"I really don't wanna go to this House Warming." Sarai complained as she flat ironed her hair in the mirror as it was almost time to go.
"Why not? I thought you liked Safaree?"
"I mean, it's not that I have a problem with him. He's a nice guy for you and all, this is just awkward." She placed her pink Chi flatiron down and looked at her mom who was in the doorway. "Just don't think I don't like him."
"Sarai." Nicki sighed.
"I just don't want you rushing into a relationship after the one you just got out of."
"Awwwww, how adorable. Little Sarai is worried about her mother. How cute." Nicki forced a smile and grabbed her coat from her closet and turned off her room light. "Meet me in the car in 5 minutes, we gotta go."
Sarai rolled her eyes and turned off the bathroom light. Sure, she wanted her mom happy and with someone other than Victor, but not this soon.
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"Daddy! Somebody's at the door!" Nyla yelled from the living room to her Dad upstairs. He was currently putting on his shoes and had been taking forever upstairs.
"Ask who it is and answer it." He yelled back. Safaree had just got done getting dressed and was applying his favorite cologne. The small food was kind of ready, he just needed help with the lasagna and fixing up the house even more. His friends, parents, and a coupe of old neighbors were coming so his house had to look perfect.
Nyla grabbed a chair from the kitchen and brought it to the front door. She stood on top of the chair so she was tall enough to look through the peep hole. "It's Ms. Nicki!" Her eyes lit up as she hopped down from the chair and pushed it back. "I got it, dad!" She told Safaree as she heard him coming down the steps. Nyla unlocked the door, twisted the silver door knob, and jumped into Nicki's arms.
"I missed you!!" She told Nicki as she gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I missed you more, sweetheart. Here, get down for a second so I can put this stuff down." Nicki had brought the candles and air fresheners from home since Safaree didn't pick it up when he came to get the other items she bought.
"I can take your coats for you guys." Noah offered coming downstairs from his room.
"What a gentleman." said Nicki as she gave Noah her coat to hang up.
"I know you're not gonna keep that coat on all the time, Sarai. You might as well give it to me." Noah shook his head at how stubborn she was.
"I'll put it up myself, where's the closet?" She rolled her eyes.
"Sarai, stop." Nicki told her giving her "the look". She gave him her coat and followed Noah and Nyla into the basement.
"Woah, you clean up nice Safaree."
Safaree laughed and thanked Nicki. 'Good way to start the night, Nic.' he thought to himself. "You don't look too bad yourself. Matter fact, you always look good." Safaree leaned on the refrigerator crossing his arms and looked Nicki up and down. "My, my, my."
Nicki was obviously uncomfortable, but she shook right out of it. "Are you thirsty?" she asked.
"Not rea-"
"Move." Nicki bumped Safaree out the way and got a water pitcher from the refrigerator. "Let's get you some water, you really need it."
"Are my lips dry or something?" Safaree pulled out his iPhone and went to his front camera. He just shook his head. Nicki was confused. He normally wasn't like this at all. Sure, he flirted with her but now he seemed to look at her like a piece of meat.
"Okay, what do you need me to do? Nicki asked.
"Stand there and look beautiful." Safaree smirked and licked his lips.
Nicki rolled her eyes. This so wasn't like him. "I'm serious. Do you need me to cook or what?" Safaree could sense her agitation and realized it was time for him to cut the flirting down by a lot. The last thing he wanted to do was run her out of his house.
"I'm sorry, I got kinda carried away. Uhm, can you fix up the living room for me? You can do it however you please."
"Sure."
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"Nobody wants to watch basketball, Noah. Let's watch Americas Next Top Model!" Nyla, Sarai, and Noah were down stairs in the basement looking for something to watch on TV. They decided to leave Safaree & Nicki alone.
"Nyla, you know Dad doesn't like you watching that show. Go watch Barney on DVD."
"Don't be mean to my little sister, Noah!" Sarai kicked him in the leg and grabbed the remote.
"How cute." He replied rolling his eyes.
Sarai's eyes scanned the room as she finally found something to watch that pleased everyone. To her left. she noticed a stand with pictures and a wedding book. She got up from her spot on the couch and went to go look at them. They were wedding and family pictures. To her surprise, Marissa was beyond gorgeous. She had naturally curly black hair that flowed down her back and beautiful eyes. The first thing that ran through her mind was 'how did she get him'?. Sarai just shook her head. Too bad a beautiful woman like that messed up a gorgeous family.
"That's my old Mommy." Nyla took the picture and placed it face down so she wouldn't have to look at her face. She also closed the wedding books and put them face down as well.
"Nyla, you gotta stop being like that. Wether you like it or not, she's still our mom and you still have to love her no matter what. " Noah came over and turned everything the way that they were supposed to be.
"She doesn't love me, i'm not loving her." Nyla marched upstairs to the living room to where Nicki was.
"My bad, Noah. If I knew she was gonna react like that I wouldn't have even looked."
"It's cool. She's just young, she doesn't understand." He shrugged and turned up the volume on the tv.
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"Ms. Nicki, can you do my hair for me?" Nyla asked tapping Nicki on the shoulder. She was in the middle of moving the couches when she noticed Nyla had a sad look on her face.
"Can I do it after I get done finishing the living room? I have one more thing I need to do and I think you would be the perfect person to help me with it!"
"Really?! What is it!"
"It's kind of small but pick whatever air freshener you like most and I'll let you spray it."
Nyla thought a minute going through the bags and finally picked on she liked the most. "I like the way this one looks."
"So spray that one, don't get it in your eyes though & I'm gonna go talk to your daddy."
Nyla nodded in approval while Nicki was making her way into the kitchen to check on Safaree.
"Looks like you're getting off to a good start with that Lasagna." she complemented him with a smile.
"Yes ma'am do you think the noodles are done yet?" Safaree asked. Nicki took the lid off of the pot and examined them herself.
"Hmm, just give them a few more minutes." she took a seat at his kitchen table and looked around. "So... who's all coming over?"
Safaree took a seat next to Nicki. "My mom, my dad, a couple of the homeboys, and old neighbors."
"That's a nice little crowd." Nicki forced a smile and looked down at her nails that needed done badly.
"Daddy! Come look at how Ms. Nicki did the living room. It's so pretty!" She tugged on Safaree's arm until he got up from his seat.
Nicki followed Safaree and Nyla out to the living room and leaned against the wall waiting on his reaction. "You like it?"
Safaree was in shock. Everything single detail about the living room was different in a short amount of time. He couldn't quite put his hands on it, but he loved everything about it. "Yo, Nicki I love it! Thank you so much." Safaree pulled Nicki into a tight hug and thought about how much it reminded him of Marissa. To him, Nicki left a woman's touch. A touch that was most needed, and a touch that he hasn't felt in his own home ever since Marissa left.
"Safaree, you're welcome but my tiny ass can't breathe."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Safaree heard a car door slam outside and he could tell that it was his parents. Nyla ran to the door and opened it for her grandparents.
"Grandpa!!!!" Nyla had a big smile on her face.
"Princess, I missed you! Give Grandpa a hug!" He bent down to Nyla's height and picked her up. "This house looks nice, Safaree. I'm glad you finally listened to us for once in your life." He smiled to flash his gold, and showed himself the rest of the house.
"You're gonna let him talk to you that way?" Nicki asked pushing him on his shoulder.
"It's nothing, Nic. I pro-"
"Who the hell is she in your house?" Safaree's mom, Claudia, stepped in and dropped her suitcase on the floor. Nicki stepped back nervously, eyeing Safaree.
"You know what, maybe I should go check on the lasagna. I'll be right back." Nicki gave a fake smile and started to turn around when Claudia told her to stay.
"Uh, Mom.. this is my friend Nicki. She lives down the street."
"Mmmmhmmmm, I see." Claudia looked Nicki up and down. "You like her?"
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What's Safaree gonna say?!!? Hmm (: Well, since basketball is over I can update more often!! Comment comment comment. xo. thanks.
