Rashir was hiding out in his room while his mother and Nijhea were preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Janiya was grounded since she was caught sneaking out—again, so she was banished to her room until it was time to come out for dinner. Patience was on her way to the apartment, and Rashir was relying on her to make sure this Thanksgiving wasn't a total disaster. Unfortunately, she wasn't bringing Grayson, or Carter because their father had made it clear that neither of them were welcome in their home. Patience barely wanted to come herself, but Rashir had practically begged her, so he didn't have to suffer on his own.

Rashir's father—Rashad, was supposed to be at work for the entire day but much to Rashir's dismay, his boss said he didn't need to come in today so he was eating with the family. Rashir had arrived at the apartment while his father was at the store, so he hadn't seen him yet but he wasn't looking forward to interacting with him at all. He knew he'd manage to make the entire evening about basketball and Rashir didn't want to deal with that. Lourdes and him had been posted on the Shaderoom once again, but this time it was a picture of them kissing so it was now confirmed that they were together. He knew his father would throw a fit if he saw the post, so he was trying to keep it under wraps, but it was only a matter of time before he found out.

Rashir laid down on his bed, replying to some texts when he felt the urge to Facetime Lourdes. Even though they'd only been apart for less than 24 hours, he was already missing being around her all the time. He wasn't prepared to come back from vacation and go from spending every day with her, to not seeing her at all. He decided he wanted to see her face, so he Facetimed her instead of calling her and waited for her to pick up. When the call connected, he smiled when her face filled up the screen. She looked a bit stressed, so he quickly became confused, but when she turned around to yell at someone and a kid responded, his questions were answered.

"Hi bubba, why are you calling? Is something wrong?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Nah, I just wanted to see your face,"

"You saw me last night," She rolled her eyes, taking a seat on something. He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off when she put her phone down and he was now looking at a ceiling.

"Hi Alex! What's up?" He heard her say and he instantly furrowed his brows at the sound of another guy's name. "You wanna say hi?" Lourdes asked.

She finally picked up the phone and Rashir sighed a breath of relief when there was a 4 year old looking back at him. He smiled at the sight of Lourdes holding a child on her lap.

"Hey little man," He said in a baby voice. Alex sucked on his thumb and shyly waved at him but quickly turned to bury his face into Lourdes's body.

"Sorry, he's a little shy," She laughed and took him off of her lap, "Why don't you go play with Bianca," She suggested and he silently nodded, hopping off of her lap to go trot to the living room where the rest of the children were. She turned back to Rashir who was watching the entire exchange.

"Was that Nala's brother?" He asked but she shook her head.

"That's her cousin. Her brothers are Diego, Jose, and Sergio. Diego is 14, Jose is 8 and Sergio is 6. Then her younger sister is Sofia—she's 7, then her older sister—Adriana is 23. Then there's her cousins on her Mom's side—"

"How the hell you remember all this?" Rashir chuckled.

"We've been friends since I was 11 and I've been coming here for Thanksgiving since I was 13, I've memorized everyone's names by now," She explained. He didn't know exactly why she never talked about her home life or her parents, but he didn't want to ask either. It was one of the subjects that he chose to avoid because he knew she'd just shut down. When they first became friends, he asked about her parents and her mood changed immediately. She had changed the topic quickly and they'd never spoken about it again.

"Are you having fun talking to your sister?" She interrupted his thoughts.

"Baby I told you—"

"Talk to her Rashir," Lourdes insisted.

"But—"

"No buts!"

"Alright bruh, I'll try," He finally caved and she happily squealed.

"Yay!"

"You're lucky I like you," He shook his head, now realizing how whipped he really was. Lourdes had him wrapped around her finger, and she knew it too.

"Yeah, Yeah. But I have to go bubba, they're saying it's dinner time and I need to help the kids get their plates. Tell me how it goes later okay?" She told him and he frowned, sad she had to go so soon.

"I'll call you later then, you better pick up the damn phone Lo," He pointed a finger at her and she laughed.

"Don't tell me what to do Rashir," She rolled her eyes playfully.

"Yeah aight, bye baby," He waved before he hung up the phone and she blew him a kiss.

Rashir reluctantly trudged to the dining room where his family was waiting on him. He heard his father come home minutes before, so he knew he was sitting at the table as well. When he entered the room, his entire family was staring back at him, waiting for him to sit down. His father was sitting at the head of the table with his mother sitting next to him, looking stressed. Patience sat next to his mother with Janiya and Nijhea sitting across from them. Rashir practically jumped into the seat next to Patience, grateful he wouldn't have to sit next to his father or Nijhea.

When everyone settled, his father made them hold hands to say grace, making Rashir roll his eyes. He was never interested in religion while growing up, his father forced everyone to attend church on Sundays, but once he discovered his talent for basketball, he had an excuse not to attend since he was usually practicing or at games.

Once they said "Amen," Rashir grabbed his plate and began scooping food onto it, licking his lips at the sight of the things his mother made. Once he was done, he immediately began eating with the rest of the family who was pretty silent.

"So Rashir—" Nijhea began and he knew she was about to say something that he didn't like, "You and that girl are together now? I saw the post on the Shaderoom," She said with a smirk on her face. She knew how their father felt about him dating and he knew she purposefully brought up Lourdes to start an argument. He glared at her, annoyed that she was trying to start something.

"Yeah," He simply said, not offering any other explanation.

"What was her name again? Lord? Cord?—"

"You know what her name is Nijhea, stop playing," He snapped.

"You're dating someone? Why didn't you tell me?" His mother exclaimed from a couple of seats down with a happy smile on her face, "I want to meet her!" She declared.

"You don't need to meet her because she's not sticking around for long," His father cut in. He didn't even glance at Rashir as he said that, taking a sip of his beer nonchalantly. Rashir clenched his fists under the table, willing himself not to spazz out at his father, and chose to try and be polite instead.

"Actually, she will be. Her name is Lourdes mom, I'm sure she'd love to meet you,"

His mother beamed, happy that Rashir was finally settling down, but she lost her smile when she looked at her husband who had now stopped eating and was looking at Rashir with an annoyed look on his face.

"What did I tell you about that girl Rashir? She's just a distraction and probably only using you so she can become a trophy wife—"

"Don't talk about her, aight? She's not what you think she is," Rashir cut in, beginning to get agitated.

"Don't fucking interrupt me when I'm speaking boy. I'm your father, show me some respect," His father snapped and Rashir closed his eyes in annoyance. He knew this was exactly how his father would react and that's why he didn't want to bring Lourdes up at all during dinner. He looked at Nijhea who seemed to be watching this exchange with a smile on her face, clearly happy with what she'd started. Janiya was half asleep, obviously high and Patience was silent as she continued eating her food, but Rashir knew she'd jump in if she needed to.

"Calm down Rashad," His mother tried to step in but his father waved her off, continuing his rant.

"Whoever the hell this girl is, cut her off. You don't need any distractions when you're about to be drafted,"

"I'm not cutting her off," Rashir insisted.

"Yes, you will,"

"Or what?" Rashir raised his eyebrows, looking at him right in the eye.

"How dare you disrespect me in my own home! You do as I say because I am your father. After everything I've done for you, this is how you choose to repay me?" His father stood up, clearly angry and Rashir stood up as well, matching his energy,

"What the hell have you done for me?" He laughed, genuinely finding this funny, "You know what, I don't even care. I'm not finna sit here and listen to you keep telling me what to do bruh, you've been doing it for over 20 years and I'm done," He threw his napkin on the table, and Patience and his mother stood up as well, trying to diffuse the now heated discussion.

"Rashad! Just relax," His mother stood in front of him and placed her hands on his chest but he swatted them away and shoved her to the side. Rashir was immediately on go when he saw this, but Patience moved in front of him before he could do anything.

"Just walk away, I'll deal with mom okay? Go home and cool off, staying here isn't gonna help anything," Patience said calmly and Rashir ended his stare-off with his father at her words, nodding and turning around to walk out of the house with zero intentions of returning.

It was Monday and Rashir was just now getting out of his class. He exited the building, shivering at the cold, and pulled out his phone to text Lourdes. Her car was in the shop since she had complained that it was acting weird before they left for the Bahamas, and he wanted to give her a ride home.

: Bae where you at

Lo👩‍❤️‍👨💕: i'm in the chem building

: Aight come to allegany hall, ima give you a ride home

Lo👩‍❤️‍👨💕: u don't have to

Lo 👩‍❤️‍👨💕: i was gonna take the bus home

: Girl just bring yo lil ass on

Lo 👩‍❤️‍👨💕: okay 🙄

He laughed at her last message and put his phone, as well as his hands in his pockets since he was cold. It was now nearing the end of November and the weather was freezing. He had to warm up his car when he got into it this morning and he could see his breath whenever he exhaled.

After waiting for a few minutes, he spotted Lourdes walking towards him in a puffer coat, leggings, and her fuzzy crocs. He thought she looked adorable wearing a huge coat on her small body and resisted the urge to laugh at how cold she looked. Her hands were buried in her pockets and her face was scrunched up as she looked around for him. He walked towards her as silent as he could, scaring her when he reached out and pulled her closer to him.

"Rashir! You scared me," She exclaimed while he laughed at her reaction.

"Sorry, gimme a kiss," He tilted her chin up with his hands and puckered his lips. She blushed and met him halfway to join their lips and reached her hands up to put her arms around his neck. When he pulled back he was a little dazed and she laughed.

He really would never get over being able to kiss her whenever he wanted.

"Bubba come on, it's cold," He snapped out of it when she whined and pulled at his sleeve. He nodded and reached for her hand, joining their hands together as they began walking to where his car was parked. They got a few looks as they passed by people but he ignored them. He could tell Lourdes was a little uncomfortable so he glared at the people who stared at them and they looked away thankfully, but Lourdes shrinked a little closer to him making him smile.

"You wanna get food?" He asked her when they made it to his Camaro and he opened the passenger side door for her.

"Thank you," She said before he closed the door, she waited for him to jog around to his side of the car and when he got in, she continued. "Can we stop at the mall? I'm craving Jollibee and they just opened one there. Oh! And I need to go at Target to get some stuff, I'll give you gas money," She offered and he looked at her like she was insane. He still had to remind her that she really didn't need to pay him back for anything—like at all. She always offered and each time he assured her that it was fine, and told her to stop asking.

"Girl I told yo' ass to stop offering to pay me back for things," He fussed, turning the heat on.

"I know but I feel bad, you have to drive me around cause my stupid car is being all weird," She grumbled.

"Baby, didn't I offer to give you a ride?" He asked.

"Yeah,"

"Aight so there's no need to feel bad. You gotta work on that," He said while looking behind the car to pull out of his parking space. He exited campus and merged onto the main road, with his phone in his hand so he could choose some music to play.

"Work on what?" She asked.

"You keep offering to pay me back for shit Lo, you think I'm broke or sumn?" He chuckled and she shook her head.

"No! I just feel bad—"

"Well don't. It's not that serious baby, just lemme spend money on you," He said firmly and she closed her mouth.

"Okay," She mumbled, picking at her nails.

"Aight good, now pick something to play," He handed her his phone and she smiled with a mischievous smirk on her face. "Don't play no weird ass shit Lo," He warned her but she waved him off.

"I'm not," She replied, but he could tell she was lying, "You have Apple Music and you're not following me?" She said, offended.

"I ain't even know you had Apple Music," He chuckled.

"Well I'm following myself on your account," She declared, "Okay here, I think you'll like this song," She evilly chuckled and he groaned, scared for what she was going to play. When the song started playing, he didn't recognize it, but when Lourdes started rapping the lyrics, he rolled his eyes.

"I'ma freak a leek, but I can't let a broke nigga beat!" She rapped as he drove.

"Lo bruh, I told you don't play no weird ass shit like this," He complained.

"Weird? This is a bop, stop hating," She ignored him, rapping the rest of the lyrics.

"Cause I'm a very freaky girl, get it from my mama! I'm not wit' the games, I'm wit' all the drama. Make him gimme brain in the front seat of the Hummer," She said while checking herself out in the mirror.

Rashir stopped at a red light and snatched his phone from her hands, successfully stopping the song.

"Why'd you do that? Such a party pooper," She pouted.

"I'm not listening to that shit, we playing my music now, yo' ass ruined it," He said while shuffling 'Slime Language 2'. "Take It To Trial" loudly played in the car and he put his phone in the cup holder, flooring it when the light changed to green.

"You just can't appreciate good music," She rolled her eyes, throwing a tantrum in her seat. He chuckled at her childishness, continuing to drive while the music played. After 5 minutes of neither of them talking, he glanced at her, amused that she was still throwing a tantrum over something as small as what music to play.

"Lo," He called but she didn't acknowledge him as she continued going on her phone. "Lourdes...baby come on, you can play the next song," He offered but she kept ignoring him. He sighed, stopping at another red light, and turned to face her, "Here, play whatever you want," He handed her his phone and she finally turned to face him with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Thank you bubba," She cheesed, kissing him on the cheek. He sighed while she happily looked through his playlists, looking for a song to play, while he was slowly realizing that she easily had him wrapped around her little finger.

***
hey y'all! i am so exhausted 😭 i go to work throughout the week and on the days i'm not working i have driving school, on top of actual school. but anywayssss here's an update! i hope y'all enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment!