{Not Edited}

I quickly hopped in the car, heading over to Mikes. The drive over consisted of me contemplating calling Mike back to cancel and tell him everything. This is too far, now I'm damn near disrespecting my girl. I definitely shouldn't have agreed to this.

I pulled up to the house, grabbed my phone and keys then got out. I decided to go ahead and see this through. I had already planned to tell him after her graduation. I didn't want to cause any conflict before then. So that's what I'm sticking to.

I walked up to the front door and hit the talk button on the security keypad. "Aye Mike open the door."

Within seconds he opened the door. "Thanks man, I really appreciate this."

"What time is she getting here?" I asked walking in the house, he shut the door trailing behind.

"She should be here any minute now."

We walked over to the kitchen, I saw Raina sitting at the island eating some frozen yogurt. Mike went straight to the fridge.

"Hey Raina, what' up?" I casually asked, staring her down trying to hide the guilt I felt.

"Nothing much." She responded forcing a smile and continued eating.

"Aye, why didn't you call Troy?" I asked Mike, with my attention still on Rai. He still had his head in the fridge.

"You know Troy. You know he only has one goal when it comes to these women and he doesn't mind telling it. I can't do her like that."

"I'm not interested in having anything with her either." I stated making it clear.

"Its just hanging out, relax bro. Trust me you'll like what you see." He turned his head with a big goofy ass grin on his face.

"Whatever." I mumbled placing my keys and phone inside my pants pocket.

Raina dropped her spoon in her bowl then slid her chair back loudly. That grabbed both my and Mikes attention. She went over to the sink to wash her bowl, I couldn't help but stare at her. She had on a simple fitted red t shirt and and some black joggers on that hugged at the ankles. Her face was fresh and free of makeup. Her damped hair was curly pulled up in a bun on top of her head, damn. She look sexy as hell.

"What's wrong with you, scraping that chair on the floor like you mad at the world or something?" Mike questioned.

"Can you just not, —I'm not in the mood?" She spoke irratatedly. I stood in front of the island quiet.

"You can go somewhere with that attitude." He scoffed, closing the refrigerator.

She didn't say anything else, she dried the bowl placing it back in the cabinet.

Leah walked in smiling. "KJ is down, and my girl just sent a text, she should be pulling up any minute now."

"Adrian, I can't wait for you to meet her, trust me she's cool people. Really down to earth her name is Toni." She added.

I nodded.

"Just get to know her, I would never set you up with somebody crazy. She's very pretty, she likes to have fun, you'll like her." Leah also added while standing in front of me.

"Bro and she got a fat ass." Mike walked over to me mumbling playfully tapping my arm.

"Heard that." Leah leaned over and popped Mike in the back of his head.

I simply stood in place not saying a word hoping they would stop talking about her already.

"Rai can you keep an eye out for KJ, he's in for the night but sometimes you know how he gets. We'll be in the basement." Mike spoke and Leah looked on for a response.

"Sure, I can. Yeah." She answered dryly. Mike stared at her for a second but didn't say anything to her.

"Thanks girl, I owe you." Leah smiled at her, she didn't noticed Rainas' mood.

"You know I love KJ, it's not a problem."She replied trying to soften her expression. She even smiled a little.

The alert bell chimed through the house, indicating that her friend was approaching the front door. Leah left out to greet her. I was nervous as hell, my stomach was starting to turn. The unknown is what's killing me. This could all turn into something crazy, maybe even blow up in my face. I know if the roles were reversed I wouldn't want this to happen. I'd never be ok with Rai agreeing to see some guy just to keep our cover. So I definitely feel like shit for going through with this.

Leah came in smiling with her friend Toni walking inches behind her.

"Adrian this is Toni, Toni this is Mikes best friend Adrian."

"Nice to meet you." I stuck my hand out for her to shake. She shook it, I quickly retrieved it.

"Same." She said while giggling a little.

I looked over at Raina noticing that she wouldn't even look at me. She left out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs. The last thing I want is her thinking anything crazy. I needed to talk to to her.

"Well let's go down to basement, we can shoot a little pool." Mike said walking off with us behind him.

On our way to the basement I decided to Rai.

9:12pm

Me: Don't be mad, I'll be up there in a little bit Munch.

9:12pm

Beautiful one: I'm not mad, it's cool. Stop texting me. You're being so rude.

9:13pm

Me: You know I have to make sure you're good before anything else. I love you baby.

I put my phone away and got comfortable on one of the sofas, Toni joined me. This shit is about to be awkward.

"So this is weird huh?" She grabbed my attention, smiling at. She was seated across from me. Mike and Leah were over at the pool table chalking their sticks and racking the balls.

"A little bit, but it's cool." I replied shifting in my seat laughing.

"Yeah, I'm not sure why Leah insisted on getting me out of the house. You know how it is when your friends are in a happy relationship, they want you to be in one too."

"Yeah, that's Mike too." I agreed. She seem like cool people, but all I can think about is my girl upstairs. This is more of a reason why I need to come clean to Mike. So stuff like this can't happen again. I should have never agreed to this.

"Well Mr. Adrian you seem like a nice guy. Why are you single out here in these streets?" She raised her brows smiling.

I glanced over at Mike and Leah playing pool. "It's a little complicated."

She leaned back, curious to learn more. "So you're not single?"

"I'm in a situation right now." I spoke low.

"Oh ok, I guess I can say the same, —well I'm just dating around really." She nodded replied.

Nah that's not the same thing I'm talking about.

"Cool." I nodded.

"So, what do you do?" She asked.

"I'm an advertising sales executive."

"Wow that was a mouthful. What exactly do you do?"

"I sell advertising space to different companies."

"Interesting, was this your dream?" She quizzed curiously.

"No but it makes sense for my life right now. I'm still figuring things out."

"That's smart you have something right now until you figure it out." She smootheed out a little bit of her blonde curls she had up in a bun.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"So back to you dating, anything sticking for you?" She quizzed further, she sure ask a lot of questions. Which is kind of annoying me, especially since I'm not really interested in this conversation.

"Like I said before I'm in a situation, so I guess that would be a yes."

"Oh ok." She said kind of bummed.

"Yeah, well I need to use the restroom. —I'll be right back." I stood up and smoothed out my t shirt.

"Am I boring you, because I have no problem with leaving?"

"Oh no it's not you, I just really have to use it." I smiled at her to ease this new tension.

"Ok." She raised her brows.

"Yep." I walked out of the basement.

I checked my phone. I saw that Raina responded to my last text I sent.

9:15m

Beautiful one: I love you too.

9:32pm

Me: I'm about to come to your room.

I made my way through the house and up the stairs. I tapped on her door, she opened it and pulled me inside. I closed the door locking it.

I placed my hands on both sides of her face, gazing into her eyes. She gave me that beautiful winking smile I love so much. I searched her eyes before slowly moving in to finally meet her lips. She hungrily kissed me back, I found myself getting lost in the act. It was the most simple soft kisses we just kept repeating, but the energy between is what set my soul on fire. It must've transcended because she felt it too resulting in her deepening the kiss.

I picked her up and slammed her lightly against the wall gripping onto her tight. She had her arms wrapped around my neck pulling me closer, sucking on my bottom lip.

"Shit." A moaned slipped from my lips landing onto hers. She opened her mouth allowing me to enter, we tongue wrestled each other. With no care in the world, we just stayed in the moment.

I finally released her lips. That shit felt so good.

"I couldn't resist it." I stated to her out of breath while placing her back on her feet.

She bit down on her lip trying to hide her smile. I pulled her into my arms squeazing her. I sighed kissing the top of her head. "I missed you so much, Munch."

She pulled away from me just so she could bring her lips back to mine. I couldn't help but smile at her little light kisses. She's still a little shy, but my baby's trying.

I bent down placing my forehead against hers. We both closed our eyes, I grabbed both of her hands holding them. We stole a moment, just for us.

"I'll text you before I leave, probably won't be here too much longer." I whispered, we finally opened our eyes. I released her hands and stepped back.

"Um, babe. You might want to fix that before you go." She pointed down to my risen friend, she playfully scrunched her face.

I looked down sheepishly laughing as I fixed my pants. "Oops."

She giggled, I glanced down quickly at her nipples poking out through her shirt. I got get out of here.

"Aight, let me get back downstairs." I leaned down pecking her lips again, she nodded her head smiling. I turned and unlocked her door then left out. I sped down the stairs and sprinted off to the basement almost busting my ass.

Walking back in I spotted them seated on the sofas. They were all talking about something that had them laughing loud. I took a seat in the little rocker chair joining them.

"Damn A3 what took you so long?" Mike asked.

"I had to take a shit." I shrugged.

"Eww." Leah added, her friend Toni laughed.

"Shitty ass." Mike scrunched up his face.

I shrugged again. "Anyway what were y'all talking about?"

"I was telling Toni about the studio out in California. Mama Laurie had so many different business ventures she invested in. I'm hoping I can get somebody over to that location permanently." Leah replied. She's overseeing the dance studios with Raina now. Which works perfectly since Rai was struggling to keep up with everything.

"Oh ok, so Toni you're willing to move to California and run it?" I asked.

"Absolutely, I'd still travel back and forth to help Leah with the other three locations though."

"Good because with everything I have coming up I'm going to need a few more people." Leah replied. Ever since Mike and Leah made it official they've been doing big things. I'm proud of them.

That was the rest of the night. No numbers exchanged or any other one on one interactions, just us four hanging out.

Although I wasn't really paying attention, my mind was still on that kiss. My shy little Raina, I didn't even know she had all that in her. That was the first time we've ever kissed. I really need to tell Mike now because there's no turning back. I will fight for her, I won't let him try to take her away from me.

_____________________________

{Photo: Kryss V. (insta: @kryssss)

{Song: "Talk" by Khalid}

{**Don't forget to Vote & Comment**}

{Adrian I guess you're still cool, although this date was a little shaky lol. (In my Emannuel Hudson voice}. What do you guys think about this little setup date situation?

{Curious, where are you guys from? I'm a Carolina girl, —but I'm a huge Steelers and Bulls fan (B4L).}

{This year specifically 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾}