove off.

We passed the gate and I pointed across the street at the next row of houses.

"They're still empty right?" I asked.

"Yeah, we do inspections on them every two days. Most people stay at the apartment buildings. It's safer to be in numbers when a couple of strong women guard them. So those scum who liked to live off a woman or beat on them don't mess around." Arthur said.

"Let's check that out first. Make sure they are at least living decently before we begin the remodeling stage." I said as I drove across a lawn.

"Can you tell me why you have a wall over one area but a few signs stating at the boundary of your territory in the other?" Scarlett started with that report shit.

"The first wall was just the first of us. It was a way to deter wild animals but also zero our enemies into an easier to defend position. The outer boundary is where we hope to expand but establish our territory." I said and we drove into the middle of apartments.

Just in time to see a standoff between women with pistols and a group of guys with pistols.

"I suggest you guys lower your weapons or I'll start cutting off your hands." I shouted as I stepped out of the cart.

The women lowered their guns and one of the guys made the common mistake of turning with his gun. As if the barrel was his eyes or something.

His hand dropped down with his gun. He didn't have to worry about dying if blood was lost, it was cauterized.

His crew lowered their weapons. In a few case, they dropped their guns on the spot as the guy screamed bloody murder.

I ignored his screaming as I walked over. "Now, someone tell me what this standoff is about?"

"One of their boys decided he was going to put his hands on a mother and her child. So we beat him up and tossed him out. He came back with them and here we are." A thick woman said in an almost too concise breakdown.

I turned to the guys and the guy with tattoos hugging his throat stepped out.

"Naw, that ain't how it went down. Our boy went to wet his dick. He paid in food coupons but the bitch took more than she was supposed to. He tried to get it back and fell down when he snatched his arm back. That's when the kid ran out and started wailing on him. All he did was throw the kid on the couch then tried to leave but those bitches came in and didn't listen to common sense. They beat on him, broke his arm and stepped on his balls. He can't even work now but that bitch alright. Not even a scratch on her" the guy said and pointed out the woman holding a child near the back.

I rubbed my head as I looked at the woman and she really didn't look like she was hit.

"She is the one you say was hit, right?" I pointed at the girl who was still perfectly fine after a second check.

The leader of the girls said while looking at me like she was going to raise that gun.

"Yeah, that's her." The woman said.

"You took his food coupons, right? Hand it over and add two more to supplement the beating you gave him." I said.

"Why should we do that?" A skinny lady said in a moment of impulse.

I tilted my head, "excuse me? What did you just say?"

The girl didn't know what was good for her. "I don't see why we have to give him two extra when he shouldn't have been in there in the first place. It's his fault he got his ass whoop. He knows the rules. No selling pussy in our building."

I turned to the leader who had gone back to the woman to get the tickets. She snatched them from the girl and walked back to me.

"Where are the two extra?" I asked with a puzzle grin.

"You heard her. We ain't paying him." This lady said while throwing the tokens at my feet.

I took one step and back handed her. Two more and I dismantled her entire group. Then collect their weapons and the four extra tickets.

"Do you guys not watch mafia shows? How about any gang shows? I mean, shit come on now. If you can't even have common sense not to listen to the one putting food in your stomach then you should get to fucking stepping. Don't hide in my area." I snapped as they groaned and cried on the ground.

Tough girls get the same ass whooping tough guys get. Should have known better.

I turned to the leader of the male group. "Alright, collect your shit and don't be running around with guns. I don't want to have to break my foot off in your ass cause you can't be good kids. You hear?"

The leader nodded and picked up the coupons before him and his boys fled.

"Bet you feel good beating women?" Jacob said.

"Oh, do you want to take an ass whooping for them? I'm warmed up." I shadow boxed to show my good physique.

Arthur broke out into a grin, "I don't think Jacob is ready for that footwork."

Tyler laughed, "calm down buddy. He barely hurt them. They will just feel a slight weakness in their limbs but be fine in a few minutes."

Jacob snorted, "I'm just saying. He could have just taken the guns and spank them. No need to be heavy handed."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "they forget who is feeding them and who ensures they don't get killed. I would have put them out right there. Let them fend for themselves and see how fun it is."

Amala just waved her hand, "alright. Stop arguing. Let's do the inspections and move on."

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