#[ fr like i had to work thanksgiving and NOW THIS ]

[guinevereslancelot]

just wrapped the first christmas present of the year ❤️

[qverdia]

ooc. having a migraine all day on your one day off this week should be illegal .

[tomorrowsgardennc]

market update // december 7th

also been a while since i did one of these market updates, too. it's been pretty repetitive for a bit while i was distracted by other things, but not distracted anymore. and when things are repetitive at the market (offerings, displays, etc.) then the customers just don't even stop by. and honestly don't blame them. but... but but but i was talking to the market manager about stocking stuffers and she gave me the idea of sewing actual stockings. well, i joked about it (stocking stuffers but without the stocking but that would be crazy if i sewed some hahaha wait you think that's an amazing idea and ppl will love it??? *drags out sewing machine*) i was legit joking but she said nah fr sew them. so i did. i found scraps of green and yellow fabric i've had and then thrifted a sweater for the inside lining. never sewn a curve before, only straight lines for blankets or cat kickers.

i look at them and see rookie mistakes and mistakes just from lack of experience. but before i dusted off the sewing machine, i was originally going to make small packets pre-picked or themed for people. then i was sewing and thinking it would make more sense as a gift to pick and choose. so eith mediocre but handmade stockings that fit the seed packets perfectly, i offered them for free if the customer bought 2 packsts and 1 label. and damn did it work! i sewed 6 out of 10 by market day, and 5 were sold. it helped sell the plant labels, that's for sure. people always complimented the plant labels but never bought them, so this helped push the sale of those. i'll be sewing the last 4 this week onceigetmoreneedlesdeliveredbecauseikeptbreakingtheneedlesonthemachinewhoops.

i also had another epiphany during sewing and lack of distractions. a decent amount of people ask what certain seeds look like, or especially silver dollar plants. so i made a few display jars with some dried flowers and seeds, and a seed arrangement. the seed arrangement has the dried silver dollar (with the seeds taken out), milkweed, indigo, cilantro, and rose of sharon pods. it really got peoples attention and asking what each one was. the milkweed and indigo were from farmer mama's place, so i didn't have the seeds to sell but people asked to buy some. i already have yellow milkweed seeds germinating and i do plan on growing indigo next year for dyes. so i guess a preview for next year's offerings.

i've also been volunteering more and helping out with the market itself. some i'm actually not allowed to talk about yet until it's made public. but one thing is that NONE of the volunteers wanted to draw the aframe signs each week (if they need changed). i was like uhhh but why? it's so much fun!! so now i'm designated sign volunteer each market morning. manager gave me a new set of markers to use as a thank you, too. and i'm going to take my sign volunteer duties so extremely seriously and nobody can stop me.

ending with photos from the night market that was right before thanksgiving. it was more social hour than a market but thats ok nice to talk to all the vendor neighbors for a bit. i legit love winter market better than "normal" market because 2 hours is the perfect amount of time. still exhausted afterward and sleep most of the day afterward... but that's fine. market day always takes up quite a lot of spoons, but absolutely worth it and i couldn't be happier.

[death4myluv]

bsf lore. warning, it's not crazy and prob therefore boring

I met my bsf when I was 3 yrs old. we were both at a princess class (don't ask). one of the actors thought me and him were siblings when we didn't know eachother. after that we were buddies for the whole day. our mom's exchanged info. turned out she was almost a yr older than me and lived a town over, someplace my family and I never needed to go. me and my bsf never would have met if not for this class.

Anyway, I can say I do not remember living without them. I don't remember my life before we were best friends. they have been my only bsf. we have known each other now for 14 yrs. I hope to keep knowing them 4ever.

we have never fought. not even as kids. no arguments over toys or different games to play (tho I did get very annoyed when she didn't want to play pretend horror lol, sure she had those moments w me too). the closest thing to an argument w him I remember was when he made me feel not smart by bragging abt school, and I cried to my mom abt it, and my mom brought it up to him and he started crying. but as soon as that happened we were hugging and saying sorry and it was over. that's all.

I have not gone more than a month without seeing them for as long as I can remember. this became rlly rought when they graduated last spring. now they live 8 hours away and I went all of fall without seeing her. :( I gen believe that the absence of her in my life played a huge role in my mental breakdown, but I will never tell her that.

Anyway I am pretty much in love w her. probably, idk. for the past year everytime we hang out I'm thinking abt how good a life w her would be. we have so much in common, seriously, and I want to spend the rest of everything in wtv way they'll allow me to for the rest of my life.

I see him as the kindest most selfless person in my world. I would have kms by now if not for him. I have had a few vivid nightmares where he takes his life, I can gen say that those r the worst dreams I've had. we have both struggled w a lot of the same mental health issues, thought I think mine might be more severe in the present. I'm always worried that they are actually like me rn. I'm always worried that I'm putting to much on them by having my problems. but if either of those things were true I would do anything to alleviate it. I can also gen say that seeing her cry makes me cry. like fr, not metaphorically; literally.

and in these past few months of terrible depression, all I rlly want is him. which doesn't make much sense, bc we never get thst emotionally intimate with eachother, but it's true. I've had to rework some of my future college plans bc I js can't do this shit how it is and I think being around them would help so much. in my world, I see them as my other half, even if I'm not theirs. and ig I'm okay w that. i do have some jealousy issues regarding her, but wtv.

ahh this is so stupid. I js don't know

the last time I saw them, when they came down for Thanksgiving, we went on a walk in the snow. they were so beautiful. I realized some things.

if the opportunity to date them presented, I wouldn't. it isn't the time for that yet. it's too.. special, ig, to not wait. I don't think that'd go well. I don't even want to do that. but I do really like the idea of trying when we are older and stable and can make smth work, like I imagine.

idk if I love them like that, but I do love them. i'd choose them everytime

[galaxycunt]

Thanks for the tag @gingernut1314

Figured this was a good way to introduce myself since I have new followers so hehehe be my friend don’t be shy I love yapping

Last song: dream house- deafheaven (yes I’m listening to sunbather I’m a nerd 😔)

Favorite color: pink but I have a lot of things in pastel purple lmao bring back pastel goth fr

Last movie/Tv show: I’m grinding thru one piece but I watched the curse the other day and nathan fielder you done it again

Sweet/spicy/savory: sweet. I’m the dessert guy on thanksgiving I’m making pecan pie (something Evans fam never had which is like ?? Im not that southern am I??) and cranberry sauce. I have extra cranberries so I’m either gonna make sweet tamales with them or do a cranberry tart idk yet

Relationship status: been with Evan for 6 years this Jan, married for 3 ���� it’s sweet and cringe I know but all my fics take inspo from our relationship even the stupid bad parts bc I’m sorry guys online is my diary lmaoooo

Last thing I googled: what happens next, which is a webcomic about a guy who helped his friend who killed his girlfriend when they were teens and what happens after he gets released and basically what he has to do with his life now

Current Obsession: one piece 😔 the guy I’m the assistant to at work is also super into now so literally we spend half our daily meetings just talking about it bc I’m almost caught up with him lmaoo im getting paid to obsess about one piece

I do have hobbies tho I swear I’m getting back to ceramics bc I bought clay and tools for a class awhile ago and I was depressed so I bailed on the class so I figured I can just use the studio space to mess around and see if I can just do that instead of learning

[yardofangels]

OMG HI!! So I just finished reading the latest chapter of your AO3 fic and I love love LOVE it!! I came to ur tumblr because I was hoping for more content and I saw ur post about Königs backstory and god his entire demeanor through the fic makes sense now!! I was wondering abt some stuff in his backstory though..

1. Why did he choose to enter the military instead of continuing math/science studies like his parents wanted him to?

2. He really seems to hate the people he worked with while in the military, so how did his ‘friendship’ with ghost and soap develop?

3. Would he ever introduce us to his family? (I know thanksgiving would be hell in his household 😭)

4. Do you think he’ll ever come to face his trauma? Like would he consider therapy or some other type of treatment?

5. (Bonus question) how do you write such good German 💀 I wanna write König fics but know absolutely nothing about German

Sorry for the onslaught of questions!! I just love this man so much fr

HELLO ANON !!!!!!! im so glad to hear that you're interested in König's backstory - it is such an important aspect of who he is (despite how much he would deny this fact if questioned) and as you said, really does dictate much of his behaviour in the fic.

i love getting questions!! there is no such thing as an onslaught of questions - just keep throwing them at me. often when im questioned it helps me add depth to the characters i write, inspires new ideas, etc. KEEP EM CUMMING !!!

okay. now to actually answering them

a huge part of it was to spite his family, actually. by his mid-teens, he would do just about anything to piss off his mother. yes, he loved his math and science, but it was something he could let go of. he never really felt a huge amount of passion for anything by the time he decided to join the military. his decision was also influenced by his lust for violence and underlying blood-thirst - he thought it would be a genius way to experiment with the anger that was bubbling away at the surface and see how he could release it. finally, he grew up with very few positive male role models. they were all hyper-masculine, aggressive, physicality-based. to him, the picture of a perfect man was a soldier, an army man. he thought it the most logical (and easy) pathway to guaranteed employment.

GREAAAT question. his friendship with ghost and soap started with Ghost. Ghost (in my au) was a few years older than König and had a bit more life experience than him. Ghost watched the way that the Austrian behaved for weeks; the silence, the angered glare, the punches thrown. he saw himself in König, and wanted to see what he could do to help, to prevent him from ending up where he did. it was a slow process to befriend König and earn his trust, but after weeks of quick comments, pats on the back, and quiet early mornings, Ghost finally got him to come around. and Soap? well, he's just an extension of Ghost. that's what he would say to anyone else, including Ghost, but internally, König actually quite liked Soap. his incessant comedy and positivity were both infuriating and admirable, especially in the face of what they were contending with at times. finally, he appreciated the fact that neither of them seemed to judge him for much. they were just interested in his well-being, something that seemingly the rest of the boys were not.

fuck no! he doesn't want his beautiful girl to be exposed to the horrors that plagued him as a child, giving her any insight into the person he used to be. aside from that, he went no contact with his mothers years ago, after she divorced his father. his father only gets a text message from König once a year, normally at Christmas or around his birthday. maybe one day he'd clue his dad into the woman in his life, but not for a good long while. not until he's certain that you're not going anywhere.

another big fat no. on one hand, he knows that something might be a bit off about him, but on the other, he doesn't think it important enough to go and get it checked out. on all the psychological assessments before he joined the military, he lied on every single question. gave the impression that he was fine, because he knew what they expected of his mental health. he thinks it would be a waste of time. he much prefers just pushing it to the back of his mind and taking his anger out elsewhere. if he believes he's fine and doesn't need help, wouldn't those pansies who just want to study him think that too?

HEEELLLPPPP please it is not that good - in fact, i got a lesson from a German reader in my ask box correcting me on my German which from now on i will be implementing. it was all just google translate and blind faith that the Germans wouldn't get me for it. go for the writing!!! just trust that they won't get you too!!!!!

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

15th November >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 17:11-19 for Wednesday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time: ‘One of them turned back praising God’.

Wednesday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 17:11-19 No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner.

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

Gospel (USA) Luke 17:11-19 Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Reflections (3)

(i) Wednesday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

I have often been struck by the phrase in the gospel reading, ‘one of them turned back praising God’. Of the ten lepers that were healed by Jesus, only one ‘turned back’ to Jesus, a Samaritan. That ‘turning back’ was the outward expression of something very important that was happening within him, a readiness to look beyond the gift of his healing, towards God, the source of his healing, whom he recognized as powerfully at work through Jesus. There is a sense in which we all need to stop ourselves in our tracks like the Samaritan, and turn back to acknowledge the ways that God has blessed us, and give thanks and praise to God for all we have received. So much of what is good in our lives has been given to us. The most significant people in our lives have been given to us; they came to us as gifts. We discover in ourselves certain abilities. We may have worked to develop them, but they were given to us initially. The faith that brings us together at the Eucharist has been given to us. The community of believers where we meet the Lord in a special way has been given to us. We are a graced people and the most appropriate response to being graced is praise and thanksgiving. Very often our prayer is one of petition; we easily identify with the prayer of the lepers, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us’. We regularly pray some version of that prayer, as we come before the Lord in our need. It was the Samaritan alone who moved beyond the prayer of petition, who ‘turned back, praising God’. It was only the Samaritan who threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. We too need to keep turning back to give praise and thanks to the Lord, because we are continually being graced by him, even in those times when life is a real struggle. The Eucharist is one of the Lord’s great gifts to us, and our gathering for Mass is a special opportunity to turn back towards the Lord in praise and thanksgiving.

And/Or

(ii) Wednesday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel reading, ten lepers approached Jesus crying out to him, ‘Jesus, Master!’ Take pity on us’. Jesus responded to their desperate plight and healed them of their leprosy. However, only one, a Samaritan, came back to praise God and to thank Jesus. The unexpected gift of good health distracted the other nine so that they forgot about Jesus and failed in the normal human courtesy of returning to thank him for their cure. Only one of the ten, a Samaritan, turned towards God present in Jesus in sickness and in health; the other nine turned towards him only in sickness and forgot about him in health. Sometimes God’s greatest gifts to us can separate us from God. We can be so focused on the gift that we forget the source of the gift. It is only to the Samaritan that Jesus says, ‘Your faith as saved you’. Whereas all ten received the gift of physical health, he alone received the gift of salvation, which is the fruit of faith, a relationship with God that is alive and vital in health as well as in sickness. It is the outsider, the despised Samaritan, who teaches us the importance of valuing God at all times in and through all his gifts.

And/Or

(iii) Wednesday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

We have all been graced in various ways; we have all received a great deal as a gift. We don’t always recognize that the ultimate source of all these graces and gifts is God. That is what distinguished the Samaritan leper from the other nine in this morning’s gospel reading. All ten were equally graced; they had all been healed by Jesus of a disease that left them only half-alive. Yet, it is said of only one of them that, finding himself cured, he ‘turned back praising God at the top of his voice’. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him because he recognized that God was working through Jesus. He thanked Jesus, but he praised God. He had the insight to see that God was at work in gift of healing he received from Jesus. Jesus recognized this leper’s insight; he didn’t say, ‘nobody has come back to thank me, except this foreigner’, but ‘no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner’. That is why Jesus goes on to say to him, ‘your faith has saved you’. This leper had the vision of faith; he recognized God at work in the good that had happened to him, in the extraordinary way he had been graced. We are called to that same vision of faith; we are called to recognize and to acknowledge God at work in all those experiences of grace that bless us throughout our lives. God’s grace calls forth our praise.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[spaciousreasoning]

A Full Friday

Today at 6 a.m., when Nancy woke me up, after taking care of the cats, for my 7 a.m. dental appointment. The cleaning went just fine and I came home to start the day in a normal way at about 8 a.m.

The morning blood sugar was up to 143. Then we did our coffee and brain games. Among other things, we finished the week with a perfect score for the “On the Record” game at the Washington Post. A bit later we had oatmeal for breakfast.

There was more messing around with the GSP website. Dale Ann tried installing the certificate manually, but even after waiting around to see if it took we had no luck. I also saw notes about the nameservers being incorrect, but there was still no response whatsoever from the hosting company about anything. Fr. Steve approved the switch to GoDaddy. I checked the terms and conditions for moving forward.

I finally deactivated my “X” (formerly Twitter) account. According to a chart I was keeping, I had not posted anything since February 2021. I’m not in any hurry to join BlueSky, though plenty of people I know have. Some social media just doesn’t seem that important or necessary to me.

We cancelled our coffee meeting with Rector Ann for today, since Nancy was still in pain from her fall yesterday and did not feel like being social.

I ran to Costco for gas ($2.96 per gallon) and a few groceries. I also picked up the new Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich, “Now or Never.” It’s been a minute since I read one of these, but since I like holding a real book in my hand from time to time it seemed like a good purchase.

Kathleen stopped over for a visit. She had some chips and cheese and a fudgesicle. I ate my leftover Jersey Mike’s for lunch, along with more of the chips I bought at Costco.

Sam checked in from Edward Jones with Nancy about some account details that needed adjusting.

About 2:30 p.m., Kathleen went home, Nancy lay down for a nap, and I went for a walk. I put in 3.06 miles in 54 minutes, using the same route we had started yesterday when Nancy had her fall. I got 6,800 steps, and an average pace of 17:40 per mile. There was no rain, and it was not too cold. I worked up a sweat under my flannel shirt inside the flannel-lined jacket.

We started up the spaghetti sauce about 4:30 p.m., cooking garlic and mushrooms. We put them aside and cooked the hamburger, then put it all together with marinara sauce and some more spices. We made some garlic toast while boiling the noodles, and we ate dinner and finished cleaning up about 7 p.m.

Our streaming menu began with the Thursday night Colbert which included his wife doing “First Drafts” for Thanksgiving cards, followed by a new comedy special from Jim Gaffigan, another episode of “Coroner,” and, finally, the latest from “NCIS” to take us to bedtime.

[theogbadbitch]

Now I be tryna stay away from the cheating fics but they be finding me I swear🌚 this was SO good , HELLO??????

I’m thankful for YOU this thanksgiving Ms. Uzumaki-rebellion.

*long reblog*

“Bethany gave a look to Terry. They both knew Jordan had been seeing other women while stationed there.” They messy as hell pls (just like me fr)

“You lookin' at my wife funny?" Here’s hoping🌚

“Nigga, I know you. Seen with my own eyes how you move. Is that why you want the car for yourself? To sneak around on Nova?"

“You really are a piece of work. Here I am thinking you finally became a real man," Terry huffed.” Lord may this type of love NEVER find me, I’ll be in PRISON.

“You her daddy or something?" 🌚 maybe

“Wife?" Lourdes squeaked.” Yes, now get your ass on somewhere, her husband SO embarrassing

“He's a liar…and a cheat. His hoe is walking around my home!" Nova screamed.” Here we go chile

“Nova grabbed a glass from the dish rack near the sink and threw it at Jordan. It clipped him in the head.” As she should, throw the microwave at his ass next

“he became self-conscious.” Nigga look like a handsome ass marble statue mind you

“He could fuck her raw and cum all inside her. “ what a sick bastard #needthat

“He's being deployed to the Indo-Pacific at the end of the year." Good riddance.

“Excuse me," he said, stepping past her into the hallway” poor baby trying his hardest to ignore my girl

“Terry's jaw grew tight. The man ignored his wife but answered his phone for a friend? Trifling.” Somebody need to whoop his ass and I volunteer to do it.

“She rubbed those sticky lower lips against him harder, rocking her hips forward and back.”

“Can I cum inside you without a condom?" he asked.” SO freaked out

“This is all mine now," he said, while staring at her with his disarming green eyes.” WHEW. JUST WHEW.

“He wished he'd been the one to put a baby in her. “ careful what you wish for🌚

“I want to get you pregnant myself” that power of tongue is something I hear🌚

“I love you, Terry…I love you…"

“It's Nova…I think…I think she's cheating on me." I JUST BUSTED OUT LAUGHING

“ I know he's fucking the shit outta her cuz her body is ridiculous.” you don’t know the half of it nigga

“If she's happier, let her go." Nah he funny as hell for this 😭😭😭😭😭

Nobody:

Terry: I think you should leave her immediately and never contact her again thats just me tho

“Why would you want her to divorce me, Terry?" OOP—-🌚

“Are you fucking my wife?" This whole situation is crazy 😭😭😭😭😭

“it didn't surprise Terry at all that Nova left Jordan four months later.” We all cheered!!!

“He opened the envelope and pulled out a large color photo of a cute brown baby girl with green eyes so bright they seemed to leap off the photo paper. “ GREEN EYES????????

“Terrina Richmond.” THATS HIS BABY????

“Terry Richmond booked a flight to Charleston. He had to get his woman back and meet his new daughter.” We all cheered (again)

Lick Back by Uzumaki Rebellion

Pairing: Terry Richmond x Black Female OC

Warning(s): 18+, Explicit Sex, Angst, Cheating, Unprotected Sex, Illicit Extramarital Affair, Adultery, Pregnancy Sex, Breeding Kink, AITA!Terry Richmond.

Summary: Terry Richmond is stationed at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base where he teaches incoming soldiers close quarters combat techniques as a MCMAP instructor. While hanging with rowdy fresh blood recruits at a bar, he meets Nova, the new wife of a fellow soldier who recently moved to Oceanside from South Carolina. Nova and her husband Jordan seem close at first, but Terry knows that Jordan cheats on her every chance he gets with secret weekend trysts. When Nova becomes pregnant and struggles to keep her marriage together, Terry steps in to cheer her up from Jordan's indifference. But he unintentionally embarks upon an illicit affair with Nova that turns his life upside down.

Word count: 18.2K

"In this world, concrete flowers grow

Heartache, she only doin' what she know

Weekends, get it poppin' on the low

Better days comin' for sure"

Kendrick Lamar & Sza – "Luther"

Terry never planned on having an affair.

Like the cliché excuse used the world over, it just…happened.

He'd been drinking and playing pool with his marine buddies Kevin and Von when Jordan Patterson stumbled into their favorite off-base dive bar with a group of rambunctious grunts that disturbed the peace of other patrons.

"Hey, Patterson…pipe down," Terry called out.

Jordan raised a hand to wave at Terry before his jarhead crew stopped at the bar to order drinks. Their loud laughter and conversation sounded celebratory.

"Cut him some slack, T. The man just got married," Kevin said.

"Patterson? Married? To who?" Terry asked.

He noticed several women near the bar rolling their eyes at Jordan and his party. Sticking his thumb and index finger in his mouth, Terry whistled and gestured for the rowdy group to join his side of the bar where he could preserve the peace.

"Hey! Sergeant Richmond! You're back!" Jordan said.

"Yep. My leave ends in two days."

"How was Louisiana?" Jordan asked.

"Same as I left it."

"Family good?"

"Yep."

Jordan had a gregarious personality that came off bigger than life. He was about four inches shorter than Terry, with a chiseled, penny-brown face that turned heads wherever he went. A natural lady-killer. Terry liked him well enough as a soldier, but away from work, he wasn't much for running around in the streets like the younger Lance Corporal was. He gave dap to Jordan and the others, and the quiet calm he exuded filtered down to the others. Terry bought a round of drinks for the newlywed and his friends. They settled into a good time quickly.

An attractive entourage of women walked in and joined their group. Most were girlfriends or wives of the men he hung with. That's when Terry first noticed Nova. She was taller than a few of the other women who were Filipino and Black. One Mexican woman mixed into their group pointed toward them in the back, and Nova caught his eye. She looked unsure of the surroundings and he could smell the country aura she exuded. A loose ponytail held back her black hair, and she wore a cute orange jumper that showed off slender legs. She was light brown like him, but the type of brown that would get darker in the California sunshine given time. Terry sipped his glass of whiskey and concentrated on the pool game he played with Von.

"Sarge…sarge…lemme introduce you to my wife…Nova. Nova…this is the baddest MCMAP instructor on base…Terry Richmond."

Nova's warm brown eyes twinkled. He held out a hand to shake. She took it.

"How are you doing, Mrs. Patterson?"

Nova giggled.

"That still sounds so strange to hear," she said. "Pleased to meet you Terry."

Her southcack accent sounded like warm honey molasses on thick buttered toast, and for a second, he couldn't believe Jordan's wild ass could pull a sweet country girl clear across the nation. Terry glanced at Jordan, but the younger man already had his eye on some other beauty playing pool at another table. The youngin always had a wandering eye, but Terry figured he'd shut that shit down with a wife present.

"You coming to the spot tomorrow? We're throwing a barbecue to celebrate me and Nova," Jordan said.

"I'll be there," Terry said. He looked at Nova again. "Enjoy your time here."

Von missed a shot, and Terry returned to his game, soon forgetting about Nova.

The bar had a small area where a live band played, and the music was a mix of millennial R&B and pop hits. Terry left tip money on a nearby table for his server and headed for the door. He glimpsed Jordan dancing with Nova, and they appeared happy. In love. He wished them well in his heart and went home.

Little did he know that their brief encounter would morph into something bigger than he could've imagined.

Terry wasn't hurting for companionship. Six-foot-three, fit, good looking, and single, he enjoyed a wide variety of women from Long Beach to San Diego. Living in Oceanside long enough had him looking away from the small seaside town for women. Military life attracted a certain kind of woman he wasn't interested in near the base. He was pleasantly surprised that Nova was nothing like the husband-hungry women his military buddies dealt with. For one, she was a university graduate. He found that out on the weekly flag football game he played at a park with the guys and their partners.

Playing flag football with men and women was something he and Von started seven years ago to create a tight bond of friends, especially for the younger men coming into the fold. It soon became a casual mentorship that fostered goodwill and was a lot of fun. It also helped the women find friends to help deal with homesickness for those who were far away from home for the first time. They became a support system when the men were called to do their tour of duty.

The crew played before eating, and Terry covered quarterback duty for Team A. He brought his friend Angie, who everyone thought he was fucking, to hang out and play. She was his beard to keep the other women from setting him up with their female friends who were desperate for a marine to marry. Angie was gay and always played her part well, plus she was a skilled football player.

Nova played with Jordan on Team B, facing a man twice her size. The sun beat down on them, and the odor of grilled ribs and brown sugar barbecue sauce flared his nostrils at the start of the game. Von and his wife Bethany started cooking early before everyone else arrived so that the food would be ready after the first quick game. Kevin played the role as ref and blew the whistle to start the game after Terry took a long huddle to explain to a new soldier's girlfriend her position. Her name was Cath, a white-looking mixed Filipina who seemed more interested in looking cute rather than actually playing. She kept batting her lashes at Terry and fiddling with her stringy dyed hair the color of a bleeding sunset.

"Let's go Team A, we ain't got all day!" Kevin called out.

Terry clapped his hands, and his teammates spread out. Angie hiked the ball to him, and Terry took a step back, cradling the football in his hand, ready to spring his powerful arm forward. His two wide-receivers, a man and woman, jetted down the grassy field and—

Nova snatched his blue flag from around his waist in less than six seconds.

Terry stared at her with an incredulous expression as Jordan danced around and talked mad shit. Nova grinned and twirled his flag belt in her hand. Terry glared at Conner, who was supposed to block her.

"Aye, she's fast, man," Conner said. "I pushed her back, but she got around me."

Team A huddled again. Terry glanced at Nova. An impish smirk creased her pretty lips. Angie hiked the ball, and Nova gunned it for him, blowing past Connor's bulky frame like he was a toddler. Terry ran and threw the ball fast. In fact, Nova kept him running and switching up his plays. When Team B finally had their chance to move the ball around, Terry and the others witnessed Nova's athleticism. Her lean build and speed were amazing. They switched up the teams after eating, and Terry took a break to watch and drink beer from the sidelines. He thought it was cute the way Jordan slapped his wife's butt each time she made a huge play. They were lovey-dovey and Terry hoped she would curb his explosive temper that he sometimes brought to the games. Jordan could be hard on new guys hanging out to play with them, and the addition of alcohol with testosterone didn't help.

Nova skipped playing the last game of the day and sat near Von's wife and Angie, chatting. Other women joined them as the guys stood or sat around arguing about their fantasy football picks or why Bronny James should ride his nepo ass on the Laker team bus. Terry ate another rib and licked his fingers, listening to the clash of several conversations. Jordan pulled a folding chair next to his wife and threaded his fingers with hers.

"Tired of them niggas arguing about the same shit every weekend," Jordan said.

"What do you think of California?" Angie asked Nova.

Jordan kissed her hand, and Nova fixed her eyes on Angie.

"It's different. A little faster than what I'm used to."

"You'll get used to it, baby," Jordan said.

The football landed in his lap. Kevin jogged over.

"You wanna play a quick game? These cholos nearby want to play," Kevin said.

Jordan glanced at Terry.

"You in man?" Jordan asked.

"I'm good."

Jordan bounced up from his seat and darted out to the field.

"He is so happy," Bethany said.

Nova gave a winsome smile while staring at her husband.

"We both are."

"How long were you dating before getting married?" Angie asked.

"Oh, Jordy's been my childhood sweetheart since I was thirteen."

"Really? Oh gosh, that's so cute," Bethany said.

Bethany gave a look to Terry. They both knew Jordan had been seeing other women while stationed there.

"We'd been on and off since high school. I went to the University of South Carolina in Columbia and got my degree in communications. I have to wait a year to get residency here, and then I'm going to apply to SDSU and get my masters in communications."

"What do you want to do?"

"News broadcasting. I'm starting an internship at KGTV next month. That means a lot of commuting to San Diego."

"It's not bad, thirty to forty minutes," Angie said.

"Jordy proposed to me last year when he came home to visit. I told him I wasn't getting married until I had my degree in my hand first."

"I know that's right," Bethany said, tossing back her Senegalese twists. "Von and I were married ten years ago. Two kids later and I'm still wishing I finished my education. I'm thinking about doing some online classes next year."

"Do it!" Angie said, patting Bethany's leg.

Nova sighed and watched Jordan play football.

Terry discreetly studied her and wondered if she knew her husband cheated on her all the time while she was in South Carolina. He couldn't let go of the disappointment he felt in Jordan who'd been his pet project for three years because the big brass felt he had the potential to be an outstanding soldier, but needed a personal hand to keep him in line. Terry took on that responsibility and kept the man under his wing. Jordan's biggest problem was his immaturity. At twenty-five, he was only two years younger than Terry, but their maturity levels were worlds apart. Nova seemed like a smart woman and had to know her man wasn't up to her level. He didn't want to assume anything because men often acted differently around their women sometimes. Terry just hated seeing good Black women choosing lames.

She caught him looking at her.

"You play football well," he blurted.

"Jordy and I played all the time back home. Our families are close and full of boys, so I got in to fit in. I ran track too, so that helps."

"Yeah, it does, cuz you did not let me rest out there."

They all laughed.

She kept him laughing. The others, too. Nova fit the group perfectly. She was funny and encouraging and smitten with Jordan.

While packing up, Bethany cornered Terry near his truck.

"Did you know Jordan was engaged all this time?"

"No."

"That man was at my house last month with some random woman. I feel so icky talking with his wife knowing he's been unfaithful with other women."

"Maybe they had an understanding while they were long distance."

"Stop making excuses for him, Terry. You know that's some janky ass shit to bring a wife around us out of the blue. No Black woman from here to Timbuktu is going to accept that."

"That's why we're all going to mind our business."

Bethany moved closer to him, her hard light brown eyes almost glowing in her dark brown face. She lifted an accusatory finger at him and wagged it.

"You need to have a talk with him, or else I will. You're his leader that he respects and listens to. Von would just curse him out and make things worse. Nova is a beautiful woman who deserves respect. We're lucky he brought none of those other women to our football games. Suppose one of those birds popped up today?"

"Alright…alright…I'll check in with Jordan, but I won't lecture him."

"Good. Let him know I'm watching out for Nova."

Von wandered over, carrying leftover bags of supplies.

"What are you fussing about over here?" Von asked.

"Jordan," Bethany said.

Von grit his teeth comically.

"You didn't say anything to Nova, did you?" Von asked.

"I'm not hurting a woman I just met on the first day. Terry's going to talk to him."

"Babe, we gotta stay outta other grown folk's business."

"Jordan and the word 'grown' do not compute. The man runs around town like a horny teenager," Bethany complained.

"He's married to a good woman, and she's living here with him now. Let's all be cool and act like we don't know a damn thing."

"Terry…check that man or I'm pulling the pin and blowing his shit up," Bethany said, climbing into their mini-van.

Von and Bethany left him standing alone.

Jordan and Nova embraced each other near their car.

Maybe Jordan got his dick wetting season over with and would finally settle down.

Six months passed by, and Terry didn't feel the need to say anything to Jordan. The man fell into a marriage routine that convinced even Bethany that matrimony cured his loose dick. The couple invited everyone to their new military home for a housewarming party and, seeing them together, Terry had to admit there was some growth in Jordan's behavior. He was attentive to his wife, and didn't hang at the bars with the single men as much anymore. When he did pop out, he brought Nova with him, and they left early. No more bar crawls or skirt chasing. Domestic bliss. Kevin married his fiancé during a winter wedding, and Jordan gave a moving speech about how marriage changed a man for the better. Babies were born, and other men in his circle got engaged or settled into long-term relationships. The more he looked around, the more he felt like the lone bachelor clinging to singledom.

Terry didn't want to think about a wife and kids until after he was out of the military. He had a good gig going with MCMAP. A decent wage. The respect of his peers. The freedom to come and go as he pleased with no strings. Pussy was easy to come by, and no woman was special enough to entice him into monogamy.

His schedule grew hectic as the military geared up for a new deployment. He never had to go anywhere because the Marines recognized his value in training. An elite soldier in his rank, the higher ups wanted Terry to mold thousands more just like him during his stint. He went in hard on his charges, building up the best trained soldiers he could.

Nova adjusted to California life. She and Jordan had to share the use of one car to save money for her future schooling. She'd drop Jordan off to work and make the drive to San Diego for her internship. After a month, he heard from Bethany that Nova quit the internship because it became too stressful to meet the requirements with Jordan's schedule. They couldn't afford another car at the moment because the cost of military housing had gone up.

Nova ended up taking a part-time job at a public library as she waited for her residency to kick in for school. She'd gained weight and Jordan didn't seem too happy about it. Terry thought she looked good, filling out more from living a slower lifestyle than when she was running around on a university campus. At the flag football games, they bickered a lot, and Nova stopped playing altogether, sometimes not even showing up at the park. Bethany gave Terry a look at the absence, and he finally pulled Jordan aside.

"Hey man…what's going on with you? Everything cool at home?" Terry asked nonchalantly on a park bench.

"Aw man…y'know, life is lifing. Things aren't going the way we planned…or rather, the way she planned."

"What's up with Nova?"

Jordan glanced at the grass on the ground and picked at a scratch on his knee that he injured earlier that day from falling. Terry had to pull him away from another player before a fight broke out. A dude named Marcus had simply tripped over his feet and fell into Jordan, but Jordan flipped out about it, shoving Marcus in the chest.

"Man…this marriage shit is for the birds."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't wanna talk about it, Sarge."

"That's what I'm here for, Jordan."

He gave an exasperated sigh.

"I love Nova…I really do…but lately…she's been getting on my nerves."

"How?"

"Always asking me about shit that ain't really important right now. She wants another car for school, and I told her she should postpone going to SDSU, at least until I make a higher paygrade. She got a job to pay for a new car herself. Her library gig is within walking distance, so she doesn't need to have my car during the day. I need to use it more than her."

"For what? She drops you off and picks you up every day."

"Sometimes I wanna go to the bar with the fellas after work to chill."

"Then ride with them and hitch a ride home with 'em too…or catch an Uber or a Lyft."

"Man, I ain't doing all that."

"You expect her to do that, then?"

"She don't need the car every day," Jordan grumbled. "Walking will do her good, anyway. All she's doing is getting fat."

"That's how you talk about your wife?"

Jordan sucked his teeth.

"Her ass used to be fine as hell when she first got here."

"She's still fine."

Jordan glared at him.

"You lookin' at my wife funny?"

"No, what I'm saying is, Nova is still a beautiful woman. She's a lil thicker and in case you haven't noticed, no one else is complaining when she rides on base dropping your ass off early in the morning."

"I'ma get her a gym membership on base and whip that ass back into shape."

"You foul man."

"Not trying to have a sloppy booty wife."

Terry's jaw tightened. He thought Nova looked even better with the weight gain. She started wearing large T-shirts and sweatpants more, but he and the other guys on base appreciated the extra jiggles when she walked by. His daddy always told him a well-loved woman put on weight the first few years of marriage. That's how a man knew he was taking care of his wife.

Jordan looked off into the distance and Terry turned his head to see what he was checking out. One guy had brought an extra female friend to play football, a lithe Black woman from L.A. who modeled for department store flyers.

"Jordan, I hope you're staying true to your vows with Nova and not stepping out on her."

Jordan's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"What are you talking about?"

"You heard me. We all know you were fucking around before you brought her out here. None of us knew you had a fiancé, and you brought her back like a prized jewel. Now you're acting like you want to trade her in for some outhouse pussy cuz she put on a few pounds. You shouldn't have gotten married if you're acting like this."

"Jumping to conclusions and shit—"

"Nigga, I know you. Seen with my own eyes how you move. Is that why you want the car for yourself? To sneak around on Nova?"

Jordan wouldn't look Terry in the eye.

"You really are a piece of work. Here I am thinking you finally became a real man," Terry huffed.

He stood and narrowed his eyes at Jordan.

"Get your shit together. Stop trash talking your wife and take your ass home. Buy her some flowers and candy. Spoil her for even choosing your ungrateful ass."

"Whatever, man. You wouldn't understand… you ain't never been with anybody long-term."

"Because I have the maturity to know I'm not ready to settle down. Do better. Respect your wife. Don't let me catch wind of you fucking around on her."

"You her daddy or something?"

Terry held his tongue.

Shit hit the fan on a fourth of July cookout at Nova and Jordan's house.

Terry arrived, bringing ice and his homemade salmon croquettes. He mingled with the joyous gathering of co-workers and friends. Nova played the cheerful hostess, wearing a red, white, and blue summer dress that accentuated her new curves. Her face looked rounder, and she kept tugging on the back of her dress.

"This thing keeps riding up," Nova joked with Bethany.

"Welcome to the world of big booty life," Bethany said, patting her own high shelf donk.

Terry played d.j. with the music, synching his phone with the sound system. He put together a Black Barbecue playlist and let Frankie Beverly and Maze remind people of their childhoods. Bethany shouted and raised her hands when Roy Ayer's "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" popped on and the music fit the vibe of Black folks getting brown in the sunshine of the Patterson's backyard cookout.

Kevin handed Terry a glass of beer from the keg someone brought for the occasion. He gulped it down to cool off and watched the ecstatic faces around him. Life was good.

Terry's friend Raymond arrived with a bunch of people bearing drinks and lemon meringue pies. Jordan and Nova stood near him and greeted the new guests. Terry noticed Jordan's shifty eyes as he tried to ignore Lourdes, a Mexican chick known to Terry's crew as a pass around good time.

"I remember you," Lourdes purred, rubbing her hand up Jordan's arm.

Jordan grinned and nervously threw an arm around Nova's waist.

"Hey, good seeing you at another cookout…this is my wife, Nova," Jordan said.

"Hi," Nova said.

"Wife?" Lourdes squeaked.

Nova's lips pressed tightly together and Lourdes fluttered her eyes back to Jordan.

"Haven't seen you at Ringer's for a minute. Thought you got deployed," Lourdes said.

Nova glared at Jordan and stomped away.

Terry switched the music to upbeat, loud fun, and a few people started dancing. Jordan went after Nova. Lourdes grabbed a glass of beer from Raymond and flitted among the men, ignoring the other women completely.

Terry heard shouting from in the house and he followed behind Bethany and Von to check it out. Inside the kitchen, Nova screamed at Jordan, who only leaned against the kitchen island with a grim expression.

"Nova…Jordan? Everything okay in here?" Bethany asked.

Nova's wet face and agitated state told the complete story. Terry looked at Jordan.

"He's a liar…and a cheat. His hoe is walking around my home!" Nova screamed.

Jordan lowered his head. Terry was glad the man had an ounce of shame in him.

"I told you that bitch was from a long time ago. You're making a big deal about a past relationship," Jordan said.

"Past relationship? Jordan, we've been together forever! You promised that you were done disrespecting me. I should've listened to my friends and never come out here!"

Nova grabbed a glass from the dish rack near the sink and threw it at Jordan. It clipped him in the head.

"Nova…fuck!" he screeched.

Jordan lunged forward to stop her from throwing a dish, but Terry stepped between them, blocking him with his back.

"Okay, let's all calm down," Terry said.

Von put an arm around Jordan's shoulder and walked him out of the kitchen. Bethany stayed behind.

"I'll tell Raymond to get that woman out of here," Terry said.

Bethany nodded, and Nova burst into tears.

"Oh, sweetie…let the men handle this," Bethany said, hugging Nova.

Terry sought Von and Jordan.

Lourdes and Raymond left in a hurry with their group, and everyone at the party gossiped in hushed tones as music continued blasting. On the side of the house, Von cursed out Jordan whose only response was, "I know…I know…I know…"

"Are you still fucking Lourdes?" Terry asked.

"That shit is old. Ain't my fault Raymond brought her over here. I didn't invite that woman."

"How old?" Terry asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"I dead that shit back in January."

"January? Nigga, you're married!" Von shouted.

"Keep your voice down," Jordan said.

Terry stuck a finger in his face.

"You betta not trip when she leaves your ass," Terry said.

"She ain't going nowhere."

"Why not?"

Jordan closed his eyes and rested his head against the side of his house.

"She's pregnant."

Von and Terry groaned and rolled their eyes.

"See, niggas like you is why Black women hate us now," Von barked.

"I'm gonna change…watch and see. I gotta man up now…I'ma be a father and my kid needs his father."

"If she were smart, she'd abort and go home," Von said.

"Von…yo…ease up, man," Terry said.

"Nah, T…Jordan doesn't want a wife…and he damn sure don't deserve no children with how he acts toward Nova. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany is in there now telling her the same thing! I oughta kick your punk ass."

"Stand down, Washington," Terry said, using Von's surname in a tone used at work.

Von threw up his hands and walked away. Jordan pushed past Terry and entered a side door that went into the garage and back into the house. Terry followed.

Nova stood in the kitchen with Bethany. Terry nodded his head for Bethany to leave, and he posted up by the fridge to watch over Jordan.

"Baby, I'm sorry. Please…don't make that face. I know I'm always sorry about shit and I hurt you. Don't abort my baby."

Nova glanced at Terry. The pregnancy had been a secret, apparently.

"Get out of my face," Nova said.

"Nova—"

Terry put a hand on Jordan's shoulder.

"Give her some space, c'mon."

He led Jordan back to the party. Everyone else partied on, ignoring the messy marital discord. Jordan drank some beer and joined Kevin and Von in a corner with some married men. Terry sauntered over to the food table and made himself a plate. Bethany had smoke coming out of her ears, commiserating with other women.

The mood had soured within the hour, and folks gathered to-go plates and said their goodbyes. Terry made himself a plate of pork ribs and macaroni salad with a couple of hot links thrown on top for good measure. Kevin took Jordan to his house for the night with his wife, Vivian, to keep him away from Nova. They both needed to sleep apart and figure out their situation in the morning.

Terry held up a hand to everyone left behind and headed out. Two blocks down the street, the glare of the sunset struck his eyes. He reached for the top of his head and couldn't find his sunglasses. Pulling over, he searched the truck seat to see if they fell off. Then he remembered. He put them down on the patio table at Jordan's. If they had been cheap drugstore shades, he would've let it go. But they were three hundred dollar wrap-around Oakley's.

He made a U-turn and parked in the Patterson driveway. Sneaking toward the side of the house, he crept toward the high wooden gate that led to the yard. He wanted to run in and out of the backyard without disturbing Nova.

The gate was locked.

He walked back to the front and rang the doorbell.

Nova answered with pink eyes, still wearing her holiday dress.

"Hey…Nova…sorry to bother you, but I left my shades in your backyard. Can I go get them?"

"Sure," she said, stepping aside.

Terry moved through the living room and into the kitchen, pushing on the sliding glass doors. He found his shades perched on a speaker. He tucked them into the neck of his t-shirt and looked at the other speaker.

"I can move these back in the house for you," he offered.

Nova nodded. He didn't want her straining to carry them. It took him less than a minute to move them and the cords inside the living room. Jordan could set them back up when he returned home.

"All done. See ya next time," he said.

Nova nodded with her back to him, facing the kitchen sink. Her shoulders shook and Terry felt awkward being there while she cried.

"You'll be okay, right? Maybe call a friend over?" he suggested.

"What friends? Everyone is Jordan's friend."

"Bethany?"

She shook her head.

"I can't bother her. She has kids and stuff to do. I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Thanks for bringing the speakers in."

"No problem…alright. I'm going to bounce."

Nova turned her head to the side.

"Everyone knew, didn't they? That he's been cheating on me this entire time?"

"Nova…uh…"

She glanced at him with glossy eyes and a crinkle in her forehead.

"You don't have to lie to me, too, Terry. I've always suspected, but couldn't prove it back home. He swore up and down that he's been faithful and only loved me. Jordan made me look like the biggest dumb fool today. How many other women have come through my house and fucked my husband while smiling in my face?"

"We thought he would change…we didn't even know about you until you arrived a year ago."

"Not one of you said anything."

Terry moved over to the sink and stood next to her.

"Look, a few of us talked about it. Bethany wanted to tell you from day one, but we…the fellas…we thought Jordan would shape up. It became a matter of us not wanting to hurt you."

She closed her eyes. A single tear ran down her face. He felt like shit.

"Bros before hoes," she said.

"It's fucked up, but…yeah, that's what it came down to. None of us wanted this for you."

"Well… I got it, anyway."

Her face crumpled. She covered her eyes with her right hand.

"He's not attracted to me anymore…I've gained all this weight…now I'm pregnant and can't trust anyone around me!"

Her cry of pain bruised his insides.

Terry stood paralyzed next to her, not wanting to be inappropriate, although he thought he was supposed to hug her or something. No comforting words came to mind that sounded good enough for her. He pulled out his cell phone and called Von.

"Yo…man…can you put Bethany on the phone? I'm at Jordan's place and Nova is having a hard time…Bethany? Hey, can I ask for a big favor? Could you come over to Nova's? Yeah…it's bad…okay. Okay. Thanks."

He swiped his phone and stuck it in his back pocket.

"Bethany is coming over right now—"

Nova pushed her face against his chest and wept. The top of her hair tickled his chin, and he held his arms out, not knowing where to place them. He finally hugged her, and she broke down more, her warm tears soaking his shirt.

"I'm sorry you're going through this, Nova…I really am."

He stroked her back as she poured her wounded soul into his broad chest.

"Shh…shh…it hurts bad now, but it'll pass…I promise…" he whispered to her.

She nodded and leaned back, wiping her face.

"You're too pretty to be scrunching up your face like you tasted some lemons," he teased.

Nova laughed and blinked away tears.

He became cognizant that he still held her close against him. She smelled like sugar cookies and all the weight Jordan complained about felt good in his arms.

"Your smile lights up a room, and if that fool can't appreciate it, someone else will," he said.

Nova gazed into his eyes. With her hair up in a bun, Terry could enjoy every part of her sweet face. They'd never been that close together, and he became self-conscious. He dropped his hands to his sides, but kept his eyes on hers. Nova stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for caring so much," she said.

Uncomfortable. That was the first feeling that ran through him. He shouldn't be there with her. Alone. Seconds ticked by and they both stood there, looking at one another. Her eyes focused on his lips and she kissed him on the mouth.

Like an idiot, he kissed her back, parting his lips so her tongue could probe his mouth and find the comfort she needed. She didn't hold back, circling his neck with her arms and pressing into him hard, wanting to feel his muscles against her heavenly frame. Terry tilted his head more and thrust his tongue further into her mouth. He swallowed the soft moan Nova released against his lips. He licked her bottom lip and kissed her fully until they both started moaning from the illicit encounter.

One nasty thought kicked around in his brain.

He could fuck her raw and cum all inside her. Since she was already pregnant, there'd be no need to have a condom barrier to prevent knocking her up. His breeding kink revved up, and he seriously thought about fucking Nova in her marital bed to teach Jordan a lesson. Fill her up with his cum…treat her the way she deserved to be treated by a real man who appreciated a woman no matter what her size was. Jordan was crazy to think a once slender Nova didn't compete with the thicker one in his arms. And she was about to get even bigger while pregnant?

His dick got hard.

Nova felt it poking against her.

"We gotta stop," he whispered into her mouth.

"Why? I should be allowed to get my lick back with someone better than my husband."

Terry pulled away, afraid of the consequences if Nova kept talking to him reckless like that.

His erection tented his pants. It was undeniable how much he wanted her. Nova licked her lips, staring at the thick bulge she could have. She boldly reached out and touched it…squeezed it to see how big it was. He moaned, and she ran her fingers up and down his length, teasing him until she reached the wide head that strained against his zipper. Pulling her fingers away, he had to take a stand or else they'd do something that couldn't be undone.

"Bethany will be here. I better go."

Terry swiftly parted from her and rushed to his truck. The irrational part of his mind wanted to lay some good pipe down on her. He wiped her lipstick off of his mouth once he sat in the driver's seat. His dick throbbed in his pants.

Nova was married. Calm the fuck down.

Yes, Jordan Patterson was a selfish knucklehead, but that didn't mean snatching up the man's wife because he dogged her out.

Terry started his car and drove away before Bethany showed up. He spent the next two days relaxing in his bachelor's quarters on base. At work, he ran into Jordan briefly, but it was in passing to teach one of his martial arts classes. Jordan looked sheepish and apologetic, and Terry just gave a nod and kept on moving.

He skipped two weeks of flag football, not wanting to hear gossip or run into Nova. No one questioned his non-socializing. He sometimes dropped out of sight when his workload increased to cover staff leave or new training.

A third week of avoiding his friends continued, and his phone rang with a number he didn't recognize. He answered without thinking.

"Hello?"

"Hi Terry. It's me…Nova."

"Nova…hey…I don't—"

"I'm sorry. If you're avoiding everyone because of me…you don't have to stay away from your friends. I kissed you and it was wrong. I made things weird for you."

Terry sighed.

"I don't want any problems, Nova. You and Jordan have to sort your relationship out without adding more trouble."

"I don't know why I did that, Terry. You were just being kind, and I liked how you made me feel…wanted. Seen. I'm two months pregnant and my hormones could be messing with me, too. I want to apologize and ask that you not hide anymore. It makes me feel awful, like I chased you away being inappropriate when I was feeling low."

"It's understandable…but I really have been busy. Don't stress out about anything. That night has been forgotten."

"Good."

"See you around," he said.

He hung up and deleted her number from his phone.

Hearing her voice did something to him. He called up Von and went to his house to have a beer and catch up. Bethany wasn't home, so the men could chat openly without her chiming in or judging.

"How's Jordan been doing with Nova?"

"Hard to say, really. They seem okay. But he's at the bar after work a lot. Kevin hung out with him a few times. Tried talking sense into him. Looks like they're going to work things out."

"Good for them."

"He's being deployed to the Indo-Pacific at the end of the year."

Terry exhaled with a loud breath.

"Damn, that sucks. He'll miss the birth."

"Yep. But distance has a way of making the heart grow fonder. That's what they say, right?"

"With Jordan, it seems to do the opposite."

"He wants Nova to go back to South Carolina while he's gone. She wants to stay here."

"She doesn't have a support system here, though."

"Bethany has adopted her as the little sister she always wanted. Nova is good people. We'll look after her."

Terry left Von and took a drive up the coast to see a friend in Long Beach. He returned to Camp Pendleton and got a fresh line-up from his barber and hooked up with his buds for a baseball viewing party at an on-base pub. The Padres lost, and he ended up playing pool for the rest of the night, listening to tall tales and body counts among his peers. Unexpectedly, Jordan and Nova showed up to hang out.

He couldn't look at her the same way.

She'd fixed her hair into a sexy new pixie cut that had soft gelled waves making her look like a starlet and even more attractive. Their eyes met and something definitely changed between them. All he could think about was their kiss, and the way she wanted to feel on his dick. Her dewy gaze told him she was thinking the same thing, too. Terry avoided saying too much to her, giving a polite 'Hello' to them both before locking into his pool shots.

Jordan guzzled down beer and hammed it up with a few officers. Nova wandered over to his pool table, nursing a soda. She sipped and watched him play against his friend Luis, then slipped a quarter onto the end of the table, signaling she had the next game against whoever won. Of course, it was him because Luis was a lousy shot most of the time.

Nova chose a pool stick and chalked it down, eyeing him curiously with a playful smile. Terry glanced around, hoping someone else wanted to play instead, but the guys were too busy drinking and talking loud. The pub overflowed with patrons, blocking him and Nova from view of the others. He checked the watch on his arm.

"Gotta run. Early day tomorrow," he said.

He placed his pool stick on the rack and wiped his hands of chalk dust. Nova pursed her lips and her shoulders drooped. He forced himself to leave. Looking at her only increased a forbidden desire, and he'd be damned if he fell for a woman simply for lust. He had a roster of willing women on his phone if he needed sexual relief that badly. Nova was danger, and he read the warnings clearly.

He walked toward housing with hands shoved deep in his pants pockets. All he had to do was stay away from Jordan and their mutual friends until he deployed. Then he'd have no reason to worry about ever seeing Nova. By then, she'd have a baby and no longer feel like hanging out anywhere he'd likely be. The woman dredged up feelings he wasn't used to, like longing and nesting up with someone away from his male companions on base. Jordan Patterson had to be the luckiest motherfucker in the world and couldn't even appreciate what he had at his fingertips: a good woman who loved him with a pure heart.

Terry's parents raised him with morals and values. Thou shall not covet and Thou shall not commit adultery. Such simple tenets and yet his salacious mind quibbled over semantics, searching for loopholes. Could he really covet someone if the husband didn't really want the wife? If a husband broke the marital bond first, should the wife stay beholden to the rules? He shook his head, blaming the rambling thoughts on all the beer he drank. His brain marinated in liquor. Any unscrupulous thoughts he entertained weren't to be taken seriously. He believed that for a full thirty days, Nova-free.

Until the day Von called him over to hang out.

Bethany was out for the day with friends, and his kids were at a summer camp for the week. Von wanted to enjoy a house without his family in the presence of his best bud, and Terry was all for it. Bethany always bought the best snacks, so Terry and Von hunkered down, stuffing their faces with chips, Ding Dongs, string cheese, and Pepsi. They watched some action flicks and talked shit about their jobs and the people who irked them that week. Von and Terry had joined the marines on the buddy system. They were friends back in a small Louisiana parish and had each other's backs ever since. Terry was the one to introduce Von to Bethany. They attended a beach party in Mission Beach and Bethany hemmed Terry up, asking about his friend with the big chocolate malt ball-looking head and thick muscles. From that moment on, Terry, Von, and Bethany had become a family.

Von tapped his TV remote and flipped through a series of military espionage flicks. Terry leaned back and shoved a Hostess cupcake down his throat. The front door flung open and Bethany walked in carrying bags with Nova.

"Time to go," Terry said.

"No…stay. We've got Chinese food and wine. Where you been, stranger?" Bethany asked.

Von jumped up to help put the bags in the kitchen. Bethany gave Terry a kiss on the cheek. He nodded at Nova.

The woman glowed.

Ringlets of shiny black curls crowned her short cut and her skin looked like someone had dusted it with a light bronzer. Her white baby doll tank top and jean shorts reminded him of the Creole girls back home who walked to the corner store looking cute and summery.

"Wash up you two. We'll eat and catch up," Bethany ordered.

Terry headed for the nearest bathroom, and Nova followed him. He let her wash her hands first while he waited against the doorjamb. They switched places. She stared at his reflection in the mirror.

"It's good seeing you again, Terry. Jordan asks about you a lot."

"Been busy…work…y'know."

"Yeah. Guess you heard the news, huh? He's being shipped out. Bad timing for us…with the baby coming, and all."

He nodded and dried his hands.

"Excuse me," he said, stepping past her into the hallway.

"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable…still."

"We're good."

He walked into the dining room where Bethany set up plates and Von poured white wine into three glasses.

"We put sparkling cider in your glass," Von said, winking at Nova.

Everyone sat down and passed around different containers of shrimp fried rice, chow mein, garlic paper chicken, and sweet and sour pork. They chowed down and talked, and Terry settled into falling for Nova against his will. A year of living in Oceanside had made her appear more confident and comfortable, and she didn't seem all that daunted by the idea of Jordan leaving. He listened to her and Bethany talk about having a baby shower before Jordan left, and they discussed birthing centers and hospitals. Nova genuinely looked happy, and Terry relaxed being with her. Any lascivious thoughts he had in the past about her left his mind. Bethany and Von treated her like family, and he fell in line with the sentiment. One indiscretion didn't doom him. He could turn the page and start fresh with Nova.

After dinner, Nova and Bethany went into the garage while Terry and Von cleaned up the dishes and put away leftovers. They sauntered back into the living room to watch more TV. Bethany and Nova passed them carrying boxes into the den.

"What's all that?" Von asked

"My old maternity clothes. I told you there was a good reason to keep them. Nova and I are going to look through these and find some things for her to take," Bethany said.

"Take it all, please!" Von joked.

Terry lounged on the couch, half watching the TV. He peeked at Nova and Bethany. The women chatted with excited voices and Bethany held up old clothing against Nova's body. Bethany kept drinking wine and snorting as she told maternity stories about birthing her own two girls. Nova sounded nervous and excited about welcoming a little one. He overheard her telling Bethany that the baby wasn't planned, but she hoped it would bring Jordan around to be a better man. Bethany tried to reassure her, but Terry doubted she believed a word she said to the younger woman.

It grew late, and Terry didn't want to overstay his welcome.

"I'ma head on out."

He slapped hands with Von and grabbed his keys from the coffee table.

"Terry, can you drop Nova at her house with the clothes?" Bethany asked.

Terry stood at the front door like a deer caught in headlights.

"I've had too much wine to be driving, plus it's on your way back to base," Bethany said.

She handed Terry a box to carry. Nova carried the second box.

"I can call an Uber," Nova said.

"Save your money, girl. Terry is right here and he can carry the boxes for you. Do you want to take some leftover Chinese food with you?"

"No thank you," Nova said.

"Terry?" Bethany said.

"No, I'm full and Chinese doesn't taste all that good heated back up to me."

Bethany took the large box from Nova and followed Terry out to his truck. They placed the maternity clothes in the truck bed. He opened the passenger door for Nova and she climbed in using the grab handle on his truck. Bethany patted his back.

"Thank you for taking her home. I don't feel safe taking a chance, plus it's supposed to rain in twenty minutes. Your truck is a battalion. Baby on board!"

Bethany hugged him. He accepted the affection.

"I owe you," she said.

Bethany tapped on the window, getting Nova's attention.

"Make sure you wash everything," Bethany said.

Nova nodded. Bethany leaned in toward him so Nova couldn't hear.

"Check on Jordan, will ya? Vivian told me he's been hanging with Kevin after work. I don't know why he's acting like he doesn't want to go home, but Nova needs his support."

Terry sighed and nodded.

"Truth is, I can drive, but I know if I see that man, I'll hurt his feelings. You know how to get through to him," she said.

"Night," he said.

Terry walked to the driver's side and climbed in. He started the car and lowered the air conditioning he had blasted earlier.

"Ready?" he said, trying to sound chipper.

"Yep."

They rode in silence, listening to the radio. It started sprinkling and traffic on the I-5 freeway slowed. By the time they neared her home, there was a full on downpour with sonic booms of thunder that rattled the truck. Nova cowered in her seat. With each thunderous clap, she jumped and trembled. The storm gathered gray ominous clouds that pressed the bolts of lightning lower in the atmosphere. Silver heat sliced erratic zig-zag lines across the horizon. The weather even made Terry feel uneasy. They arrived at her home just as a heavier shower drenched the roads.

"Go open the door, and I'll bring the boxes in," he said.

She hopped out with a mad dash to the front door. He lifted both the wet boxes from the back of his truck and strode indoors, expecting to see Jordan. No one else was in the house.

"Just bring those back here," she said.

She led him to the second bedroom that they were turning into a nursery. He placed the boxes against the closet door.

"Thank you for doing this…bringing me home and carrying all of that."

"No problem."

He glanced around and noticed cute little cartoon animal pictures on the walls. A brand new crib sat in an unopened box near the wall.

"I see you two are getting ready for the new bundle of joy," he said.

"Yeah, Jordan has a few things to put together for me. I am terrible at assembling stuff. We have a whole shelving unit and a baby play center waiting in the garage, still in boxes, too."

He followed her back into the living room. Nova shook rainwater off of her and checked her smartphone. She frowned. Her fingers flew across the text pad.

"Something wrong?"

"Jordan was supposed to be here by now."

She tapped her phone, and Terry heard the dial tone ring. A voice recording came on.

"Jordy, I'm back home. Where are you? Call me and let me know you're on your way back."

Nova placed the phone on a side table and wrung her hands. Hard rain pelted the roof. She pulled a curtain back from the front window.

"It's really coming down," she said.

Her voice carried the strain of worry.

"Jordy isn't a good driver in the rain…" she murmured.

She tried his number once more. Voicemail again. She didn't bother to leave a message.

"You mind if I use your restroom before I go?" he asked.

Nova nodded and sat down on her couch. Another powerful rumble vibrated across her roof. She turned on her TV and tried to ignore the sound outside. Her shoulders trembled.

Terry went to the guest bathroom, closed the door, and pulled out his phone. He called Jordan. The line rang four times and Jordan picked up.

"W'sup, sarge? Where you at? Come through Kevin's way, we're chopping it up over here."

Terry's jaw grew tight. The man ignored his wife but answered his phone for a friend? Trifling.

"I dropped your wife off at home. She's worried about you. You sound drunk and it's raining."

"Why did you drop her off? She's supposed to be with Bethany."

"Bethany was too tipsy to drive and asked me to drop Nova off on my way home. You need to answer your wife's calls."

"All she does is nag me. Every time I turn around, she wants me to put stuff together. We got six more months until the baby gets here."

"Call your wife…now."

Terry hung up and called Kevin.

"You missing out over here, Terry. Got a good spades game—"

"Kev, how sober is Jordan? Is he good to drive or nah?"

"That dude is buzzing."

"Don't let him drive. When the rain dies down, put him in an Uber and send his ass home."

"What's going on, man?"

"He needs to be with his wife. She's worried, and he's not answering her calls. The storm is scaring her, too."

"He said he talked to her."

"He's lying. She called him twice in front of me and he ignored her. I called, and he picked up."

Kevin sighed on the other end.

"This nigga…I'll have him call her."

"Right now, Kev."

"Okay. On it."

Kevin hung up. Terry flushed the toilet. He quickly washed his hands in the sink.

"I should not be babysitting a grown ass man," he mumbled to his reflection.

He took a deep breath and left the bathroom. Nova paced in the living room, arguing with Jordan on her cell. He eased his way toward the door, happy that they were at least talking to one another. Terry's phone vibrated in his pocket. Kevin.

"Aye, I'm going to keep Jordan here for the night. He's talking crazy to Nova on the phone," Kevin said.

Terry could only hear Jordan's muffled voice and Nova's bawling.

Fuck.

"What's he saying?"

"He's drunk off his ass…blaming her for fussing all the time and putting us in their business. All bullshit. Vivian thinks he might act up if he goes home."

Nova threw her phone on the couch and dashed down the hallway.

"Okay. Make sure he's back here in the morning."

Terry swiped his phone and waited by the front door.

"Nova? Kevin is going to keep Jordan at his place until tomorrow. He won't be driving in the rain."

"He can crash into a pole for all I care!"

He heard footsteps and the bathroom door slamming shut. The shower ran. She had a right to be upset. But it wasn't good for the baby. Terry's sister had miscarried from stress in her first trimester. Overactive hormones and an unhappy home weren't a good mix. He walked into the kitchen and searched a few cupboards and a pantry until he found some hot cocoa packets and tea. The cocoa seemed liked the best choice for her. He turned on an electric kettle and ripped open a cocoa packet. Finding a decent mug, he mixed hot water, milk and cocoa together. Thunder kept rumbling and a flash of lightning streaked outside the kitchen window.

Nova stepped out of the bathroom wearing a thick red bathrobe. She smoothed back her damp hair, and he held out the hot cocoa to her.

"This should help you calm down," he said.

She padded over to him and took the mug, cradling it against her robe.

"Thank you. For everything."

He nodded.

"Could you stay here for a few more minutes and talk? I don't want to be alone just yet…I get scared of thunder. Jordan usually calms me down, but when I'm alone listening to it…I get nervous…scared. I know nothing will happen to me, but the booming noises…I've always been afraid of that sound. You can watch TV if you don't feel like talking."

Her tremulous voice brought out the protector in him.

"I'm sure there's a late-night horror movie I can watch to go with the weather," he said.

She grinned with relief all over her face.

He joined her on the couch and picked out the Twilight Zone on a streaming service. They watched a couple of episodes while Nova sipped the cocoa. The TV froze for about fifteen minutes, and they chatted about her day with Bethany. She jumped with each thunderclap, but having him next to her seemed to help her deep-rooted fear. Eventually, the TV started working again.

"A lot of these episodes have soldiers or talk about war a lot," she said.

He nodded.

"Rod Serling fought in World War Two. I read a biography about him a few years ago. He used war themes as an allegory in a lot of his episodes."

"Interesting," she said. "Oh! This is one of my favorite episodes…that guy is a prisoner on a planet and has to live with a robot."

"I remember it. He falls in love with her."

"But he can't keep her when he's freed…not enough room on the return space ship."

She put the cocoa mug on the end table.

"So sad. Do you think you could love a robot?"

"Maybe…if it looked real enough. People fall in love with all kinds of things."

"Like in that movie 'Her'. When that guy fell for an app program," she said.

"That was a good movie. Had me looking at my phone apps different. I have one that does a guided meditation and the A.I. voice has a female British accent. I think it's a Black woman…the voice sounds so sexy, telling me what to do."

They both laughed.

"I think your voice would be good for a guided meditation," she said.

"Maybe. People tell me it's deep enough to do voice overs."

"Let's try it."

"What?"

"Do a guided meditation for me so I will fall asleep and you can go home. I know you're tired of sitting here with me being a scardy cat."

"I don't think you're a scardy cat. A chicken maybe…"

She tossed a decorative pillow at him.

"Lay back in a comfortable position," he said.

He moved away from the couch and planted himself on the loveseat, allowing her to stretch out.

"Close your eyes," he said.

She did.

"Imagine that you're on a faraway island somewhere…there's a warm, sunny beach with clear waters for as far as the eye can see. Lie down on the soft warm sand…let the warmth of the sand cover you completely in a blanket of peace. No storms…no worries about thunder…just peace and tranquility…"

Terry kept talking and Nova settled into breathing deeply and relaxing her limbs.

"You can feel yourself floating to a safe place of calm…"

Nova drifted off to sleep.

Terry sat on the loveseat, quietly watching over her. The tension in her face relaxed while she slept. He glanced around at the other furniture, looking for a blanket or throw cover. Nothing caught his eye. He lifted Nova and carried her into a neat bedroom. The curtains were open and another pass of rolling thunder shook the window. Fat drops of rain smacked against the glass, fogging it up with condensation. He placed Nova on the high, queen-sized bed and closed the curtains. Feeling around for the lamp on the nightstand, he turned on a light and pulled the covers back. He reached across the bed and lifted her again. The bathrobe looked cumbersome on her. He untied the belt to make her more comfortable and didn't realize she was naked underneath. Embarrassed, he covered her back up and tied the belt, tucking her in.

Nova's eyes fluttered open.

"Jordan?" she said.

Her eyes adjusted to the light and peered at him with surprise. She glanced at the bed and then the room. Her eyes watered.

"He's probably with someone else right now," she whispered. "All of his friends cover for him."

She squeezed her eyes shut. Terry sat down on the bed and held her. He stroked her hair and murmured comforting words in her ear. All he wanted to do was erase the sadness in her eyes.

A slow-burning anger simmered in Terry's chest. He couldn't understand Jordan. Couldn't understand the neglect of a good woman. What was the point of getting married if you didn't want to be around your wife?

Terry kicked off his shoes and socks and climbed onto the bed, resting his large body next to Nova. If Jordan didn't want to be there, then he would take his place and comfort a lonely wife. She tucked her head under his neck and he rubbed her back with gentle hands.

"You deserve so much more, Nova," he said.

"I think I'll go back home," she huffed into his chest.

"Do what you think is best for you and your baby."

"I've tried my best…but he won't stop…I don't know what he sees in those other women. Why would he ask me to marry him? Why get me pregnant if that isn't what he wanted?"

"All you have to do is rest. In the morning, you can call your people and decide what you want to do."

"Okay," she said with a shuddery breath.

She snuggled against him, and he moved the blankets to make more room for himself.

That's when she did the unthinkable.

Took off the bathrobe.

Terry froze.

Nova tossed the bathrobe on the floor and tugged on his shirt.

"Take it off. You're still a little damp from the rain," she said.

He pulled the T-shirt over his head. Fuck it…he took his sweatpants off, too. He tossed his boxers and sweats on the floor, and in the lamplight, Nova looked over his body with heat in her eyes. She traced his right pec with her finger, and then curled against his side, hugging him. Her breasts pressed against him like soft, fluffy pillows. He looked down at her pretty brown areolas and dared to touch a nipple. Nova leaned back so he could get access to both breasts.

God…she felt so good in his hands. Her nipples stiffened like cute little buttons, and his dick thickened. Any thoughts of right or wrong flew away from his mind. Jordan didn't want to be in the bed with her. He did.

He fondled her breasts, getting more aroused as she sighed with pleasure, enjoying his large hands. What a difference a year made in her body. The once slender physique filled out into a new form, one that had his dick propped up saluting her. He glanced between her legs. Her trimmed thatch of pubic hair looked so pretty, especially with her inner labia plumped up and waiting for his touches. He kissed her first, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She moaned and her legs fell open wider. The pink of her pussy glistening with arousal had him gripping his dick and stroking himself. Nova's eyes widened, looking at the size of his erection out in the open. Whatever she thought his dick length was didn't match what her eyes feasted on.

She started playing with her pussy, and Terry groaned so loud that her opening throbbed at the sound. Nova pushed him back and crawled on top of him, letting her wet pussy lips slide up and down his erection. She made the veins on his dick shiny with her slickness.

Up and down she went across his length, teasing the bulbous head of his dick. His pre-cum spilled out, adding more lubricant, and that's how she pleasured herself, grinding slowly on his dick, letting her delicate inner labia slide across the hardness.

She rose and wound her hips, moving that wet pussy in circles, teasing his hardness, making him pant like a desperate man. Her tits hung in his face, doubled in size from the first time he met her. He thrust up to get more exterior friction from her labia. The inner pussy lips spread across his girth, making slippery sounds. She looked at his long dick slathered in her clear sticky fluid. He watched threads of it shine in the light. She rubbed those sticky lower lips against him harder, rocking her hips forward and back.

Nova liked what she felt.

Her mouth became reckless.

"It wouldn't be wrong for us to fuck, Terry. I want to feel you inside of me," she said.

He grabbed her breasts and squeezed them. "Nova…shit," he said.

"Will you fuck me?" she asked.

She started gyrating on his dick and her labia hit a spot that curled his toes. The thick ridge of his frenulum rubbed against her clit, and Nova kept that slow, tortuous grind going.

The woman courted danger. Offered him married pussy on a platter. He'd already wandered into sketchy waters by climbing into bed with her. What the fuck did he think was going to happen doing that? He finally had to come clean with himself.

He wanted Nova.

Wanted her the first time they met. He'd been in denial about his feelings for her. Somehow she got under his skin, and Jordan made it easy by neglecting a husband's duty. He adored her from afar, always waging an internal battle to stay away, so afraid to confront what he tried to hide. Now Jordan's wife humped Terry's dick, asking to be fucked.

"Can I cum inside you without a condom?" he asked.

Nova's glassy-looking eyes were full of lust for him.

"You can cum as much as you want inside of me."

He shut his eyes. Asked God to forgive him for the disrespectful mess he was about to make in that woman's pussy. Her man wasn't due back until morning. Terry was built for long strokes and going all night. His erection grew stiffer with anticipation.

He flipped her over and kissed her passionately, allowing himself the luxury of taking his time. All pretense of being a dutiful wife left Nova. Her man had scorned her, and she wanted the forbidden fruit of new dick.

Terry kissed down her throat and in between her breasts. He sucked both nipples, using his tongue like a brush to paint the most delightful shapes all over her tits. Delving further down, he licked her pussy and kissed her clit, claiming it all for himself.

"This is all mine now," he said, while staring at her with his disarming green eyes.

Nova nodded and whimpered, "Yes…yes…yes…baby it's all yours."

He groaned into her vulva and her legs wrapped around his head. Nothing would stop him from pleasing her. He ate her pussy like a charcuterie board, smacking his lips and sampling her clit, tasting her delightful opening by thrusting the tip of his tongue in, then gliding his full lips down the middle, giving her gentle kisses. Terry gazed at her while doing it with sensual eyes that dared Nova to give in to his cravings for more. He pampered her vulva as if that night would be his only chance to have her. She came so hard on his lips that they dripped with her natural lubricant. Spent from her orgasm, Nova cried, turning her face toward the pillow.

"We can stop…if you can't handle this…we can stop and forget it ever happened," he said, trying to soothe her.

She shook her head.

"I don't want to stop. I'm just…happy. Haven't had an orgasm like that in so long. I forgot how good they can feel," she said.

She hugged him tight and bawled in his arms.

"It feels good to be wanted again, Terry…thank you."

A smidgen of guilt tried to latch hold, but he threw it off like his morals.

"Don't cry, let me make you feel even better…I'll make you forget all your troubles," he whispered in her ear.

He gently pushed her legs back and draped them over his biceps. Nova watched the head of his dick rub on her clit, testing her sensitivity. She hissed and clamped her lips together when he pushed the tip in. Her pussy was tight at the entrance, and he waited for her to relax before he pushed in further.

"Ooh…Terry…its big…oh…wait…wait…oh God…oh God…"

Nova's eyes rolled back as he thrust in deeper. She tilted her hips, and he hit the bottom of her pussy so fast that he groaned out her name. Her walls clenched around him.

"Oh, fuck, Nova…baby this pussy is so tight…you're gripping me so good baby…you been wanting this dick, huh?"

"Yes…yes…yes…"

He pumped inside of her with assured thrusts, making sure she felt every inch dedicated to her pleasure.

"Oh, you feel so good, Terry…"

He hunched down lower, wanting to feel her breasts against his chest. Everything about her made him feel giddy and alive. He wondered if this was what love felt like while making love. His heart swelled with so many emotions. Happiness, desire…even revenge. Revenge for the lack of care Jordan had for his wife. He wanted Nova to get the best dick he could offer her.

They kissed while he gave her deep dick. Their tongues colluded in an illicit affair of their own, and Nova whimpered his name inside his mouth, casting her love magic all over him. He wanted to clap her cheeks and helped her turn onto her hands and knees as his balls slapped against her ass and clit with each doggy-style thrust. She gripped the sheets tight and looked back at him with a shocked face.

"You're stretching my pussy…Terry…it's so big."

"You're taking it so good, baby…I got you."

He reached around and played with her clit, giving it slow, circular strokes. Her ass bounced with his pounding and she locked her eyes on him, wanting to watch the satisfaction on his face.

"You like it?" she asked.

She knew damn well he did by the way he grunted and cursed with each stroke.

"I love it."

"You want to cum inside me?"

His mouth fell open, and his eyes narrowed. Her walls yanked on his dick. She had something to prove. He wished he'd been the one to put a baby in her. She threw that ass back on him and his nutsack pulsed, already gearing up for a release. He wanted her on her back. He wanted to nut deep inside of her in missionary. Pretend he was making a baby with her.

"Turn around…yeah baby…on your back…ooh yes, leave your legs wide open like that," he said.

Terry made love to her like she was his woman. Nova whipped her head back and forth and when he pinned her down, they locked eyes.

"Cum inside me…please…Terry…"

Nova touched his cheek, and he closed his eyes, unable to take the intensity she poured out from her gaze. She let him get deep in her guts. Her pussy stretched around him like she belonged on his dick and no one else. He stroked her clit, and she chewed on her lip. A look of ecstasy danced in her eyes and he begged her to cum on his dick first.

She broke apart easily…endlessly. Her orgasm flushed her light brown skin in a sheen of sweat that soaked his body and the sheets. Terry watched her climax with a feeling of gratitude. God allowed him to witness her pleasure, and it captivated him.

"Nova…I'm cumming…fuck…I'm cumming…all deep in your pussy baby…you're making me nut so hard! Fuck..I want to get you pregnant myself. Ohhhhhhh! Fuuckkk!"

She babbled something incoherent, but it didn't matter. Her tight pussy rocked his fucking world. The first spurt of semen made his anus clench and a heavy outpouring of cum spilled into her like it would never stop. He dug his toes into the mattress and rode out the wave of orgasmic pleasure that flowed out of him and into her like electricity. Knowing he was filling her up with so much jizz brought on another surge of semen that knocked him off his feet. He hollered out her name and jammed a hand on the headboard to keep from falling over as a rush of contractions squeezed his balls into pussy submission.

Gasping for air, Terry blinked sweat from his eyes and leaned back, pulling his dick out.

So much cum ran out of Nova's glossy pink opening. He stretched her open so much that he could see the tunnel he made in her walls. It was all flooded with white.

"Damn," he said.

He kissed her on the lips and held her close until she had to pee. She left his side briefly and returned, giving him soft kisses on his cheeks and lips. He took a restroom break and cleaned his dick for round two. Nova was up for it. She was over three months pregnant and her body acted like it wanted to get knocked up again. He let her ride his dick, and he enjoyed her so much it made his heart ache. Perhaps it was the illicit nature of the sex and the danger of Jordan walking in on them, but Terry and Nova made wild love like the night would never end.

"You're so beautiful. Look how pretty you look fucking my dick…such a good girl riding this big dick like that. Oh, bounce on it…yesssss…just like that. Let me stretch you out some more. Go up…all the way up…hold it…now slide back down…yes…you love this dick…dontcha? Tell me…tell me you love this dick."

"I love this dick…oh Terry…I love this dick…harder…fuck me harder."

"You sound like you want me to make another mess in that tight pussy."

"I do…oh! Right there!"

"Right there? Like that?"

"Yes!"

The give and take was unreal and by their final tryst, he'd drained his balls while holding her breasts in reverse cowgirl. He imagined her big tits spurting milk for the baby and nutted so hard that his eyes crossed. Nova leaned forward so he could watch his cum flow out of her in creamy rivulets. She helped push it out. He wiggled his fingers inside her to feel his liquid warmth coating her walls. He helped her change the ruined sheets afterward, and they snuggled up like husband and wife.

He put her to sleep and spent the last hours of the night watching over her and stroking her hair. By morning, he gave her a big kiss on her forehead and snuck away as she slept.

He thought their night together would be a onetime thing.

How wrong he had been.

That one night created a bond so tight that it was difficult to function anymore around their friends with normal interactions. He hated for her to be stuck with Jordan, and he hated being around them together because his eyes never stayed off of her. She was the same way. Any mention of leaving Jordan and going back to South Carolina never happened again. They had embarked on something that neither of them wanted to end. Her pregnancy didn't hamper anything. It actually enhanced their encounters.

At flag football games they pretended to be casual, but the longing gazes between them became overt and he ended up wearing his Oakley shades a lot. Von and Bethany threw more late summer barbecues at their home and he'd sneak into the bathroom to meet up with Nova just to kiss and fondle her body.

"I miss you," she'd whisper.

"I miss you more."

She sat on the closed toilet seat and sucked his dick, squeezing his balls and swallowing his load.

Her baby bump started showing by early fall, and he fucked her from behind in her own kitchen while Jordan sat outside in his backyard talking to their mutual male friends.

Terry was brazen about it.

Nova washed dishes in the sink, and he pretended to make a private call on his cell. He unfastened his jeans. The guys joked around outside, getting drunk and telling bawdy overseas stories. He lifted Nova's dress and slid her panties to the side, stuffing his heavy dick inside her pussy. She panted and begged for more. He clutched a breast with one hand and palmed her rounded belly with the other.

"You miss this dick?" he breathed into her ear.

"Always, baby. You make my pussy feel so good."

She watched the back of her husband's head as Jordan laughed it up, not knowing his wife's pussy was getting smashed to smithereens three feet away. He pumped in and out, listening to the squelching noises and enjoying the tight squeezes she gave him with each lewd thrust.

"The baby okay?" he asked.

"It's okay…oh Terry, you feel so good. I wish we could fuck in the bed. I want to ride your dick so bad right now."

"I know, baby. But we have to enjoy this for now."

She whimpered and clutched the sink for balance. He tried to control his moans, but her pussy weakened him.

"Ready for me to cum inside you?" he rasped in her ear.

The root of his dick pulsed, and he stopped holding her belly to stroke her swollen clit. It was sinful. So wrong. They didn't care. It felt good…felt right. He bit into her shoulder to stifle a loud groan as he spurt into her pussy. She came with him and they struggled to keep quiet, knowing that all it took to court disaster fully was for Jordan to turn around and see him pressed against his wife.

Terry pulled out, and a bit of semen fell to the floor. He didn't care. Nova fixed her panties, and they stepped away from the window so they could secretly kiss.

"I'm getting a new place soon," he said.

Her eyes lit up.

"Nothing fancy, just a one bedroom where we can be alone. Can't have you sneaking on base again," he said.

A week previous, Nova came on base during the night and they fucked in his truck. His buddy Ken walked through the parking lot to his car, but stopped when he saw Terry lifting Nova up and down in the pushed back driver's seat. Luckily, Ken didn't see her face in the darkness. Getting his own place seemed like the smartest move. They didn't want to risk hotels or motels.

Terry walked back outside with his phone in his hand and watched Nova walk out ten minutes later, bringing Jordan a beer. She sat next to her husband and Terry secretly loved the fact that Nova was full of his cum, acting like they didn't just bump uglies. He didn't care anymore. Nova was his woman…she just happened to be married to another man.

During her third trimester, Nova and Jordan planned a road trip to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. All of his friends had trips to other places. Von and Bethany planned for a trip to Indiana to see her family. Terry finally had his own place, and the day before she was to leave, Nova snuck away to see him. Their hookups became few. She waddled to the condo he ended up leasing. He waited for her by the elevator, and once she reached the third floor, they hugged each other so tight that he thought he'd never see her again. Her plump face and swollen feet made him smile.

He held her hand and walked her to his tastefully furnished home. Inside, he rubbed her feet and listened to her litany of body complaints. He didn't mind her complaining. Listening to her voice poured life into his spirit. Terry didn't realize how alone he was until Nova came into his life. Everyone in his clique had someone to come home to. He longed for the same.

He cooked Nova a healthy dinner of baked chicken and sliced squash with homemade garlic mashed potatoes the way his mama made it.

"How come you aren't going home for the holidays?" she said, stuffing her mouth with a second helping of potatoes.

"My family is going on a cruise out of New Orleans. Plus…I don't want to be far away from you."

Nova put down her fork and wiped her mouth with a napkin. He put away the food and helped her rest on his bed. She slept for a long time and he spooned around her, rubbing her belly. He loved her. Loved the child inside of her.

Terry secretly wanted her to divorce Jordan and marry him instead.

She woke up and checked her phone on his nightstand.

"Baby, I'm sorry I slept so long," she said.

"I don't mind. I just want to be with you sleeping or awake."

"My doctor said I can still have sex…we can fool around before I go."

"You feel up to it?"

"I want to make you happy."

"You lying next to me makes me happy."

She hugged him, and he cradled her in his arms.

"I feel a kick," she said.

Nova moved his hand to where she lifted her maternity shirt. He spread his long fingers across some stretch marks on her side. He smiled.

"Somebody is punching up a storm in there," he said.

Nova clutched onto his arm.

"I want to be with you for Thanksgiving. I'm going to be miserable in San Francisco," she said.

"You get to see your parents."

"I know, but then they'll be down here through Christmas. That means…"

She pushed her face into his chest.

"Aw, Nova, I know. Our time is narrowing down. We knew it would happen the closer it came time for your birth," he said.

"When the baby comes…will you leave me?"

Terry wiped tears from her face. Their whirlwind affair was taking a toll on them both. What sane man starts a romance with a married pregnant woman?

"Let's enjoy right now. Don't worry your beautiful mind about the future. We're here…now."

They kissed. He helped her undress slowly and then shook off his clothes, anchoring himself around her. Pillows eased the weight of her belly. She turned on her side further and he entered her slowly. He squeezed and fondled her breasts that were engorged with milk, ready to feed an infant. Terry imagined himself being with her while she fed the baby, imagined what it would be like to hold it in his arms. He pinched her nipple and rocked into her wet softness. Her pussy still took care of him.

Nova moaned with pleasure, and the sound heightened his arousal. Life played a cruel trick on them, bringing him the love he never knew he needed at the wrong point in time. He should've been the one to have her first. Terry would've run home to Louisiana with her in triumph, showing his family the love of his life. He would've set Nova up in a big country house and put a ton of babies in her. Her nipples leaked milk. He pinched one of them, letting the liquid express in a messy drizzle down her breast. The sight of it caused his balls to throb, and he pushed hot cum into her pussy.

"Ooh…it's so warm," Nova said.

He pinched her other nipple, and another trickle of milk wet his fingers.

"Fuck…fuck…Nova…"

His body tensed, watching her big tits drip milk while his dick pulsed inside her, shooting cum deep in her womb. He hollered out his climax loud enough for the neighbors to hear through the walls. His pelvic muscles contracted rhythmically, taking the thrusts of his hips out of his control. Another urge to ejaculate built up again, like the snapping of a rubber band back to square one.

"Soak that pussy, Terry," Nova urged him.

He obliged by resting for a minute to indulge in the sensations coursing through him by being inside of her. His ability to get another erection quickly was a blessing. He didn't worry about falling asleep on her because his refractory period was far off. Their time together was precious, and he was going to savor every second with Nova. His dick understood that and acted accordingly.

She left the bed to urinate, and they got right back to it on her return. He held her leg up the second time and she cried, telling him she loved the way he fucked her. She looked back at him.

"I love you, Terry…I love you…"

Her words struck him hard, and he roared his satisfaction by flooding her walls.

Nova's phone vibrated. They both peeped Jordan's avatar.

Terry turned away from her. Nova answered the phone, her voice flustered.

"Hey, I'm out shopping. I'll be home soon. Okay…yes, everything is packed. I put your blue tie in it with the red one… I'm calling an Uber now," she said, with rushed breath.

She hung up.

"Jordan's home. He wants to take me to dinner and leave early. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and he wants to avoid all the traffic."

"That's smart. Gotta get you and the baby to your parents in one piece."

"I'm going to use your shower."

He nodded and watched her leave for the bathroom. The guilt and gnawing jealousy worked his nerves. He slammed a fist on the mattress and fought back uncontrollable tears.

Nova gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Terry heard about it through Bethany. He didn't communicate with Nova while her parents were staying in Oceanside for a month.

"Your godson is on his way," Bethany said on the phone.

Terry lifted weights at the gym. He had a martial arts class to teach in an hour and needed to finish a leg day before instructing.

"Oh, yeah?"

He tried to sound normal, but his heart thumped worrying about Nova.

"This boy must've known his daddy needed to see him before he shipped out. I'll call you when he gets here. I'm in the hospital waiting room with her parents."

"Okay, thanks."

Terry grew nauseous with anxiety. Nova was a strong woman. He wanted to be by her side, but it wasn't his place. He showered and went to his class on auto-pilot. His students put it all on the mat and he compartmentalized his thoughts to focus on them and not on his lover.

Godson.

Jordan Patterson Jr. came into the world at six pounds, two ounces. Bethany sent him pictures, and Terry stared at the little wonder with awe. Jordan approached him about being the boy's godfather after they did an ultrasound and found out they were having a son. He begged off from the title, but Von and Bethany insisted he couldn't let the couple down because they looked up to him. It was a punch to the gut, but he reluctantly accepted with Von's urging.

"That man needs guidance, T. Being a godfather means you can be his role model on another level," Von said.

Terry laughed from crying. Jordan Jr. should've been Terry Jr.

He sucked it up.

Nova stayed in the hospital for two days. Terry went to visit her late in the evening, after he hoped everyone was away. Unfortunately, her mother and mother-in-law were there, fussing over Nova and the baby. He walked in carrying rainbow balloons and a powder blue teddy bear.

The new mother rested in her hospital bed breastfeeding Junior. He watched her for a moment until her eyes rose to meet his. His vision grew blurry staring at her. She was so beautiful. Nova lowered a blanket on her shoulder over the baby's head and her breast. He knocked on the door, getting the other women's attention.

"Momma, this is Terry, Junior's godfather."

Mrs. Easton, Nova's mother, smiled and welcomed him in. He greeted Jordan's mother and handed her the teddy bear and balloons.

"I can sleep on my stomach now," Nova joked.

She pulled her hospital gown back over her breast and removed the small white blanket covering the baby's face. She burped him on her shoulder first, then held him out for Terry to hold.

"Hey little dude…look at you," he said.

Nova's lips trembled, and her eyes welled up. She blinked back tears and her mother came over to kiss her goodbye.

"Visiting hours are about to end. I'm going to go have dinner with Cindy," Mrs. Easton said.

"I should go, too," he said, pretending to leave.

The two older women left first, and he waited a minute before sitting down next to Nova, cradling the baby against his chest.

"He's a beautiful boy, Nova. You did good, baby."

"Thank you."

They hadn't seen one another for over a month. He would've given the world to scoop them both up and run off to his place. She was a mother now. His fantasy romance had to end. He sat quietly with her, unable to say anything of significance. She knew it was over, too. Her energy and time had to go toward the bundle in his hands. He leaned over and kissed her. Their love lingered in the space between their lips. All the unsaid things lived in the kiss.

Terry studied Junior's face. Tight black curls and cocoa brown skin. All Jordan. A nurse stopped by and he handed the baby back to Nova. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. Neither of them said goodbye.

Jordan left for the Indo-Pacific tour a week later.

Nova's mother stayed in town, and her father flew back home. He stayed busy with work and flag football. Von and Bethany invited him over for a birthday dinner in his honor two months later. Nova showed up with the baby. She looked stunning. The new-mother weight had shifted and morphed into something different. She looked like a sexy coke bottle bombshell. Without the maternity clothes, her new wardrobe highlighted her wider ass and fuller breasts. She still had a little belly fat with her stomach, and he liked it. The changes gave her a maternal shine that he couldn't get over. She seemed delighted to be around him again, and they both acted with decorum, despite his yearning to hold and kiss her.

Jordan Jr. was round and chunky, like the Michelin Man. Terry walked around with the boy like the proud godfather he was. Everyone at his party complimented him on how comfortable he looked with a baby and kidded him about getting married like everyone else. He only grinned and bounced Junior in his arms. At one point, folks started dancing, and Terry playfully grabbed Nova's hand and spun her around among their friends. Bethany held the baby, and it gave him the opportunity to touch Nova. He swung her out with some old-fashioned partner dancing to SWV and they lived inside a liminal space carved out just for them. Watching her laugh, feeling her warmth against him, having her catch his hand after he released her in time to the music was the best birthday gift he could have.

Von introduced him to a woman named April, and Terry became annoyed at the attempt at setting him up on his birthday. When the party became more raucous in the evening, Nova left. Terry followed her down the street to her car. She carried Junior in a car seat.

"Do you have to go?" he asked.

Nova placed her son in the back seat.

"Junior is a light sleeper. The noise will get to him. I had a great time today seeing everyone all together again. Happy Birthday, Terry."

She hugged him.

The moment they touched, everything felt the same. He sighed while holding her. Their lips couldn't stay apart and they kissed out in the open.

"I want to see you again," he said.

"We can't… things are different. I have the baby."

"Bring him. Let's just have dinner at my place. I'm supposed to spend time with my godson, right?"

She smirked.

"Bethany has someone more your speed waiting for you back at her house."

"April? She's cool, but she's not you, Nova. No one compares to you."

She shut the back passenger door and walked around to the driver's side.

"Dinner and nothing else?"

"Promise."

He kept the promise.

He cooked fettuccine with steak and played with the baby. Nova left with her dignity intact and they continued seeing each other without sex. He grew comfortable settling into a non-sexual relationship with her. Unfortunately, that only encouraged the stronger emotional attachment that grew between them. They acted like a couple raising a child together whenever they were alone.

When they hung out with their mutual friends, he gave off Big Uncle energy to his godson. On his days off, he offered to babysit so Nova could have a few hours to herself.

They didn't start sleeping together again until Jordan returned. The six-month tour changed him. He bonded with his son and, of course, this cut off Terry's time with Nova. She snuck away when she could and their relationship headed for a conclusion he didn't want to face. Nova knew they were about to plummet over a precipice, but he was determined to stay calm about it. The baby grew bigger and looked just like his daddy. He sensed the ambivalence in her about maintaining their affair. It was only a matter of time before he expected her to end it. He dreaded that moment.

One afternoon, he fucked the curls out of Nova's hair. She showed up wearing a sheer red negligee under a long coat and he sent her home dripping with semen in her panties. An hour later, Jordan came knocking on his door.

Terry stared at him through the keyhole and braced himself for some bullshit. He never gave Jordan his address. Other than Nova, only Von and Bethany knew that he'd moved off base.

"Who is it?" Terry called out, pretending not to know.

"Terry, it's me, Jordan. I need to talk to you…man to man."

Terry inhaled and opened the door, keeping his right leg behind him in case he needed to stick and move. Jordan had creases in his forehead and the whites of his eyes were pink.

"I need your advice," Jordan said.

Terry widened the door and invited Jordan in. He sat on the couch, and Terry sat on his recliner.

"What's going on?"

"It's Nova…I think…I think she's cheating on me."

Terry swallowed thickly and rubbed the back of his neck.

"What makes you believe that?"

Jordan stared at the floor.

"I've suspected it for a few months now. Since I came back. She's different, man."

"Motherhood changes women."

"Nah. Not like this. She's probably getting back at me because of Lourdes."

"Lourdes?"

"Some letters and a care package got forwarded to our house."

"You're still seeing her?"

"She was just a placeholder when Nova first got pregnant. I didn't have sex with Nova because of the baby and, well…shit…I got a blowjob here and there from Lourdes…ate some coochie and jerked off. I left overseas, and she started emailing and sending me shit. Nova didn't know until this fucking box showed up at the house today. But me and Lourdes were done…been over. That bitch stalked me with mail and gifts. Nova stormed out after we had a fight about it and left me with the baby. She came home smelling like sex and claimed she went to the gym and that I'm just projecting onto her. My wife is fucking another nigga and it's all because of that dumb bitch."

"So, none of this is your fault? Sneaking off to get your dick sucked? Constantly making poor choices?"

Jordan closed his eyes.

"Terry…listen to me. All that shit is over. I came home, and she put my son in my arms and I just…he looks just like me. Nova held it down by herself and now I'm gonna lose her to some fucker knocking her box out. She walks around humming and doesn't care if I go out anywhere. She don't nag or fuss at me like she used to. It's like she's plotting to leave the house every moment I turn my head. I'm thinking about dropping one of those Apple AirTags in her purse to track where she goes when she claims she's shopping or having lunch."

"Have you talked to her about it?"

"And say what? Stop cheating on me? She's getting back at me and I can't say I blame her. But I'm different. I'm willing to do anything…in fact, I'm getting out of the marines and taking her and the baby back to Charleston. I'm not re-upping. I gotta get her outta Oceanside and away from whoever she's seeing. This nigga done shifted her entire personality. I know he's fucking the shit outta her cuz her body is ridiculous. She's probably been banging him since I've been gone. I snooped around the house and found Plan B and spermicides in her personal bathroom cabinet."

Jordan held his head in frustration.

"Nova ain't never used spermicides with me. I bet she's letting this fool raw dog her."

Terry tried not to grind his teeth and sat back in his chair.

"I can't lose my family, Terry!"

Jordan burst into tears and moaned in great pain. Terry could only watch him with pity and feel dirty about the whole situation. All three of them were moving foul. But now a baby was involved.

"I have loved that woman for so long," Jordan said.

"You have a weird way of showing it."

"I know…I can't make any excuses for it anymore."

Jordan rolled into a ball on the couch. He looked like a hurt little boy that got his ball taken away…a ball he kicked away himself.

"What am I going to do?" Jordan pleaded.

"Can I ask you something personal? I want you to be truthful with me, though."

Jordan lifted his head, teary-eyes and lost.

"What?"

"Why did you marry Nova? You could've spared her suffering if you didn't get married."

"I loved her."

"Beyond that, though. What were you thinking when you asked her? Why didn't you just leave her be until you'd got your hoeing out of your system?"

Jordan glanced around Terry's condo like he was searching for the shadow of an answer in the corners.

"She was always my girl."

"Dig deeper."

Jordan closed his eyes in thought. He sat up and looked at Terry directly.

"If I didn't snatch her up soon, someone else would take her. I didn't want to leave her in South Carolina single. I thought…if I locked her down, I'd be set. No one else would touch her. I got her pregnant, and I figured we'd work through the kinks and things would get better."

"How did that come through your pea brain, Jordan? She's not someone you can put in a box and ignore until you're ready to grow up. You sidetracked her life—"

"I didn't want to lose her, Terry. Maybe I wasn't ready…but we'd been close for years. Our families are locked in. I didn't…I can't lose her."

Jordan jumped up and angrily paced.

"I swear to God if I catch this nigga she's creepin' with, I'll kill him."

"If she's happier, let her go."

"Nigga what? Are you crazy?"

"You're getting care packages overseas from a woman you claim was a past side piece a year ago. Nova did nothing but love you, and you shit on her every chance you get!"

Terry stood and stared Jordan down with flared nostrils and narrow eyes.

"That woman has cried over you…prayed…done everything to keep your marriage together. Fuck, man! She had your baby! Gave up school because of it. You haven't thought about what she's sacrificed to be with you… everything revolves around your needs. I want her to divorce you!"

Jordan gawked. His mouth fell open, and he inched back. His eyes went up and down Terry's body. He held up a hand.

"Why would you want her to divorce me, Terry?"

Exasperated, Terry exhaled and put his hands on his hips.

"You can't make Nova happy if you keep hurting her. That's all I'm saying. Let her go if you can't get your shit together. For her sake, and your son."

Jordan glared at him.

"Are you fucking my wife?"

Terry mustered all the calm he could find in his bones.

"No."

Jordan closed his eyes and huffed.

"I love her. I love my son. He's the best thing that's happened to us," Jordan said.

Terry's legs shook. His stomach twisted in knots, and he tasted a sour liquid at the back of his throat. He wanted to blurt out the truth, but he probably would've vomited had he done that, knowing that Nova would suffer the consequences. So would Junior. He clamped a hand on Jordan's shoulder. His godson deserved to have a father who wanted to make things right once and for all.

"Jordan, go home to your wife. Beg her for forgiveness and show her with your deeds—not words—that you're deserving of her love. Don't worry about who she may or may not be fucking. This is your only chance to come correct."

Jordan nodded his head and started crying. He was a child in a man's body with the emotional intelligence to match. Terry had no faith in him to do better. However, every man deserved the opportunity to try. He wouldn't stand in the way. Terry knew he and Nova would hit a brick wall once Jordan came back. It was time for fate and Jordan to take over.

Terry reached over and hugged Jordan.

"Go home to your family."

Jordan stayed true to his word and didn't re-enlist. Von and Bethany threw them a going away barbecue at one of their flag football games. Nova played on an opposite team and snatched Terry's flag off a few times for old times' sake.

They spoke on the phone privately the night before and cried together. Despite her anger and bitterness toward her husband, Nova loved Jordan. Terry didn't reveal that he spoke with him in his condo. He also kept his opinion about having no faith in Jordan's ability to man up to himself. There was no need to pressure her into giving him what he wanted. She had to leave her husband on her own when she was ready. Pushing her to do it would cause resentment.

"I love you…always baby," he told her.

"My heart hurts…I love you—"

"Go hold on to that beautiful baby for me."

"Terry…please don't hate me for trying again."

"I could never hate you, Nova. Put that thought out of your mind."

"He stopped drinking. Most of his infidelity issues and unacceptable behavior came from that. We're starting counseling back home. Getting back into church again. I think he was so disconnected from who he was…maybe Junior helped remind him of who he used to be."

He respected her decision. Had he been in Jordan's position, he would've begged God to give him another chance, too.

"Nova?"

"Yes?"

He should've bitten his tongue, but he said it anyway.

"When you want me to come get you. You let me know. Okay?"

She stayed quiet.

There were so many friends at the park that it became easy for him to drift along and keep busy with other people. He wandered to his truck to get a jacket, and Nova thought he was leaving. She chased him down in the parking lot and threw her arms around his neck. He lifted her up and held her, their tears mixing in person. Emotionally drained after the sad goodbye, Terry drove home and cried.

Nova and Jordan flew out the next day with their baby, and it didn't surprise Terry at all that Nova left Jordan four months later. Bethany let slip at a cookout that Nova filed for divorce and moved in with her brother- and sister-in-law. Terry minded his business and hoped Nova would finally find happiness. She was with her people and had a strong, supportive family to carry her through. Inserting himself into her life in the middle of new turmoil was something he wouldn't do. God took her away for a reason. Terry worked on closing that chapter in his life, no matter how painful it was.

Another summer was upon him, and he made vacation plans to visit his family on a road trip. He cleaned his condo, dropped off some spare keys for his friend Angie to watch his place while he was gone, and gassed up his truck. The only thing he had left to do was collect his travel bags. He collected mail from his mailbox in the condo lobby and found a large white envelope addressed to him by name, but with no return address.

Terry took the elevator to his home and tossed the junk mail aside. He opened the envelope and pulled out a large color photo of a cute brown baby girl with green eyes so bright they seemed to leap off the photo paper. His heart thudded in his chest. He sat down on his couch and flipped the photo over. There was only a name and a phone number.

Terrina Richmond.

The phone number had an unfamiliar area code. He looked it up on his smartphone.

Charleston, South Carolina.

Terry's hands shook so badly he had to press them on his thighs. He stared at the photo again. The baby had wispy waves of dark brown hair like him, but the eyes…God the eyes were his, too. Especially the long curling eyelashes.

He picked up his phone, and with trembling fingers, called the number.

"Hello?"

"Nova?"

"Terry—"

"I have a photo in my hand. That's why I called this number…Nova—"

"Come get me…come get us."

"Send me the address, baby. I'm on my way."

He asked no questions. Didn't worry about how he would explain to his relatives that he had to make a detour from Louisiana to South Carolina. His prayers had been answered.

Terry Richmond booked a flight to Charleston. He had to get his woman back and meet his new daughter.

A.N: Hey, shit happens. Just needed to write this one to see where it would go!

[teenmomcentral]

Here are some of the major (and minor but interesting) ‘Teen Mom’-related things that happened over the last week or so…

Chris Lopez Slams Baby Mama Kail Lowry For “Exploiting” Her Kids & Causing Mental Health Issues For Everyone In Her Life

Chris took yet another online swipe at his baby mama, Kail, on Thursday, calling the former ‘Teen Mom 2’ star a “foul bitch” and accusing her of exploiting her many, many kids for money.

Chris— who is no stranger to taking his baby mama drama to Instagram Live— apparently got angry after Kail didn’t answer her phone when he was calling to talk to one of their sons. (Chris and Kail share sons Creed and Lux.) It appears that Kail eventually called Chris back after he hopped on The Interwebs and started bashing her.

“Now that I’m on here, speaking my mind, now you wanna call me back?” he said in a Live video captured by @TeenMomFanz. “You should have let me talk to our son when I wanted, like our court order says. I can talk to my kids.”

Chris went on to claim that, since Kail’s potential solo reality show “fell through,”, she now has to think of other ways to keep the money coming in.

“Now she’s got to make as much money as she can off this s**t,” he said. “How are you gonna exploit your kids for some money?”

Chris brought up the fact that Kail hid her pregnancy with her fifth son, Rio, and then hid that he even existed up until his first birthday, and was mad when online accounts exposed details of the birth, etc. (On the most-recent episode of her Barely Famous podcast, Kail and her boyfriend Elijah Scott finally opened up about Rio’s birth.)

“You kept that boy a secret for a year straight!” Chris said. “How are you gonna have the nerve to come out here and say, ‘They robbed me of it!’ So you mean to tell me people ‘robbed’ you for a year-and-a-half straight of telling the truth? Make that make sense. A year-and-a-half straight to tell your f**king truth?”

Chris then stated that Kail does a number on everyone she meets.

“You f**k with everybody’s mental health. Everybody that comes into your life, you f**k with their mental health…you’re foul,” Chris said. “You’re a foul motherf**ker. You swore on your kids [that you didn’t have a fifth baby]. No, you’re lying. Multiple times you swore on your kids lives that you only had four kids. You swore on your kids lives when you had seven kids. 

“You is a foul bitch,” he said to conclude his rant.

Just a month ago, Chris took to Instagram Live to advise mom-of-seven Kail to “stay off your back,” and to lash out after he claimed Kail refused to let Lux and Creed see him over their Thanksgiving break.

“My first baby mama, Kail Lowry, ain’t nobody more miserable than that chick! How you got mother f**king seven kids?!…You miserable as hell, Bro, and you just wanna make everybody else f**king miserable…You need to grow the f**k up, seriously, and stay the f**k off your back!” 

David Eason Threatens Promises More OnlyFans Content Will Come After He Tones Up; Admits He’s “Insecure” About His Current Body 

Mrs. Jenelle Evans is getting ready for his close-up.

David, the employment-challenged soulmate of Jenelle, recently updated his (mercifully) long-abandoned OnlyFans site to inform his “fans” that he plans to upload more sexy-time content to his Not Safe For Work Anyone site– just as soon as he gets his body in camera-ready shape. He also stated that he needs to take care of his pesky indigestion that only a diet of stale beer, Great Value hotdogs and a side of local roadkill critter can induce!

“Sorry I haven’t been active in here for awhile,” David wrote earlier this month. “I’m pretty insecure of my body being that I haven’t been in shape for a few years now. I want to get more fit so I will be more comfortable posting on here.”

David— who can surely work on his fitness via excessive raking, filling the streets with uppercuts and running his mouth online— then informed everyone that his stomach has been “not well” as of late.

“I need to start some kind of diet anyways because I have really bad indigestion recently,” he wrote. “Hopefully that will help me trim some fat at the same time and help me get back on here for y’all! Let me know what kind of content y’all want to see!”

The Ashley will allow you a moment to go upchuck your most-recent meal at the thought of David posing in his tighty whities  while burping up gas station taquitos.

Unlike David, Jenelle has remained semi-active on her Only Fans site, posting photos of her fanny and furburger for the masses. 

Bar Smith Accuses Ryan Edwards of Receiving Special Privilege After ‘Teen Mom’ Dad Is Released From Jail Early

Bar Smith took to social media this week to comment on fellow ’Teen Mom’ dad Ryan Edwards’ recent release from jail, claiming Ryan’s shortened jail stint was an example of white privilege. 

As The Ashley told you earlier this week, on December 23, Ryan was released from the Tennessee jail he’d been incarcerated at since his December 8 court date, despite the judge previously ruling that Ryan was to spend the holiday season behind bars (at least until his January 17 court date), due to Ryan repetitively getting into trouble and not completing court-ordered requirements. 

Bar, the estranged husband of Ashley Jones, has since shared his thoughts on Ryan being allowed to bust out of the big house before the Christmas holiday in the comment section of a post from @teenmomfanz on Instagram, writing, “YT [privilege.]” 

Bar went on to expound on his comment, while acknowledging the personal connection the Edwards family has with Judge Gary Starnes, the judge overseeing Ryan’s case. 

“I think they know the judge but it’s still a privilege on many levels we blacks don’t have those chances,” he wrote. 

In response to some of the responses he received to his original comment, Bar clarified that he wasn’t “wishing jail” on Ryan and hoped Ryan “gets his life worked out honestly.” 

“ … but just as a Black man to see someone get so many chances at the same crime is insane,” he continued. “I shouldn’t have chimed in but it was just a little crazy to me. Hope he gets the help he needs and hope he enjoyed his Christmas.” 

Bar also went on to own up to his own run-ins with the law, while reiterating the privilege he believes Ryan has received as of late. 

“I also don’t have much space to talk because I’m a f**k up as well and have been arrested numerous times times, I was more so looking at the privileged side of it,” he wrote. 

Kail Lowry is Adding to Her Mansion to Accommodate the Newest Additions to Her Litter ‘o’ Kids 

Kail recently spawned two more kids, and now she’s making space for them in her Delaware mansion.

Kail— who moved into her current home custom-built a few years ago— revealed in a recent Instagram Q&A session that she is about to start construction to add several more rooms to her already huge home. 

When a follower asked how much space Kail is planning to add onto her six-bedroom house, she replied that the house will be about 1,500 square feet larger than it currently is. (In addition to the six bedrooms, the house also includes a playroom and a dog room.)

“[I’m adding a] hallway, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom,” Kail wrote. 

The additions will bring Kail��s home to eight bedrooms— enough for each of her seven kids to have their own– and seven bathrooms.

Kail admitted that “this sounds crazy and looks crazy but the way this economy is right now… [my kids] may all live here until they’re 35.”

[cheolhub]

i worked on thanksgiving cause it was time and a half but one of the managers sent me home like an hour and a half before my shift was supposed to end but the break was okay super stressful cause i have to go back to school and it’s finals season and i’m now even more behind on work

IM SO SORRY I JUST SAW THIS T—T im sorry u had to work but if i had the chance, i would’ve worked for the money>< i hope ur getting paid well…

I HOPE FINALS GO SMOOTHLY FOR U… ik it’s a hard time but i hope ur fr taking care of urself </3 whats ur major? if its not science related, i can do ur homework for u /lh

[mint-moon25]

DOCUMENT ID - RECEIPT - NO

23 NOV 2023 - THANKSGIVING

DAY - LAST - CENTURY - TRUE

HOPE - OUR - PRINCIPAL - WE

DESIRE - THAT - HE's - STILL

LIVING - INTRODUCED AT THE

MORTUARY - FOREST - LAWN

AUDITORIUM - WHERE - LAYS

FRED ASTAIRE - MANY STARS

MR ASTAIRE - HIS - BOTTOM

WORDS - ABOUT - HIS LOVE

HIS - WIFE - JUDY GARLAND

WHO - DID - HE - SPEAK - OF

VILLAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

FOREST - LAWN - MORTUARY

AUDITORIUM - WHERE - THEY

GRADUATE - YELLOW INSIDE

AIR CONDITIONED - VERY CA

BEAUTIFUL - QUIET - NICE XO

HE - SHARED - 'ONE - OF OUR

STUDENTS - HAS - BEEN YES

ACCEPTED - 2 - USC'' - TRUE

I STOOD - LIKE - A - V - WITH

MY - ARMS - WHO - THAT XO

STUDENT - IS - OLDESTS HAI

PRIVATE - RESEARCH - UNIV

UNIVERSITY - IN - CALIFORNIA

UCLA - PUBLIC PAID BY TAXES

RESEARCH - UNIVERSITY YES

CAME - 1/2 - 50 YEARS LATER

MADE - USC - THEIR - OUTLET

4 - HATRED - DEMENTED -

HALLUCINATION

CHANTS -

USC - UNIVERSITY - OF

SPOILED - CHILDREN

TRUE - TRUE - TRUE

DUMBER - THAN - DOORKNOBS

(MOST - BEAUTIFUL - MALES)

(TRUE - TRUE - MANY R DUMB)

(EXTREMELY - THEIR - DADS

APPLIED - 4 - THEM) - ALL 4

YRS PAID - IN FULL - 1 CHECK

TUTORS - MAJOR - TUTORS 2

GOT - $13 - FOR - COLLEGE HE

SAID - I - CAN - SPEND - NOW

AT - ANY - SHOPPING - MALL

USC - LESS - THAN - $75,000

FULL - GRANTS - GIVEN - ME

GPA - WITHOUT - ALGEBRA &

PEE - NOT - REQUIRED - ANY

COLLEGE - GPA - 4.000 FULL

GRANTS - AGE 16 - ME & USC

NEXT POST - MY - TRANSCRIPT

2 - COLLEGES - JOBS - I'M - 58

BUT - SCIENTISTS - SAY - JUST

1 YEAR - I'M - REALLY - AGE 59

TRANSCRIPT - IS - STORAGE

PARCHMENT - CHOSEN - BY

VILLAGE - CHRISTIAN - SAID

EMAILING - WHEN - THEY CA

HAVE FOUND - MY STORAGE

CONTAINING - TRANSCRIPTS

CAN - REST - FEW - MORE

DAYS - B 4 - ORIENTATION

CAMPUS - TOUR - TOTALLY

TENT - ARRIVED - SUNDAY

GOT - 2 - TALK - 2 - AMAZON

PRIME - DRIVER - WHILE HE

WAS - AT - 7TH - FLOOR - IT

IS TRUE - APRIL - AIRES ME

EXCEL - WITH STRANGERS

HAVE - A - GREAT - TIME AS

HE - PLACED - LOTS - OF XO

DIFFERENT - PACKAGES AT

JUST - 1 - HUGE - STORAGE

UNIT - THICK - LARGE UGLY

PADLOCK - VERY HEAVY HE

DIDN'T - KNOW - HOW - 2 CA

OPEN - STORAGE - UNITS - 2

WELL - I - DIDN'T - KNOW XO

HOW - 2 - LOCK - ALUMINUM

STORAGE - BRING - UP - TOO

1ST - BRING - 2 - RIGHT THEN

2ND - OR - 3RD - PADLOCK - I

TOLD - HIM - MINE - FR - YES

AMAZON - PRIME - MOST XO

LIKELY - ONLY - 1 - BUILDING

WATERPROOF - RUSTPROOF

OUTDOOR - INDOOR - NO NO

NEED - 4 - KEYS - SMOOTH

NUMBERS - ENTRY - 2 PACK

BLUE - $12.99 - MATCHES FL

BOX VAULT - SELF STORAGE

DOOR - THIS - TIME - WHEN

BUTTOCK - SHAPING - IS FL

OVER - DONE - 4 - WOMEN

HAD - WONDERFUL - TIME

TALKING - SHARED - ABOUT

ALI EXPRESS - CHINA - PINK

LUGGAGE - U - RIDE - AT MIA

AIRPORTS - FASTER - THAN

FREE - RIDE - EA TERMINAL

OVER - $500 - BUT - RIGHT

WORK - LLC - 4 - BUSINESS

TRIP - CAN - B - 100% - YES

TAX - DEDUCTIBLE - TOLD

WHAT - MADE - ME - ANGRY

PHOTO - MUST - B - CLOSEST

2 YOUR - FACE - 2 - MUG THE

HOUSE - WHEN - SEEN - AT

THEIR - MARKETPLACE SO

THESE - GROSSNESS - ALSO

B 4 - DIDN'T - ACCEPT - THE

GIFT - CARD - VISA - MC CN

FORGIVED - THEM - FINALLY

WITH - THE - LUGGAGE U SIT

ON - AND - ELECTRIC - BIKE

NO - PEDAL - 65 MPH - FAST

TRAVEL - FASTER - THAN THE

CARS - SPEED - LIMIT - 45 MPH

NO - LICENSE PLATE - OF - FL

DRIVERS - LICENSE - NEEDED

BOTH - FINALLY - FORGAVE

ALI EXPRESS - BELIEVE ME

ONLY - OVER - $53 MILLION

BECAUSE - OF - HUB LOCKER

AMAZON - OVER - $!.29 BILLION

DAILY - SUGGESTED - UC PLANS

2 APT BLDGS - WITH - STAFF - 2

WHY - 2 PETS - ONLY - PER - EA

APT - BLDG - ONE - FRONT - OF

LARGE - PUBLIX - SELF SERVICE

HERE - 13TH ST - NEAR NOVOTEL

SOMA - AT - BRICKELL

BEAUTIFUL - KITCHENS - LIKE

WASHER - DRYER - ALSO LIKE

NEAR - TARGET - BUT - VISIBLE

NOT THAT - NEAR - MIDTOWN

MIAMI - MY - FAVORITE THERE

FRESH - KITCHEN

GRILLED - BBQ - CHICKEN THE

BEST - IMAGINE - REPLACE THAT

TARGET - WITH - AMAZON - YES

GROCERY - BETTER - WIRELESS

NOT - CONTROLED - BY - RAIN 2

BECAUSE - NEW - TARGET - YES

NEAR - MIAMI - POLICE STATION

6 ST - AND - NW 2 AVE

THEY - HAVE - THAT INSTEAD

SO - BLDG - NICE - WALK - FR

2 PETS - APT BLDGS - NICE 2

HAD - PLEASANT - TALK YES

HOPE - ALL - HAD - A HAPPY

THANKSGIVING - SERIOUS

POSTS - ALSO - BAYFRONT

PARK - GOV'T - CENTER PK

MIAMI - POLICE - MAIN LIBRARY

ISSUED - FIREARM - WARNING

GIFT - AFTER - THANKSGIVING

SIGN - POSTED - BAYFRONT PARK

WARNING - PHILIPPINES - FR

HAITI - MIAMI - POLICE ARMED

HAITI - ALLIED - UNIVERSAL

SECURITY - TRANSIT - BROWN

UNIFORM - HAITI - BAYFRONT

PARK - METROMOVER TRAIN

THANKSGIVING - FINAL GIFT

HAITI - MIAMI - POLICE WHITES

FLORIDA - 27TH - STATE - USA

NOT - GRANTED - OPEN CARRY

FINAL - WARNING - PHILIPPINES

HAITI - INCLUDED - FIREARM YES

WARNING - GIVEN - AFTER TRUE

THANKSGIVING DAY

23 NOVEMBER 2023

PHILIPPINES

SURGEONS - DOCTORS - ICU

INTENSIVE - CARE - UNIT PH

NURSES - LICENSED - REG

REGISTERED - NURSES WILL

B - SHOT - AT THE - BACK OF

HEAD - LIKE - BENIGNO JR

AQUINO JR - SHOOTING BACK

OF - NECK - BACK - SPINE YES

SHOOTING - US - FIREARMS &

K 9 - GERMAN - SHEPPHERDS

SHERIFFS - RIFFLES WILL YES

SHOOT - BACK - OF - HEAD FL

GOING - DOWN - SHOOT THE

NECK - MIDDLE - BACK 2 FL

SPINE - WARNING - WARNING

PHILIPPINES

SURGEONS - DOCTORS - ICU

NURSES - REGISTERED NURSES

THEY'RE - SHOOTING - ALL - OF

U - STARTING - NOW - THOSE OF

GRAVEYARD - SHIFTS

B 4 - 7A - DAILY - AFTER - 10P

DAILY - $2,500 - FINES - FOR

EVERYONE - WITHOUT WATCH

OR - ACCESS - 2 - TIME - WITH

WHITE - TICKETS - U - MUST

KNOW - TIME - SHOOTING

TEENS - KIDS - DOGS - CATS

BAYFRONT - PARK - OPEN

7A - 10P - DAILY

THEY'RE - SHOOTING - BACKS

HANDCUFFING - AFTER THEN

PLACING - BACK - OF TRUNKS

FIRE - AND - RESCUE - RED

TRUCKS - ALSO - 2 ASSIST

LICENSED - MALE - REG NURSES

REMOVING - KIDNEY & BLADDER

$9,000 - EACH - FEDEX - AFTER

LITTLE - HAVANA - MIAMI - NOT

CUBA - FIREPLACE - BURNING

BODIES - 2 - REMOVE - U - FR

FLORIDA - PLANET - EARTH

GOVERNMENT - CENTER

PARK - DUSK - 2 - DAWN

(FIND - OUT - YOURSELF)

NOW - 5A - 5P

SHOOTING - LIKE - ABOVE

GREEN - CHAIRS - 4 - BUSES

SIT - THERE - INSTEAD

SATURDAYS - 7P

FREE - HOAGIES - DRINKS

OPEN - PARK - NO - FOUNTAIN

AFTER - HOURS - AND - SAT/SN

WEEKENDS

MEANING - FEDERAL TAXES

VICIOUS - VULGAR - THEFT

BY - LOCAL - FL - GOV'T AND

THEIR - REPUBLICANS ALSO

THEFT - OF - FEDERAL TAXES

FLORIDA - WRINKLED - PRUNE

BAGS - THEIR - CHILDREN GET

LIFE - INSURANCE - TAX FREE

INHERITANCE - FASTER

FL - FLORIDA - CREATED

ILLEGAL - BAKER ACT - YES

ALMOST - 3 DAYS - RAPE RAPE

3RD - DAY - BEGAN - AGAIN SO

SORRY - 3RD - DAY - BEGINNING

POSSIBLE - PREGNANCY - EVEN

AFTER - 10 YRS - BRITISH - YES

RESEARCH - WHITE - UNRIPE

PAPAYA - NATURAL ABORTION

FREE - ABORTION - CLINICS

FLORIDA

THIS - STATE - IS - CRAZY

ANNOUNCEMENT - FUTURE

NEW YEARS - 4TH - JULY - IS

FIREWORKS - 9P - 15 MIN - 2

THEN - EVERYONE - FLEES

10P - PUBLIC - CURFEW FR

MIAMI - POLICE - SHERIFF

ALLIED - UNIVERSAL SECURITY

ALL - OPEN - CARRY - ILLEGAL

SOLUTION - AMENDMENT 1

ELECTRONIC - FAX - PRESIDENT

JOE BIDEN - AS - DEMOCRATS

DE - MEANS - 2 - DESTROY ALL

THAT - NEEDS - DESTROYING

FLORIDA - WILL - B - REVOKED

ALL - PUBLIC - PARKS - 4 EVER

WILL - B - LIKE - HAWAII

5 STAR - HOTELS - SURROUNDING

FRONT - OF - BAYFRONT - PARK 2

SAFER - 4 - FAMILIES - BEST - FOR

DEADY - HURRICANES - 200 MPH

CAFES - INSIDE - 24/7

ROOM - SERVICE - FOOD - DRINK

24/7 - ALL - SERVICES - 24/7

CONDITION - GIVEN - LAND YES

WHERE - CRIME - OCCURED XO

LAND AND BLDG - $1

LAND - BUILDINGS - GRANTED

PRICE - SOLD - AT - $1

GIVEN - AUCTIONED

MEANING - FRONT - WILL - B

PEOPLE - ALLOWED - FEET ON

WATER - ATTACHED - WILL BE

2 - LIE - DOWN - 4 - TANNING

PORT - WATER - DANGEROUS

WINDS - CURRENTS - WASTE

BELT - 4 - KIDS - TEENS MANY

2 WEAR - AS - WALKING - AND

SPEED - BOATS - RENTALS

SMALL - YACHTS - WITH YES

DRIVERS - RENTALS

EXCHANGE - WILL - BE -

24/7 - CAFES - INSIDE

24/7 - ROOM - SERVICE

FOOD - DRINK

24/7 - BANKING - ATMs

NO - MORE - PARKS - 4 - YES

FLORIDA - THEY'RE - CRAZY

MIAIMI - POLICE - CAN'T FL

PARK - INSIDE - ARMED YES

HOTEL - SECURITY

CONCEALED - CARRY - USUALLY

NOT - ALWAYS - ARMED - ALSO

BETTER - FLORIDA - NO MORE

PARKS - ALL - THEIR - NASTY

SIGNS - NO - TRESPASSING

WILL - B - REMOVED - WILL

EAT - LUNCH SOON - TRUE

COMING - BACK - TUMBLR

[pilotjoans]

Nov. 20, 2023

Somehow, it always feels like once I finish one thing, three other things are added on. That even though I work for 9 hours straight, I somehow haven't made any progress in any of the projects I have. And literally this shit SUCKS!! :(

I'm trying to stay positive though, so here are three things I'm grateful for today:

positive feedback from all of my preceptors

my friends who are always there with me as I go through this volatile period of my life

my family for always supporting me behind the scenes

I know I'm competent and intelligent and personable, but I'm trying to get everyone else to see that, and it's tiring to have to always sell myself like I'm a product (which I guess I am ha). I just think about how in exactly 4 months from now, I'll know whether or not I'll be a resident or a community pharmacist and it's scary to see how much can change in that short amount of time. I've always had a hard time accepting change into my life because it always makes my life unstable and honestly, with all the shit going on with myself, I crave stability. So I try to avoid change and pretend it doesn't exist, but I feel it around me All The Time and it paralyzes me a lot, like too much. So I honestly think I need to re-evaluate my purpose, my interests and my own mindset because I want to live, I want to thrive, and none of that can happen until I do something about it.

Tonight is a catch-up night for all of the small things I need to get done, like finishing up my "strengths and weaknesses" to send to my preceptors for LORs, uploading their information onto the application portal, and finishing all remaining school assignments. It's a lot, but it's also all half-finished so I feel like if I just knock it all out tonight, it'll leave me in such a good position tomorrow. Cause then I'll only have my patient presentation and my Excel sheet for residency programs to work on :)

Hoping this week goes great because Thanksgiving is on Thursday!! And I get Thurs and Fri off thank god :3

On another note, I'm broke but I want to buy so much stuff during Cyber Monday pls hold me back fr

[castle-dominion]

5x2 cloudy with a chance of murder

Love the mandolin style music or w/e this is

castle shut up lmao & fun lighting Oh we can still see her scar RC: No one is going to be able to tell that we’re together by how you are dressed. KB: Oh, no? I only work with a roomful of detectives. It’s their job.

I thought that one was HIS lol that's why he said no not getting paid, not your coworker lmao Ooh they are in europe!

Man I miss kissing people... Reminds me of lanie & esposito "no puppydog eyes" but they are sort of coworkers but not exactly, same with demming, he was in a different department so they could date

Oh this is how esposito always knows mor ethan becks, he gets there first & gets info from the unis

Becks is pretty *notices the coffee immediately* it could be BECAUSE it was her first day back

"as a single man"

Lanie is lookin awesome rn! she can Tell. woman's intuition

Ryan is pretty <3 this is the hair mum said looked like mine before we both cut our hair. Still mad at each other : (

Becks no, they really are still mad...

That was a long sigh

This man is,,, not normal...

Oh look at that he's really acting like me "it's johnny" Jonathan Goodheart: That stalking was a misunderstanding, and… That other thing happened on a really hot day.

I like things that are soft HE'S JUST LIKE ME FR

AFTER the gunshot? Lanie detective moments!! She def pointed as if it was between people "I know a lot of guys"

mandy michael slaying nice word The five day forecast won't be the same RC: What kind of a family, happy or dysfunctional? In the commentary I think andrew marlowe said castle at the beginning of the year is like a big happy family but at the end of the year like a big happy family at thanksgiving fog is an awesome name lol. Mum had a dentist called doctor ow

"the bay" New york's finest lmao

Lucrative "sell by date" & "according to harvey" set dressing with cleavage XD

Yeah she's probably in bed by seven pm.

Lol castle playing on the screen

haranguing??

KB: Isn’t she the reporter that shows up to cover stories in her bikini? RC: Yeah, y—I don’t—is—I didn’t notice that. KB: (playful) You want to…try it again, make it sound a little more convincing? RC: No, I’m good. KB: (playful) Okay.

Faster-than-my-ex-husband-in-the-sack fast. Isn't he married? Uh huh

Ryan interrupted him & now look at them fight

Music <3

JE: Let me take the lead. KR: Whatever. JE: What? I got more experience. KR: Yo, Javi, do you mind if we call a time-out… while we collar this guy? Huh?

Reggie's wife is sleeping with her too

True, there are some careers that are very age dependent, like gymnastics. You can keep up your physical fitness but it takes more work & you need to let some things go.

When harry met sally

RC: Well, I don’t know. You and I were just friends for four years. KB: Yeah, except you were trying to sleep with me that whole time. RC: What? KB: Mm-hmm. RC: Excuse me, it was you that was trying to sleep with me. KB: Wh—? RC: Don’t tell me you dress like that for Esposito. [Esposito walks up.] JE: What’s for me? KB: (simultaneously) Nothing. RC: (simultaneously) Don’t worry about it.

Clipping the tinted moisturizer scene where espt interrupts ryan in the middle of giving information. Why is he wearing makeup tho? To hide that he got f'ed up a bit? To pretend he didn't [do what he did for the reason he did]? Also he still does have a black eye, it just isn't as visible now

What kind of relationship? Rings a bell huh? & the sex is amazing *both smile looking in the distance*

I can't tell if ryan is taking off or adding on makeup but it def made esposito pause

Proposing to your wife with ray the helicopter pilot flew her straight to the hospital

Kristina Coterra: I’m sure you must have women throwing themselves at you all the time. RC: Well, we all have our crosses to bear. She goes back to watch He could have said "I didn't want to stand you up on TV"

RF: Uh, well, if she was up in the chopper, she must have been using the direct tox monitor. RC: The direct tox monitor, of course. KB: You have no idea what that is. RC: No, not a clue.

Yeah that's so right, doctors so often only talk to the parents not the kids. I had a great pediatrician.

Ryan knocks & CASTLE leaves to talk with him... becks stays in the interview... interesting. Castle really is part of the team

Lenny my beloved

THE FANCY PAPER

Wow this factory owner is... INSANE

"shuts her down" is not funny

Yeah lol it could be "if any of this" this meaning styrene "gets out" into the air "I will kill you"

lmao that is SUCH a big corporation thing. Turning the fricking frogs gay. GIRL NO THEY ARE TRICKING YOU THEY ARE TRICKING YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT

Ryan's makeup is actually sort of working Cool how they can get tech to do sun time verifying

Nah y'all should go home, don't work through supper. One of you even has a wife to go home to!

RC: Uh, are you sure you’re okay— turns to address the room as a whole about leaving the case instead of Beckett about the date Are you okay with this? JE: Okay? Are you kidding? It’s Kristina Coterra. KR: Yeah, besides, since when have you let cop work get in the way of your busy social life?

interesting scene going in there through the city, helicopter type scenes

Ew oysters may be an aphrodesiac but I would not want to kiss someone after eating oysters

Oh no his phone is calling her also castle you could totally say "I'm not comfortable with this on the first date"

KB: Yeah, well, there’s gotta be something that we’re missing. KR: Speaking of missing something, Castle should be way more excited about his date tonight. KB: Why? KR: According to Celebrity Examiner, Kristina is notorious for seducing famous men with her extensive bikini collection. (chuckle) [Esposito and Beckett stare at Ryan.] KR: What? Jenny buys it, and it just happened to be open to that page on the coffee table. KB: What’s your point? KR: Isn’t it obvious? She’s totally gonna put the moves on him. JE: No way. Not gonna happen. KB: Thank you for actually showing some maturity. JE: He’s totally gonna put the moves on her. (chuckle) KB: Don’t you guys think that he’s actually evolved beyond that by now? JE: He’s a man, he has a pulse, so… KR & JE: No.

How did he get away? what if you do say no? If the genders were reversed we would be outraged. In fact, I am. lmao the upside down shot I love it

GIRL HE IS ABOUT TO GO LIVE, LET HIM FINISH HIS SEGMENT OR SMTH, YOU ARE SO WRECKING THE NEWS

gay!? Not for a story, but for the career the story would bring Girl if you didn't mean to kill her but just to scare her then you would have the safety on, empty mag, empty chamber, not cocked, & also careful with your muzzle control, altho ig u were trying to threaten someone

Ryan is letting his bruise show again esposito on the other hand looks like he is wearing makeup now

Wow that is a tall place to go for those volume buttons. lol wow that was a crappy fight scene. Must be embarrassing for ryan to have that freezeframe on tv in the middle of the precinct. Also I still have an old tube tv with that style of volume. Did u see ryan punch that man & he had no reaction but ryan made a face like he himself had gotten punched in the gut?

Oh no are they going to break up after ONE DAY? & even if you do implode, you got to enjoy your time! Good. Set boundaries. Did she threaten him? I mean it was a joke but still KB: It's--it's too soon. I just--I keep seeing her boobs in your face. RC: *smiles, also thinking about the boobs in his face*

Ok it has only been two hours, I've got this. I watched about one & a half episodes, that makes sense time-wise

[torawro]

hey ^-^

4, 8, 12 and 13 for the ask game

i am. awful. pls pls plsss forgive me for being so late with replying to this!! :((( ask game can be found here! i hope i linked the right one LDSKDSFDSKF

4) tell me abt ur day

weeellll, my day today was pretty chill, i cant complain honestly bc i didnt have any classes plus thanksgiving breaks starts today (well technically tomorrow but yea). grateful to God for waking me up this morning, Amen. i just lazed around in bed this morning, took my time to get up at like....noon, went to get boba, ate food, watched anime all afternoon, listened to music, had dinner and now im here on tumblr clearing out my inbox and maybeee work on a jjk piece for choso <3

8) ask me personal things

hmmmm let me see... what ur color is ur shirt rn? what about your room? i didnt wanna get too invasive LMAOOOO

12) unpopular opinions

enji todoroki ( endeavor ) is a sexy ass dilf. we need to discuss this more.

hot dogs are disgusting

tom holland was the most enjoyable spiderman. although i did like andrew garfield and tobey maguire, so no hate to them (spiderman 3 from sam raimi in 2007 was the best one imo)

alcohol isn't alllll that; it's bitter fr (ignore the fact that i'd rather drink than smoke tho)

marriage and social norms are very much made up to suppress unique/different/minority groups (got inspo from @sirenh4ll bc i agree)

being a homebody and being in ur own space / peace >>>>> going out black people!! (esp black women) >>>>>>

13) vent 2 me

ummmmm lets see 🥲DDJSFKJRF where do i even begin fr. i might link my response from another post here bc another moot did ask me the same question, but basicalllyyy school is hard, makes me hate myself and my own brain; navigating friends is still so hard and i hate that im such a people pleaser; anddd i hate how i physically look

[astralaffairs]

w/ midnight approaching i j wanna let yall know that this blog was genuinely the best part of my 2020. it's been a hellish year, but getting to meet & know writers like @deja-you (girl ur writing has a SPECIAL place in my heart istg. i know we don't talk much but ur presence on this site and on ur blog makes my life a lil brighter. even if the feeling isn't mutual i think of u as a good friend 💞❣) @daveeddiggsit (an actual ray of sunshine 🥺) @iknowthekoolaidflavor @wreakhavoconmacroissantdiggs @tinywhim & @biafbunny all of whose works ive been reading for as long as (or longer than) ive been writing for this fandom has been so incredible and heart warming <3 ur all such damn sweethearts and ilu

& then there have been the new mutuals that have popped up and brightened my life like @commandersmiley @braidedchallah @ramp-it-up & @moondustmemories @summerofsnowflakes @raiseaglasstothefourofus (i know we don't chat much but ilu all sm 🥺)

& @id-do-it-for-free-babe @peoniarose @ohsoverykeri-blog (idk where the hyphens go in ur url ill fix it later) & @cloudynblw

then there's @einfachniemand who literally hypes me more than ANYONE else and is probably the most supportive person on this entire goddamn site ❣💕 i would give u the world if i could but alas i do not have that kind of power

and @youunravelme whose asks and notifs MAKE MY ENTIRE LIFE. u don't even know and i can't explain bruh i get like 80% of my serotonin from getting notifs from u and hearing ur thoughts in my inbox. it's the absolute best. u have made my 2020 like 80% better. i can't emphasize this enough you make me so happy.

and maybe (just maybe) im abt to mention @tinywhim again who is absolutely the kindest most gracious person alive i swear 🥺 also she wrote my absolute outright favorite thom fic that i have ever read (and yes, i have read quite a number of them since 2016) and im now enamored w demon!thom

and ofc @the-lost-marauder 🥰🥰 as much as i adore every single one of my followers and mutuals, ur by far one of my favorite ppl to hear from on this site. your thanksgiving ball oneshot is still one of my favorite things to read on here and u have absolutely excellent energy. i feel like we'd probably vibe irl (also pls more secret relationship vp!thom content!!! pl ease !!!!!! i need it asap)

and yes im abt to mention @deja-you again bc she's such a fucking sweetheart. the literal embodiment of sunshine and cotton candy. idk what else there is to say here u just have the purest vibes i feel like ur the type of person to save a cat from a tree or have a bird land on ur shoulder. u just have that energy 🥺💫 then again you outright broke my heart w foreign affairs so idk i might have to retract all that 😤

& special s/o to @fentinatalin for having shitty taste in men. that's all.

jk jk ily natalie 🤧❣ have i ever told u that when u hmu on ig i almost didn't dm u back bc it gave me anxiety and i thought you'd think i was uncool on main??? anyway im glad i did hit u back bc ur a ridiculously excellent friend and i frequently forget ive only known u for a couple months???? i realized recently that ive picked up some of ur texting habits and idk how to feel abt it . anyway ily thanks for existing

also mega shoutout to @maniacmichele bc ik i haven't answered ur graph theory ask but that's bc ive been watching math yt videos to try and dissect it until i can figure out wtf it all means. ur smart as shit and i am in awe of ur math brain ty for taking the time to explain that graph theory thing bc i have spent literal hours nerding out over it

also to @marioverthere bc i know we don't talk much anymore (FUCK time zones) but meeting you and getting the chance to know u literally made me so happy (also ur the reason i started staying current w/ the hk protests so ty ao much for making me aware of that darling)

and to @softclowninghours for having THE PUREST energy. u probably give excellent hugs i can just feel it. i just know it.

and then all my anons w ur lil emojis and signatures, who i love and cherish -- i won't try to list all of u bc i WILL forget some and im not tryna do u like that but some honorable mentions:

🐥 anon, for being like half the reason i ever touch my draft of lobsterback (ur my motivation, inspiration, muse, etc. thanks honey)

🍬 anon, for being absolutely fucking adorable and an enormous sweetheart

🐺 anon, for being friendly as hell and also kinda fucking hilarious. ur asks always make me smile

💙🖤 anon, for being so so so damn kind and supportive all the fucking time (ily)

there are so many people and blogs and anons that have made an impression on me this year, so believe me when i say this is very, very, VERY incomplete; if we've ever talked, or you've sent me an ask, or you've ever interacted with my post, you deserve a spot up here so pls forgive me for having 3 neurons and not remembering to mention u as i hastily write this post

literally though i love and appreciate every single one of you so much. this sounds like a huge platitude but i don't know how else to say it because there are genuine thousands of u who id list if i had more time or energy. you're all excellent. thank you so much for being alive at the same time as me.

also s/o to disney and lin for releasing the obc tape bc fr thats the only reason this fandom came back to life

+ also HUGE shoutout to the person who venmoed me ten bucks for the fotp smut. i don't have ur tumblr @ since u sent everything on anon but yk who you are; your generosity means the world to me and i hope the smut lived up to ur hopes and expectations

++ also the anon who encouraged me to actually write my art museum au 😌❣ ik it isn't up yet but ive been loving it so much and i hope u like it when it drops