{UNEDITED}

I'm getting released today, Adrian and Mikey are going with me to see my counselor after I leave. They're not speaking but for my sake, they can be in the same space.

Everybody is here showing me support. Sienna did my hair and my makeup, saying my best friend will always slay.

"You alright baby?" Adrian whispered in my ear.

"Yeah I'm ok, just anxious to leave." I examined his face, he hasn't slept. I can tell. His face was still puffy and his light tawny skin was slightly dull.

He leaned up from his seat by the bed to kiss my forehead, not caring what anybody thought. I smiled.

We had a conversation, he said he came too close to losing me to keep hiding. If anybody has anything to say he said to send them his way.

He interlocked his fingers with mine.

"What's wrong with your leg Rai?" Mike asked walking over to me, and Adrian looked at me too because I kept moving it.

"My foot fell asleep, I was just wiggling it around."

"Here let me see it." Adrian stood up and went to sit at the end of the bed to massage my feet.

Everyone looked on awkwardly. Mike was the most uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything. He went back over to sit next to Leah. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it.

Everyone bought me flowers, balloons and teddy bears. So much love in this room. How could I be so selfish?

****

Rai went to see her therapist this morning. It was a short session, it went well. Dr. Mills mainly wanted to see where her headspace was. She didn't talk about anything in particular this visit. I know the next session will be intense. She'll see her again tomorrow, then twice a week.

The crew decided to stay over, they didn't want to leave Rai. Leah and Rita made dinner. They ended up making chicken parmigiana, some asparagus with a salad and garlic toast. Everybody was sitting around the family room, I was still at the dining room table eating my food.

"Did you get enough to eat?" Leah asked concerned walking up behind me.

"Yeah I'm good, go sit down."

"How are you feeling since being home?" She asked ignoring me, she started massaging my shoulders.

"I'm just worried about her, she hasn't attempted this since she was twelve. I thought we were passed this. I'm just concerned, I feel like I set her back." I put my fork down on my plate.

"Maybe more help was always needed but now she's forced in a corner to get it." Leah said trying to make sense of it all.

"I don't know." I sighed. "I can't get over this whole Adrian situation."

"I didn't suspect anything either, I feel bad about setting him up with Toni. Raina was right there. I know she felt a way about it." Leah replied.

"Well you didn't know, none of us did."

"He did kind of low key blow Toni off though." She giggled.

"Yeah using his famous line, it was nice meeting you, but I gotta get going." I chuckled mimicking Adrian.

I glanced over at them on the couch cuddled up, he was just waking up from a nap. My laughter suddenly died. I'm pissed at Adrian but my baby sister hurt me the most. She went behind my back. I didn't even see this coming, I had no clue.

That day I went through Raina's phone wasn't intentional at first. It started buzzing, I saw it on the floor by the stairs. I grabbed it and put it on the kitchen counter. It kept buzzing, she was getting notifications for new text messages from the same number under Yep1. I wasn't born yesterday, and I'm not stupid. I thought maybe Raina probably started talking to someone and I would ask her about it when she got home. Maybe ten minutes later she got a call from the same number, so I let it ring. That's when my mind started going all over the place. What if she was sneaking around with this person, I needed to go through her phone so I did. I figured out her passcode easily, and that's when I started reading the messages. I was pissed, I went to the contact info so I could save the number in my phone. That's when I saw Adrians number, I know that number from anywhere. He's had the same phone number since we were in high school. My skin was boiling and I knew he was coming over. So I grabbed my bottle of Hennessy and started downing it while I waited.

"What are you thinking?" Leah asked staring in their direction.

"I need to talk to him. I know they're going to do what they want regardless. I can't stop them. They will either continue behind my back or in front of my face."

"Don't go telling him anymore of Rai's business, if she want him to know anything she'll tell him. This is not all about you Michael."

"Man gone with that, I'm not trying to put her business out there."

"So what are you most concerned about, the age gap who it is or both?"

"It's all of it, plus my sisters never been with anybody. I don't want him taking advantage of her."

She continued massaging my shoulders and listening.

"Rai's going to Howard in the fall, we're going to Nairobi this summer. She doesn't have time for this anyway." I shrugged.

"Just don't start arguing again, your sister's a smart girl and has always considered you."

"She didn't this time." I sighed.

"Tell me what you would've done if they came to you when they first started talking?" She came around to face me, leaning on the dining table.

"I would've at least heard it from them, but I would've flipped out regardless."

"She cares about hurting you babe. So does he."

"So you're thinking I should be ok with my seventeen year old sister talking to this grown ass man?" I looked at her curiously furrowing my brows.

"Just hear them out is all I'm saying, then you speak on it. Sometimes you jump the gun with your mouth." She grabbed my face kissing me. "I'm sure they wanted to tell you. You've known Adrian longer than you've known me, hell y'all were roommates. Talk to him."

"The people you think you know and closest to go behind your back." I mumbled before getting up. I kissed Leah again, she then went upstairs to help KJ get ready to shower. I put my plate in the sink then walked over to Adrian.

"A3 let me talk to you real quick." I demanded.

"Aight, —baby I'll be right back." He looked up at Rai, she nodded.

He stood from his position in Rainas lap and followed me to the backyard. We sat out by the pool.

"I'ma' just cut to it, Raina's been through a lot." I started off saying.

He nodded.

"I don't trust nobody around her." I stated slowly.

He nodded again. "I understand that, just ask me what you want to ask me. I'll be straight with you."

"Why your grown ass talking to my sister?" I spat.

He exhaled then started rubbing at his knees. "I didn't plan for this to be this way.— I knew she was off limits."

He paused shaking his head.

"I tried avoiding her, but it didn't work. I didn't want to fight it anymore. I'd planned to tell you but we decided to wait." He finally looked in my direction.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "You're the same person who fucked three different women, —at three different times, in the same damn day."

"You think I don't know that-" He paused trying to calm down.

"You think that shit mean anything, because it don't. I haven't been with anybody since I started talking to Rai. All that other shit is in the past." He stated aggressively.

"I'm supposed to believe you go straight home every night, just to talk to my sister on the fucking phone?" I squinted, he leaned back shaking his head.

"Make this shit make sense A3." I yelled staring dead in his face.

He sat up and waited a second before speaking. "I love Rai. The same way you only want Leah, I only want Raina. That's it. I'm not trying to play her man, I wouldn't do that. So yes I do go home just to talk to her on the phone every night."

"Also once again I did not sleep with Rai. She means so much more to me than that. I can't do shit about the past, but I can make sure I treat her with the upmost respect." He added.

I stayed quiet gazing out at nothing in particular.

"Come on Mike, you know I care about Raina. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt her."

I sighed tugging at my beard.

"I want to be there for her. I really do love her man, I always did." He pleaded genuinely.

"We're suppose to be boys man. I've known you damn near ever since I moved out here. Out of everybody around me the last person I thought would ever do me like this is you." I spoke in disbelief.

"I get that and I'm sorry, I'm really sorry for going behind your back Mike. Sorry I didn't come to you first."

I shook my head still in disbelief.

"I know we got a long road ahead and I don't expect things to be what it was between us, but just hear my apology and know that I mean it."

I was quiet again before I spoke, still scratching and tugging my beard.

"Just don't try nothing with my sister man and you know what I mean, please. She's been through too much, trust me when I tell you that."

He nodded his head. "We're not even thinking about that. I know I did my dirt, but I'm over that. I want more than that." He added, I looked at him trying to find the least bit of insincerity.

"I ain't where I want to be in life, so we're taking it very slow. That gives her time to experience and just live, also to work on herself. That gives me time to figure out what I want career wise."

It was quiet, both of us stood up awkwardly.

"Aight, so we good." I stated, just wanting to end the conversation.

"Yeah." He replied, we went back inside and I avoided looking at him any further.

We're definitely not cool, and I'm not sure we'll ever be. I don't trust people easily and when you betray that, I'd usually just cut you off.

I looked over at my baby sister noticing how she is around Adrian. She's really into him and that's what I'm afraid of.

Not sure where Rai and I stand right now. With everything going on, her having a lot on her plate I don't even want to talk about it anymore. Just don't say shit to me about it and I won't either. I just thought we were closer than this.

"Come on baby boy lets get you to bed." I gestured for KJ to get up. It was getting late for him.

"Bed." KJ stated. He had just finished his shower.

"Yeah come on."

He followed me.

"Babe I'm taking little man upstairs."

"Ok, I'll be up in a minute to check on him." Leah said while turning the volume down on the tv.

Upstairs I helped him into bed and we continued reading the Harry Potter series.

"Dumbledore." KJ spoke.

"That's right. The headmaster at the Hogwart school." I read to him, he stared along at the pages.

"Michael, Michael is dad?" He repeated out of the blue while looking at the book. He's been saying this a lot lately. He clings to me just like he does with Leah. His shitty father, missed out.

"That's right baby boy."

He looked away for a second and then focused back into the book.

"I love you so much." I stated. Then continued reading.

I've been planning Leah's engagement. I can't wait to marry her and give them my last name. I want him to legally be my son.

Leah still has her place, but they're always over here. I want her to consider moving here permanently but she wants to keep her own place until something changes between us.

I got the ring, Raina helped me pick it out about a month ago. We had a rocky start but I'm learning to be better. Her working at the club affected me, even though I said I was ok with it, I wasn't. So the moment she quit, on her own terms I was beyond elated. She's now co- owner with Raina of all the dance studios. She has an offer to go on tour with this new upcoming artist. I'm proud of her. I told her we'll make it work. KJ will be fine, between me and her Aunt we got him. It's her turn to shine.

"Alright man time for bed."

He got in bed and we did our nightly ritual. Clapping three times, touched our nose once and then patted both shoulders.

Leah came in and peeped at us smiling with those beautiful brown eyes of hers. I made sure his monitor was on. She gave him a kiss on his forehead, said goodnight then headed back down stairs.

"Aight y'all know the usual. Troy and Adrian y'all got the basement. Amina you got the spare down stairs. Chance and Rita y'all have mama Laurie's room upstairs. Sienna you're going up with Rai right?" I asked looking around at everyone.

"Yep, we're headed there now." She nodded

"A3, I don't have to tell you about-"

"Nah, you don't." He interrupted. I looked at him then Rai, they were getting up from the couch.

"Well goodnight y'all, come on baby." Leah followed me hugging my back heading back upstairs.

"I'm about to take a shower, join me?" I asked her looking back smiling.

"Ok." Leah used the band around her wrist to put her hair up.

I quickly stripped myself of all my clothing. I hopped in the shower and instantly felt relaxed. It's been a long week and some alone time with my beautiful fiance'to be is needed.

Leah stepped in moments later and clung on to my back. Her soft full breast was pressing into me.

"Turn around." She said lowly, I obliged.

The multiple jets were hitting us all throughout the shower.

I kissed her lips soft, and slowly. She moaned into mine as my hands traveled slowly down to her waist. I held my hands in place staring at her her beautiful face.

I grabbed the soap and her loofah and lathered it up then handed it to her. "Here baby, I want to watch."

She smirked before she started rubbing the loofah all over her smoothed tan skin, not missing an inch. I couldn't take it anymore. My hands started roaming all over her soapy wet skin. Her body is so fucking amazing. The soap was running slowly down her neck landing in between her perfectly plumped breast.

I eyed her hungrily. My hands landed on her center, that sweet spot I love to taste so much. I began rubbing small circles around her clit. It's so soft and slippery, I couldn't wait to get inside her.

She lifted up her leg and tilted her head back, loving every bit of it.

"Damn Leah." I moaned continuing my motions. I had my thumb pressed flat against her clit rubbing slow round circles. It was already glistening and ready for me.

"All yours baby," she moaned. I slowly slid two of my fingers inside her, curving my finger tips. She started rolling her hips to match my movement. The water was splashing all over our bodies, neither one of us cared. We were so hungry for that release.

She grabbed my face, nibbling and pulling at my lips, while arching her body even closer to me.

I pulled my lips away from her. Watching her desperately slam herself against my two fingers, it was making me so impatient. I used my free hand to gently caress my manhood. It was thumping and throbbing, I was desperate for more.

I traced kisses down to her nipples flicking and tracing circles on them. She hummed out a sweet sound of pleasure.

"Damn your skin's so slippery." I groaned out, not wanting to wait any longer.

"Stop teasing me baby, give me what I want." She roughly begged.

I smiled to myself, then lifted her leg up a little higher. "Say no more." I began rubbing my tip against her clit.

My lips found their way to hers again, something I never wanted to stop doing. Her juicy wet lips clinging on to mine. The sounds of the act alone could drive you wild.

I eagerly guided myself inside her tight core. Feeling her flesh wrapped around my brick hard friend.

"Baby." She whimpered close to my ear while pulling on me to go deeper. So I went deeper. She hissed. Our bodies were moving in sync. I picked her up against the wall so she could feel every inch slamming into her.

"Fuck shit." She let out a big gasp. I sped up, gripping her waist. She held on to me as tight as she could. I had my head tucked in the crook of her neck.

One of the lower shower jets was spraying at an angle between us. It was spraying directly onto my sensitive jewels, intensifying the sensation. I knew I wasn't going to last long in this position.

"Damn this shit feels so good baby." I whispered in her ear. After thrusting into her a few more strokes I felt her tighten up. So I slowed my strokes down, hitting her spot every time. Which caused both of us to release at the same time, thankfully so. I could barely hold her up any longer, it was feeling too good. I placed her on her feet, she could barely stand.

Both of our chests were heaving, we were fighting to catch our breath. We took one glance at each other and started lightly laughing. I kissed her swollen lips again while catching another gaze.

"Damn you're beautiful." I stated, making her blush. We cleaned up and got out.

"Meet me in the bedroom, I'm not done." I told her while walking up behind her planting a kiss on the back of her neck.

________________________

{Song: "Best Part" By H.E.R Feat. Daniel Caesar}

{Adrians POV up next}

{Do you guys think Mike is overreacting? Or just worried about his sister?}

{What about the friendship between Adrian and Mike, is it basically over or... it might take awhile?}

{🤪OKUUURRRR Mike and Leah, handle it!}

✌️🏾