Black-owned business of the day:
Black Girl Magic Wine
⚠️ FOR USERS 21 AND OLDER⚠️

Over time, McBride Sisters has grown into what is not only the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States but one of the most inclusive, accessible, socially aware, and sustainable.

These values show up not only in the wines they make but in all facets of their company. Their signature McBride Sisters Collection wines are direct reflections of the terroirs of their youth, with flavors designed for all palates. The fun, fab and eco-friendly SHE CAN collection and its related SHE CAN Professional Development Fund, are inspired by the endless pursuit of all women who are making their dreams a reality and breaking barriers daily. And the Black Girl Magic collection, Robin and Andrea's personal ode to their culture and story, is inspired by the magic and resilience of Black women, to be enjoyed by all.

Website: www.mcbridesisters.com

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Serenity's POV

The tension at this table could be cut with a knife. No one said a word as we ate our food. All we could hear is chewing and Cassidy's teeth clashing with the fork.

She's such a messy eater. My mom has to teach her how to correctly place food in her mouth almost every day. She purposely does it because she knows that's one of my pet peeves.

"Can you PLEASE stop making your gums bleed with the fork? You're being mad annoying right now." Dominic finally snapped.

"Yes, sir"

She said with a flirty smile on her face. Dominic shivered, making me giggle. Her 'date' didn't even say anything, he was just vacuuming down his shrimp scampi.

Dominic would occasionally squeeze my thigh everything one of them did something dumb. We've been here for about fifteen minutes and he squeezed my thigh twelve times.

"Since the table is silent I'll take that as my opportunity to make an announcement"

We all just ignored her and continued eating. Whatever she was about to say isn't as important as my loaded mash potatoes and steak. She cleared her throat multiple times, trying to get our attention.

"I'm pregnant again"

My knife and fork dropped on the plate. Some steak went down the wrong tube, making me choke uncontrollably. Dominic started to harshly slap my back, for sure leaving a mark.

Pregnancy used to be special, Cassidy turned it into an extracurricular activity.

"You're what??? Who's the daddy???"

"You, stupid"

"You told me to pretend like I was the father of your last child to make Serenity mad. I didn't sign up for this"

I felt the table move, signaling that she most likely kicked the hell out of him. How desperate do you have to be to make a plan like that? It surprises me every day that we come from the same womb.

When she saw that no one was buying her whole pregnancy story she got back to eating. I can feel Dominic staring at me, waiting for me to give him the sign for us to go back home.

I was going to give him the sign but, the waiter came back to our table. I could hear Dominic sigh as he leaned back in his chair.

"Tonight we have the couples special where we put a bottle of wine, roses, and chocolate-covered strawberries in a beautifully decorated box. It's seventy-five dollars extra that will be added to your bill"

"Do you want one baby?"

"Yes but, it's a little expensive"

"You can add it to the bill."

Dominic said as he handed the man his id. He nodded his head then left. Dominic isn't twenty-one yet so I'm confused as to why he was approved for the box.

Be handed me the id with a wink. It was the fake id he uses to get into clubs. He's finally putting it to good use by buying something beneficial with it.

"Why didn't you buy me one?"

Cassidy angrily said as she slapped the back of Anthony's head. The pasta that was in his mouth got knocked out and landed back on his plate.

"Girl I don't have any money to spend on things like that. You have a garden at your house so you can make your our box of treats. I didn't even bring my wallet so I don't know who's paying for our food. You're also pregnant so you can't drink the wine."

They're washing dishes tonight because neither Dominic nor I will spend a cent on them.

She just smiled and nodded her head. Cassidy tried to play it off as if she wasn't pissed at him. That's one of the reasons why I'm happy we broke up.

He would offer to buy me food then expect me to pay for it. It even got to the point where he would 'lose' his wallet weekly just so he wouldn't have to make any purchases.

"Your delicacies madam." The waiter said as he handed me the white box. I opened it and was immediately met with pink roses, pink and white chocolate-covered strawberries, and a bottle of Stella Rosa.

"Thank you for the gift Dom"

I said kissing his cheek. I can feel him cheesing as I let my lips linger on his cheek. I tried pulling away but he pushed my face back to his.

"You never gave me kisses like that." Micheal's sorry ass said with sadness.

He and his girlfriend always find a way to ruin the moment. He used to give me butterflies but after a few years, it was straight up high blood pressure.

"You have the nerve to tell me that shit when you had sex with my sister?"

"Can you please stop bringing that up? It's in the past"

He hates when I bring that up. He's acting like I'm supposed to forget it happens just because he tells me to. The guilt is still eating him up inside and he knows it.

"Imagine losing your man to your sister. Could never be me." Cassidy decided to butt in.

She loves screaming could never be me but, whole time it be her.

"Imagine being a homewrecker who took a shitty-ass man with no money from her sister. Couldn't be me"

I said as I grabbed my bag and gift, getting up. Dominic was quick to get up behind me. We paid in the front desk then left. They came here by themselves so, they can find their way home on their own.

The ride back home was better than the dinner. Since it was only Dominic and I the vibe was balanced. I didn't have to fake my interest in what he was talking about.

"I'm telling you they're going to arrive home about three hours late"

"They'll come a couple of minutes after us"

Dominic thinks they're going to be washing the dishes while I think they're not. Micheal must've been lying when he said he didn't have his wallet. There's no way they expected Dominic and I to cover their meal.

"How was the date?"

"It was horrible. Both of the pests were getting on my last nerve but Dominic made it better. Look at what he gave me"

I said excitedly as I handed her the box. Before she could even take a good look at it my dad already took a strawberry and walked away. On his way out he whispered something in Dominic's ear.

His eyes widened before he walked away with my dad. They've been doing that a lot lately. My dad whisperers something to Dominic then they both disappear for half an hour.

"They're absolutely beautiful. Since the men are gone I can finally speak with you."

My mom scares me whenever she says that. It's like receiving a 'we need to talk' text out of nowhere. She has a way of wording sentences that's scary enough to make someone shit themselves.

"I know Dominic isn't your boyfriend"

She said out of nowhere. My wine almost fell on the marble floor. How does she know? I promise you I can't hide anything from my mom. She always finds out and I don't know how.

"How do you know that?"

"I have eyes and ears everywhere. Dominic also was singing a song about how fun it is to be your fake boyfriend in the shower. I went to put towels on his bed and he didn't know I was in there"

Dominic and his crazy tail self.  

He just can't contain his happiness about this whole fake dating thing. He has mentioned us dating for real almost every day he has been here. He also has been getting a little more touchy than usual.

His response every time I tell him why he says 'I have the right to, I'm technically your boyfriend'. I mean, I'm not complaining.

As if on cue, he came up behind me and put his hands around my waist. He pulled me into his side as he kissed my forehead.

"You want to head to bed? In our separate rooms of course"

He quickly added when he saw my mom and dad staring at him. He has tries sneaking into my room every night and he gets caught every night. My dad had camped out behind his room so he can get the message.

Cassidy on the other hand has been sneaking random dudes into her room. They climb the ladder outside her room and do whatever they're doing in there.

Why don't my parents know that? I'm not like her. I can control my mouth and keep my nose in the business that pays me. Cassidy on the other hand would sell my soul for a Birkin bag.

I'm accumulating all this information on her for when she acts out. I've been taking pictures of all the foul shit she has done and I'm just waiting to use it. Let her push my buttons one more time.

As I was situated in bed Dominic sat beside me. He mindlessly ran his fingers through my tracks as he tapped away at his phone. I laid my head on his lap as he continued giving me a scalp massage.

"If I come in and I see Dominic on your bed I'm setting your room on fire with him in there"

Dominic quickly got up, causing me to slam my head on the mattress. I saw him run across the room as if he was Speedy Gonzales. He quickly opened the window and dived out, face first.

"Y'all better be fully dressed too"

"Dad, you can come in."

I saw his gun before I saw him. He just has the gun to scare people. He wouldn't even hurt a fly with that gun.

The only time he used the gun was to shoot Micheal. He shot him in the leg when he tried running away from my dad when he confronted him about cheating on me.

"Dad, I know you love Dominic. You're just being overprotective. Tell me what's happening"

"I'm trying hard not to like him because I'm your dad but, I do. You guys remind me of your mother and I. I used to get caught in her room almost every day"

He left me with that little piece of information. I watched as he left my room, turning off the lights and closing the door. Every day I learn small information about my parents during their youth.

Their business is kept under wraps while my grandma knows all of my business.

Seconds later Dominic came crawling through the window. His perfectly shaped fade now had pieces of leaves along with branches sticking out of it.

"I think I'm going to head out before your dad comes back"

I nodded my head in agreement. He limped over to my bed and kissed my forehead. When he stood up straight his back let out a loud crack. He's going to feel that tomorrow.

"Hey Dominic"

I could hear Cassidy's voice from my room. Instead of me getting up and acting a fool I didn't move a muscle. I laid down and listened to their conversation.

Arguing over a boy is dead. I bet you she won't race me to his house back in Washington though.

"What the hell do you want Cassidy?"

"When are you going to let Serenity know that we slept together?"

He didn't say anything. He just let out a laugh. There's no way that's true. There's no way she slept with both of my boyfriends less than a year apart. I could feel my eyes starting to water at the thought.

There was silence between them before Cassidy started blabbing on and on. I got up and stood behind the door, holding my breath for a few seconds.

"I'm perfectly fine with Serenity. I'll pick her over you in a heartbeat. She's perfect to me. Please, step out of my way before I barbecue your wigs when you're sleeping"

"She's not as perfect as you think. Did she tell you that she has..."

"I don't want to hear it." I could hear him making his way to his room now.

I can't believe she would go as far as scoop this low. I never thought she would use my business as leverage. Her spreading lies about me is not compared to spreading the truth.

Thank God she didn't reveal what I tried my hardest to keep a secret.