#grapefruit wheat

[trivialbob]

Yesterday Sheila and I rode bikes on an 18-mile loop we like through Minneapolis. It took us three hours.

Two miles im my front tire popped. I have no idea what I ran over, but the tire was flat before I came to a stop.

Luckily I had tools, a pump, and a spare tube. It's been a while since I changed a tube. This time I accomplished the task in under five minutes, barely getting my hands dirty.

With that taken care of we re-started the ride. The Minneapolis Greenway is in better shape that previous years. The path has been repaved and re-striped. No tents were set up along the way.

When we got off the Greenway we went to one of my favorite local bike shops, Hub Bike Coop. Sheila pet the dog that was in there; I looked at bikes and bought two new tubes for spares (one for each of our bikes).

Years ago I put a Hub Bike Coop sticker on my old Corolla. Matt ended up with that car. The Hub sticker and another for the University of Wisconsin remained on the car while Matt lived in New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. It's a Corolla, so despite being nearly two decades years old I like to think that little blue car with my two stickers is still banging around somewhere on the east coast.

From the bike shop we pedaled south to Venn Brewing. An Australian Shepherd and three other dogs were inside. Sheila pet all of them. For her drink she ordered a Fruited Plains: Grapefruite Wheat. After taking a sip of it, I ordered the same thing. Wow, what an excellent beer on a warm day while biking.

Then we headed south and east to Lake Nokomis. There's a concession stand there where we've ordered beer before. Yesterday we saw a sign posted by the counter stating no beer and wine sales.

The place had been serving alcohol illegally for 12 years. Someone finally noticed that there isn't sufficient "covered seating" to allow beer and wine sales. Good thing after a dozen years of alcoholic chaos someone put an end to that madness and pulled the liquor license.

Still thirsty, we headed west along Minnehaha Parkway to Chicago Ave. Then it was just two blocks north to the Town Hall Tap. Sheila had a blood orange lager while I went with the Masala Mama IPA.

We sat at a table on the front sidewalk and split an appetizer. People watching was decent. Sheila, however, thought it was "people talking." She had nice comments for everyone who walked by.

"Oh I like that dress you're wearing." The woman in it was flattered and chatted with Sheila briefly.

"That's a cool tattoo." That woman also stopped to talk with Sheila, explaining how there was still a lot of coloring to be added to it and what it was going to look like. The tattoo parlor two storefronts away.

"Those are nice sandals. Are the straps a light auburn brown, or is that a darker eggshell (free range, not grocery store egg)?"

Now do you understand why it took us three hours to complete the loop?

Next door to Town Hall Tap is a theater. An old movie projector sits in front of the building. A theater employee told me it had been in use there from about 1945 to 1965.

Next to the theater is the Creekside Supper Club. As Sheila talked to everyone walking down Chicago Avenue, I went over to check the supper club's menu. Next time we are in that neighborhood I want to eat there. Maybe I can also find out how that woman's tattoo coloring is coming along.

Finally we paid our tab. Sheila said goodbye to all her new friends and acquaintances. Then we rode more of Minnehaha Parkway over to Lake Harriet where the car was parked. We thought about getting a beer at the Lake Harriet concession stand (which apparently does have sufficient covered seating). But after seeing all the bike shop and brewery dogs, we wanted to get home to our dogs.

At home we swapped two bikes for three Aussies and went to our local brewery. Sheila went to get us a beer. Oliver, Sulley, and Ella would not stop staring in the direction she went. Sheila always comes back, but they don't trust me on that.

The food truck on site served pizza. We didn't want any. The dogs had other ideas.

[doofnoof]

Blue Cheese ♥️, Canned Tuna 💚 Chicken 💚 Coffee Cooked Fish 💚 Crab 💚 Grapes 💚 Ketchup 💚 Mayonnaise 💚 Mustard 💚 Nutella spread 💚 Oysters 💚 Peanut Butter 💚, Raw Fish 💛, Shrimp 💚, Snails (Escargot)♥️, Sourdough Bread 💛, Soy Sauce 💚 Tea 💚 Vinegar 💚, Carrots 💛 Tomatoes 💛, Cucumbers ♥️, Cabbage 💛,

Cauliflower 💚 Asparagus Beef Turkey pork Liver, Brussel Sprouts, Dark Chocolate Garlic, Lettuce, Broccoli, Zucchini,

Coconut, Onions, White Chocolate, Tofu, Avocado, Oranges, Grapefruit, Raisins, Strawberries, Apples, Wheat Bread, Celery,

Mushrooms, Eggplant, Beets, Watermelon, Cottage Cheese, Pickles, Peas, Pineapple, Bananas, Milk, Olives,

Yogurt, Green Beans, Lima Beans, Quinoa, Shrimp, Honey

Picky Eater Disliked Food Bracket

I saw this image going around and decided to open this blog I'd make polls about it!

I'm going to start with this list (minus ranch dressing, because it's pretty much unknown outside the USA), but I'm accepting submissions for more. The winner of each poll will be the most disliked food item.

Current list of contestants: Blue Cheese, Canned Tuna, Chicken, Coffee, Cooked Fish, Crab, Grapes, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Nutella spread, Oysters, Peanut Butter, Raw Fish, Shrimp, Snails (Escargot), Sourdough Bread, Soy Sauce, Tea, Vinegar, Carrots, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Asparagus, Beef, Turkey, pork, Liver, Brussel Sprouts, Dark Chocolate, Garlic, Lettuce, Broccoli, Zucchini, Coconut, Onions, White Chocolate, Tofu, Avocado, Oranges, Grapefruit, Raisins, Strawberries, Apples, Wheat Bread, Celery, Mushrooms, Eggplant, Beets, Watermelon, Cottage Cheese, Pickles, Peas, Pineapple, Bananas, Milk, Olives, Yogurt, Green Beans, Lima Beans, Quinoa, Shrimp, Honey

[cocainever]

best foods for fibre??? <3

of course angel!! ❤️

Soluble fiber helps with maintaining blood sugar and helping us stay regular (💩)

Insoluble fiber helps our stool not be unregulated and aids in digestion. Both help us stay full between meals!!

The sources of SOLUBLE FIBERS are,

LEGUMES:

Black Beans

Kidney Beans

Lentils

Peas

Peanuts

GRAINS:

Oats

Oat meal

Oat bran

Rice

Barley

FRUITS:

Grapefruit

Apricot

Mangoes

Oranges

Dried figs

Pear

Bananas

Papaya

Potatoes

Yams

Mushrooms

VEGETABLES:

Brussels Sprout

Avocados

Sweet potatoes

Carrots

Flax seeds

Beets

Pumpkins

The sources of INSOLUBLE FIBERS are as follows

Whole wheat, Wheat flour

Wheat bran

Nuts and Seeds

Berries

Beans & Lentils

Pineapple

Apple

Dates

Prunes

Melons

Green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, etc.

Green peas

Celery

Okra

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Tomatoes

Cucumber

Sprouts

Cabbage

Onion

Egg plant

Tried to give you low calorie options!!! And obviously don’t consume too much :) moderation is key

[prettieinpink]

Question about Cycle Syncing. Do you know where i can find, like a masterlist of food that fits into the steps of the cycle? I always see the same food but how abt the rest? Would be nice to know for example for meal building.

MASTERLIST: NUTRITION CYCLE SYNCING

This post is a masterlist of everything that is recommended you eat while cycle syncing. if you don’t know what that is, read this beginner guide.

This post is a researched post, because I actually couldn’t find a proper masterlist. So, I researched what kinds of nutrients you need during your 4 phases, but I am NO DOCTOR. Just a little disclaimer!

MENSTRUAL/FOLLICULAR PHASE - high iron, vitamin C foods

VEGETABLES

Spinach

Silver beet

Broccoli

String beans

Peas

Sweet potatoes

Beet greens

Dandelion greens

Collards

Chard

Chilli peppers

Sweet yellow peppers

Parsley

Brussel sprouts

FRUITS

Oranges

Guavas

Black currants

Cantaloupe

Kiwis

Lemons

Lychees

Papayas

Strawberries

Oranges

Watermelon

Figs

Prunes

PROTEINS

Beef

Lamb

Liverwurst

Pork

Veal

Dried beef

Eggs

Shrimp

Clams

Tuna

Sardines

CARBS/OTHER

Whole wheat bread

Enriched pasta

Rye bread

Enriched rice

Tofu

Beans

Lentils

OVULATORY PHASE – complex carbs, lean proteins, anti-inflammatory, vitamin B6, folate/choline

VEGETABLES

Carrots

Spinach

Sweet potato

Red potato

Green peas

Chickpeas

Butternut squash

Asparagus

Turnip greens

Romaine lettuce

Beets

Sweet corn

Mushrooms

Pumpkin

Parsnip

Cauliflower

FRUITS

Bananas

Avocado

Mango

Blueberries

Apple

Peaches

Tangerine

Pink grapefruit

lemons

PROTEINS

Egg whites

Strained yoghurt

Skinless white meat poultry

Plain greek yoghurt

Low fat cottage cheese

Tofu

Lean beef

Powdered peanut butter

Beef liver

Pork loin

Bison

Organ meat

CARBS/OTHER

Lentils

Kidney beans

Green peas

Walnuts

Flaxseeds

Cashews

Almonds

Pistachios

LUTEAL PHASE – High fibre, vitamin B12, magnesium

VEGETABLES

Spinach

Swiss chard

Collard greens

Green peas

Sweet corn

Cabbage

Arugula

Bok choy

Celery

Lettuce

FRUITS

Pears

Strawberries

Avocado

Apples

Raspberries

Blackberries

Blueberries

Bananas

PROTEINS

Animal liver

Animal kidney

Clams

Swiss cheese

Turkey

Crabs

Ham

CARBS/OTHER

Oats

Popcorn

Almonds

Fresh coconut

Sunflower seeds

Dark chocolate

Wheat

barley

[gemsofgreece]

How to follow a Mediterranean Greek diet

The Mediterranean diet naturally expands throughout the coastal countries of South Europe, North Africa and the Middle East but there are some small differences between their cuisines. So here I am writing specifically about the Greek version of the Mediterranean diet, known for its delicious, natural flavours and its significant health benefits.

Eat daily:

Olive oil: the pillar, the liquid green gold of the Mediterranean Greek diet. Olive oil should be used ideally exclusively for all purposes. It's dressing salads, it's used in cooking and in fact it's traditionally what is used in frying too. Replace all types of oils, butter and margarine with olive oil even when making pastries. The only problem here is that outside of the Mediterranean basin olive oil can be pricey, however that's the foundation the diet is based on. If you are interested in following the traditional Greek diet for taste or health purposes, it is good to really incorporate olive oil in your daily cooking. If it’s not possible to afford buying olive oil all the time (although you could balance it out by not buying other oils and butter), a non-Greek-typical but equivalent alternative could be avocado oil. However, I doubt avocado oil or any other oil can remotely compare to olive oil in health properties, taste or in any other positive quality 🫒

Vinegar: Just like olive oil, vinegar is a very important ingredient and is also used in natural remedies However, it can hurt a sensitive GI tract if consumed in large portions. A little bit of it added to meals frequently is very healthy. Apple cider vinegar is also very loved and used in salads often 🍇

Vegetables: no portion can be too much (wild greens, garlic, onions, cauliflowers, cucumbers, eggplants, beets, peppers, spinach, artichokes, zucchini, peas, lettuce, the list never ends). Tomatoes and broccoli are recent additions to the Greek diet however they were integrated perfectly to the Greek cuisine. In general, all vegetables can be enjoyed freely with some moderation in the potatoes, especially when fried 🥗

Fruits: grapes, berries, apples, melons, cherries, figs, prunes, sour cherries, peaches, pomegranates are the most historically loved fruits in the Greek diet. Since the middle ages citruses like the orange, the lemon and the mandarin are more and more loved. Greeks nowadays use lemon almost more than vinegar and both have become integral components of the Greek diet. Obviously, tropical fruits like, say, banana, mango, grapefruit are not present in the traditional Greek diet, however all fruits are good fruits and you can enjoy them freely 🍎

Legumes. Eat freely to the tolerance of your body. Legumes can be too heavy for some GI tracts. Legumes are a great source of protein and fibre. Choose brown lentils, white beans, fava beans, chickpeas, giant beans and black eyed peas the most 🫘

Nuts, seeds: almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts etc. Eat as much as your body can take, because everybody is different 🥜

Mushrooms: mushroom it up! A great healthy way to have them is grilled with herbs and plain or apple cider vinegar dressing 🍄‍🟫

Whole grains: this is the traditional way to eat grains. Brown bread, oats, whole wheat pasta 🌾

Fish and seafood: find and eat them fresh. Instead of buying them deep frozen from the big markets, find local fish stores if your place is coastal and has them. Eat both large but especially small and medium sized fish. Some fish like salmon and tuna should ideally not be consumed daily due to their high levels of mercury and fats 🐟🎣🍤

Herbs and spices. Feel free to use as much as you want however if you are interested also in the flavours of the Greek diet besides the health benefits, a tip is that Greek dishes do not contain extremely hot spices 🌿

Water: A lot of water daily and, mind you, plain clear mineral water. No flavoured water, definitely not sparkling water and ideally no other liquids in place of the water. I mean, sure you can have liquids but you should ALSO have plain water 💧

Eat a few times per week:

Poultry: Poultry and lean meats entered the Greek cuisine mostly after the Middle Ages however they are nowadays enjoyed as part of the Greek Mediterranean diet because they are tasty and healthier than other types of meat. Chicken has become especially popular in the Greek cuisine. Other birds are the pheasant, the quail, the turkey and more sparsely the duck 🍗

Eggs: eggs are healthy and should be consumed a few times per week but not daily because they can cause a rise in cholesterol levels 🥚

Dairy: Greeks LOVE dairy products, especially the various types of cheese, however they are often irritating to the GI tract and they are linked with rises in the level of inflammation in the body. This is why you should ideally limit them to a few times per week. One exception is the yoghurt, which is fermented and can be perhaps consumed more frequently due to its beneficial properties. Important note: if you want to follow the Greek diet, you should ideally opt for milk and other dairy products from goats and sheep! Cow milk is not traditionally used in the Greek cuisine often and sheep and goat milk are significantly healthier and more nutritious. The only drawback is the stronger smell, however if you can get past that, it is strongly advised to switch to those instead of cow milk. Another note: what is known as “Greek yoghurt” in western countries is not in fact a true Greek yoghurt. What you call Greek yoghurt is to us simply a strained yoghurt, a yoghurt from which the whey has been removed. Sometimes in western markets (and in Greek “modern” dessert yoghurt products) butterfat and powdermilk is added to them and they are mostly made of cow’s milk. Again, a traditional Greek yoghurt is made of sheep, goat milk or a mix of both and is unstrained. It also has a trademark thickened skin on its top (dunno if this is the actual term lol) which is in fact the part of the yoghurt that contains the most nutrients and personally it’s the tastiest part of the yoghurt but apparently it is not for everyone. As an example, a study showed that an unstrained sheep yoghurt has more protein, more omega-3 fatty acids and minerals yet fewer calories and fats than a strained cow yoghurt 🍦🧀

Wine: in small portions, like a small glass up to a few times per week and always in combination with your meal. You don’t drink it to get hammered, you drink it for the health benefits it has in very moderate quantities and for the reasonable mild euphoria it causes before it becomes harmful. The GI tract is linked to the brain and is detrimentally influenced by negative emotions. This is why it is important to try to be in a good mood, relaxed and peaceful when you sit down to eat. A sip of wine now and then can be good for that 🍷

Eat once per week or ideally less:

Red meat like pork or beef. In fact, beef should be the one most avoided not only because it is indeed the rarest of the common meats used in traditional Greek cuisine but also because you can’t separate the fat from the meat as easily as with pork. To follow the Greek style in a healthy way opt for goat, then lamb or pork and make beef your most occasional meat dish 🥩

Processed meats should be eaten rarely. If you are in a mood for it though, opt for Greek style sausages with herbs in or bacon at most. Cured meats like ham are better to be avoided but turkey is the healthiest of them. They are not a part of a traditional Greek cuisine though.

Refined grains can be enjoyed weekly but should not replace whole grains

Pastries. What’s new, pastries are not ideal for health. However, if you are yearning for something sweet, if you want to keep it healthy as much as possible in the “Greek way”, opt for desserts made of healthy ingredients like honey, nuts, olive oil and fruits. Chocolate came to Greece in the 19th century, however it has become an integral part of confectionery since then. Opt ideally for dark chocolate, combined with nuts or fruits such as oranges and prunes. Greeks especially love chocolate combined with nuts.

Soft and sugary drinks. Avoid them overall, especially the processed products in the markets. If you need a sweet drink really bad, you can keep it traditional by making your own sweet lemonade, sour cherry, pomegranate etc drink at home. You could also enjoy small quantities of lemon or mastic liquors which are good for digestion.

BONUS TIPS & PHILOSOPHY:

Try to find mastic if it’s available where you live. The mastic is a resin produced from the mastic tree, a species endemic to the Greek island of Chios and a small part of the opposite coast of Turkey. It has numerous beneficial properties, especially for digestion and gut health, and it combines them with a very pleasant fresh and sweet flavour. You can find it in gums that boost digestion, in drinks, in pastries and even in non-edible products like toothpastes. Learn about it and give it a try, no matter if you are interested in following Greek diet or not.

Greek cuisine does not go berserk on as many ingredients as possible (however Greeks typically add more ingredients than, say, Italians and perhaps fewer than the Middle Easterners). Don’t worry about adding as many foods and nutrients in one single dish. The most important thing in Greek cuisine philosophy is to pick the finest ingredients. Avoid deep frozen or precooked and processed ingredients. Pick whole fruits and vegetables from your local small grocery store. For example, don’t buy a watermelon slice in a zelatin bag from the supermarket. Take the whole freaking watermelon home. You heard me right. It’s heavy, yes, but you would be surprised how much tastier and healthier it is this way. Go to the butcher for meat. Go to the specific cheese shop for cheese. Go to the fisherman for fish and seafood. Go to the pastry shop and get a nice dessert instead of buying candies from the market.

Remember that in moderation you can eat most of the foods you desire, especially if they are not processed foods. There is nothing about the Greek diet that is restrictive in terms of its philosophy - historically the intake of various foods was regulated only based on availability and price. There are no foods you should limit due to any perception of them being “bad” and you should never feel guilty the moment you are actually having the food. Just work slowly and progressively by building gradual appreciation for healthy foods and prize less nutritious foods as occasional taste bud rewards.

As said above, a good mood is crucial when you sit down to eat. In the history of the Greek society this translated into eating with friends and / or family, maybe with the occasional sip of wine, ideally in a pleasant environment and always taking your time with your food. If some of these are less feasible than others, try alternatively to improve the setting in which you eat, to eat in an environment that calms you down. Schedule your meal so that you won’t eat in anxiety or hurry, if this is possible. Think of pleasant memories and feel grateful for your food. Cheers! Or, you know, εις υγείαν!

[d0llfaac3]

DEVILS NIGHT

Pairing: James Patrick March x wife!reader

Warnings: not proofread!, smut, unprotected P in V, nipple play, fingering, oral sex m!receiving,use of ‘good girl’, V slapping, dirty talk, murders, blood, kidnapping (none to reader) mentions of other famous killers and their crimes, James being completely pussy whipped for you, 18+, MDNI, below the cut!

Word count: 1,452

You would talk to Liz and Iris allot, like nearly all the time, part of your daily routine, Liz would talk about her son, Doug, while Iris would talk about pop culture drama and about her son, Donovan.

It was devils night tonight, which meant the biggest party of the year, at least for James and his..friends, some of the worst, most horrible serial killers in all of America, the guest list was a crazy crazy thing, consisting of.. John Wayne Gacy, Aileen Wuornos, Jeffery Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, The Zodiac Killer and don’t forget John Lowe.

As it was your husband, James’ birthday today..you would have to bring his breakfast up to him in your shared hotel room, you made him the breakfast you would have made him 80 something years ago..While you two were alive.. your little cooking magazines you would buy called ‘American Cookery’, you would make him Coffee, shredded wheat and hot milk, it’s what was said in the breakfasts for business men and women..so you made him that, mixed with a little bowl of his favourite fruits, grapefruit, strawberries and bananas.

“Breakfast is ready sweetheart” you say as you shut the hotel room door with your foot, walking over to your shared bed, He’s half naked, he would only sleep in his pyjama pants, he was half asleep when you came in, his usual gelled hair, an absolute mess, you where still in your nightgown and dressing gown for goodness sake.

“I could never have wished for a better lover, darling” he says, in his sleepy morning voice, he’s quite cute in the morning for a man who’s killed hundreds of people, can’t say much. So have you.

He put the tray on the nightstand and smiles at you, opening his arms, one thing James would never admit is: he’s a cuddler at night, especially in the morning, his big arms wrapped around you and he smiles. “My beautiful girl” he says as he kisses your forehead.

“Jamie” you giggle in response, his face in your neck as he gently kissed and sucked on the skin, in certain places making you moan a bit.

“Mmm I could just have you as my birthday breakfast” he says, kissing down your neck and shoulder as he slipped your dressing gown off, making you giggle and always feel special around him.

“Mmm make love to me handsome” you say as he captures your lips in his, his hand sliding down your back to grope your ass through your nightgown, the fabric of the skirt moving against his fingers, you could already feel the soaking pool in your panties.

“God I love that laugh” he says as he takes your dressing gown off, throwing it to the side, then pulling down your nightgown at the front, so your tits spill out, causing you to blush and hide your face.

You could already feel him getting rock hard under you, funny thing is, ghosts can be dead but still have human emotions, it’s strange..but that also means the anatomy stays the same, you two had been dead since 1929 and still getting turned on by each other, been married in 1925.

“You know” You say as you kiss him. “It’s been nearly 100 years since we met..we met when..1924?” You say as your lips graze his.

He smiles into the kiss, his fingers sliding down you thighs, feeling your underwear. He smirks. “My word I am a lucky man..” making you whine a small bit.

His fingers trace the wet patch in your panties and you groan against his neck. “Mhm let it out, be a good girl for me” he whispers in your ears as his fingers hook the sides of your panties, pulling them down, the cool breeze hitting your pussy lips making you groan through the cold air of the room.

“Fuck you’re so wet aren’t you darling? This is what I do to you huh? You like when I’m all over you?, good girl” He pulled his hand away from your pussy and spanked it, he loved spanking your pussy with his hand, he thought it was just so..erotic the way you would writhe next to him as he knew he was in control..that’s what he loved, control.

You were so horny already, you could barley form words, only little whines and moans. “Shh baby it’s okay you’re doing so good” he says as he kisses your neck, his fingers grazing your pussy lips, his wet fingers gently touching your clit making you shut your eyes and bite your lip.

“Just..fuck me already!” You whine as you arch your back against him, he just gave you a soft laugh. “Mhmm baby, you wanna suck me off first? You look so good blowing me” he says as he grips your boobs, twisting your nipples in his fingers.

You could only nod in response to your husbands words, pulling his pyjama pants down and pulling his boxers down, giggling as his cock sprung up, she was always so excited to give him head, so eager. “Always so eager my love” he says as he touched your hair gently as he smiled at you.

You giggled as you licked a thick stripe up his cock making him let out a soft breath, he leaned back on the bed and got comfortable, you knew how to please him, you two have only been married ninety seven years…

When your mouth touched his tip he knew he wasn’t going to last long in your mouth, your hot mouth wrapped around his thick cock was something he adored for the past years, his cock hitting the back of your throat was an unforgettable experience..

His big hand pressed right against the back of your head, pressing your mouth further onto his cock, he gently started thrusting his hips up to your face, his cock now fucking your mouth.

He felt close so he tapped your cheek. “C’mon sweetie, I’m close” he says as he taps his cock against your lips, turning you around so your ass is up in the air. “Ready Darling?” He says as his hands grab your hips from behind.

He slides his cock between your wet folds, your body arching to get a better angle, He grabs a fistful of your hair pulling your hair back towards him as he fucks you.

Small mumbles of “yes” and “harder” slip out of your mouth as you two become closer and closer by the second, James had been coming inside you for the past 97 years, not like either of you cared.

You griped the sheets for dear life as he mercilessly fucked you into the bed, his grip on your hair and his right hand gripped onto your hip, leaving a red handprint, his fingers almost going pale white from holding so tight.

You two soon came, you couldn’t really hear what he was saying over your own moans and groans, his cock continuously pounding into your pussy from behind, such a sight would make a porn star look like an amateur.

After your eventful morning, You two just knew devils night was going to be a beautiful horror of a night. You danced with Aileen as you had been doing every devils night, she would jokingly kiss your face and call you sexy to annoy James. “That is my wife you’re referring to Aileen remember that”

“Welcome to Our annual devils night” James speaks up as his hand snakes around your waist to grip your hip. “We shall enjoy our food, then get onto the fun”, everyone knew what that fun meant, a murder, by all of them at the table.

James kissed your lips gently and Jeffery Dahmer gave a look of disgust, making you look at him as you filled your wine. “Now now jeffery don’t look at me like that, you ate people”

As Ms Evers came in with the dinner, she gave you a filthy look, as if you had rolled in shit and piss your whole life, yes obviously she’s had to clean blood stains off you and James’ bed from murders but..she signed up for it when she died in 1929 didn’t she.

James played with your fingers as you blew some smoke out of your mouth from your cigarette, he was absolutely whipped for you and it was completely obvious, he would beg on his knees for your attention at times.

Once the dinner was finished, Sally brought a man in, a tall man, a little overweight, balding, didn’t have any family so he wouldn’t be missed, as every devils night everyone attacked him and killed him, James looked at his beautiful woman, your hands covered in the man’s blood and James sighs happily.

“What a beautiful way to spend my birthday” he says as he kissed your cheek before rubbing his fingers across the blood stained part of your cheek.

You gently kissed his lips and smiles.

“Round two?”

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I DONT THINK THIS IS VERY GOOD LMAO

[twilight-saga-headcanons]

The Cullens don't eat, but what were their favorite foods when they were human?

Sources for more reading: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

Carlisle - So, foods in the 1600s weren't exactly the greatest. Carlisle ate better than most, but it was still meager. There was a lot of mutton and venison, oats and other grains; lots of spinach and sorrel and stews. He was quite fond of fruit pies as a dessert, when they could afford them.

Esme - Honestly? Esme was quite fond of Oreos; the little cookies were first released in 1912 and she adored them. In fact, she liked most sweets, especially Angel Food Cake and these apricot biscuits that her mother used to favor.

Edward - Edward remembers liking pork a lot as a child, when his mother would cover them in bread crumbs and fry them in oil. He was also a fan of glazed carrots and liked caramel candies.

Rosalie - she loved baked apples, especially when drizzled with honey. Grapefruit was also quite popular then, and she remembers eating them a lot for breakfast when they were sprinkled with sugar. They were very lucky to have food on their table at the time, and she remembers eating a lot of fried egg sandwiches, glazed ham, and potato soup.

Emmett - They didn't have access to a lot of foods, so there was a lot of tinned meats and vegetables that his mother grew in their garden. His family is Scotch-Irish, so he ate a lot of cabbage and corned beef, which he loved. He remembers colcannon most fondly, that spiced mixture of potatoes, turnips, and carrots.

Jasper - food was rationed for Jasper as a soldier in the Civil War. There was a lot of molasses, hard tack, and salt. Wheat and cornmeal were quite common, so if he had to choose, he thinks that he misses cornbread the most. It was such a simple dish back then, a rare delicacy when they could have access to sugar.

Alice - she misses seafood most of all. She vaguely remembers eating fried fish and brown rice. She also misses certain fruits, like cherries and strawberries.

[skin-slave]

Plants with defense mechanisms against mammals do not consent to be killed and eaten by humans! They have made it clear that they do not want that!

Phenols are intended to irritate mucous membranes and act as toxins. Tannins are anti-nutrients that prevent absorption and inhibit digestive enzymes. Extra-floral nectar and many volatile organic compounds are the rape whistle of the plant world, a desperate attempt to attract allies that will defend them from predation. Terpinoids, alcohol, alkaloids, and cyanogenic glycosides are all defensive compounds. These are all a clear statement of non-consent!

Stop eating these plants immediately:

Fruit: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, grapes, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, apples, persimmons, quinces, wild cherry, pineapple, bananas, goji, cassava, apricots, plums, peaches

Vegetables: spinach, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, potatoes, eggplants, okra, bamboo shoots

Nuts/seeds: walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, flaxseed, almonds, sunflower seeds, guarana, kola

Grain/grass/legumes: oats, barley, rice, lentils, chickpeas, wheat, sorghum, beans, peas

Other: tea, coffee, cocoa, tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, lemongrass, rosemary, yerba mate, paprika

This isn't an exhaustive list. Grocery aisles are full of violated plants. A strong scent is a sign of elevated volatile organic compounds and sour or tart flavors are often due to defense compounds. So that can be a hint. But check the species you normally eat to be sure.

Caffeine is a defensive toxin and the caffeine in other things is extracted from plants, so beware of caffeinated snacks and drinks that seem otherwise safe. Also watch your vitamins and supplements for nonconsensual extracts. And don't forget cosmetics and skincare! Many plumping formulas contain caffeine and/or other defensive compounds like capsaicin.

This is just another step in moving toward an exploitation-free life. If a living thing has expressly denied consent, it's unethical to kill it and consume its remains. Just bc their screams are at ultrasonic frequencies doesn't mean they fall on deaf ears.

[lotr-bitches]

Silm Epistolary Week, Entry #1: A Chapter From My Fic (Daily Life/Customs)

A government report written by Prince Ñolofinwë regarding imports to Tirion (Y.T. 1274). 

City of Tirion: Imports

Full List of Imports by Location

Valmar

Fruits (varied types).

Apples.

Pears.

Oranges, lemons, and limes.

Peaches.

Plums.

Grapefruit.

Grapes.

Wine.

Gold.

Precious stones (varied types).

Sapphire.

Ruby.

Amethyst.

Emerald.

Cattle. 

Meat for consumption.

Horses.

Milk (various uses).

Butter.

Cheese.

Alqualondë

Fish (varied types). 

Tuna.

Swordfish.

Herring.

Cod.

Nets.

Baskets.

Shelled animals (varied types). 

Meat for consumption.

Shells (various uses).

Rope. 

Pearls.

Pitch sealant.

Glass (varied colors).

Sand.

Salt.

Feathers.

Woods of Oromë

Venison.

Wood (various uses).

Fire.

Paper.

Building material.

Berries (varied types).

Strawberries.

Blackberries.

Formenos

Vegetables (varied types).

Carrots.

Potatoes.

Broccoli.

Peas.

Sweet peppers.

Squash.

Grains (varied types).

Wheat. 

Barley.

Rice.

Quinoa.

Precious metals.

Silver.

Iron.

Stone.

Milk (goat).

Annotations

Valmar

Primarily a farming community with a small mining contingent. Most of Valmar's exports are related to fruit farming and the farming of large cattle and horses. This is due to the open fields in the north of Aman which allow the space for this complex farming. The mining contingent trades only in gold and precious stones found in the area of Valmar that abuts the Pelori Mountains. 

Alqualondë

An aquatic and fishing community. We obtain fish and shellfish from this city. The fibers made from aquatic and semi-aquatic plants allow the Teleri to make nets, and baskets which are water-tight. The nets Tirion imports from here are strong. Alqualondë utilizes the same technique to make rope. For use in sealing, Tirion purchases pitch which is extremely quick drying. Tirion imports glass (made from sand), salt (for food and food storage), and feathers for quills. 

Wood of Oromë

The primary exports of this region are wood and venison. We process the wood in Tirion to make paper. A smaller export of this region is berries, although these are seasonal and not as common. 

Formenos

Like Valmar, Formenos is a farming community with a small mining contingent. Here, the fields are dedicated to grains and vegetable farming. Mountain goats are farmed in the Pelori region and their milk is used for cheeses. Here, the mining contingent is primarily focused on precious metals and stone. 

Notes from the Compiler: It is extremely interesting to see what the different exports of these regions are. Valmar being known for gold is in accordance with my knowledge. My foster fathers used to tell me about how the roofs of the houses of Valmar were all made of burnished gold. 

[catchyhuh]

breakfast facts

WARNING!!!! DO NOT EMULATE THE MADE UP EATING PATTERNS I JUST MADE UP FOR THESE MADE UP PEOPLE IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BAD FOR YOU. ESPECIALLY ZENIGATA REALLY REALLY DO NOT EMULATE ANY OF TH

lupin:

must eat as soon as he wakes up or he’s fucked. not even like fully a physical stomach thing its just mentally he Must start his day with food

kellogs commercial table. the cereal, two slices of toast, one butter, one jam, apple, like bacon and eggs n shit

scarfs it down in two seconds. as a result no one else will make his breakfast for him becuase its kind of annoying spending 2 hours cooking at 7am so the princess can inhale his perfectly crisp bacon like the poltergust 3000 

yes he complains when he has to do it himself. so every day yes. it just wasn't practical to do the whole shebang every day so he whittled it down to his toast and eggs. but you know if he could,

the king must feast. he gives himself a stomach ache damn near every day he gets his food the way he actually wants it

jigen:

eats what’s provided honestly. you could say that about every meal but he just doesn’t care too much esp with his breakfast

he’ll complain (he’s particular about waffles and pancakes needing to be a certain amount of savory to justify them existing in a MEAL meal and not just as a dessert) but not too a huge extent. honestly he’ll eat whatever

doesn't have a huge appetite early in the morning, usually balances it out with a big lunch and even BIGGER dinner. he's gotta ease into those heavy hitters man he's delicate bro

cawfee. cuppa joe. He hates it. jigen doesn’t like it despite dressing like a keurig machine gijinka and having the symphonic cadence of a coffee grinder. it just doesn’t taste good to him (it's that deceptive scent dude) that said {sleep hcs incoming soon} sometimes he needs some to jumpstart him like an old car. again, complains, but goes through with it

fujiko:

special k commercial table. the cereal. the side bowl with random dollops of peanut butter and mixed other nuts and oats (?) i guess it’s oats, the GRAPEFRUIT oh i know she’s a grapefruit bitch!! pb honey spread on an English Muffin too. like some. idk there’s a cinnamon stick involved YOU GET THE VISUAL

funny thing is she doesn’t even eat half of it. she just goes with the muffin, bowl of mini wheats, maybe two pieces of grapefruit ingested as she leaves the table. whoever passes the table next is expected to handle leftovers. breakfast leftovers. that's an insane concept now that i type it out

cawfee. she either drinks it with a thousand disgusting artificially flavored creams or she chews the beans raw. presentation vs functionality is a key aspect of ms mine's internal struggle

complex relationship with fast food coffee shop chains as a result

goemon:

another guy who loves the Big Breakfast by tom cardy but unlike lupin (who loves his beauty sleep too much to wake up early) and fujiko (who usually gets her non-lupin boytoy of the month to make it for her) goemon actually gets up asscrack of dawn early to prepare a meal fit for a king

perfectly fluffy rice. hand squeezed juice. absolutely decadent vegetables. impossibly picturesque omelette. but just normal ass sara lee bread though he doesn’t have THAT much time on his hands

funny thing is he's definitely the most normal about it. goemon just. eats his breakfast. he might raise his eyebrows in slight surprise at how good the eggs taste today or something but really its just. food. all these other weirdos either take 10 years to eat a piece of toast or just inhale their food but the guy who dresses and talks like its the 18th century wins the normal award here

has emphasized the importance of eating breakfast to others before despite easily functioning without it. wake him up at 4 say “no time for brekkie dude we gotta go steal the fire hydrant of the louvre” and he’ll be like Done no problems

zenigata: i know i mentioned it before but NOT HEALTHY BEHAVIOR DO NOT FUCKING EMULATE

haha.

he’s very bad about it VERY bad about it always getting yelled at by third parties. they go “what’d you have for breakfast” and he shrugs and they go "oh god did you even eat" "ONE BOILED EGG HAS PROTEIN IN IT!!"

its amazing the stature you can get while still being the guy who eats half a protein bar for breakfast and doesn’t actually sit down for a meal again until like 1 am. really i cannot emphasize enough don’t try this at home

HES JUST SO DAMN BUSY! but if he could he’d take anything. unlike jigen, who just doesn't wanna start a fight THAT early in the morning, zeni just loves every breakfast food! muffins eggs potatoes pancakes cereal the random ass fruit he LOVES it 

god help the hotel with a free breakfast when this guy comes in. or that is, if he didn’t sleep until 11 AM because he was up lupin-ing all night.

in conclusion: they would all love a trip to the mcdonalds breakfast menu drivethru. they all get a hashbrown. would you believe me if i said i only remembered the mcdonald’s commercials after typing that

[fattofitsure]

1-week meal plan for weight loss

Here's a 1-week meal plan to help with weight loss. Remember to consult a nutritionist or healthcare professional before starting any new diet plan.

Day 1:

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with berries and a sprinkle of granola.

Snack: Carrot sticks with hummus.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.

Dinner: Baked salmon with steamed broccoli and quinoa.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with sliced banana and a drizzle of honey.

Snack: Celery sticks with peanut butter.

Lunch: Quinoa and black bean stuffed bell peppers.

Snack: Handful of mixed nuts.

Dinner: Grilled shrimp with asparagus and a side of brown rice.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with spinach and feta cheese.

Snack: Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries).

Lunch: Turkey and avocado wrap with whole wheat tortilla.

Snack: Cottage cheese with pineapple chunks.

Dinner: Baked chicken breast with roasted sweet potatoes and green beans.

Day 4:

Breakfast: Smoothie with spinach, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Snack: Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella cheese.

Lunch: Lentil and vegetable soup.

Snack: Sliced pear with cottage cheese.

Dinner: Stir-fried tofu with mixed vegetables and brown rice.

Day 5:

Breakfast: Whole grain toast with avocado and poached eggs.

Snack: Orange slices.

Lunch: Grilled vegetable and feta cheese salad.

Snack: Rice cakes with light cream cheese.

Dinner: Baked cod with sautéed spinach and quinoa.

Day 6:

Breakfast: Cottage cheese and pineapple smoothie.

Snack: Baby carrots with tzatziki sauce.

Lunch: Chickpea and vegetable curry.

Snack: Watermelon cubes.

Dinner: Zucchini noodles with marinara sauce and lean ground turkey.

Day 7:

Breakfast: Chia seed pudding with mixed berries.

Snack: Edamame.

Lunch: Spinach and strawberry salad with grilled chicken.

Snack: Grapefruit slices.

Dinner: Baked tilapia with roasted Brussels sprouts and wild rice.

[tinseltownevents]

OKTOBERFEST

FRISCO'S FOOD TRUCK & BAR TUESDAY, 10.29 12PM - 9PM

Post tweets, gif chat starters, open paras/f2f.

Please tag EVERYTHING ttownhw24.

Please @tinseltownevents​ for all gif chat starters and open paras/f2f.

Participation is NOT mandatory.

ACTIVITIES

Gingerbread heart decorating

Flunkyball - German drinking game

Learn popular Oktoberfest dances

Kegelbahn - 9 pin bowling

Schnauzer Strut Dog Parade

Masskrugstemmen – stein holding contest

Hammerschlagen – hammer striking game

Log sawing – lumberjack competition

Keg rolling/throwing

Stein racing

Pretzel-eating contest

Oktoberfest trivia game

German spelling bee

Cornhole 

Bucketball - Giant beer pong

The Chicken Dance

Yodeling 

MUSIC

Indy Polkamotion

The German Band

Final Say

Underground Prophets

SHOPPING

The Gift and Souvenir Shop

Souvenir kiosk in the middle of the festival.

German gifts, souvenir T-shirts, flowered headbands, and authentic German-made beer steins available.

FOOD

GERMAN DINNER

Frikadellen (German-style Hamburger patty) with Mashed Potatoes, Jaeger Sauce, German Baked Beans & Cabbage Salad 

Stuffed Cabbage Roll with Spaetzle, Jaeger Sauce, Red Cabbage & Sauerkraut 

Kassler (Smoked Pork Chop) with German Potato Salad, German Baked Beans & Cabbage Salad 

Goulash with Pasta, Red Cabbage & Sauerkraut

Pork Schnitzel with (or without) Jaeger sauce

3 sausage plate with choice of Bratwurst, Knackwurst, and/or Weisswurst

German Meatloaf with rich Mushroom gravy 

Königsberger Klopse (German version of Swedish meatballs in a creamy sauce) 

*All entrées will be served with mashed potatoes, and our traditional red cabbage and sauerkraut. As well as bread and butter.

IMBISS (Snack Booth)

Bratwurst or Weisswurst on pretzel bun

Kielbasa on a Stick

French Fries

Chicken Tenders

Corn Nuggets

Smoked Chicken plate

Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs

DESSERT BOOTH

Blackforest Cake

German Chocolate Cake

Apple Strudel

Caramel Apple Pie

Pumkin Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Coffee

Tea

BEVERAGES

GERMAN BEERS

Ayinger Bavarian Pilsner – 5.3% ABV

Ayinger Celebrator – Doppelbock, 6.7%

Bitburger – German Pilsner, 4.8%

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest – Märzen, 5.8%

König Ludwig Weissbier Hell – Bavarian Wheat, 5.1%

Köstriger Schwarzbier – Black lager, 4.8%

Paulaner Hefe-Weizen – Wheat, 5.5%

Paulaner Oktoberfest – Märzen, 5.0%

Spaten Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier – Golden wheat, 5.0%

Spaten Lager – Munich helles lager, 5.2%

Spaten Oktoberfest – Märzen, 5.9%

Warsteiner Dunkel – Dark lager, 4.9%

Warsteiner Premium Verum – German pilsner, 4.8%

AUSTRIAN

Stiegl Goldbräu – Golden lager, 5.0%

Stiegl Radler – mixed with grapefruit juice, 2.5%

LOCAL CRAFT

Faubourg Brewing LeidenSteiner – Märzen, 5.5% ABV

Notch Holy Roller – Hazy IPA, 6.3%

Notch Oktoberfest – Märzen, 6.5%

East Regiment Paradise Park – American lager, 4.5%

Bent Water Raspberry Berliner Weisse Sour – Wheat with raspberry, 4.5%

Bent Water Who Dat Golden Ale – 5.0%

DOMESTIC

Budweiser Light – American light lager, 4.2%

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (collaboration with Bitburger) – Märzen, 4.6%

Yuengling Oktoberfest – Märzen, 5.4%

NONALCOHOLIC

St. Pauli’s

​WHITE WINE

Fritz Zimmer Maestro Riesling – Germany

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch – Germany

Villa Wolf Pinot Gris – Germany

Chateau St. Michelle Gewürztraminer – Washington, USA

Decoy Chardonnay – California, USA

RED WINE

Villa Wolf Donfelder – Germany

Villa Wolf Pinot Noir – Germany

Lenz Moser Blaufränkisch  –Austria

Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon – California, USA

SPARKLING

Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling – Germany

SCHNAPPS FRUIT

Schonauer Apfel (Apple)

Echte Kroatzbeere Blackberry Liqueur

Kleiner Feigling (Fig)

Kammer Obstler (Fruits)

Schladerer Kirschwasser Cherry Brandy

Schladerer Edel-Kirsch Cherry Liqueur

Schladerer Himbeer Raspberry Liqueur

Schladerer Himbeergeist Raspberry Brandy

Schladerer Williams-Birne Pear Brandy

Silvovica (Plum)

HERBAL

Goldwasser Herbal Liqueur

Jager

Killepitsch

Kuemmerling

HONEY, CHOCOLATE, SPICES

Bärenjäger Honey and Bourbon

Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur

Bismarck Vodka

Fireball 

Gold Bar Chocolate

Goldschläger 

Rum Chata 

Rumplemintz 

Taaka Coconut

Van Gogh Chocolate Vodka

SODA BOOTH

Coke

Diet Code

Sprite

Barq’s Root Beer

PowerAde

Water

OTHER BOOTHS

Large, soft Bavarian-style Pretzels, warm from the oven

Flammkuchen (German variation of pizza with white, creamy sauce)

German cheeses from St. James Cheese Company

Popcorn

Pickles​

Decorated Oktoberfest Cookies

Ice Cream

Bavarian Roasted Nuts​

[antimonyandthyme]

wip snippet game!

thank you @rosyjuly for the tag <33

tagging @kritischetheologie, @elementalmoments, @astronomical-light, @unabashedlycasualangel and @sebrrari if you'd like to play!

The sun is a molten grapefruit in the sky. Nearly three months without a single drop of rain, the weight of the world is bearing down on them like glass over an anthill. If Sebastian spares any more water for his chickens, he’ll only have one cup rationed to last himself through the day. He looks at Heidi, Mint, and Pickle, and does it anyway. The corn he’s growing has withered so severely even a meagre harvest is in question. One farm down, Mark’s wheat is burnished brown and spiky to the touch. Jenson, opposite him, is faring no better with his greens.

The people are desperate, and so is their king. That night, as Sebastian fights for an inch of rest in the stifling heat, the king’s high mages perform their ceremonies.

And that morning, Sebastian’s farm is on fire.

Sebastian wakes to Jenson banging his door down. “Seb. Seb! Your corn!”

But the corn isn’t burning, despite the flames dancing all around their leaves. The entire acre of land is ablaze and there isn’t a whiff of smoke. No trace of ash in the air either. With the flickering light the corn almost looks golden.

Stupidly, Sebastian reaches out a hand to touch. He knows down to the marrow of his bones that the flames will not burn him either.

Mark grabs him and yanks him back. “Don’t, okay? Let’s figure this out first.”

He knows what his friends are doing. They’re stalling. It’s clear as crystal this is a sign from the sun god, and something of this scale will reach the ears of the king in no time. Jenson and Mark are only trying to delay the inevitable, worry apparent in their eyes.

Sebastian shakes Mark off and plucks off three ears of corn. It might be the last meal he has with his friends. He pulls them into his hut. The corn he puts into the oven to bake, using the last of the butter he’s saved up. Jenson boils water for coffee, while Mark hunts around for something to make it stronger.

It’s the best tasting corn he’s ever had in his life. Made better still with the whiskey in his coffee. Mark and Jenson try to laugh at his jokes even through their sombreness. Mark tweaks his ear and says, “Be good—” and then abruptly changes it to, “Be careful.”

No amount of care will protect him from the wrath of a god, but this time, just this time, Sebastian doesn’t argue with Mark.

An hour later there’s a posh knock on their door. Sebastian’s a little glad he only had a quart of whiskey left, or the three of them will be blindingly drunk in front of the king’s guards.

Sebastian is pulled out of Jenson’s hands, and taken to the palace. It’s only halfway through the journey that Sebastian realizes he’d forgotten to say goodbye to his girls. He consoles himself with the fact that Jenson will have some room on his farm for chickens. He knows Mark probably won’t take them. Mark doesn’t like birds. Sebastian presses the heel of his hand into his eye, and tries not to cry.

The king announces, “You have been chosen,” as if it were some revelation.

For once in your life, shut up, Sebastian hears Mark say, and he manages to hold his tongue before he tells the king, I know.

[imaginationofomi]

Come Together

Nine

"I'm a happy baby in my happy baby pose," Nayeli whispered and let the morning rays of sunlight warm her face and body. She felt good. Maybe great. Since she'd been up, she meditated and prayed, now close to completing her morning yoga. Her mind was still.

For a short time. A grocery list sat in her inbox, meaning she had to make a pit stop before going to her grandparents' two bedroom cottage near the rocky part of Luna Beach. No matter. She needed to pick some things up for her kitchen as well.

Rolling up her mat, she stored it, changed clothes, and swallowed a mandarin orange. Her shoes were by the door, leaving her keys and purse as the only missing objects she needed to grab before she headed out. She ran down her to do list in her head adding in a stop to the nail salon. She needed a fresh pedicure if she planned to wear open toed shoes that night.

Her shift at the confectionery went swiftly and seamlessly. She finished the day's baking in record time and bid everyone adieu to finish up the rest of her tasks.

The local market was quiet, and she moved through the aisles with ease. It was early enough in the day that most people were still in their homes, but the promise of overcast burning off for pretty weather would ensure the streets were crowded before long.

Nayeli thanked the cashier that rang her up and made light conversation with the bag boy that helped her get her things into her trunk, handing him a bit of cash to show her gratitude.

Luna Beach sat at the farthest edge of the city, minutes from the road that led out to a portion of the state that was largely unoccupied. There were a few homes here and there, but fields tended to stretch for miles without much sign of civilization once past the retirement community.

Driving under the stone archway and iron sign, she made all of the familiar turns to get to her grandparents cul-de-sac and parked in their driveway. The compulsive need to only make one trip into the house had her hands full, and she struggled to get her keys into the deadbolt and doorknob.

"Who's that at my door?" Her grandmother's voice traveled from the ugly green dining room to the living room.

"Baby Love, Big Momma," Nayeli called back, taking the groceries into the kitchen and setting them on the old tile counter. Francine Windham sat at her long oak dining table, a bowl of cream of wheat and a piece of buttered toast in front of her next to half a grapefruit and a small glass of orange juice.

"My precious angel." Francine stood tall at 5'9", the tallest woman on her side of the family, with thick hair she kept relaxed that was more salt than pepper. Her eyes were round and brown, surrounded by curly lashes and some wrinkles. She wrapped her arms around her youngest granddaughter and kissed her head.

"How you feeling?"

"I'm good, finally off those antibiotics the doctor gave me. I've been eating more and moving around, but I'm still slow."

"I'm glad to hear you're feeling better." With a naturally weak immune system, Francine went down for weeks for illnesses that would heal within days for a healthy person. A common cold required medicine that wasn't offered over the counter and more rest than the average stint, "Has Mom come by?" Nayeli asked.

"She was here on Wednesday. She cleaned up the bathrooms."

"I told her I would do that."

"Her doctor said it was okay to do what she normally does. She looked fine. She's not limping anymore."

The house Nayeli grew up in was two stories with a tricky staircase. If someone wasn't careful, they could easily slip and fall. That was how her mother ended up breaking her ankle, leaving Nayeli to pick up the responsibilities that were normally split between her, her mother, aunt, and uncles for a few months. Now that Bonnie was healed, more time would return to being her own.

"Where's PawPaw?" Nayeli walked back into the kitchen and made herself a small bowl of cream of wheat before she joined Francine at the table.

"In his den watching TV. Your mother never should've gotten him that apple box. Now he sits in there for hours watching his shows, and I gotta sit in there if I wanna spend any time with the man."

"Why don't you move it into the living room?"

"I don't want to turn into one of those couch potatoes with him. That room is for spending quality time with family."

"Then you tell him bring his tail outside or you'll never make him smothered chicken again. I bet he'll straighten up," Nayeli said.

"I wish it was that easy, Baby Love," Francine chuckled and patted her hand. Of all her grandchildren, Nayeli was the most innocent and unjaded. She tried hard to make her see the world for all that it was, but her baby refused to believe that most people were lost.

They talked about the bakery, about Nayeli's plans for the upcoming Harvest Festival, what she wanted to do for her birthday, about Francine's church friends. They talked so much that Nayeli was on the verge of forgetting the question that had been brewing in her brain for the last several days.

"I wanted to ask you about that car accident we were in. I think I was ten? I only remember bits and pieces. I remember both impacts. PawPaw passed out, but that's it. Do you remember what happened?" Nayeli gathered that her brain locked away the memory. After listening to Carmen, something in her gut told her to gain clarity.

"Like it was yesterday. That's the only accident I've been in."

"Where were we?"

"Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre. We took you to see The Lion King."

Her spoon was halfway to her mouth, but she couldn't follow through. She set it back in the pink bowl and sat back in her chair, "How did we get out of the car?"

"I made sure you got out before we did. There was a boy who came over to help. He tried your PawPaw's door first, but I told him to get you. All of the doors were jammed, and the back windshield was cracked." Francine paused, observing Nayeli's rigid posture and deer in the headlights expression, "He broke a hole big enough to pull you through, and when the fire department came for us, you were on the curb with him. He was rubbing blood out of your face and had his sweater pressed to your leg because the glass cut you. What made you ask about that?"

Nayeli sat silently, the pieces she never had before clicking together to complete the puzzle. She swallowed hard and slow blinked twice, heart fluttering in her chest.

"I met the man that pulled me out," she said. Her body alternated hot and cold flashes as she accepted the weight of all she owed him.

"Are you sure it's him?"

"Positive. His mother told me the same story. Same location, pulling me through the back window, all of it. I just wanted to know if there was a connection. Turns out there's a bigger one than I thought."

"Look at God. Did you thank him?"

"I have to again. Ironically, we met because he saved me from getting hit by a car. I'm in debt to him for the rest of my life it seems." Nayeli sighed and attempted to finish her breakfast, but her fingers trembled nervously. She gave up and rubbed the scar at her hairline.

"I wouldn't go that far, but the Heavenly Father is certainly at work," Francine said. She could see something stirring in her granddaughter, "How's that raggedy boyfriend of yours?"

"I don't know. I broke things off a week ago."

"Praise Him! I knew you'd come to your senses and get rid of that turkey. Don't you ever get with someone that don't like being around family again, hear me?"

"Yes ma'am." Nayeli gently pushed her grandmother's long finger away from her face. She was trying to focus on the present moment, but all she could think about was Ezra and the fact that he would be at her home the very next day.

What would she say to him? What would he say to her? Where did that place them in each other's lives? It felt like a conversation that needed to be private, and Tatiana would be with him.

Another thought that gave her pause. Because she would be a fool to ignore the developments between them all. Unintentionally, she was being integrated into their lives. Maybe she had been from the moment she called Tati Princess and gave her that free cupcake. It was a slippery slope to be on, and she was concerned about Tatiana's well-being.

"You look like something's bothering you," Francine said.

"Big Momma, I think I might've messed up," Nayeli replied, chewing the left corner of her bottom lip.

"We all mess up, baby. What happened?"

"Ezra. That's his name. I don't know.....there's something about him. I knew it that first day. He told me he felt like we'd met before, and I couldn't think of anything. I don't know if he's put it together yet, but that's beside the point. We've kind of hung out a couple times. He has a daughter, and she is the cutest thing on two feet, Big Momma. So full of energy and happy. Quick witted, too."

"Just like you were."

"And his family is beautiful. They remind me so much of us." For lack of another way to put it, she'd been accepted into the clan even though she wasn't there for their approval. They treated her like another member of their tribe, the same way her family treated newcomers.

"You haven't told me where you messed up at."

"I've allowed myself to get really close to them already, and I don't think I should have. I'm fresh off a break up, Tati's mother is a big pill. I shouldn't be anywhere near them, but it feels good to be near them. It feels like I belong there."

"You cheated on Jalen with this man?" Francine sat up a little straighter and gave Nayeli a hard look. She didn't care for the young man, but she took relationships seriously. All that hopping around made her stomach hot.

"No ma'am. Nothing has happened between us. It's just that it feels like I'm bonded to Tati already. She's innocent, and I don't want to disrupt her life in any way. Ezra's sister told me that he likes me, but she didn't need to. I can tell, and from what I know and have seen, I kind of like him, too. It's happening too fast."

"That's how it goes sometimes, but you always lacked boundaries. Your heart makes you open to people. I'm not surprised you bonded with his daughter. I am curious about how that happened."

"Most of our dealings involved her. I catered the desserts for her birthday party, and that day was a show all on it's own. I gave her a baking lesson, and now she wants to see my garden." Nayeli looked to her grandmother for guidance. Having never been involved with someone that already had children, she was unsure of ground rules. How far was too far? How soon was too soon?

Francine exhaled lightly and rubbed the back of Nayeli's hand. Only her soft-hearted Baby Love could get herself into such a predicament, "I don't think you messed up. Where you are now, nothing has to change. It's okay to not want to disrupt his daughter's life. In fact, it's better that way. People don't always think about how the kids will be affected, but if they want you around, there's not much you can do but say no. And that might disrupt her life if she's bonded to you like you say. My advice is to be their friend until you feel like you're ready to be more. You have to draw the line."

The question was where?

☼☼☼

Nayeli started to regret making plans about halfway through getting ready for the night. Not for any particular reason. She just wanted to be in her bed. Her new mattress and headboard we're free from old energies, and it was much more comfortable. With the TV gone, her bedroom became a beacon for rest, and she wanted to be in the middle of it with a cup of hot tea and her tablet searching up books to order.

Leticia was dying for an evening out, begging her sisters several times over the course of three days to indulge her need to be social. They gathered at least once a month anyway, so Nayeli agreed, though she wished she'd hesitated more like Maxine. They might've been able to reschedule.

"Itty bit, where are your shot glasses?!" Max yelled from the kitchen.

"The cabinet next to the microwave!"

"Come on! We're toasting to you being single!"

"One second!" Nayeli finished the thin wing of eyeliner and coated her lashes in a lengthening mascara, rubbing vaseline on her lips to soften them so her gloss bomb went on smoothly.

Her cropped two piece set was bronze satin, healthy c-cups sitting in her halter top and thigh peeking out of the high split up the left side. The bottom half of her scar was showing. She ran her fingers across it, thoughts drifting to Ezra once again. He was the reason she had it and the reason she was alive. She had to find another way to thank him because cookies would never be enough.

Fluffing her hair one last time, she adjusted the bobby pin that kept her curly fringe hanging at her eyebrows and flipped the light off. Maxine had four shots of patron lined up on the kitchen counter despite it only being the two of them there.

"I have double shot glasses," Nayeli said and picked one up.

"I'm not convinced you can get two shots worth of alcohol in there. Somebody lied. Cheers to knowing our worth, adding tax, and not letting fuck shit slide!"

"Cheers!" Swallowing the clear tequila, she flinched as the liquid went down her throat and grabbed the second shot glass, "I forgot how nasty this stuff was."

"It gets the job done. Has Jalen tried to make his comeback yet?"

"He had one day where he blew up my phone and left a bunch of drunk voicemails. I blocked him after that, but I have been getting some calls from unsaved numbers. I don't know if it's him or a scammer. Either way, I'm not answering."

"Good. Fuck that lying ass nigga and all he stands for."

"Period. Leti tell you how far away she is?"

"I think she just pulled up," Maxine said, leaning forward to look through the blinds at the headlights moving along the asphalt. The bottom of her red mini dress slid up, exposing the cuff of her butt cheeks.

"Does Stella know you're over here ass out? I can't imagine she let you walk out in that dress," Nayeli commented as she grabbed the edges and pulled it down, tucking a loose curl back into Maxine's low bun.

"She tried to make me change, and I'm not having it. I wear what I want. Being married doesn't mean I gotta start dressing homely."

"Covering up doesn't make you homely."

"You know what I mean. She'd make me wear a parka everywhere if she could."

"Not a parka," Nayeli cackled, but she understood why. Maxine had extremely wide hips, a round butt, and she was soft all over. She made a lot of people crazy.

"Yes, bitch. A parka. If my pants are too tight, she's looking at me funny. You'd think I was pulling bitches left and right the way she acts. I get it. I'm fine as hell, but damn." All the women in their family were. Big, small, short, tall, it didn't matter.

"She's pregnant. It's probably just her hormones. You weren't exactly a peach when you were carrying Diesel."

"Diesel had me allergic to my favorite foods and still came out damn near ten pounds. I had a right to act a fool over that big ass baby." Maxine poured out two more shots just as Leticia rang the doorbell to let them know she was there and walked inside in a sheer, strapless corset and leather trousers.

"You started pregaming without me?" she complained.

"We took shots two minutes ago. Relax," Max said, "Yours are already poured. Bottoms up!"

"Where's the rest of your dress?"

"Hush, damn it! Y'all get to be hoochies, I wanna be one, too!"

"I am not a hoochie, thank you," Nayeli interjected, going back to her room to grab her shoes and her distressed, cropped denim jacket. She slid her feet into the stilettos and wound the straps around her ankles and calves, tying them in a neat bow, "Who's getting the uber?"

"I'll pay for the one there. Somebody else can get us back." Maxine pulled her phone out of her purse and cussed, nails clicking against the screen angrily as she typed out a message, "Eight minutes out."

"Awesome."

"It looks so different in here," Leticia said, staring at the spots on the walls that were previously occupied and now bare.

"I haven't had the chance to really go shopping yet. I'm going to the flea market next week. Hopefully I can find some good things to fill the space with."

"Does it feel weird?"

"What, the house being empty?"

"All of it. The house, Jalen. How are you doing with it all?"

"She's doing fucking amazing! Changed the locks on that ass and everything," Max cheered and hugged her baby sister's waist. Leticia gave Nayeli a look only they understood.

"I'm doing better than I thought I would be."

"Are you ready to be outside?"

"Honestly? Yeah. I just want to have a good time." Nayeli hadn't been out out in months. Life in general kept her busy, but Jalen didn't always like being social. He had to be in the mood. As a result, most of their time together was spent in the house. Now, she was as free as a lioness in the wild, ready to sink her claws into the earth while she chased her happiness.

Buster's Brewery hummed with good energy, low lights and flowing alcohol keeping the patrons boozed enough to chill without getting rowdy. Modeled after a speakeasy, everything was sleek and upscale, black and gold, from the chairs upholstered in leather and velvet down to the stone the bar counter was made of.

The lot was about 75 percent full, but it was still relatively early in the evening. More people would arrive the closer it got to 8, so their timing was perfect. They'd be able to find a seat with ease, although it wouldn't be an issue if they didn't. Nayeli was cool with the owner and the chef.

"I cannot wait to drink," Leticia said as they climbed into their booth and picked up the specialty beverage menu, "This week was so stressful."

"What happened?"

"A stupid pipe burst at the studio downtown. Everything flooded, so now I have to wait for the wood to dry out, hope there's no rot, and I'm more than likely gonna have to get the floors redone. That cuts back my classes unless I want to do them outside, and it's too cold for that some days. Not to mention insurance might not cover all of the damage."

"Shit, I'd want a drink, too," Maxine said.

"How'd the pipe burst?" Nayeli asked.

"It was old. Apparently the whole building has plumbing issues. I had no idea it needed to be replaced otherwise I would've said something about it sooner. The landlord knew. I should sue his ass."

"If you do, I hope you win. There's nowhere for you to move your classes in the meantime?"

"Not without paying."

"Stop paying rent downtown until they get that mess fixed," Max told her.

"Oscar will find a way to put me out on my ass before I can even finish the sentence. He's an asshole."

"Why'd you sign the lease then?"

"Prime locale. Between the foot traffic from the beach and the posse of Stepford wives from the hills, the money is awesome. Having Oscar as a landlord is a small price that comes with a big pay off. You know, when life goes the way it's supposed to."

"How long do they think the repairs are going to take?"

"A couple of months at the least. My accounts are going to take a huge hit." Leticia groaned and started to rub her forehead until she remembered that she had on a face full of makeup.

"Chace can't cover you for a couple months?"

"I'm not asking him to do that, Max."

"Why not? Please explain the point of dating a wealthy man if he doesn't bail you out when you're in trouble."

"He has bailed me out before. That's exactly why I won't ask him to do it again. He's taking care of everything when I move. I don't want to press my luck."

"Baby, the man is a multimillionaire. His dad probably has a hand in every business in the city, and that's just here. That doesn't include the rest of the country. Your bills are chump change to him. If you don't use that to your advantage, you're dumb."

"Or she values hard work and doesn't want a handout."

"Thank you, Nayeli."

"Fuck all that! A man that wants to will do it. Mommy and Daddy been divorced for how many years? That nigga got a new wife and still pays all her bills. Take the handout. The way cost of living is going up, we could all use one right about now," Max said and exhaled roughly.

"Are you stressing about money for the new baby?" Leticia asked, assuming that was why Maxine was making such a big deal about accepting help she wasn't even sure she needed yet.

"Money itself isn't the problem. I'm stressing about Stella's spending before the baby gets here. Every time we go to a store, she sees something extra she just has to buy like we don't have enough shit in our house already. I love her, I really do but when it comes to finances, she has no sense whatsoever. Her logic is money comes and goes, but it's like we already have a son we have to buy new clothes and shoes for every few months because he grows out of shit so fast. Infants are even more expensive, and inflation got everything sky high. We can't afford her damn spending habits with a newborn."

"Take a budgeting class or something as a date. Nudge her in the right direction," Nayeli suggested.

"Do you know what that woman would do to me?"

"Complain until your ears fell off," Leticia said and snickered.

"Exactly. I'm not trying to hear all that."

"It's better than losing your home because your wife spent the mortgage on bullshit." Leti had a point, but being the oldest, that was usually the case. She had more life experience, not much, but more nonetheless.

Vera, a waitress Nayeli was familiar with, stopped at their table to take their drink and appetizer orders, asking if any of them wanted to submit their names and perform after the band that was there Thursday through Saturday left. They all declined, just there to enjoy the moment with some good food and good music.

A few people were on the dance floor, swaying in each others' arms or whispering in their lovers' ear. Nayeli looked down into one of the lower levels of the speakeasy. Most of those booths were unoccupied, but there was a couple clearly getting freaky under the table at one of them. She laughed to herself and thanked Vera when she came back with her Bahama Mama and cheese fries.

"You like having the bubble guts, huh?" Maxine turned her nose up at Nayeli's basket.

"I'm not lactose intolerant. That's your faulty stomach."

"Nayeli!" She turned at the sound of her name and tried to find the owner, "To your right! Over here!" Following the instructions, she caught a glimpse of the two women waving to get her attention from the other side of the bar and waved back.

"Who's that?" Max asked.

"Ezra's sister, Brandy, and her wife, Trinity. I'll be right back," Nayeli said and exited the booth, walking nervously to them. "Hey! I didn't know you guys were still in town."

"This is our last night before we head back. Look at you, hot momma! You were hiding that shape the last time we saw you." Brandy eyed her appreciatively and smiled.

"You picked a great place to end your trip. The band is here until 8 when the open mic night starts."

"You've been here before?"

"A few times. I've worked with the owner. If you're hungry, get the hot wings with the house ranch and the loaded potato skins. They'll change your life. The deviled eggs are really good, too They come with caviar and pancetta. If it's your thing, they have a deep fried option as well."

"My stomach would thank me, but my ass would not."

"Brandy! I'm sorry for her mouth. I love me a good tater skin, though," Trinity said and wiggled in her seat.

"It's extra, but you can get them with shrimp or lobster."

"Say less. EJ can afford a few extra bucks."

"Ezra's here?" Nayeli assumed as much, but the confirmation put her on edge. She realized she wasn't ready to see him, but she inevitably would.

"He's at the bar getting our drinks. Who are you here with?" Brandy asked.

"My sisters. We haven't been out together for a while."

"They live here, too?"

"Yeah, but Leticia's moving at the beginning of next year."

"Why's she leaving? I'm trying to move here. It's better than LA."

"Her boyfriend."

"Oh no, not for a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Ring me or bounce."

"I feel that. It's not my choice to make. He wants to marry her. It's a matter of when, I guess, but I should get back to them. I just felt like waving from across the room was impersonal." Nayeli was trying to escape. She needed at least one more sip of alcohol before they came face to face, but she could never be so lucky.

"It is, and EJ will cuss me out if I let you leave before he makes it over here. Speaking of. E, look who I found."

She could smell him before she saw him; Armani Code. The hairs on her neck stood up and tangled with her curls when she felt his warmth on her exposed skin. She hoped she didn't look like she was ready to throw up.

"Hey." Ezra set three different glasses on the table, pausing as green eyes shot lasers through his soul.

Nayeli lost her breath and apparently her ability to speak. He looked clean in his white undershirt and open mesh button down, black pants covering his long legs. She'd never seen him in something that outlined his whole body.

Her four inch heels gave her a bit of a height advantage. She was closer to his face, closer to the diamond chain around his neck and the studs in his ears, close enough to feel that they were milliseconds away from touching.

"Hi," she finally said back, staring up at him with wonder in her eyes. So far, in the game of life, she was highly favored. The man in front of her, not once but twice, rescued her from harm. A knight in designer clothing with an expensive watch on his wrist.

"Babe, let's go find another table and let the kiddies talk," Brandy said, grabbing two of the three drinks before abandoning Nayeli and Ezra at the table. For a few minutes, they stood and continued staring at each other.

Nayeli sat first, leaning against the cool leather as he sat to her left, "So much for subtlety," she muttered.

"You look amazing. How'd your day go?" Ezra asked, fighting to keep his hands off of her. He knew it was his lucky night when he left the bar and spotted red hair at the table with his sisters. He loved looking at her behind, but her face was much better.

"Thank you. Relaxed for the most part. I'm happy to be out. What about you?"

"It was a little crazy. Some shit went down between a couple of my fighters at the gym."

"Blood drawn?"

"And an ambulance was called."

"Heavy stuff. Everybody okay?"

"As far as I know. Where are your sisters?" He remembered that she told him they were all going out, so how did she end up alone with Brandy and Trinity?

Nayeli rested her forearms on the table, unknowingly pushing her breasts together as she leaned around him to look for Maxine and Leticia. He tried to be respectful, but he was only a man and snuck a glance at the supple flesh, plump, moisturized, and somehow glowing in the low light. He cleared his throat when she sat back.

"With yours," she said, sensing mischief in the introduction of their siblings. The four of them sat in Nayeli's booth, chopping it up like they linked before. Their families were meddlers through and through, "Who's watching Tati?"

"My parents. She's excited for tomorrow."

"I hope she's ready to get her hands dirty."

"She was ready yesterday." Ezra could tell that Nayeli was holding something back. They were never nervous around each other, but she kept tapping the table with her index finger. He put his hand over hers, and the tapping stopped.

Both the upper and lower dance floors were beginning to fill with bodies as the musicians switched from slow jams to more upbeat R&B. Nayeli rocked from side to side and made an effort to find something useful to say. Her brain wasn't functioning beyond wanting to smother the man next to her with a kiss of thanks. She couldn't do that.

"The band's pretty good," he said.

"I think they're new. It's live in here on Fridays. Saturdays are a little calmer unless there's a special event or something going on."

"I know. I'm friends with the MC."

"You know Angelo?" Nayeli's eyebrows lifted beneath her hair.

"Yeah, he trains at my gym. How you know him?"

"His wife, Morgan, is one of my close friends."

"Oh yeah, Morgan's cool. I've been around her a couple times."

More small talk passed between them. It was uncomfortable compared to the ease with which they usually conversed. Things flowed between them naturally, but Nayeli was obviously peeved about something, and his attempts to pull whatever it was out of her failed. The band transitioned into U Know What's Up by Donnell Jones, and he figured out to get her to loosen up. At least he hoped it would work.

"You wanna get out there and cut a rug?" he asked and offered her his hand.

Placing her fingers in his palm, she scooted closer, "Lead the way." Allowing him to tug her onto the dance floor, Nayeli prayed she wouldn't trip over her feet and embarrass herself because she couldn't focus.

The first couple of songs were fun. They found their rhythm and playfully battled each other, arms and hands brushing against each other as they danced. She felt more relaxed once she didn't have to talk. She still hadn't figured out how she wanted to thank him, nor did she want to do it in a public place once she did.

While the wheels in her mind turned, Ezra struggled to keep his composure. Seeing Nayeli's hips move made Ezra want to try some things. She kept it age appropriate around the kids, but being in a room full of adults brought out the true nature of her sensuality. She dipped and winded with the beat, freezing when she felt him get behind her, though she recovered quickly.

Friendly dancing turned into something deeper, raw. Nayeli let herself get lost in everything that wasn't her thoughts. They moved in sync, pressed together like they were one entity, and her eyes fluttered shut when he held her hip with one hand and flattened the other against her bare stomach, holding her tighter to him.

He was far gone, only concerned with the little vixen turning him to stone in his pants. Her skin smelled sweet, like warm sugar and vanilla with a hint of something he couldn't place. Possibly cinnamon. He wanted a taste of whatever it was.

Soft to the touch, his fingers traveled up her side and lifted her hair. Before he knew what he was doing or could stop himself from doing it, he kissed the top of her shoulder, shifting to her trapezius. Her head tilted further out of his way, exposing more skin for him to get his lips on, and he took advantage.

Nayeli reached up, her hand delicately landing on the back of his neck. He heard her sigh as he made it to her jaw, and then she went stiff, abruptly pulling away from him and flipping around. Her eyes were wide and panicked. She stumbled back a few steps.

"It's uhm......it's hot in here. I'll be back," she said to him just before she ran to the door the led to outside seating and the beach.

She couldn't comprehend what almost occurred on the dance floor, why she didn't stop him when she first felt him kiss her. She wasn't that lost in the sauce, was she?

Ezra stood in the same spot, trying to figure out what happened and why. Nayeli's scent lingered between the layers of smoke, telling him to go after her. It took him a second to realize that he'd gone too far, and he had to apologize. Discreetly adjusting himself in his pants, he followed the path she took and walked outside to find her.

She was on a bench by herself, staring up at the stars with her hands folded in her lap. It looked like her lips were faintly moving. He approached cautiously and sat down next to her. When she looked at him, he felt like shit for making her uncomfortable. His desire for her overpowered his common sense, and she looked terrified as a result.

"I'm so sorry, Nayeli," he said swiftly and stopped himself from grabbing her hand. He wasn't sure if she wanted him touching her.

"It just kind of caught me off guard. It's fine," she replied.

"It's not. I didn't have your permission, and you got a man. I shouldn't have done that."

His statement shocked her. Most men didn't care if they had a woman's permission. They felt entitled after a pleasant conversation or paying for a meal. Ezra respected her enough to realize that he didn't make the wisest choice, although she wasn't upset at him for it. Before her brain turned itself back on and fired a warning shot, she was perfectly content.

"Thank you for apologizing, but really it's okay. I'm not mad." Just a little unnerved because she was going through more than she felt equipped to handle. What she allowed was the exact opposite of the advice her grandmother gave her. Letting Ezra kiss her and hold her as close as he did was not keeping things friendly. They'd hopped right off the diving board into the deep end of the swimming pool.

"You're not?"

"No, and I don't have a man. I dumped Jalen last week."

Ezra tried not to grin. It was wrong of him to pray on the downfall of a longterm relationship, but he couldn't sit idly knowing the woman from his dreams dealt with a beta male that didn't know or care to learn how to treat her. Now she was free for him to scoop up. He would show her what real love looked like in comparison to the half-ass attempt she was used to.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He might've been dancing on the inside because he had a chance, but he didn't want her to be hurt.

"Yeah. The first few days were the worst. I guess, in a way, I knew it was coming, but I kept hoping everything would work itself out. It's the optimist in me," she sighed and shrugged, taking one last look at the stars before she focused on Ezra's face, "I don't want to talk about him, though. That chapter of my life is finished." No need to be continued or rewritten.

"Onto bigger and better."

"Precisely."

Deciding to sit outside for a while longer, they alternated between conversing and being silent, their normal comfortability returning when Nayeli realized that she needed to stop thinking so much. If she'd been on her P's and Q's, things probably wouldn't have went as far as they did.

The fresh air kept her alert, but eventually, the breeze blowing off the ocean made goosebumps erupt on her arms and she caught a chill.

"We should go back inside. My sisters are probably pissed at me," she said.

"I don't think I'm the favorite right now, either."

Both parties were incorrect as Brandy took it upon herself to explain what she knew of the situation to Maxine and Leticia.

Max was happy to hear the other side of the story. She knew Nayeli left some things out. A lot of which Max was going to bust her chops for later. The four ladies got along splendidly, eating and keeping each other company until their two connections returned to them.

"Y'all finally decided to rejoin the party?" Brandy smirked and scooted in to make room for them in the booth.

"What are you talking about? I never left," Nayeli joked, gulping down some of her Bahama Mama in spite of it being watery thanks to her melted ice. She picked up a few of her cold cheese fries and popped them into her mouth.

"I'll be right back, she said TWO HOURS AGO!" Max was buzzed and feeling bold, giggling at herself by herself.

"It has not been two hours."

"You're right. It's been.....two hours, twenty-three minutes, aaaaaaaaand fifty-five seconds," Leti said, looking back and forth between her baby sister and what appeared to be her new beau before she held out her hand, "I'm Leticia."

"EJ, nice to meet you."

"I know who you are. I went on a date to your last fight. Good shit."

"Thank you."

"The drunk one is Maxine," Nayeli said.

"I'm not drunk. I feel good. Now look here, Mr. EJ sir. My sister is a fluffy lil bunny, mkay? You gotta be real careful with her. She don't like to tussle, but I do, and i'on give a damn how many championship belts you got. If I gotta bring a brick wall down on your head, I will do that. No disrespect to you, Brandy. I like you, but we protect Baby Love at all costs. Her ass is too pure for this world."

"Like I said, she's drunk. Ignore her."

"I'm speaking facts! You know she was a virgin until she was 26?"

"MAX, SHUT UP!" Nayeli's face burned at her sister's concession. She wasn't ashamed of her choice, but it didn't need to be broadcasted. Her sexual history was her business.

"That's enough for you." Leticia snatched the half empty glass of tequila sunrise that was in front of Maxine and pushed it to the other side of the table.

"I wasn't finished with that!"

"You need to be cut off. Drink some water."

"Don't be embarrassed, Nayeli. That's not a bad thing," Trinity said, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I know. Can we talk about something else now?" All the attention on Nayeli made her squirmy. She just wanted to have a good time, and up until several minutes prior, she was.

As the conversation moved away from her genitals, she eased up and leaned back, picking at the last few hot wings in the center of the table and ordering fried pickles with a second Bahama Mama.

Ezra hardly talked, choosing to let the women have the floor so he could learn more of Nayeli's secrets. Truth be told, Brandy was the reason he wasn't in the house. She claimed she couldn't leave Briton Beach without him taking her out at least once. He wanted her off of his back, but that ended up working in his favor because he got to see his angel.

The angel that had only been with one man in her life. It was easy to deduct that truth from what he knew. She was a virgin until she was 26 and had been with Jalen for six years. She couldn't be much older than 26, which didn't leave too much room for someone else to have made an appearance.

He wanted to know why she made that decision, if she ever planned to save herself for marriage or if she felt that no man before Jalen was worthy. Really, he just wanted her alone. He was tired of sharing her. For once, he wanted time without being interrupted.

Leticia excused herself to use the restroom, Maxine going with her before Trinity left the booth behind them. A few minutes later, Nayeli asked to be let out, teasingly promising Ezra that she was coming back for him through hazy eyes. Her buzz was starting to hit. She scampered off, curls and booty bouncing. One day soon, that would be his daily view.

"What the hell are you cheesing about?" Brandy asked.

"Nayeli broke up with her dude."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yeah, she told me at the party."

A whole seven days ago. Ezra glared at his sister and pinched her wrist like she used to do to him when he got on her nerves as kids, "You couldn't say something sooner?"

"Ow, nigga, no! She said she wasn't thinking about hopping into another relationship anytime soon. Why would I give you the green light to watch you fail? But after what I saw tonight, you might already be in there." The entirety of the brewery saw their dry humping and her brother kissing Nayeli's neck like he was seconds away from pulling her to bathrooms. However, Brandy knew firsthand how much breakups could hurt and all one would go through to mask that pain, "Give her time to heal, E. She's a sweetheart, and six years is a lot to get over."

"How much time do you think she needs?"

"At least three months."

"Shit." He had no desire to wait that long, but he would if he had to, "Did she tell you what he did?"

"No, and I wasn't about to ask. What is wrong with you?"

He trusted Brandy. They shared almost everything with each other, but he didn't know if he wanted to open up about what was going on in his head. It didn't fully make sense to him, but he was confident that he was right.

"You're going to think I'm crazy." Most people would if he walked around telling them that Nayeli was his wife.

"I'm your sister. I already think you're off your rocker," Brandy said, staring at him until she realized that he had no plans of saying anything else, "Well?"

"Nevermind. Don't worry about it." If they were back at his house, he might've spoken freely, but the missing women were coming back, and he didn't want Brandy to sneak the information to Nayeli. He was already aware that she spilled the beans about his feelings not being platonic, "Do y'all mind catching an uber back to the house?"

"Uh, why?"

"I'm gonna see if Nayeli wants to stick around later."

"E, I just said give her time."

"Chill out. I'm not trying to take her to a hotel. I just want to get her alone for a minute."

"Do what you do. You gon end up hurting your own feelings trying to rush her."

"Shut up." He didn't agree, but he'd keep the thought tucked in his back pocket.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the table, he covered the tabs for both groups, causing a bit of an uproar before the Windham siblings thanked him. They were all walking out together when he held Nayeli back.

"Do you need to be home?" he asked her.

"Nuh uh. Aside from church, my only plans tomorrow are with you and Tati."

"You up for staying out a little longer?" By partier's standards, it was still early. For the rest of the adults, it was time for bed, but Nayeli nodded anyway.

"Yeah, we can stick around. There's a really good ice cream place down the street called Scoop of Heaven. Have you been?"

"I think I've driven past it once or twice."

"It's like an old school ice cream parlor and soda shop. They're open until 11."

"Let's go."

"Go where?" Leticia asked.

"We're going to get ice cream. You guys know where the towels and stuff are if you wanna crash at my place."

"Sooooo basically, you ain't coming home with us," Maxine said.

"Right. Don't throw up on any of my stuff, please. And leave the rest of that 7-Up cake alone. It's for Danielle."

"She swears she's the oldest."

"I'm definitely the most mature."

"God, please don't strike her for that lie," Leti added as she hopped away from Nayeli. Brandy and Trinity laughed at Nayeli swatting at her sisters. Their cars pulled up separately, everyone saying goodbye before the siblings were gone and two people remained.

Leaving the parking lot, they walked the three blocks to Scoop of Heaven, ordering small cups of rocky road and cookie dough ice cream and crossing the street to beach.

Shoes in one hand, ice cream in the other, they strolled a little ways through the sand and found a good rock to sit on. The moon shone on them, keeping their faces visible. Helpful, because they couldn't stop looking at each other.

Nayeli's buzz came and went, keeping her loose enough to not be awkward but aware enough to know that they were finally all alone and she had no excuse not to bring up the origin of their connection. Still, she found one.

"I feel like you know more about me than I do about you," she said, drawing a swirl in the sand with her foot.

"What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you want to tell me."

"I hate the song Return of the Mack."

Her mouth dropped open, and she scooted away from him, "How dare you! That's a serious character flaw." Ezra threw his head back and laughed. That little tidbit sparked many debates.

"You don't even want to ask me why?"

"I'm not sure it really matters, but go ahead and tell me."

"The year that song came out, my parents were separated and still pissed at each other. They played it out worse than the radio. If I never hear it again, I might die a happy man."

"I understand, and now I feel bad for what I said." Bad memory association could ruin even the best of songs.

"Don't. It was funny."

"In that case, I'll give you a pass." Thankful that the vibe was still lighthearted, she scooted back to her original spot and bumped him with her arm, "I can't believe your parents separated. I got the feeling they were very much in love."

"They are. People go through shit, but being apart ended up working for them. They needed to grow up....and they realized nobody else wanted their crazy asses. What about your parents?"

"They were together until I was fourteen. My mom didn't want anymore kids after me. My dad wanted to try for a boy, and my mom said no. So they divorced, and he found someone that would give him more children."

"You have younger siblings?"

"Mhmm. Twin boys. I don't know them. I saw them once when they were first born. His wife doesn't acknowledge me or my sisters. Their family is their family. He's still around all the time. The only thing that really changed was where he slept at night. He just has another family that acts like we don't exist." And that was completely fine with Nayeli. She couldn't stand Cheryl, and it had everything to do with her being a raging bitch that refused to accept her husband had a life before her. She weaponized the twins against her dad, too. It was worse than anyone let on, and she was convinced that Maxwell would be filing for divorce the day after the boys turned eighteen.

"That's fucked up."

"What can I do? The twins are still minors, and I can't force a relationship. If they don't want to know me, that's their problem. I'm a beautiful person, and they're missing out," she shrugged and scraped the last of her ice cream from the bottom of her paper cup.

"They are," Ezra said, making sure that she was looking at him when he did. She smiled at him and bashfully lowered her head.

"We're talking about me again."

"I want to know everything there is to know about you."

"If we're going there, I'd like the same in return."

"Deal."

"Good. Now I'm asking the questions. When did you start boxing?" Nayeli felt weird that everyone around her was familiar with that side of him. It wasn't all he was, but it was still a significant portion of his life. If she wanted to know him, she had to ask.

"My dad had me in gloves from the time I could throw a punch. He started taking me to the gym when I was eleven."

"He pushed you into it?"

"Yeah and no. He's a big fan of Muhammad Ali, and he was an amateur boxer for a minute, but my mom got pregnant with Brandy and shut it all down. Me being the first born son, he introduced me to a lot of the stuff he wanted to do as a kid. I played football and boxed. Love them both, but I hate hitting the ground. It's unavoidable in football. Not when I boxed, though. My dad loves the technical side of it. I like knocking niggas in the dirt." He made her laugh and grinned at the sound. It was beautiful, bordering on musical. He wished he could hear it all the time, "Is it my turn to ask a question?"

"Nope. I still have to play catch up. What position did you play?"

"QB and safety."

"Duality, I like it."

"Are you a football fan?"

"It's still not your turn to ask questions, but yes I am. Why did you stop boxing?"

"Tatiana. I'm not good at multitasking. When I would train to fight, that's all I would focus on. My schedule was tight, and I didn't allow distractions. This would go on for months at a time. Once Tati was born, I needed to focus on her," he answered simply. It was that easy when he made the decision, too, and there was nothing he would change about it.

"Great parenting."

"I had great examples. Thank God for that because Savannah ain't worth shit."

"Ooookay. I'm going to stop you there," Nayeli said and held her hand up, "I know first hand that she is not a great person. I know you guys have your issues, but I would appreciate it if you didn't speak badly about her to me. I'm not asking you to not feel how you feel, but I don't want this to become a thing where you bash her and I cosign. At the end of the day, she's still Tati's mother." Whether they liked it or not.

"Giving birth don't make somebody a mother, but I hear you." Maxine had it right. Nayeli was too pure for the world, "She said you threatened her."

"Oh, I did. She tried to put her hands on me. I know I'm small, but I don't play that."

He started to get angry because that wasn't the way Savannah told the story. He knew she wasn't entirely forthcoming, but had he known what she attempted, their last conversation would've went worse than it already did, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I threatened her. I'm not afraid of her, and now she knows not to try me," Nayeli explained, "Is she the reason you asked me about cutting off an inconsistent parent?"

"Yeah. We have court ordered joint custody, but she only comes around once every blue moon."

"I'm sorry."

"What for? You're better with Tati than she ever was or will be." Which was sad since he could count on one hand how many times they'd been around each other.

"I wish you were in a better situation."

"If I were, I might not've met you."

"Somehow, I still think we would've ended up near each other. With or without you living in the same city." That was it, the perfect moment for her to come clean. She'd been putting it off for long enough. Setting her empty cup the the sand, she turned so that her whole body faced him, "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Remember when you said you felt like we'd met before."

"Yeah."

"You were right. The story your mom told at Tati's birthday party, the one about you saving the little girl from the wreck. It was me. You saved me." Looking down at her legs, she moved part of her skirt, showing him the long, jagged scar on her thigh, "This is where you held your jacket because the glass cut me," Lifting a section of her curls, she exposed the one in her hairline, "This is why you were wiping blood out of my face. I don't remember much from the accident, but I had a feeling, so I asked my grandmother what happened. Everything she remembers matches what your mom said. It feels weird to say because we haven't even known each other a month yet, but I don't know where I'd be without you. Thank you, Ezra." Standing at her regular height, she was able to get her arms around his neck while he was still seated, but not before she left a lingering kiss on his cheek.

[troublesomecousin]

𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

italicize what your muse likes. bold what they love. strike what they hate.

KEVIN

Taste :

Sweet | Salty | Bitter | Umami | Sour | Chocolate | Bacon | Vegetables | Fruit | Berries | Carrots | Cake | Cookies | Pretzels | Pasta | Tomatoes | Applesauce | Sauerkraut | Pickles | Olives | Potatoes | Ice Cream | Pineapple | Pineapple on pizza | Fish | Beef | Garlic | Spinach | Mushrooms | Cheese | Milk | Juice | Marmite | Beetroot | Anchovies | Gefilte Fish | Peppers | Whole wheat bread | Marshmallows | Mango | Broccoli | Peanut butter | Nutella | Mint and chocolate | Cashew nuts | Tofu | Brussels sprouts | Grape flavor

Touch :

Soft | Rough | Smooth | Sticky | Slimy | Hot | Cold | Damp | Wet | Clammy | Coarse | Fur | Velvet | Silk | Lace | Hot metal | Cold metal | Paper | Plastic | Bubble wrap | Wool | Wood | Tree bark | Hot asphalt | Leaves | Wicker | Sand | Rocks | Rough rocks | Smooth rocks | Hair | Skin | Tight hugs | Gentle hugs | Lip kisses | Skin kisses | Holding hands | Rough touches | Gentle touches | Scratches | Bites | Sunlight | Light sheets | Thick blankets | Baggy clothes

Scent :

Flowers | Sea water | Chocolate | Fish | Cooking onions | Cleaning products | Citrus | Lemons | Grapefruit | Oranges | Rain | Freshly cut grass | Wet dirt | Wood | Cologne | Perfume | Fire | Smoke | Gasoline | Tires | Paint | Chlorine | Pools | Fresh bread | Cooking bacon | New books | Coffee | Linen | Vanilla | Cinnamon | New car | Coconut | Sunscreen | Nail polish | Mint | Cigarette smoke | Leather

Sound :

Loud sounds | High pitched sounds | Low pitched sounds | Quiet sounds | Loud voices | Soft voices | High voices | Deep voices | Morning voice | Snoring | Rain on windows | Fire crackle | Crickets | Frogs | Typing on a keyboard | Horse hooves on gravel | High heels | Laughter | Deep laughter | Giggling | Purring | Dog bark | Howling | Car engine | Distant chatter | Bird chirps | Classical music | Pop music | Folk music | Rock music | Country music | Klezmer music | Violin | Piano | Frying food | Nails tapping

Sight :

Red | Orange | Yellow | Green | Blue | Purple | Pink | Black | White | Silver | Gold | Shiny | Dull | Shapes | Orange lighting | Natural lighting | Seaside scenery | Forest scenery | Field scenery | Patterns | Clear skies | Cloudy skies | Night time | Day time | Sunrise | Sunset | Stained glass windows | Old buildings | Stone buildings | Wood cabins | Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | Brick buildings | Moss | Flowers | Gardens | Hedge mazes | Corn mazes | Lakes | Rivers

tagged by : No one. I just felt like doing it. tagging : All you jerks out there