“That piece doesn’t go there.” Toni’s gaze remained on the picture in front of her as she acknowledged the jigsaw puzzle piece being inched her way. To stay in line with the season, Toni chose a photo of a Christmas cabin on a snowy day for the activity while she caught up with her best friends.
The sound of teeth being sucked preceded Rashawn’s argument. “Of course it does. Look.” He picked up the piece and tried fitting it into a cluster of connected pieces. The protruding side fit into the groove, but left space surrounding it, confirming it wasn’t in the right spot.
“See,” Tyree commented from Toni’s right. “You can tell by the shadow it wouldn’t fit there.”
“Y’all are not about to double-team me this time,” Rashawn griped, switching his focus between Toni and Tyree.
Toni, Tyree, and Rashawn aimed to hang out together at least once a month. After cultivating a tight-knit group of friends with Tyree in the middle, they took turns hosting each other to keep their friendship strong. Last month, Tyree catered a taco bar on her back patio.
“Whatever.” Rashawn pulled the piece back. “You better be glad Kam isn’t here. He would’ve been my partner, and it would’ve been over for y’all asses.”
Tyree and Toni laughed, knowing what he’d said about Tyree’s bonus son to be true.
“You’re right about that,” Tyree agreed.
“Why didn’t you bring my nephew?”
Tyree’s eyebrows drew together above her eyes as she rolled them away from the piece she’d correctly connected to its neighbor, creating the image of a snowman. “Because those little green-eyed goblins can give their dad hell today. They’ve been on one since Christmas break started. _I’m_ taking a break today.”
“Don’t do my babies like that!” Toni struggled to keep from laughing.
Tyree chuckled. “Them first! If it’s not Kyree refusing to get out of my bed, it’s Kori and Kameron’s nonstop bickering with each other. When that calms, we’re left to deal with Karl’s pubescence.”
Rashawn whistled and grimaced as if he felt pain. “I can’t imagine. That’s why I’m going to leave procreating to y’all.”
Toni slid Rashawn a puzzle piece matching the section of the chimney he’d been working on. “You’re still holding onto that idea?”
“Hell yeah,” he answered quickly, connecting the piece she gave him. “It’s tough enough just to take care of myself. I don’t see things getting better with this economy, so I’d rather not add the weight of a family.”
“What happens when you find your soulmate, and she wants kids?” Tyree asked, closely inspecting a piece that matched the puzzled skyline she’d been building.
Rashawn shook his head as he answered, “There’s no such thing as soulmates. Just someone you don’t mind fucking forever.”
Tyree rolled her eyes. “There’s no help for you.”
“And there’s no rest for you. That’s why you’re running from your kids now.” Tyree gasped before sending a handful of pieces his direction. Rashawn tried to duck, but was unable to move in time before the bits of cardboard struck his face. “I’m just joking, Ty. Damn!”
Her eyes tightened as she spoke through bunched lips. “Better be. You know I love my babies.”
“We do,” Toni chimed in. “That’s why your husband is begging you to let him put another one in you.”
At their last meet-up, Tyree revealed that her husband, Kamaal, asked to expand their family, reasoning they needed to try for another girl so their daughter Kori wouldn’t be the only one and to round off the number and add balance to their three boys.
“That and the fact that he’s over the retired life. That man has run through any hobby imaginable these past two years and needs something else to occupy his time since commentating one pro game a week isn’t enough.”
“Either way, you have a decision to make.” Rashawn’s point was muffled, coming from beneath the dining table as he bent to pick up the puzzle pieces Tyree threw at him.
“He’s right,” Toni agreed. “You gonna try for a baby?”
Tyree’s eyes shot to the right. Her fingers twirled a handful of her coils. “We’ve already started. I didn’t refill my pills this month.”
“That’s what I’m talking about, best friend!” Toni cheered. “You give that man another reason to make the Forbes list.”
Tyree’s eyelids collapsed. “Please don’t trigger me. I’m still getting tagged about that gift.”
Kamaal pulled out all the stops when he gifted Tyree a private jet as a push present after giving birth to their youngest, Kyree, who came just two weeks after Kamaal’s Super Bowl and MVP win with their hometown team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, two years ago. Kamaal said he wanted a stable form of transportation for his family and felt Tyree deserved the aircraft. Needing input on the surprise, Kamaal consulted Toni for decor advice.
Rashawn whistled. “It’s hard to top a custom-built G550. Unless Mack is going to buy a private island to use Air Michelle to get to.”
“I wouldn’t put it past that hundred-millionaire,” Toni added.
“Antoinette, please,” Tyree grated before setting her lips into a flat line.
Toni raised her palms in resignation. “My bad, Ty. I know you clam up when we talk about your wealth.”
Tyree’s head fell to the side as she sighed. “Let’s just finish the damn puzzle.”
----
Laughing and bickering while sipping wine got the crew off track, and it took them upwards of three hours to finish the puzzle. After admiring their teamwork, the trio moved to the living room, where they each claimed a couch cushion, enjoyed more wine, and ignored the TV series they’d spent twenty minutes deciding to watch.
Tyree stood from the couch, slipping her phone under the flap of her black Chanel purse. “This was fun, as always, but it’s time to head back to the beach.”
“You miss those green-eyed goblins, don’t you?” Rashawn questioned with a smirk.
Tyree groaned while shaking her head. “You know I do.”
Toni stood, pulling Tyree into a hug. “And there ain’t a damn thing wrong with that. Kiss my babies, and then get to work on the next one. Call me.”
“Of course,” Tyree agreed while returning the hug. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Aw. Aren’t you two the sweetest? I love y’all too!” Rashawn joked, making kissing noises, earning a shove from Tyree. “Uh oh. She’s getting violent. Let me walk you out.”
Toni grinned at Rashawn and Tyree as she gathered the wine glasses from the coasters on top of her coffee table and headed to her kitchen. She’d finished washing and drying them by the time her front door opened and closed again, letting her know Rashawn was back inside. His footsteps grew louder as he got closer, increasing Toni’s anticipation. She kept her back to him when she heard him cross the kitchen’s threshold.
“I love Ty, but I’ve been ready for her to leave.” Rashawn’s words surrounded Toni before his arms snaked around her, caging her in position in front of the counter. The playful vibe in her place lifted, leaving room for the urges she’d suppressed throughout the friend date. Soft lips brazenly brushed the exposed skin of her shoulder. “I can tell you were, too. Looking at me, thinking about what I did to you on that table the last time I came over.”
Recalling the way Rashawn had Toni sprawled on top of her dining table with her legs spread eagle as he feasted on her caused a chill to trail her back. Rashawn caught on and nudged his hips, making his arousal apparent as it pressed into her.
“You want me to do that thing again?” The sweet breath of Rashawn’s question fanned the shell of Toni’s ear, inspiring another shiver as she turned around to look into his eyes and nod her yes.
Rashawn’s smirk was confident, telling Toni he’d conjured up things to do to her body. Toni swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth, causing a loud gulp to sound from her throat. Rashawn lifted a brow, letting her know he heard before dipping his head to kiss her throat.
Toni tossed her head back, allowing him to sample more of her sensitive skin. Her arms circled his neck, pulling him closer. Rashawn lowered his hands and took hold of Toni’s waist. Recognizing the move, Toni responded by lifting on the tips of her toes, helping Rashawn raise her body in the air for a moment before settling her on the edge of the counter. Toni’s hips wiggled as Rashawn tugged at the sides of her lounge pants, making it easy for the ribbed fabric to slide from her body, leaving her bottom half bare.
She leaned back, unfazed by the coolness of the granite beneath her back, and watched him pull himself from the front of his jeans. With her bottom lip tucked between her teeth, she unashamedly watched him cover himself in the condom he pulled from his back pocket. Rashawn’s eyes were on Toni’s while he cupped the base of his heavy erection.
**Release date slated for late 2026**