Saturday, February 2nd, 2019

Graeme was furious! But, Janiyah was in awe.

"Oh my gosh! You're Jackson Pierce! I love your movies! It is so nice to meet you!"

Hunter and Brett walked away whistling because of the conversation that was about to happen.

Graeme glared at Janiyah, but Jackson smirked. "Your girlfriend obviously has an eye for a talented man. So, what did she see in you?"

Graeme was two seconds from pouncing on Jackson. But, he remained composed.

"I see you are a fan of my work?" Jackson asked Janiyah.

"Am I?!" Janiyah gleefully says.

Before she could say another word, Graeme put his hand over her mouth. "Jackson, stay away from my girlfriend! It's bad enough you hijacked a very big role for me. Janiyah is mine!! Back off!! Goodbye, Jackson."

Graeme hurried a hushed Janiyah into his VIP room.

"You better keep a close eye on her for I steal her too," Jackson says as he walks away.

"What was that for?!" Janiyah says as Graeme takes his hand off her mouth.

Graeme sighs, "Please tell me you don't like Jackson Pierce."

"Well at the time I started liking him, I didn't like you. But, now I love you. Uh, is there something wrong with him? I loved him in 'Warriors of Insanity.'"

Graeme couldn't get mad at Janiyah because she doesn't know. So, Graeme took a deep breath and told Janiyah what happened.

"Niyah, somehow Jackson stole that role from me. I had signed the contract to play the male lead of the movie. The day the casts were to be announced, the director called me into his office and told me they changed the male lead to Jackson."

Janiyah was hot! "How can they do that?! You signed the darn contract!"

"They said I breached the contract but didn't say why. That pissed me off. Then, the director had the audacity to introduce me to the new lead of the movie, Jackson. I take my acting seriously and never did anything to breach a contract. Every time Jackson sees me, he rubs it in my face how many awards he has won, along with how many the movie has won. I could never find out how he took that role from me."

Janiyah was beyond infuriated! "Papito, it is never too late. No, we can't go back and get you in that movie. But, we can expose that director and Jackson for what they are - sneaky and underhanded. It may take a while, but together we will find out. Maybe my dad can help us too. He has connections in Hollywood. Nobody is going to get away with messing with my Papito."

"I am sorry for glaring at you," Graeme says to apologize to Janiyah.

"Don't worry about it, Graeme. Let's enjoy the rest of the night with dancing and spending time with your brothers."

"I wish we met a long time ago. I have never clicked so well with someone as I do with you. You are forever mine. And, I love you."

Graeme cradled Janiyah in his arms and kissed her like crazy.

They started hearing throats clearing, but did that stop them? Certainly, it did not.

"Everything okay in here?" Brett asks.

"Seriously, bro? Look at them. Everything is perfect," Hunter states as he pops his younger brother.

"Janiyah, do you have any sisters?" Brett then asked.

Graeme and Hunter both now looked at their younger brother like he was nuts.

"Well, it never hurts to ask. Janiyah is beautiful and she is nice. I just want to follow in my brother's footsteps." Brett declared.

Janiyah chuckled, "I do. And, she is single, as well as my personal assistant who is single. How about you guys come visit us in Houston sometime? I have season tickets to the Texans, and I love to have cookouts. And, I have to tell you that my dad is Steven Frazier."

"We would love to come. Thanks, Janiyah." Hunter politely says.

"Your father is one of the best agents there is. Boy is he tough," Brett says as he sighs.

"Now boys, let's go to the dance floor." Janiyah dragged Graeme, Hunter, and Brett to the dance floor, and they enjoyed the rest of their time.

From afar, Jackson kept his eyes on Janiyah the whole time. Then, he noticed someone else eyeing Janiyah, but with malice.

"Excuse me, but why are you staring at that beautiful woman dancing with Graeme Harrison and his brothers?" Jackson asked the woman.

"I can't stand her. She wormed her way into my family and messed up my plan to get my best friend back with Graeme."

"What has she done to you that you can't stand her?"

"Humiliated me in front of my parents. That's what she did! I want to get her away from Graeme."

Jackson turned to the woman, smirked, and said, "You do? Let me guess - you obviously pissed her off about something and she put you in your place. So, what's your plan? I am willing to help."

Megan then turned around. "Hey, you are the one who took my brother's movie role! I may not like his girlfriend, but I can't stand you even more!"

Megan walked away from Jackson.

"I don't need her anyway. I will find a way to break them up myself."

*************************************

Sunday, February 3rd, 2019

Graeme and Janiyah got an early start on the cookout for his family. They went to the grocery store to pick the needed ingredients - ribs, hot dogs, steak, burgers, corn, etc. Janiyah is even going to make her special sauce.

"What is the favorite thing your family likes to eat?" She asked Graeme.

"My brother's like to throw down on ribs. They are going to love your ribs. My father is a steak man. My mother likes salmon. Megan probably will not come. I really am sorry for her behavior last night."

"Okay. I can make my dad's seasoning. He puts in on everything. Papito, stop worrying. It's her loss if we don't become friends. I'm focusing on your father, mother, and brothers. Anyone else coming to the house?"

"I invited my friends, some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. And, guess what? None of them liked Jennifer. They will love you, but not like I do."

Graeme and Janiyah we're about to smooch in the grocery store until they heard a snooty remark, "This is a grocery store for goodness sake." They turned to see a snooty, old lady.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, nobody told you to stare. Please mind your own business." He said it politely, in a calm tone.

The lady huffed her nose in the air and walked past them. Janiyah and Graeme continued shopping.

Once they were done, Janiyah paid for the groceries. Graeme rolled the cart to his truck. "Have a seat while I load the truck," Graeme tells Janiyah.

As soon as he was done, he proceeded to the driver's side and headed home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once they made it home, Janiyah and Graeme both brought bags and bags of groceries into the kitchen. Fortunately, Graeme has a garage and a door that leads to the kitchen, so they didn't have far to walk.

They then sorted out the items on the counter and started the prep for the cookout. Graeme's mom texted him saying, "We told everyone to come around 2:00 pm to give you both some time."

Graeme texted his mom back saying he appreciated it and would see them later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three hours after everything had been marinated and prepped, Graeme fixed burgers, hotdogs, and salmon on one grill. On the other grill, Janiyah fixed the ribs and steaks.

In between grilling, Janiyah had fixed potato salad, mac salad, mac & cheese, and homemade half & half (half lemonade and half iced tea - absolutely delicious!)

"I'll be right back, going to check on the mac & cheese in the oven," Janiyah tells Graeme. She opened the oven to see that the mac & cheese was now done, so she grabbed a pair of oven mitts and placed the dish on the stove.

Janiyah then heard the doorbell ring. So, she went to answer it. It was Denise, Graeme's housekeeper, and Debbie, her pilot.

"Come on in, ladies. And, thank you for coming. The food is almost ready. You ladies can have a seat in the back yard. Help yourselves. I'll be back shortly." Janiyah saw Hunter and Brett pulling up, so she left the door opened.

"This is really sweet of you, Ms. Frazier. Thank you for the invitation," Denise remarks.

"Girl, please call me Janiyah. I'm not one of those crazy girlfriends who treat people like junk. I invited you so we can all have a great time getting to know each other. You are my guest today. And, if Graeme ever gives you a hard time about anything, let me know."

"Thank you, Janiyah." Denise gave Janiyah a hug and made her way to the back.

"Hey Debbie, can we switch leaving until, hmm, Wednesday? I really would like to shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills."

"That's not a problem. Would you like to fly back in the afternoon or morning?"

"Afternoon would be great."

"Okay. I'll call you sometime tomorrow with the departure time."

"Thanks, Debbie. You are the best! I have a feeling we are going to have ourselves a mighty, good time tonight."

"Me too." Debbie then went back to join Denise on the patio.

"Hey, Janiyah, we brought some wine."

Janiyah gave both Hunter and Brett a hug. "Thank you guys for coming."

"No way I would have missed this. Graeme says your ribs are the best he had tasted, including his when he cooks them."

"Well, you guys are my brothers. I fix only the best for my family. Graeme's in the backyard cooking on the grill. I have some food in the kitchen. Can you help me bring it outside?"

"Brett, you take the wine. I'll help Janiyah," Hunter offered. Brett went outside, and Hunter followed Janiyah to the kitchen.

"The mac & cheese is hot, so you might want to use some oven mitts."

"Okay. Thanks." Hunter grabs the oven mitts and takes the mac & cheese outside. Janiyah grabbed the cold sides out of the fridge and takes them outside.

As Janiyah and Hunter step outside, they see some new faces - his parents, along with some others.

"Hunter Aidan Harrison, come give your Aunt Pam a hug!" Janiyah saw Graeme and Brett laughing like crazy. Then, she saw why. Aunt Pam pinched Hunter's cheeks and squeezed the life out of him.

Janiyah couldn't help but chuckle. But, then she realized she may be next. Sure enough, Aunt Pam let go of Hunter.

"You have got to be Graeme's girlfriend, Janiyah. You are just as pretty as he described. Come give your Aunt Pam a hug, child." Janiyah did as she was told and walked over to Graeme's aunt. She squeezed the life out of Janiyah. The boys all laughed.

Everybody then sat down to eat the food that Janiyah and Graeme fixed. They sat next to each other while Graeme's parents sat opposite ends.

Graeme went around the table and introduced Janiyah to everyone she didn't know. And, just like he said, they all liked her. Several of his cousins came later, and they also welcomed Janiyah into the family.

But, there is always some kind of drama at a family cookout, right? Their names are Megan and Jennifer.

Graeme was furious! "Excuse me, everyone. Janiyah follow me, please. Megan, Jennifer in the darn house now!"

Graeme dragged Janiyah with him in the house, following Megan and Jennifer.

"I am sick and tired of whatever game the both of you are playing! Jennifer, get this through your head - I will never, ever date you again! You see this beautiful woman standing next to me?! Janiyah is the only woman I want - now and in the future. I plan to marry her one day. I don't appreciate either one of you disrespecting her in her house!" Graeme barked.

"Since when is it her house?" Megan foolishly replied.

"The both of you all need to grow up! Megan, I love you and all but do not contact me until you have finally matured. And get to steppin' out of my house!!! Now!!!"

"You're picking her over me - your sister?!"

"If that is how you want to see it, then yes! I'm tired of your act, Megan. Like I said, grow up then call me. Goodbye." Graeme then pointed to the front door for them to leave.

After Megan and Jennifer left the house, Janiyah and Graeme sat down in the living room.

"I just don't understand why she is like that. Jennifer cheated, and cheating to me is unforgivable. I want to move forward in my life with you. I meant what I said about marrying you one day. You mean the world to me, Janiyah."

"And, you mean the world to me too, Graeme. But, I want you to not lose your relationship with your sister. She is your family, Papito. But, if she still feels the same way, then that is on her. Let's go join the rest of the family who is here." Janiyah and Graeme then made their way to the backyard and enjoyed the time - swimming, laughing, playing games, dancing, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After everyone left, Hunter and Brett stayed to help Graeme clean up. They told Janiyah to have a seat and relax.

Once the boys were done, they joined Janiyah and watched television.

"I really had a lot of fun today with your family."

"And, I really had fun tearing up those ribs you made. Man, Janiyah you should enter in a barbecue contest. Your ribs would win, hands down." Brett says in between bites of the ribs that were surprisingly left.

"When you guys come to Texas, you can see the awards in the flesh that I have won. I hope I don't come off as bragging, but I am proud of my barbecue cooking. I mean it, you both have to come down for a visit. It would be better to wait until April or May. That's when I usually start grilling."

"How about the first week in April?" Hunter suggests.

Janiyah checked her calendar. "That week is perfect. I usually have a family barbecue at my house in April. So, I will make it that week."

After about an hour, Janiyah said goodnight to the boys and headed to bed.

Hunter and Brett eventually spent the night at the house. They played pool and several other games before saying good night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the trip was just as exciting. Graeme took Janiyah shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Janiyah had herself a good time shopping. She even bought a special present for Graeme but wants to wait until the right moment to give it to him.

On Tuesday, Graeme took Janiyah to Hollywood. They saw the 'Hollywood' sign, The Walk of Fame, and did a little shopping there too.

Wednesday, they made their way back to Texas. Graeme's parents went to see them off at the airport.

By the time the plane landed in Houston, they grabbed their luggage, Damion drove Janiyah's Range Rover to pick them up, and then they traveled home.

They immediately crashed on the couch for the next few days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, February 8th, 2019

Graeme and Janiyah continued to lounge through the weekend. The only time they got up was to eat or use the bathroom.

Graeme did go outside to pick up the mail, then came back inside. One envelope was addressed to him, and he was not happy at the sender. Janiyah noticed it and questioned him.

"What's wrong, Papito?"

"Look at this invite and who it is from?!" Graeme handed Janiyah the invitation. She looked at it and looked up at Graeme.

"Jackson Pierce is inviting us to a party?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~