#Sample...Friday? First look at Power Forward
A couple notes:
- if you haven't read any of the N&Ts books, you might wanna get on that soon bc context is needed from them, specifically Bounce Back, in order to fully appreciate Power Forward
- the following excerpt is only lightly edited so pls excuse any errors that may occur in the text
***
Zebediah
Ain’t too late to get with the winning team at the Conrad. -Zeb
Wifey’s first time in Vegas and she wants the strip experience. I’m still comin’ down there to raid your minibar though. - Big Bruh
Does flexin’ this hard mean I can charge my spa services to the room, bubba? - Jahbaby
I laughed at the two of them being the first to respond while the twins probably wouldn’t bother chiming in. Micah was a damn miser who, even when I offered to foot the bill, never took me up on the offer to live life a little lavishly. The shit was crazy considering how flighty and all over the place he’d been in his twenties. I guess having a kid and settling down with his lady had changed his point of view. And Mickey wouldn’t be caught dead being anywhere that was not where her husband was, so I knew convincing them to stay anywhere outside of the provided accommodations was a lost cause.
Whatever’s clever, babygirl. - Zeb
Are we still on for dinner by you and Jah? - Big Bruh
Yeah, I made reservations for eight at Fuhu at 8. - Zeb
Make that nine. Kyra’s coming. - Double
Unbidden a grin came to my face at that news. Kyra was my younger sister’s best friend and in another life, my future wife. My sister would shit herself if she ever heard me express the idea, but from the moment I’d been introduced to her spitfire of a best friend there had been an undeniable chemistry that crackled between the two of us. Since she was like a sister to my little sister, I kept it player, reciprocating the flirtatious energy she always exuded when we were in the same room, but never taking it past that.
But I’d be damned if I hadn’t wanted to. Kyra was a bite-size portion of temptation with her smooth brown skin, standing no taller than five foot five, and a curvy body that women were out here paying for. All of that paired with her warm, expressive brown eyes, button nose, and cupid’s bow lips that were always painted in some shade of red whenever I saw her made for quite the stunner.
Aw shit, now I gotta make sure I look extra good for my future baby mama. - Zeb
Zebediah, please. I don’t know who’s worse between you and her. - Double
Why you wanna fight fate, Dub? Don’t be a hater all your life. - Zeb
🤬😤🖕- Double
Please don’t get her started, Z. - Trouble
Damn, here comes the fun police. I’ll modify the res, Dub. See y’all later. - Zeb
***
After my workout I made my way back up to the room, surprised at hearing two feminine voices engaged in conversation as I entered the room. Assuming that either our sister or sister-in-law had accompanied her down to check out the suite, I walked directly into the second bedroom talking shit.
“Mmmmhmmm, I told y’all to get with the winning team, this shit nice, right?” I crowed, making my way into the space.
“Ummmm, knocking is still a thing, rudeness,” Jahel instantly shot back. “What if me or Kyra weren’t dressed?”
Hearing the name made my head snap to the other side of the room where Kyra stood near the window with her arms crossed and a grin of amusement curving her mouth. Goddamn, she looked good.
“My bad, future baby mama,” I said, returning her grin. “I would apologize, but you already know how we get down.”
“Hey, Zebediah,” Kyra crooned as her eyes did a quick, but efficient sweep of my form.
“I’m tellin’ Mickey on y’all,” Jahel teased.
“Hush, brat,” I replied.
“I hope it’s not too much of an imposition,” Kyra’s honey-coated voice rang out as she moved back closer to where Jahel and I were standing.
“Seeing your beautiful face is never an imposition, only a pleasure,” I replied smoothly as Jahel rolled her eyes.
“Kyra’s hotel reservations got randomly canceled and instead of her trying to find a new room, I told her she could just bunk with us. We’ve got more than enough room here.”
“Absolutely. That ain’t no problem at all,” I said, still eyeing Kyra.
She was dressed simply, in an abstract printed dress, but the way it clung to her curves had me panting damn near as loudly as I had been when I’d hopped off the treadmill earlier.
“Great, now can you take that sweat and funk on into your room. You’re fuckin’ up the vibe in here,” Jahel quipped.
I could see Kyra suppressing a laugh in response.
“You think you’re real cute, huh kid?” I said, turning and advancing on Jahel like I was about to go after her. That was enough to make her squeal and skitter across the bed, closer to where Kyra stood as I laughed and made my way out of their room.
“You’re so childish,” Jahel called out after me.
“I’m sure you’ll make me pay for that later,” I called back.
She’d already taken the initiative to invite Kyra to stay here without checking with me, so I knew that Jahel’s decision-making when it came to anything else during our stay would go in pretty much the same manner. That was her m.o. She got away with murder being the baby of the family. Jahel’s motto was always take action first and repent later. We all indulged her, me maybe a little too much of everyone, so she’d grown accustomed to this just being the way.
I was in no way put out by Kyra’s presence in my suite however. Even though I couldn’t do more than look, I’d certainly be appreciating the view.