Page 9 of Game Change

After pulling out a fruit platter, we follow Raven outside and sit by the pool.

“You look like shit, by the way,” Raven says. “Your hair’s a mess.” She runs her fingers through it and makes a face. “Did you fuck him?”

Amira gasps as if the thought of two grown people fucking is somehow shocking.

“Have I ever just fucked a random dude?” I ask my friends before I pop a green grape into my mouth.

“Time to start,” Raven says. “You’re on vacation. Let loose and enjoy yourself. You too, Amira. Cozy up to that Malcolm.”

Amira rolls her eyes. “I’m kinda over him,” she says.

“Tell us everything,” Raven says to me, ignoring Amira’s comment.

I sit back and tell them about our walk, the ride on the scooter, and finding the beach.

They all give me a high five.

“Is it big?” Amira asks, and Raven chokes on her food.

“I didn’t fuck him, Amira.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t see it or at least feel it.” Raven arches an eyebrow and waits.

“Well, I didn’t,” I say, deliberately leaving out the part where he did grind against me.

“That’s disappointing,” Amira grumbles.

“Well on that note, I’m gonna shower and do something with my hair. Then I’m gonna nap before tonight.” I stand and start back to the sliding glass door.

“Don’t wear any panties,” Amira yells to my retreating back.

“And she ugly cried for twelve minutes straight,” Amira says as we walk to the townhouse next door. “Thank goodness I didn’t have her on FaceTime because I did not need to see that. I tried to be empathetic but didn’t know what to say. I told her to leave him two years ago. I told her not to marry him, but she didn’t listen and said I was jealous because she was getting married and I was alone.”

I snort at that. “Being alone is better than being with a cheater,” I add.

“Then, I warned her that having a baby would not fix her marriage. The man is a serial cheater. There’s no cure for that.” She sighs, and I almost feel bad for her sister, Ashley, but I can’t find the strength.

I also don’t want to give energy to Ashley because she sucks up enough from her mother and sister.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Raven says, “but why does she keep calling you? You’re thousands of miles away.”

“Because whenever Ashley has a problem, it’s everyone’s problem,” I say before I can think better of it.

“And don’t forget you got your ass whooped by your cousin because of your sister. I still haven’t forgiven her for that.” Raven purses her lips but doesn’t say more.

“Well, we’re not cousins,” Amira says. “Cherry makes sure to let us know that.”

After how her mother and father treated Cherry and her side of the family, I don’t blame the girl, but I do blame her for attacking Amira when Ashley and her mother caused the entire mess.

No one says more because the door swings open as we approach the house, and Brody, the guy with the glasses, gestures for us to come in. He’s a handsome guy with dark hair and a slim build. He’s tall, but not as tall as Colin.

“Come in, ladies,” he says. “Killah’s mixing drinks by the pool.”

We walk through the spacious first floor and go through the sliding glass door. Colin’s in yellow shorts and no shirt. He looks great. When he sees me, he smiles, puts down the shaker, and jogs over to me. He cups my face to give me a not-so-chaste kiss, and by the time he pulls away, I’m blushing.

“You look great, Honeybee,” he says before taking my hand. I look down at my short green dress that comes to mid-thigh and flares, and my chunky white sandals as he escorts me to the loveseat by the pool. “I’m mixing Mai Tais.”

“I’m not the best dancer,” I yell in Colin’s ear over the loud music.

---