We were able to hit the sand a little earlier than expected, just to beat the out-of-town beach visitors. We set up camp a little way from the water but we all went to chill by the shore a bit.

Watching the waves crash against my toes, I'm reminded of a few times Dad would bring the family here. Those summer days when my parents would invite the family to our house and celebrate the first day of summer together just because. Those days when Uncle Colter would turn the party out with his dancing skills and the adults would have dance battles in the sand while the kids played in the water.

Those same summer days Dad started trippin'. Year after year, he grew mean and pissed off all the time. More family stopped coming to the house, things grew hectic around the house, and even Momma had enough. She openly told Dad that she was bouncing and left to be with someone else, never to be heard from again, leaving me with him.

Once it became just him and me, he had me on my toes, preparing me to be the next rich engineer and I wanted to do i. Who doesn't want to make their pops proud of them? When they've raised you to the best of their ability and loved you for so long, their opinions matter to you.

Reading the books, studying, focusing on my sciences and mathematics, the career path seemed destined for me to follow until my college days. There was something about the major that didn't feel right for me to continue with it.

I eventually realized what I really had a passion for. The mind is a terrible thing to waste and I wasn't willing to waste it on something that would stress me out; something that didn't bring me joy. There was a world filled with possibilities but, in my world, there was only one possibility for me. The benefits were endless for me.

The life of a poet called my name and I picked up the phone. When my dad found out that I got a degree in English instead, he questioned my manhood and thought it was a slap in the face. That's putting it mildly.

Poetry became a lifestyle for me and it's not all love quotes or heartbreak messages to your ex. It's more than that and I went full force into it after hitting up a word slam contest they were having on campus. The more I went, the more my love for poetry flourished.

Not a famous poet yet nor making too much money on my poetry but I do write for a few D list singers. Maybe a ballad or two so I still make my change. Gotta start somewhere, right?

The sand helped me relax and helped bring back memories of Dad throwing me in the ocean water when I was two. Momma was so mad but it was the same day I learned to trust the water and loved it ever since. Momma told that story as a reminder of how I got my sea legs.

Memories of us swimming to the warning pole and racing back. Those moments washed away into the sea around the time I became a teenager. Family time was given to the fish because there was no more time for that in my dad's eyes. Time for college and becoming a man. He worked more and left me with my big sister most of the time anyway. May she rest in peace.

"Aye, watch out! We playing over here!" I heard Ryker holler but paid it no mind while picking up a few seashells. He stays yelling at somebody. I didn't even realize they left to pass the football around. Just hope he doesn't bust that one like he did the last one. That was mine.

"Boy, if you don't back the fuck up, you 'bout to be buried in this damn sand! Keep playing with me! Go away!"

"You the one in our way! You see three guys playing and you and your groupies set up in the middle of our game?! Do like MJ and beat it, would ya?!"

The sounds of 'oohs' and 'ahhs' filled the air and eventually caught my attention. They done gathered up a small crowd of scared beach visitors with their phones out and cameras on. Damn, Ryker. Embarrassing us again?

I rushed over to the guys and was caught up on the situation with Cameron. "What's going on now?"

"Some women in our space but Ryker going crazy and shit."

Seeing him argue with this slim light-skinned lady with mixed colored locs in her head made me feel some kind of way. This is not the time to show how big and bad you are on the beach. Save that shit for the clubs, man.

"Boy, you 'bout to wish you never stepped foot on this beach! You and your airheads can play somewhere else! Since we're naming songs and shit, be like Jojo and get out!"

Aggressive little woman, she is. She wasn't backing down for anything, even when Ryker closed the distance between them. She wasn't playing with him, different from others who went against him. They just gave up and would've moved.

"You must not know where you are right now. Look, I'll inform-"

"I don't give a damn about this fake ass ego you got going on. I could give two fucks about where your bum ass is from. I just want y'all to move. Damn! Y'all boys don't be listening! I swear!"

Suddenly, a big-boned woman with a short stature and a long black ponytail walked up on them and tried to break things up. "Okay, okay. That's enough. Darian, we're here at the beach and you already mad?"

Obviously. These ladies had to be from out of town because they knew nothing about Ryker's rep around here. That or they did but they just ready to put themselves in danger. Plus, Ms. Ponytail over here was too busy giving the flirty eyes to Isaiah. She had other plans.

"Darian, let's just move. It's no big deal-"

"What you mean, Angie? We got here first and they started throwing this damn football over my head! They can all move! It's easier for them anyway because their shit is way over there!" This Darian woman pointed to our things in anger.

This is where we play all the time though. Everybody that lives here knows that. So, the other big-boned, slightly darker-skinned woman with blonde hair tried to calm her friend down but that didn't work because she got into a bigger debate with Ryker.

I sighed at the thought because Ryker can't just let bygones be bygones. Everywhere we go, he has to make himself known and take over shit.

After my eyes fell back on the two debaters, they moved to somebody else and my eyes were stuck like glue.

"Dari, we can't be this close to the water anyway. It'll ruin our stuff. If you don't move for anything else, move for that reason."

The sound of her voice had me stunned and was mesmerizing. It was a light, smooth, and faint sound like the most beautiful flower. Very distinct, something I've never heard before surprisingly. I liked it.

And she knew about our ocean water a little so that caught me by surprise as well, for someone who's coming from out of town. Our water isn't always settled and it was also common sense but, to me, it captivated me. What was her name?

"We got a nice spot for you ladies to put your things so they can stay dry," Cameron spoke up as his eyes connected with that one flirty woman. So, he was feeling what I was. Glad I wasn't alone but I've never seen him so chill and focused.

"Aye! I don't need no help here, Cam. I got this. Like your friend said, y'all need to move," Ryker growled at Darian as his athletic body switched to a defensive posture. Alright, time to end this.

"Ryke, there's no need to give them a hard time. They can just stay in the spot beside us. Remember that spot with the umbrella for...well, you know what it was for." It was for him and his ladies that he picks up from time to time but it could be used for other things.

"Yeah, they're obviously not from here. Let's welcome them here," Isaiah agreed as he walked around studying the woman with the blonde hair from head to toe. I'm guessing that was Angie. She didn't seem interested at all. Smart move, girl. Pull no punches with that guy.

My eyes studied the other beautiful pearl standing on the other side of Darian. Rough exterior with the blank face, confusing me about how she was feeling, but wanted nonetheless. Trying not to show emotion and, apparently, really good at it.

Long black twists that fell to her mid backside, about 5'8" with a coke bottle-shaped body, and a gentle young face. You'd have to ask her for ID if she went to get alcohol at the store just to make sure she was over 21. Full pink lips that were tempting.

After that consolidation, we helped the ladies move their things under the umbrella by our canopy. They thanked us for our help and two of them were caught up in conversation with Cameron and Isaiah. Lucky bastards.

Ryker and I sat in our chairs and watched the others get their mack on. Those girls better be careful with Isaiah. Hell, Cameron better keep his eye on Isaiah. He'll take your girl and not apologize. That's how he got a black eye from Ryker once.

But Darian's friend was heavy on my mind. She had my eyebrows raised, my skin had goosebumps, my insides went from cool to hot as hell, heart racing, and had me breathing hard. I'm sweating this woman so hard...literally. What was her name?

While reading a poem on my phone, just to get my mind off her somehow, I overheard Darian holler at Ryker again. Another spat today?

"Um, the least your sweaty ass can do is stop looking at me!"

"Ain't nobody looking at ya dumb ass! Hell, you shouldn't talk to somebody that helped you like that. Be grateful we helped you and your little friends. Now, use your manners and apologize."

Looking over as they went back and forth, I caught sight of her friend. She was really into a familiar romance novel and that caught my eye. Something about a woman that loves to read sparks my interest.

Should I go talk to her or keep my curious ass in the chair? Damn, she could have a man, she probably didn't want to be bothered, or probably didn't care for us since Ryker's yelling at her friend. I swear, he can't be stopped.

Fuck it. I'm going to talk to her because I know this could be an opportunity missed. Everyone else shot their shot. Why can't I? I want to know more about this mysterious woman.

"Comfortable?" I greeted with a pleasant smile and stood over her in the sand.

This sand can play tricks on people and she was one of them because sand accidently got into her eye. I grabbed my water bottle and helped her rinse the water out. Good going, Tripp. You accidently flick some sand into a gorgeous woman's eye with your toe. What else can you do?

"Really sorry about that. This sand is something crazy but you gotta love the sand, right?" Damn it, Tripp. Say something else instead of mocking her.

I kneeled by her to make sure she was okay and helped her wipe off the lingering sand on her face only to get caught up in the way her eyes looked. Her upturned dark brown eyes looked into mine for a split second but it felt like hours. I could just study them all day, feel on her umber skin, smile at her...all day long.

Why am I feeling this way for someone I don't even know?

"Um...you kinda got a hold on my face. So much for first impressions," she spoke as she took me out of my thoughts. I eventually let go and sat beside her in so much embarrassment.

"You know, third impressions leave the biggest impacts," I noted as we caught each other's looks again. Once again, locking in on each other and not looking anywhere else. Was she curious about me?

"You think so? Please inform me on why you think that way," she challenged me as a slight smile curved over her face. She had some chubby cheeks and I found that so cute.

Gladly taking on the challenge, I smiled as well and blurted "That's when you see people for who they really are." 

****

Hello, everybody!

They've met but not officially! Yay! Lol

So what do you think of this chapter? Sounds like somebody's falling at first sight. But what about Journee?

Flirting is in the air right now! Well, at least for three of them. How do you think this will end?

And Ryker has met his match with Darian! One thing about her is that she dont back down! Too old to be playing these games.

Thank you for reading, commenting, and voting! You guys are amazing! You make my day! I hope you enjoyed this chapter but we're still not done! See ya next time!