twenty-five..

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"Congratulations on your win baby," Nai smiled, hugged up against Armani's side, as they left the gym. It was Friday, and Armani had just won a game, and was pretty much exhausted.

"Thank you mamas," he smiled down at her. "I heard you screaming for me when I got fouled," he laughed.

"Okay because he really wasn't about to let you get your shots, I was about to take that tech, we all saw it, the ref was just being ignorant," she curled her lip up. "I'll fight him,"

"Baby," he laughed loudly. "You're 5'5. I appreciate you though. Don't scream like that at the cooking competition, you might get kicked out,"

"I'm 5'5 and will fight any referee," she chuckled, getting in her car.

"You ready for Valentines day?" she asked excitedly. She asked him to let her plan their day together, and he was all for it. She was more than excited because she had fun stuff planned for the day and more fun stuff for that night.

"I'm very excited, mamas. Especially because you look so excited," he chuckled at her. "We should just get an apartment, I swear we been in hotels all damn semester," he shook his head.

"Aren't you and Duck moving to on campus apartments next semester?" she wondered. It was true, for every special day they spent together, they'd spent it in a hotel, because who wants to hear their roommates having sex? That's rude. At least to Nayeli it was rude.

"We are," he nodded. "I'm gone make sure I got a lil section in my closet for your stuff," he nodded.

"That's sweet babe, thank you," she giggled.

They had to stop at Nai's dorm to grab her bag, and for her to leave Samara's little Valentines gift. She made all her friends little cups filled with candy, a teddy bear and a balloon, with a card and a picture of her with the friend for them to keep. She gave Bri hers at the game, and she'd leave November's at Armani's dorm before the left the next day.

She absolutely could not forget her mom, she ordered her a huge edible arrangement for her birthday and it was gonna be delivered to the house the next morning, along with a pair of heels they'd been eyeing. She knew her daddy would send her some too.

Gionni asked Nai to be his valentine like he did every year and sent her a bear and roses, just like he always did, she got them this morning.

There were also her favorite snacks, and in the card, Omari and Ajani wishing her a happy Valentines day. She made sure to call them and send them a million kisses over the phone.

"Come lay down, Nai, you got everything, baby," Armani chuckled. "You been in that bag since we got back," he sat up on his elbow, looking at her.

"I just wanted to be sure," she smiled shyly, walking over to the bed.

"Mhm, come get in this bed," he patted his bed and she did so, trying to climb in over him. He stopped her just as she got one of her legs over his waist, holding her hips steady.

"Let me go sir, I wanna lay down," she giggled.

"Nah, lemme look at you, fine ass," he rubbed his hands up and down her sides, making her cover her face with her hands. "Stop that shit, man," he fussed, pulling her hands down.

"Mani," she whined, "Stop! You make me nervous," she pouted.

"Still, baby? It's almost been six months," he chuckled. She used to do this all the time, whenever she caught him staring, or he complimented her, she'd blush all hard and look away or try to cover her face up.

"Yes, Armani. You always look at me with them eyes," she mumbled, leaning forward so she was laying on him.

"What eyes?" he laughed, moving his hands to her butt.

"Those! Like you wanna do things," she spoke, promoting him to slap her butt.

"Well, maybe I do," he chuckled lowly. "Nah, I look at you like that because you're gorgeous, mamí. Unbelievably gorgeous."

"Thank you baby," she blushed. She always thought she was pretty, but unbelievably gorgeous was a whole different compliment. "Can I sleep here?" she asked, already too comfortable to move.

"Yeah," he laughed, pulling the blanket over them. "Let's hope we don't roll off,"

"Happy birthday mommy! Don't you look beautiful!" Nai said over the phone.

"Why thank you Pea," Dira smirked. "Thank you for my edible arrangement, it looks so good, Ajani you bet not—keep it moving, thank you sir,"

"Hi Nai Nai!" she heard her brother in the background.

"Hey Jani pooh," she called back. "Anyway, what are you doing for your birthday and Valentines day, mama?" Nai asked as Armani walked out of the bathroom.

"That's your mama? Happy birthday ma!" Armani yelled, making Dira smile. She truly loved Armani, she thought he and Nai were a perfect fit and she thought he was the most precious thing in the world.

"Aw thank you sweetheart! Well um, your dad planned it all out today, I don't know what we're doing, or where we're going. He just told me get dressed," she giggled. Nayeli would forever admire just how in love they were after 5 kids and 12 years of marriage. They acted like love sick teenagers all the time.

"Nadira you ready? You—oh shit," she heard her dad speak. "If I could get you pregnant again I swear—"

"Gionni! Your daughter is on the phone!" she fussed, but Nai saw her blushing and she laughed. She was very used to to constant flirting between the two.

"She know how she got here, hey princess," he chuckled, kissing Dira and walking off.

"Hey old man! Well I hope you enjoy your day, mommy. Have all the fun in the world. Me and Mani are about to leave out though, so text me pictures of your outfit okay? I love you mama," she smiled.

"I love you too my sweet girl, you and Armani enjoy Valentine's day!" she spoke. They both thanked her before ending the call.

"Your mom is the sweetest person like ever," Armani chuckled, slipping a shirt over his head. "Okay where we going?" he asked.

"Thank you, she is," Nai pouted. "So for the first half of our Valentines day, we're gonna do cute couple stuff. We're gonna get brunch at your favorite place, then we're gonna go to the arcade and then we're gonna go roller skating, and we're gonna have a nice lil picnic and watch the sunset and stuff,"she said excitedly.

"Okay, I see you planning all good," he chuckled, enjoying the fact that she was so excited. "What about the second half?" he asked her.

"You'll see later on," she smirked and he raised his eyebrows.

"Babe no, because you cheated," Nai laughed. They had just left the skating rink, and it was nearly 3:30, perfect time to watch the sun setting together.

"I didn't cheat baby, I'm an actual basketball player, you cannot expect to beat me at that game," he explained to her why she lost the basketball game at the arcade earlier.

"Well at least I can skate, you was falling all over me," she laughed.

"That's not funny, Nai," he tried to keep
a straight face but ended up laughing right along with her.

They had their gifts and their blanket to sit on, and they were walking past a multitude of other couples who had the same idea as they did. They set themselves up in a clear patch of grass, near a tree, and got ready to exchange their valentines day presents.

"Okay, I'll go first. This is kinda simple, but I like it," she pushed a box toward him. He opened it and a smile spread across his face. Inside the box were pictures they'd taken together over the last six months, hanging on clothespins. She bought him a new controller for his playstation, a whole bunch of candy he loved, and a new gaming headset, because she kept hearing him yelling in his headphones because he couldn't hear.

"Baby you bought me AirPods?! This is simple to you?" he held up the box.

"Oh! Yeah, because you always steal mine when you go to practice," she laughed. "Now you have your own"

It was in her nature to spoil others. She was used to spending money on people she loved, and she wasn't using the money in her account for anything but food and gas. Plus, he was worth it.

"Man thank you, baby, c'mere," he put his stuff down and pulled her forward, giving her multiple kisses. "I love you," he mumbled, looking in her eyes. The setting sun shined on her skin and in her eyes, making her look golden overall and that's exactly how he saw her every day. Golden.

"You're welcome, babe, I love you too," she grinned. "Okay! You go next,"

"Aight, here you go, it's like three different things and one of em hella corny, but I hope you like it,"

He had everything covered in a sheet since it was kind of bulky and she would clearly see it. The first thing she saw when she pulled the cover back was a bear made of roses. The bear was made of red roses and it was holding a heart made from white ones. It had string lights wrapped around it, so she could keep it in her room.

"Armani! This is so cute, I love it," she gushed, making him smile.

"Good, I was hoping so. Do this one next," he pointed. She nodded and unwrapped a little square box that held a pale yellow polaroid camera, she'd been wanting one, she just kept forgetting to buy it, like most things.

"You really remember everything I say, babe," she pouted. "Thank you,"

"I try, mamas, you're very welcome. Okay last one, this the corny one," he laughed to himself because he knew she loved corny relationship things.

It took her a second to get it out, but once she did she immediately burst into a fit of giggles, looking it over, turning it in all directions.

He bought her a blanket with a whole bunch of pictures of them on it, selfies, pictures from after his games, pictures he took of her and vice versa.

"This is so cute!" she kept giggling, unfolding the blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders. "And it's hella warm, oh my Lord I love it," she laughed, moving over to him, kissing him.

"I do too," he chuckled. "I'm glad you do, baby,"

After they finished, they put all their gifts up, and pulled out a box of chocolate covered strawberries that she bought, and they laid up together, watching as the sun finally set in front of them. It was a little chilly out, but they didn't mind.