“Sure, sweetie.” When I turned to enter the house, Tarek smacked my butt. I shook my head, winked at him and headed inside to find Maia reading the label of a really expensive looking bottle. “Maia?”
“Hey.” Maia poured a golden looking liquid into a scotch glass and sniffed it. “What does this smell like to you.”
I took a big whiff without thinking twice.
Big mistake.
The scent filled my nostrils causing me to cough. “What the actual hell is that?” I rubbed my nose. “Jet fuel?”
Maia laughed. “Something like that.”
“Please tell me you’re not going to drink that.”
“Oh, I’ll be drinking it.” Maia wiggled her brows. “And it’s gonna be sogood.”
“I can’t with you.” I laughed and shook my head. “That mess is liable to burn a hole through your trachea and put hair on your chest.”
Maia looked down at her boobs then back at me. “It’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
I smirked. “Listen, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure.” She sipped and swirled the alcohol around in her mouth then swallowed. Maia winced. “Man, I was wrong. That’s disgusting.”
I laughed. “Didn’t I tell you not to drink that?”
“Have you met me?”
A soft giggle escaped my body. “Would you and Bunny like to have a girls’ night?” I asked.
“Seriously?” Maia asked. “Damn, I haven’t had a girls’ night in a really long time. Women find out I carry a badge and a gun, and they run for the hills.”
“Not cool.” I told her.
“So, the answer is yes.” Maia took another sip. “Damn it!”
I laughed as she dumped the rest of the liquid in her glass into the sink and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “You have Bunny’s number, right?”
“Yeah.” I told her. “I’ll message her tomorrow about the night out.”
Laughter exploded from the backward and Maia and I looked out the window. Kujo was doing a weird dance and I couldn’t help chuckling. Molly palmed her forehead, but she was smiling.
“We can’t leave them alone for long.” Maia said from close to me.
We sat around chatting until Jesse and Malik arrived later. Tarek and I stuck around, basking in family. Having everyone in the same spot was good for the soul. Seeing Tarek interact with his parents and brothers made me realize what I was missing in my life. They were caring to each other. Jesse was funny, messing with his brothers. Malik and Tarek merely laughed and tried swatting him with tablecloths.
Little by little the group went home.
When the house finally quieted, I showered and entered the bedroom to find Tarek standing by the bedside table, removing his watch. We climbed into the bed together and he scooped me into his arms.
“You make me very happy, Tarek.” I admitted.
He pulled me closer. “I have to say, this is what I always wanted my home to feel like. Family.”
I sighed but had to agree. “Soooo…” I pushed to my elbow to meet his eyes. “Can we get started on that family? I know for sure we’d make some cute babies. And one of the best parts? We have an army to help us protect them.”
Tarek laughed. “That we do…wait, you’re serious?”
“Of course.” I twirled a finger around his nipple. “Unless you’re worried about what I do for a living.”
