missed y'all 🦦💙 make your presence known my babies.

PLEASE, read the note at the bottom for a funny story time and something else.

"Yea' I'm a hot hitta', I'ma guap getta', leave a thot bitta', get yo' block hit up. Oh, you think you in a group? Get that shit split up. Tryna' suck me layin' down, I make that bitch sit up," Siraj rapped along to the lyrics of 21 Savage, a red solo cup in one hand as the other pointed at the camera as his friends recorded him.

After a week of recovering from his minor cold, Siraj found himself out with his friends, celebrating his birthday. Little did he know, his girlfriend had messaged Blue to get his friends together so they could pop out for him.

She didn't know how long it been since he been with his boys and she wasn't trying to hog him too much–especially since she had him all to herself for the past three weeks. Blue joked with her that she was indeed holding him hostage, and the last time that he seen his friend in person was the night at the club.

Even then, they weren't able to hang out as much, since Siraj left early after the situation with Soleil and Isidro.

Soleil wanted this weekend to be fun for him, even if that meant sharing him for the time being.

However, what Soleil didn't know was another friend of Siraj's was back in the city–and had also shown up to the club. Raegan had popped out to host at the club, bringing along a few of her friends. She was shocked though to see her old friends in attendance already in the VIP section.

Siraj and Raegan had shared a friendly greeting, but other than that, Siraj kept his distance. He didn't need another mishap like the last time, causing him to end up on the blogs. He knew that Soleil wouldn't hesitate to tear him a new one.

"My boy," Blue grinned, placing a hand on Siraj's shoulder and giving it a light shake. "This the chain li'l bit bought for you, right?" he asked him, examining the pendant closer.

"Yup," Siraj replied, before sipping from his cup.

"She such a sweetheart," Blue's grin grew wider as he shook his head. "Aye, listen though, I'm happy for y'all. Just don't fuck that one up, or I'm sure Xahir gone come back and haunt yo' ass,"

Siraj laughed, shoving Blue's shoulder as he threw his hands up with a goofy smile. "You sick man," Siraj said, "But nah, I preciate it, her fine ass ain't going nowhere and vice versa,"

"Shit, I know yo' ass ain't going nowhere. She got you wrapped around her finger–ain't seen yo' ass in weeks, and the first time I do, it's cause yo' girl arranged it," Blue teased him, playfully tapping his chest.

"Whatever," Siraj tried holding back his laugh.

"Hey, y'all," Raegan approached them with one of her friends. Siraj greeted her with a head nod but remained quiet, returning to his attention onto the dancing bodies in the crowd. "Um, Raj, can I chat wit' you for a sec?"

Siraj ran his tongue over his bottom lip, hesitating a bit. He nodded and followed behind her to a more secluded area in the section. "What's up?" Siraj raised an eyebrow.

"So, uh, I was wondering if you were free this upcoming Tuesday for a shoot. I have an EP that I'm working on, you know, just something to hold over my fans," Raegan explained, nervously rubbing her hands together.

An awkward silence fell between them, except for the loud music playing in the background. Siraj intensely stared at her, watching as her hand movements. "You nervous?" he asked her, Raegan let out a shaky breath before slightly chuckling.

"I don't know why I am," she cleared her throat, clasping her hands together.

Siraj sipped from his cup as his eyes started to wander, he saw Soleil walking into the section, holding Keia's hand as her wristlet purse hung around the wrist of the other. He zoned out, his eyes fixated on the short, silver two piece that she wore—perfectly hugging every curve of her frame. Her hair was straightened and parted into a side part, as a bit of it was slicked down and tucked behind her right ear.

"I think it's just because I haven't seen you in a while. The last time we spoke was I think at your sister's grand opening, and you haven't been responding to my texts or calls anymore, which kind of made me think that I did something wrong," Raegan continued on, as Siraj kept his attention on his girlfriend.

He watched as Soleil looked around the section with a slightly confused expression–until finally, they made eye contact. Soleil jerked her head back a little, giving him a funny look. He tried holding back his laugh, as she let go of Keia's hand and strutted over towards them.

"Nah, uh, I just don't think my shorty would appreciate me keeping in contact wit' someone I use to mess around wit', so," Siraj shrugged, Raegan's mouth fell agape as she slowly nodded in understanding.

"O-oh, well why didn't you just say that, Siraj? I would've fell back–um, do-don't worry about the shoot, I can just find someone else," Raegan took a step back to put more space between them. Siraj held an arm out as Soleil finally approached, wrapping it around her waist.

"Wassup, love," Siraj greeted her, leaning down to kiss her. "Uh, Raegan you remember Soleil, right?"

Raegan bit down on her tongue, forcing a smile onto her face as she nodded. "Nice to see you again," she spoke to Soleil. Soleil barely passed off a half smile to her, locking her fingers with Siraj's.

She wasn't too fond of Raegan being in her man's face.

"I'll fuck wit' you later," Siraj told her, letting Soleil pull him away back over to their friends. As they did, Siraj could feel the intense glare Soleil had on him. "Don't start, she was asking for a favor,"

"We don't do favors for folks we use to fuck wit'," Soleil side-eyed him, pursing her lips. "Don't get yourself and ole' girl fucked up, better keep it the fuck cute,"

Siraj grinned to himself, now snaking one hand around her waist. "Dick making you a li'l crazy, ain't it?" he quietly teased her, Soleil turned to look at him, narrowing her eyes.

"I mean, now that I got it—I see why bitches can't let situationships be that of the past," Soleil sized him up, shifting her weight. "But one thing about me? I'll piss those same bitches off while they tryin' to ease their way back down memory lane,"

"Oh yeah?" Siraj's grin grew even wider, Soleil softly hummed, nodding her head. "Piss em' off then,"

"I already did. One tried to use your son against you, and the other is looking at me right now, seething on the inside. Crazy how these women are letting someone who can't even legally buy liquor yet, get under their skin," Soleil smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder, walking off toward where Keia and the rest of their friends were.

Siraj glanced over his shoulder, seeing that Raegan was indeed looking Soleil's way. The two locked eyes for a brief second before she turned to talk to one of her friends. Siraj softly chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he joined their friends as well.

"Aye, man, we don't need no more folks in our section," One of Siraj's friends, Dom, said as he started to mug someone behind Soleil and Keia. Siraj turned to look and saw it was Joziah and his boyfriend.

"Relax," Siraj warned him, slowly lifting his red solo cup up to his mouth. "They wit' me—and for a nigga who ain't pay for shit, you don't have a say in who can or can't come in the section bruh,"

"Always the bottle sharing ass niggas," Soleil scoffed, rolling her eyes as Blue began laughing.

As the night went on, Siraj remained close to his friends as Soleil did the same. They wanted to give each other space, as both already knew that Soleil would be going home with him once they departed from the club.

Soleil and her friends were a few feet away, dancing along to the music that played. Siraj watched from afar as a couple of guys tried talking to Soleil, but she shot down their attempts each time. He didn't care too much about it, in fact, it was quite amusing watching them trying to get with the woman that was his—especially knowing that he would be the one beating her back out by the end of the night.

"She's fine too! But I want you!" Keia sang to Soleil, caressing her face as she held a giddy smile on her face.

"It's 'she's 5'2', Keia," Joziah joked with her. Keia sucked her teeth and gave him a straight face, while Soleil started to laugh.

"No it's not, you and everyone else who think that, have a room temperature IQ," Keia rolled her eyes, as Soleil laughed even harder, nudging her. Joziah wrapped his arms around her, grinning. "Soleil, do I have to beat a bitch up?"

Soleil tipped her side to the head, sporting a confused expression as Keia started to give someone a funny look. She turned around, and saw that Raegan and her friends were looking in their direction.

Soleil giggled to herself, turning back around to face her friends. "The way she's been looking at me all night, you could've sworn I stole her man or some," Soleil smirked, primping herself in her front camera.

"Ooh, bitch you messy," Keia playfully shoved her, sharing a laugh with her. "Nah, cause they looking over here like they got some to get off their chest. You know I don't like when hoes stare,"

"Just ignore them," Soleil waved her off, taking videos of herself.

"Ugh! You always want to be civilized and shit. Beat a hoe up every once and a while, would ya?" Keia rolled her eyes, Soleil shooting daggers at her.

"Anyways! I want some tacos!" Soleil craved, beginning to have the munchies from being faded. "Let's go get some tacos, there's a Mexican restaurant down the street from here,"

"Tacos do sound good right now," Rell, Joziah's boyfriend, replied. Joziah and Keia both nodded in agreement, as Soleil walked away toward Siraj to let him know that they were about to leave.

A small smirk graced her face, seeing Siraj and his friends singing off-key, holding the top of the liquor bottles to their mouths, pretending it was a microphone.

"I'll admit it! This just ain't no game, these just ain't words, that I'm spitting! If you could see the thoughts that's in my head! I'm tripping! I'ma player, yea' it's true, but I'll change the game for you!" Siraj started singing to Soleil as she finally approached. She beckoned him closer with her index finger, placing one hand on his shoulder.

He leaned in closer, Soleil putting her mouth close to his ear. "We bout to go get tacos, you coming or you staying here?" she asked him. He nodded and turned around, tapping Blue on the arm, before relaying the same message to him.

Like Siraj, Blue also nodded his head and relayed the message to the rest of their friends. Siraj grabbed Soleil's hand, letting her lead the way as Soleil gestured to her friends with her free hand.

They passed through the crowd, both Siraj and Soleil speaking to a few people they knew. Once they finally made it outside, they started to walk down the street toward the restaurant.

As they did, Siraj continued to hold his hands around Soleil's waist, drunkenly singing out loud. Soleil ignored him, texting her sister about the conversation that she and her mother had earlier.

So far, Vanessa had been keeping good on her promise about being more present in her life. Vanessa rarely ever stopped by Soleil's house, a part of that reason being, it triggered her since the house once belonged to her mom.

However, when she did visit, she felt a certain nostalgia. She was happy that Soleil continued to live there, and not sell the house. It was a part of her childhood, and all of her memories in that house were nothing but pleasant.

When Soleil finally decides to move, she planned on doing more renovations, so that she would be able to rent it out or list it as an AirBnB. It was a blessing in disguise that the house was left to her, giving her an opportunity to create an income for herself.

"I'ma slut you out when we get home," Siraj attempted to whisper in Soleil's ear, however, he was a little loud causing Keia to hear.

"Oop," Keia said, tucking her lips to keep herself from bursting into laughter. Soleil simply shook her head, tucking her phone back into her wristlet purse.

"Why are you always horny, dude?" Soleil turned around to face him, beginning to walk backwards.

Siraj sucked his teeth, passing off a funny look at her. "Do you really want me to answer that question?" his eyes slowly roaming upwards on her body. "The shit you be doing in the bedroom, should be enough,"

"I knew she was a freak," Keia started snickering, as Soleil reached over to thump her. Keia swatted her hand away, "It's always the innocent acting ones,"

"That's what I said," Siraj grinned, reaching out to grab her hand and turn her around. As they approached the restaurant, they heard loud music playing from inside.

They all walked inside, eyeing the different people that were dancing to the music, or either sitting down at the tables or bar.

The group sat at empty tables, Siraj sitting on the inside of the booth as Soleil sat on the end while Blue, Jahlil and Andre sat across from them. Keia, Joziah and Rell sat at a booth behind them, as the rest of Siraj's friends sat at a table across from their booth.

A waitress approached their table, setting down a few menus for them to look at. As they looked over the menus for something to satisfy their hunger, Siraj continued to mess with Soleil. He whispered freaky things in her ear, one hand caressing her thigh under the table.

Soleil rested her head against a closed fist, the corners of her mouth curling up into a small smile as her and Siraj gazed into each other's eyes. "Love you," Siraj professed.

"I know," Soleil cockily grinned.

"Oh brotherrr," Siraj drunkenly drawled out, rolling his eyes as she giggled.

"You want to be like me so bad—cause when have you ever said that?"

"I want to be insi—man, say it back fore' I tweak out," he frowned, causing Soleil to crack up.

"I love you too, cinnamon bun," Soleil cooed, gently grabbing his chin. He started to cheese, trying to wrap his arms around her, only for her to playfully push him away. "Man gone, you're so annoying,"

"Y'all don't find this shit weird?" Jahlil quietly spoke to Blue and Andre.

"What chu' mean?" Blue ripped his attention away from his phone, to look at him. Jahlil subtly nodded his head toward the couple as they continued flirting with each other. "What about them?"

"We ain't never hung out wit' Xahir's sister before unless he was around. It's weird having her around and Xahir not even here anymore," Jahlil explained, shooting the couple a strange look.

"So? We created a bond with her outside of Xahir, she doesn't have her big bro around anymore—but at least she knows she still has us," Blue replied, shrugging as he returned his attention back onto his phone.

Jahlil shook his head, leaning back into the booth. He continued to watch the couple, it just didn't sit right with him that his deceased homeboy sister was still around.

"Quit staring," Siraj finally spoke up, after feeling someone's piercing gaze on him.

"You don't think this is weird?" Jahlil gestured between him and Soleil. Siraj jerked his head back, lowering his eyebrows. "Since we've been boys, I don't think I ever saw y'all this close together,"

"And? What the fuck that gotta do wit' you?" Siraj frowned, Soleil deeply sighing as she sat back.

"I'm just saying, y'all ain't never crossed that line before when Xahir was alive—that shit wrong as hell, and y'all know it is." Jahlil argued.

"Jah, why you so bothered by it, man? We don't care, why do you? Damn, you act like you got a crush on the girl or some," Andre jumped in, adding his inputs.

"For real," Blue scoffed, continuing to text on his phone. "Leave them alone, they ain't bothering nobody,"

"Deadass, why are you in our business? Soleil grown, she can date whoever the fuck she pleases. We don't give a fuck about what you think of our relationship—you're not in it wit' us. If you got an issue wit' it, go talk to God about it," Siraj snapped, Jahlil sucked his teeth and waved him off.

Soleil got up from the booth, grabbing her purse. "Baby..." Siraj trailed off, watching her. Soleil shook her head and walked to sit behind them with Keia and Joziah.

"You know you wrong for that, Jah. Shawty still trying to cope wit' the loss of Xahir, the last damn thing she want to hear about how you or anyone else think it's wrong for her to be wit' one of his best friends," Blue scolded him, tucking his phone back into his pocket.

"Y'all keep pointing out how the relationship started after he passed—stop fuckin' reminding us of that shit, trying to guilt trip us into breaking up, cause that's not happening. The same feelings would've probably emerged even if he was alive, so I'm not understanding why y'all keep using that against us," Siraj said, making vague hand gestures. Both Blue and Andre nodded in agreement, as Jahlil seemed uninterested in the conversation now.

"Starting to blow the fuck outta me wit' that shit, invested in our relationship cause muhfuckas ain't got their own worry about,"

"You okay?" Keia asked Soleil, as she finally settled down next to her. Soleil forced a smile on her face and nodded.

As the night progressed, the group of friends enjoyed the rest of their time chowing down on tacos, and drinking. They even got up to dance with another group of people, the night ended in good vibes and laughs.

Both Soleil and Siraj seemed to brush off Jahlil's remarks about their relationship, as they found themselves right back under each other on the way home.

After dropping her friends off at home, and grabbing her overnight bag, she drove to Siraj's place to finally turn in. Siraj still hadn't came down off of his high, yet drunken state.

He felt beyond good, to finally enjoy himself after working and then being sick, it was a much needed weekend out. Though he was a little bummed out that he didn't get to spend his weekend with his girlfriend or son, he understood that Soleil had important tasks to handle, and that also Ximena wanted to spend quality time with Semaj.

They both encouraged him to just enjoy his time with his boys, it'd been awhile since they all finally came together, due to their busy lives. Like Siraj, a few of his friends were fathers themselves, or had their own careers.

Siraj liked to surround himself with people that were goal-oriented and had plans to do something with their life. Majority of his friend group had all grown up together since middle and high school. They had established a bond that couldn't be broken, and looked at each other as brothers.

"I could freak you like you want it! If you like it real kinky! I could freak it how you need me! I could freak it like you want it!" Siraj sung in a slurred tone, tightly grabbing Soleil's ass as they stepped into his apartment. "Soleil in the house tonight, are you ready?"

"A'ight Lathun," Soleil clowned him, locking the door and leading him to the bedroom. She felt Siraj's hand slip under her tube top, as he started to kiss her neck.

"You gone let daddy slut you out?" he mumbled against her skin, nibbling at her ear. She softly laughed, pulling his hands from under her top. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the room, lightly pushing him onto the bed.