"If we are not ready today, let's try again tomorrow. Let us keep trying until we hold hands like we used to and forgive each other"

Morgan Ann Bennett

"Ugh, I look so good," I hyped myself in the full body mirror once my maid costume was on.

What better time than Halloween to show off my best assets? See what I did there.

Jas insisted I be something super girly and hot instead of my original idea which was a sunflower. She said it was "cute," and cute is for puppies. Jabari mentioned I should match with Chris like he and Jas; they're Tarzan and Jane, I believe.

"I can't believe it's Halloween already," Jesse commented, letting himself inside of Callie's suite.

I covered myself up quickly with a robe as my costume left very little to the imagination, and as Malcolm would say, I need to be "respectful."

Callie diverted her green eyes from my body and switched to Jesse who had just gotten off of work which you could tell by that distinctive hardware store smell.

"Hell-o, Jesse," I drawled out my words.

I still didn't know what to think of my older sister's new boyfriend. He was nice enough to her and Quinn, but something was off. I don't know, I could be making it up, just paranoid because I know they'll split soon.

"Hey, Morgs, sup?" He spoke back, giving me a hug from the side.

When Callie smiled at me, rubbing the back of her neck, I coughed and stepped out of her boyfriend's reach.

"What you got there, babe?" he wondered, eyeing her plate on the coffee table.

"Oh, uh," she stammered, dropping the feet from under her bottom. "Morgs made chicken salad again."

Jesse's eyes got large on me and began to grin. "Ugh, you make some really good chicken salad. Mind, babe?" He dug right into her plate and made himself comfortable on the sofa.

I had whipped up a big enough batch to share and go around because Sherry tried it and said she'd like to feature it on the menu at the café so I could be more a part of the restaurant as I've made such a big impact here. Hey, those are her words, not mine.

"So, where you goin', cool party?" asked Jesse, earning a glare from Callie.

"Yeah," I answered as I hurriedly collected my clothes from earlier in a bag after an alarm went off on my phone.

I never went back to Malcolm's after my picnic with Quinn, by eight o'clock Teddy had told me that Malcolm had taken his meds and I knew he'd be out like a light so I had a night off.
My costume was delivered to Callie's at Red Sage because I didn't want to risk Malcolm seeing the package and opening it, getting upset.

I didn't want to drive in heels, of course, so I slipped my stocking-clad feet into a pair of Crocs.

"Don't you need to go get those cupcakes?" asked Callie with gritted teeth. I knew that was just her rushing me out.

My head tossed back once I remembered that I did in fact need to get the cupcakes. Damn it, I was already late, Callie had to help me customize the costume, and then hair and makeup. What, maids need to look good, too?

I loosely curled my hair, keeping it down, hanging past my black bralette with white peplum trim matching the white ruffled necktie and black bow. With it, a black mini skirt under a white waist apron, pair of gold hoops, a garter, sheer knee-high stockings, and a pair of black red bottom pumps.

Before leaving, Jesse went outside to take a call, so I went to make sure Quinn was still tucked in and fast asleep at the back corner of the room.

Well, Quinn was a tosser and a turner so the blanket had long since came undone, but at least she was still sleeping heavily.
I smiled down at my niece and gave her head a quick kiss.

"Morgan?" Callie's voice whispered.

I stood upright and almost hit my head on that part of the vaulted ceiling.

"Yes?" I asked her, rubbing my head.

"Can we talk for a second, please?" she asked me, arms holding the fabric of her cardigan over her chest.

"Cal, I have to-"

"It'll just take a second," she reinforced, leading me to the kitchen area.

I sighed as I followed, knowing this was about to be some bullshit about Jesse.

Already disengaging from the conversation, I held up the refrigerator and let out a small yawn, my arms and ankles crossed.

"What do you think about Jesse now?" she wanted to know.

I shrugged before speaking. "He's okay. Why are you asking me this again?"

She bit down on her smile. "He asked if we want to move in."

My eyes almost fell out of my head, they got so big. "You're serious?"

She nodded enthusiastically, staring out of the window at the night to see if he was still out there.

"Dead serious," she replied, getting irate. "and I said yes."

"Are you dumb, or-"

Before I could lecture her, Jasmine called me again for the fifth time tonight.

If it wasn't her big party, and she wasn't my best friend, I wouldn't have answered. She's like a Bridezilla - Partyzilla.

Ripping my eyes off of my naive sister, I answered Jas's call on my way through the door.

"Yes, Jas," I huffed, passing Jesse on the stoop. "I'm on my way!"

***

"Ooo, taste!" Mary gushed at the green icing she had just concocted.

"Hm?" I hummed, turning to face her.

She had the coated spatula in my face with her hand under my chin to catch anything if it spilled.

"Mmm!" I was surprised at how good it was.

Mary and I had slaved away in her kitchen, baking extra cupcakes for this damn Halloween party; Jasmine better be lucky I love her.

Like the saint she is, Mary had already prepared about sixty before I even arrived. She let me know she loves to bake and didn't mind at all, plus she had help from Sherry and Wilma (Mrs.Porter.)

R&B throwbacks played on low from the speaker Jack -- Chris's little cousin-- let us borrow while he was in the living room gaming. Meanwhile, his parents were out on the town, The Jonses were finally home after a long day of meetings, and Kailyn told us that her cheer team was having a scary movie marathon at the coach's house.

"Jack, why didn't you go out tonight?" I asked him.

Jack and I never really had much to say to each other, he was a quiet kid unless it came to his sister, parents, or teammates. I learned he didn't do much, he's a homebody. He had his games, basketball, Tiktok, and the role of annoying brother to keep him busy.

He shrugged, pausing the zombie killing videogame on the Playstation.

"Do you not have friends, or?" I pried.

"Not any that I need to hang out with that much," he replied, coming into the kitchen.

"Woah," he said, practically drooling once he got a good look at me. Ew.

My face curled up as I watched him stare at my chest.

"Hey!" Mary came to my rescue, slapping Jack's head with the spatula.

Jack started to laugh and then stole one of the pumpkin-decorated cupcakes.

"Chris is gonna flip when he sees you in that outfit," Jack said, taking a bite.

I furrowed my eyebrows, looking down at my getup.

"Can you shh?! Get out, go," Mary shooed him away.

Jack quickly scurried back into the living room, jumping over the couch instead of walking around it like a normal person.

Mary must've seen the worry on my face and that's why she lightly nudged me.

"No he won't," she assured me, going back to what Jack said.

I forced a smile and then wondered what to do with the last dozen cupcakes that weren't yet topped with icing.

As I stood there, mouth twisted in thought, in walked Carter after he'd unknowingly been upstairs the whole time.
Mary did mention he was up there, actually, I just forgot. I kind of block him out now.

"Hey, honey," Mary greeted her husband with a kiss on the cheek but she never took her eyes off of the cupcakes she was topping with sprinkles.

"Hey, you," he said back to her and then put his eyes on me.

"Morgan, how are you?" Mr.Vaughn made small talk.

I wiped the icing from my hands with a dish towel and blinked.

"I'm fine," I answered as polite as I could. Mary then shot me a thankful nod for trying with her husband, and I returned with a smile.

"Oh," Carter said, slapping his hands together, "thanks for that chicken salad, it was alright. Tip, though, since it'll be on the menu: maybe lay off the sugar next time?"

I looked at him slow. "What chicken salad?"

Mary hung her head and shook it. "Hon', was it in a green container?"

"Yeah," her husband answered, leaning his gut into the messy island.

She gritted her teeth. "That was for Chris, actually..."

Carter's face fell into a frown, feeling stupid.

"Oh," he clucked. "but still, a tad too much sugar."

"I like it," Mary said, sending me a grin across the kitchen counter.

I pulled my lips into a warm smile and thanked her quietly.

"Uh," Carter stammered, scratching the back of his head. "I'm just gonna go check on things at the B&B, honey. Night, Morgan."

As he grabbed his wallet and keys from the stand on his way out, we heard the door open and Carter went, "Oh, hey, Chris!"

We heard footsteps but nothing more. Unless Chris silently waved, he didn't greet his father. I hated he was mad at him because of me but I didn't ask Chris to hold the grudge, we all know how he is. He'll come around.

Chris finally presented himself, walking right by his father to enter the kitchen.

"Hey, son," Mary sang, kissing her son's cheek as she washed her hands at the sink.

Chris found me in front of the fridge and cemented his feet there.

When Carter flailed his arms, Chris gave him one of the coldest stares I've seen ever.
It was a sharp look from the corners of his eyes that burned for every second he looked in that direction, making the intense moment seem much longer than it really was.

If someone ever looked at me like that, I'd probably die on the spot, that was a threat, and would be enough of a warning for me.

"What, am I invisible?" Carter asked, trying to add in a laugh at the end.

"Hey, Morgan," Chris's voice rasped as his arm draped over my shoulders.

"Hey," I beamed, fluttering my individual eyelash extensions.

"K," Carter grumbled, storming out.

Once we all heard the door click, Mary spoke up and said, "I'm going to finish getting ready, Sherry wants to go to the casino tonight. Morgan, do you need any more help?"

I looked over the table at the assortment of different themed cupcakes from bats and ghosts to broomsticks and pumpkins.

"No," I giggled, "you've done more than enough, thank you. I think I'll have Chrissy-pooh help me out."

"Do not call me that," Chris laughed, wandering towards the living room where he found Jack on the couch and slapped his palm.

"Dude, are you really going to let her go out like that?" I heard Jack instigating.

"JACKSON!" Mary hollered from the top of the stairs.

He sat with his knees digging in the couch, back to the tv, with his eyes on me.

I flipped him off from the kitchen and then started smoothing vanilla icing onto a cupcake.

"Who?" Chris asked.

Jack bobbed his head in my direction and Chris followed, looking at me from several feet away.

He ducked under the archway to make his way back to me and look my body over.

"Oh, I thought you just weren't done getting dressed." Chris talked, scratching his thick brow with his thumbnail. "What, uh, are you supposed to be?"

At the same time, Chris and I said, "A slut."

"Yup," I laughed, when I knew that's exactly what he was going to say.

"Beat you to it," he claimed, bringing out his competitive nature.

"No, not really," I nagged, pushing him away with my hip before he got in my way to steal a lick of icing.

"I think so," Chris badgered, using his fingers to depict how much he thinks he beat me by.

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever. I'm almost ready, just help me."

He scoffed. "Help you find a new costume?"

"Told you!" Jack yelled from the living room.

I stomped my foot. "Why do I need to change, Chris?"

He stared at me, head tilted, with his arms folded over his chest. The look said it all when his words didn't.

"And what's this supposed to be?" I fumed, forcing his hands at his sides so I could read the wording on his white tee.

It read:

This is my costume.

My eyes squinted with anger, and lips went into a straight line just like the emoji.

"That's not-- No." I argued.

Chris looked down at his shirt, black shorts, and sneakers. He looked regular, and Halloween is no time to look regular. No way was he walking into one of Jasmine's supposedly legendary parties with me looking like that.

"This is a normal fuckin' costume, unlike whatever you think you're wearing," he made clear.

I raised my eyebrow at his nerve.

Seeing we were wasting time, neither of us would budge, and the last of the desserts still weren't done, I made things interesting.

"Okay," I bubbled, shoving a tub of icing and a butter knife at his strong chest. "you do these six, I'll do these."

"I win, you change?" he made sure.

I bobbed my head. "And vice versa."

"Pfft," he spat, opening the lid right away. "Do you know who my mother is? This will be a piece of cake."

Again, at the same time, we said, "A piece of cupcake," and busted out laughing. Corny.

"Okay, shut up," Chris said, "you're distracting me."

*

Ten minutes later, if that, Chris and I called Jack over to be the judge.

At first glance, Chris's cupcakes looked better, but, mine were done with love.
Chris made some faces and ghosts, but that didn't matter because mine were better. Although, he did master that swirl, I don't know how he did that shit, it looked professional. If I wasn't sitting inches away from him as he did them, I would've sworn he cheated.

"What?" Jack mumbled, standing opposite of us at the kitchen island.

I had put them in different containers and not mentioned who's were who's so the judge -- who thinks Chris is just the best thing since sliced bread-- wouldn't be biased.

"Which ones look better?" I asked the teen.

He thought about it for, like, two seconds, then picked the ones Chris did.

My jaw dropped. "Nuh-uh!" I whined, annoyed.

Chris laughed in my face, high-fiving his younger cousin.

"Mary!" I began calling her name over and over, rushing her down the stairs.

"Mary!"

"MARY!"

"There better be a fire," she complained, hurrying over as she tried putting in an earring.

"No fire, just, which cupcakes look the best? Be honest," I emphasized the last part, glaring at Jack who so clearly wasn't.

I anxiously waited behind the counter as she examined them.

"These!" she exclaimed with a quickness.

I pulled my lips together and stared off into the distance like it was a fourth wall break.

Chris rubbed it in, asking his mom if she had anything I could throw on for the party.

"Well, why does she have to change and you don't? I wouldn't let you come to my costume party looking like that," she said.

I flailed my arms. "Thank you, that's what I said!"

Chris mushed me. "Aw, damn, I don't have anything to wear," he made up, being an ass.

"Wait right here..." Mary said, jogging upstairs.

***

"At least it's a costume," Chris tried to be optimistic for once. He was still cracking up about me losing the cupcake competition.

He turned off his truck — which apparently is named Precious, but I still say Lenny — and asked if I was ready to go inside.

"A basketball jersey, and a football player?" I complained with the smack of my lips. Literally just a basketball jersey, nothing more or less. Not even an NBA one.

I was not happy about having to change out of my maid outfit, but I did like being in his old basketball jersey. I had to throw on a pair of Kailyn's high-top shoes, though, and scrunched my white Hanes socks like the cheerleaders used to, but I made it cute.

On the other hand, Chris sported the same sneakers and athletic black shorts, but Mary gave him his old shoulder pads from varsity football that she had lying around, the blue jersey, and a helmet which he definitely said he wouldn't wear like the pads because that's "doing too much."

Because the jersey didn't fit him anymore, he folded it into a crop top and I got mad, asking why he got to show so much skin.

Chris laughed, walking me through Jas's driveway.

While Malcolm has made me change before, this wasn't like that. Malcolm's insecure and would want me dressing conservatively because my "skimpy" outfits "made him look bad."
Chris, on the other hand, came from a much more overprotective place. Like, he knows how men are, and if someone tried to hit on me or touch me, he'd have to fight and no one wants another hospital visit.

And anyway, I could always save it for later; if we stay on this right track, he can not only see me in the little maid outfit, but take it off, too.

Chris's knuckles tapped the red door and in the next few seconds, Jas opened the door, happy to see us.

"Oh my God, you came together!" she squealed. "JB, get over here!"

Jabari appeared, beer in his hands. "Oh, shit, y'all came together?"

Chris and I just laughed, walking inside once they let us.

"Okay, ew, the costumes, but I'll allow it since you're back together," Jas commented, pulling me towards the kitchen, away from the guys.

She was talking so fast, I couldn't get a word in to tell her not to get her hopes up - Chris and I are not back together yet.

As she helped me unload, the cupcakes, I complimented her on her Jungle Jane costume and the amazing turnout. Her one story house was perfect for the gathering, just enough people to make it interesting. There were drinking card games, keg stand contests, charades, people dancing on the Wii, and so much more going on that I couldn't yet process. I was happy to be at a party, happier that my best friend threw such a great one, and ecstatic that Chris and I were on good terms.

"--Here!" Jas blurted, offering a drink in a pink plastic cup.

I giggled at her, she was drunk and cracking me up already.

"Um, what is this?" I asked.

"Jabari made jungle juice, just drink," she urged, now pulling me to the dance floor.

1:44am

In St.Lucia, I said that if I had a bucket list, half of it would've been crossed off. Well, the other half would be crossed off tonight. In just under two hours, I had danced on the table, motorboated some girl, did bodyshots off of the coolest, fat, Indian guy, and drawn a mustache on this one person that was sleeping.

My mind was blown, I needed to have a seat because the alcohol was catching up to me.
Perhaps it's a good thing I did change because those heels would've killed my feet, and no way was I wearing that cute costume with anything but.

I sat down next to sleeping-mustache guy, and rested my feet. And my eyes. When suddenly, I was clunked in the forehead by a ping pong ball.

Ow!

I heard laughter and found the culprit, Chris, at the table.

"Sorry, Sleeping Beauty, give it back," he taunted me.

I stood with a 'hmph' and walked over, having to stare up at him.

"I got winner," I stated, eyeing his opponents at the end of the table.

Chris grabbed my chin and brought my face back to his.

"That would be us," he said, referring to him and Jabari.

"Not for long," I tested, dropping the ball into a cup on his side.

"Drink." I bossed, popping an eyebrow.

"Ooo," Jabari sounded in the background.

Chris raised the SOLO cup to his lips and chugged it, his eyes never leaving mine.
The crowd went into an uproar, cheering him on. Eye roll.

As suspected, Chris and JB remained undefeated. Because I wanted to beat them so badly, I recruited another partner - fat, Indian guy because he seemed like a blast. Sorry, Jas just sucks at anything that requires hand-eye coordination.

But... we lost.

"Sorry," fat, Indian guy said to me. His name is Samar.

Everyone watched as I downed a shot. "What's next?" I asked, slapping the glass rim down on the pong table.

"Flip cup," Chris insisted, smirking.

I accepted.

And we lost. Again.

"Tonight's not my night," Samar claimed, his head on my shoulder.

I shook him off, now getting seriously pissed. I refused to keep letting Chris win.

"Alright," I monotoned. "how about something I'm good at? I have a three-year-old niece; let's play hide-and-seek."

"Hide and seek?" Jasmine asked, unamused.

"Perfect," Chris voiced.

He walked with Jabari over to the wall and Jasmine watched them, just as confused as me.

"One, two, three," they started counting.

"Oh!" I started running to find somewhere to hide.

First round, J and I so got found in two seconds.

Quinn is three. When we play hide and seek she literally just hides behind a chair or the curtains and I'll find her, even if I act like I can't see her for a good five minutes.
Chris, however, is hiding like his life depends on it. JB, I wasn't so much worried about, to be honest.

The rest of the partygoers continued dancing, chatting, and playing games as I wandered around in search of this grown ass man.
And, we weren't even allowed to turn on any lights!

Samar watched me aimlessly walk around in circles for another two minutes. All of a sudden, he cracked and gave me a hint which I silently thanked him for and walked in that direction.

I opened the hall closet for the third time, except this time, I knew where he was: hiding under a pile of coats. Why I didn't look there the first time, no idea?

Chris laughed upon me helping him out, and said, "Good job, but you still need to find JB."

How could I forget? My partner — Jasmine— had long since left me hanging, so I figured they were hiding together, or something.

Bedrooms were off limits so I was at a loss when trying to find those two. We had literally looked everywhere, even the other guests had no clue.

I finally gave up and just checked the three bedrooms, starting with the guest ones.

When they weren't there, I checked the master bedroom.

I carefully cracked the door open and poked my head in, Chris doing the same over top of me.

"—Me, Tarzan. You, Jane," Jabari talked in this caveman-like voice as he mounted the bed, beating his chest.

I slowly shut the door so we could go unnoticed, and waited until Chris and I got far down the fall to laugh at them. Kinky.

"What the fuck," Chris exhaled, flabbergasted.

"Was Jasmine on a swing?" I asked, scratching my head.

So, the party had died down as it was getting late and there were other parties all over the city, so it was just a handful of us left hanging out in her living room.

"Okay, party's over," Jasmine randomly barked, standing at the door with it open.

"Boo," everyone, including myself and Chris, started chanting.

"'Boo' ya asses out," Jasmine huffed, seeing everyone through the door.

I laughed at her and started cleaning up since the place was a mess.

"Uh, you too," she bossed, still with the door open.

I dropped my jaw. "Jas!"

Chris just laughed, sliding hands with Jabari who looked guilty. He was ready to go, anyway.

I stood beside Jas and whispered, "What's wrong?"

She smacked her thick lips. "He called me another bitch's name while we were having sex!"

Yikes.

"Handle that," I told her, stepping outside.

"Tuh. You know I will," she sassed, tapping her bare foot. "Come on, Chris, you too. Get my girl home safe."

The second Chris was outside, Jasmine slammed the door and locked it, beginning to scream at her boyfriend.

I paused in the driveway. "Wait, she's mad that he called her another girl's name, but weren't they roleplaying?"

Leading me to his truck, Chris laughed out loud.

Once inside, he asked me, "Where to?"

I popped my shoulders with a small smile. "Haven't been to the loft in a while..."

***

Chris strummed this guitar on the couch as I sat on the island and finished a glass of white wine.

"That was beautiful," I complimented one of his many talents.
He had been singing something, not seriously, but I could hear his decent voice.

"Why are you so impressive?" I asked, both shocked and annoyed at the fact.

Chris chuckled, sitting his instrument to the side.

"Seriously, Chris," my tone softened, "you're so good at everything."

"Not everything," he humbly replied, walking over between my legs.

"Most things," I enforced.

Perhaps it was just the fact that we were finally alone with each other again, or the way my eyes were lost on Chris's, but that was enough invitation for him peel his shirt off and kiss my lips.

I raised my arms so he could remove my top and reveal my matching bra and panty set and garter underneath.

I chewed my lip, yanking his shorts down.

Chris fought my hand away and delved his outside of my panties.

I so desperately tried not to moan already or become aroused that embarrassingly fast, but couldn't help myself, I wanted this man so bad, it was basically a need at this point - essential for me to live.

After half a year of knowing this man, he still had the same effect on me as when we first met.

My leg was climbing his and Chris knew to pick me up. I was swept off of the hardwood, carried to his bedroom, and thrown onto the bed - my favorite part being how rough he was.

I supported myself with my elbows in the mattress and watched Chris drop his shorts, a wicked smirk crawling over my lips.

Chris's eyes were dark as they tore from my eyes to my ankle where he kissed and then left a trail to my navel.

As he hovered over my body, forehead pressed against mine, I sat up and kissed his lips. It was a patient, tender kiss that left my toes curled.

I grabbed the back of his neck and pressed my lips against his even harder, moaning into the kiss.

My heart hammered in my chest as Chris slid his finger against my tongue and then ran it over my slit.

He groaned from his chest, my teeth releasing his bottom lip.

"I missed this," he talked between sucking my nipples.

"I missed you," I responded, my eyes fixed on his teeth nipping my flesh.

He emerged from my neck and found my lips, kissing them long, deep, and slow.

"I missed you more," he breathed, locking our fingers above my head.

I smiled, batting my eyelashes as Chris wondered what to do with me first.

He traced his finger over the bridge of my nose and then stole another kiss.

"Do you know how much you mean to me?" He spoke, hands roaming from my breasts to down my thigh, the other under my head.

I just giggled, tangling my fingers in his hair.

"Seriously, Morgan," Chris vowed, "you mean something to me."

That's when Chris got a phone call, stopping me from getting on one knee and proposing to him. Okay, kidding, but damn he deserved something.
For months, he'd been the subject of my fantasies and all I wanted. No man had come close to Chris Omar, and I didn't want them to. He was the only one I saw in the world, completely turning mine upside down.

I reached over to see who was calling him at this time because if it was a girl I was going to answer and cuss her out for calling MY man.

Chris kissed along my chest as I read the caller ID.

"It's AJ," I let him know.

"What does he want?" He growled, snatching the phone from my hands.

"Hello?" Chris roared, standing with rage.

I watched him listen to AJ, lying on my side with my palm supporting the weight of my head.

Chris looked at a text on his phone, I assume, and then said, "Yeah, that's her. I'll be there."

With that, he hung up and pulled on a t-shirt and some shoes in a hurry, throwing a shirt at me as well since all I had was his jersey that was like a dress on me, or that maid costume to wear.

"Come on," he rushed, "it's Kailyn!"