I turn on my radio when I get to stoplight and put on a station with slow jams. The only thing that keeps crossing my mind is that last kiss we just had. I run my finger across both my lips and feel that they're both swollen from tonight's kissing. I bite my lip and focus on the road; I'm definitely going to need a hot shower tonight. I glance at the clock and it's only fifteen past eleven, I'll shoot the girls a text when I get in the house. I turn on to my street and turn off the radio as I pull into our driveway. I notice that both Mom and Dad's cars are gone and realize that I haven't checked my phone since before dinner with Mekhi. I check it while I'm still sitting in the driveway and there aren't any messages so I grab my wristlet and shopping bags and head into the house.
Once I get inside I take off my sandals and carry them up to my room. No one is home yet, of course this is normal for a Saturday night at my house so I put my phone on the charger and play some music on my speaker. I put my shopping bags in my closet and take off Mekhi's jacket and hang it on the back of my chair remembering that I'm supposed to text him. I grab my phone and text both Mekhi and the girls that I'm home while I'm at it I send the same text to my family's group chat. I gather all of my shower things and turn on the water while I take out my bun, brush, moisturize and put my hair into four twists. When that's done I get undressed and get in the shower letting the steaming hot water cascade over my body. Thinking back on tonight and Mekhi my skin is sensitive all over again and I try to relax and let the water heal my body. I grab my scrub and wash my over sensitized skin thoroughly while letting the days adventures run through my mind. After my shower I clean and moisturize my face as well. Looking at my face flushed and lips a little more plump than usual I smile to myself in the mirror knowing that I'm happy. After brushing my teeth and putting on my hair wrap I find a night shirt and shorts to put on before I check my phone for any replies. There's a missed call and a few messages, Mekhi called and sent a message I'll call him back first.
Ring
Ringg
Ringggg
"Hello," Mekhi answers.
"Hey," I say.
"Hey, baby. I was just making sure you were alright," he says.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just got out of the shower," I say laying at the end of my bed.
"Shower huh…I wish I was there for that," he says and I blush at the thought of it.
"Me too," I reply.
"One day," he says.
"Yeah, did you get in okay," I ask him.
"Yeah, I got in alright," he answers.
"That's good…I guess I'll talk to you later," I say not wanting to overdo it.
"Alright baby, get some rest," he says.
"I will, goodnight," I say.
"Goodnight baby," he says and the call disconnects.
Smiling like the crazy fool that I am, I look at my texts and see that Mom and Dad took and impromptu mini vacation and the twins are with their friends for the night so I'm the only one home. Maybe Nova and Rylie will come over; I look at the clock and it is pretty late. I look at my messages from them and give them a rundown of my day with Mekhi. I mention that I have the house to myself and now they're coming to spend the night with me. I text my parents to let them know the girls are spending the night with me and get a few extra blankets and put all of my pillows going horizontal on the bed so we can all sleep there. I know it's going to be a long night with them so I gather as much junk food as I can and debate ordering a pizza when I hear their cars pull into the driveway. I run out to my car to grab my leftovers as they get out of their cars.
"Owwww, look at you," Rylie says with her overnight bag hanging off her shoulder.
"What," I say with my bag of food in hand.
"Girl you're looking too happy and judging from the group chat it went really well," Rylie says as she
walks toward me.
"Right! Girl you lit like a Christmas tree," Nova says as we all start to walk to the house.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I say giggling. Honestly I feel really good and if being lit up like a tree is what I look like, then so be it.
"So where'd you guys end up eating," Rylie asks locking the door behind her.
"I can't even remember the name of it, but I got this bomb Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta from there," I say showing her the box before putting it into the refrigerator.
"Oh ok, it smells good," Rylie says.
"It do. So are y'all together now or what," Nova asks sitting at the table.
"Dang, let me put the kettle on so we can talk," I says filling the kettle with water and placing it on the stove.
"Hurry up," Nova and Rylie say impatiently waiting at the breakfast table.
"Alright, good grief. We talked about us at dinner and he says he'll go at my pace because he wants me and I agreed to it. He was so patient and kind even when I freaked out in the restaurant he helped me calm down and didn't judge me. Like do y'all believe in love at first sight," I ask my closest friends sincerely.
"I can't say I don't believe it because it didn't happen for me, but I don't think it means that it's impossible," Nova says.
"Truth. He looked like he was serious about you earlier and looking at you now I can see the same affection in your eyes for him that he had for you," Rylie says insightfully.
"Y'all when I'm with him I feel at home and it's crazy because it hasn't even been a week, but it feels as if I've known him forever," I say.
"I know, it crazy. You know yourself better than we do," Nova says.
"Exactly, how do you feel about him," Rylie asks and I know the answer as soon as she asks the question.
"Like he's my soulmate or something. It just feel so easy around him. I can breathe and move freely. Like this is something I've never felt before," I say to them honestly.
"Yeah girlfriend, you got it bad," Nova says.
"Whatever makes you happy, we're happy," Rylie says.
"Whew! This day felt so short and long at the same time," I say getting up to turn off the water and get us all mugs.
"Yeah, I bet," Rylie says grabbing the teabags and sugar.
"Alright so now let's get the juicy details," Nova says grabbing teaspoons, napkins, and croissants.
"We kissed a few times, like set my body on fire kissing," I say as goosebumps rise in wake of the inevitable blush that's taking place.
"Damn girl, just thinking about it got you over here turning red," Rylie says with a giggle.
"Girl you don't understand. I haven't wanted anybody half as much as I want him. Like obviously he's fine, but my body reacted so different when he kissed me it scared me," I say recalling the way I felt when he pressed his body into mine.
"Yeah, this is the real deal. It took a while for you and Jay to get to the point," Nova says.
"I know, it has me questioning whether I even really loved him or not. Like does love change, did I mature, what is it," I ask pouring hot water into our mugs.
"It's different just like you said. You think Mekhi is your soulmate so of course this relationship is going to feel more intense than any previous one," Nova says placing the teabags in the mugs.
"I guess so. I can just feel myself falling y'all like I don't think I can stop it falling," I say stirring the teabag around my mug.
"Girl you are gone, you look happy right now though so we won't complain," Rylie says.
"Truth," Nova agrees.
We spend hours in the kitchen talking refilling our mugs and moving from croissants to ordering pizza. We laugh, we talk, we cry…finally able to get it all out with the whole Jay situation with my girls and begin my new journey with Mekhi. They talk about the time spent with their boyfriends and what we should plan to do this summer besides go to the beach. Since we're all in relationships we can triple date and get all the guys together and hope that they are as close as we are. After the pizza we find ourselves baking cookies and listening to music at some point Nova and Rylie put their pajamas on during all of this. When we eventually pass out in my room it's almost 4 am. When I finally fall asleep my night in the park just replays in different scenarios.