Day One: We all work up early the next day because we wanted to hit the beach before it became crowded and Darian ran into another altercation with that Ryker guy. He left an everlasting impression on her the last time we met up at the beach. She wanted nothing to do with him.

We all came downstairs and were met with a breakfast buffet that Angela prepared for all of us. Some things included mimosas, bacon, hash browns, fruit, and biscuits. "What? No sausage, Angie? You can't go all out?"

"You know what, Journee? Go out and get your own damn sausage. Don't be picking on me. Be grateful I even cooked for y'all." She rolled her eyes and placed the food on the plates while sighing at my nonsense.

"Yeah, the bare minimum. I'm kidding. Thank you for making breakfast for us, girl." Angie put the pan down in anger and her nostrils widened at my thoughts. Damn, Angie. I was playing.

"Can we talk about those guys we met at the beach yesterday? I couldn't keep my eyes off Cameron. He's fine as wine and can hit it from behind! He was so nice yesterday." As all us girls chuckled at Cassidy's comment about her experience on the beach, I was reminded of my own.

The way that guy's dark brown eyes caught ahold onto my glare, the way he started up conversation with me randomly, and how nice he was to someone he just met. That white snapback hat covered, what seemed to be, a fresh haircut.

I can't lie and say that it wasn't nice getting to know him. He was a very much a gentleman but I had to wonder if it was just all for show. Putting on the sweet act just to get into someone's pants. The sand thing is something I will never get over. It was cute but my eyes still hurt a little bit afterwards.

"Well, unlike you all, my beach experience was a hot ass mess. Like how you get buck with me and YOU'RE the one in MY way? These boys got it all backwards here. They better learn before they get smacked around here. Y'all gonna teach them?" Darian complained about her experience with Ryker.

I couldn't help but agree to some degree. He did come off as disrespectful and rude for no reason at all. Something about his approach rubbed me the wrong way and, if that's that one guy's friend, he should get checked before he approaches us again.

"It's so funny how the one who came here to find a man gets into a situation with one. Girl, make up your mind of what you want. You got a man flirting with your ass and, now, there's a problem?" Angela chuckled as she grabbed some fruit.

That's what she considers flirting? I think this guy has met his match with Darian and she's not trying to play games with this guy. Let him learn his lesson for all I care.

As they went on and on about this Ryker character, my phone rang and I looked to see that it was my dad. What a strange conversation for him to be listening in on, right?

I walked into my bedroom and answered while looking out at the beach waves dancing about. "Hey, beautiful butterfly. How's the trip going?"

How could I really explain how the trip was going? Despite the small dispute on the beach, everything was beautiful. It was like being on the beach for the first time. The tan sand was warm, the seagulls flew around but didn't bother you, and I believe I made friends with a lonely sea turtle that washed up on the shore. Of course, he had to get sent back.

Dad was happy to hear about my encounters with the animals but wanted to know "Have you seen some fine young men to bring home to your dad yet?"

And there it was. My family does that every time I visit them. This is why I'm rarely on social media because my family is really nosey and picky about my love life. Somebody doesn't approve of the person I'm dating every time. Plus, I'm just here to have a good time. Not find love. Sorry to disappoint.

"Dad, it's not that kind of party. We're just here to have fun and I'm having a good time."

Silence fell between us for a while until "Don't have too much fun to where you end up pregnant. I know you're grown and all but you still deserve a husband. I remember when your mom and I-"

"Dad, I think I get it. No babies until marriage but you shouldn't be worried about that. Are you saying that you don't trust me to be here by myself?"

"Are you telling me that I shouldn't? Look, Journee, I trust you but you know how men are. I know how men are because I was once that young. My prayer is that you find that special someone that doesn't stuff himself in you and get you pregnant. You're getting older now and everyone else in our family has children besides you. Those days of 'just having fun' are growing old too. Just remember that."

Since when was there a certain age to stop having fun? I'm only 27 years old and, though my days on this earth seem shorter sometimes, I'm still fairly young. There are still more years ahead of me than there are behind me.

After sarcastically thanking him for his unsolicited advice, one of the girls called for me to get ready for the beach.

"Alright, Dad. Gotta go but I'll talk to you later. I love you so much." Once he shared his parting words, we ended the phone call and I took a deep sigh of relief. Who knew that stress came with being single?

Maybe it was just the pressure from my family because Dad pointed that out. My family had successful marriages at young ages and amazing family life so I'm expected to have the same thing.

When I tried and kept looking around, nothing worked out because I panicked. Couldn't even get past five years with someone so I just stopped looking and kept to myself. So far, things have been going well. Throughout the years, I've focused on self and that means everything to me.

Sitting on my bed with my legs crossed, I cut on some music just to keep me balanced; keep me grounded. Breathing in and out deeply, relaxing my tense muscles, and rubbing a few parts of my body to help get rid of the stress.

My eyes closed as my hands traveled softly across my freshly-lotioned skin and there he was. Out of the guys I'm thinking about, it has to be the one I just met; fantasizing about this guy like it's bound to happen.

His handsome 100-watt smile made the entire room glow as he sat behind me by the shore, wrapping his wide hands around my shoulders and his fingers trickling down my arms. Feeling soft kisses into my chocolate skin as my toes dug into the sand further and further out of lust. I was tempted as hell but it felt so wrong.

"Uh, do you need some alone time, J? A condom? A dildo?" Angela's voice sounded at the doorway before I came out of my little fantasy. Shit, hot and bothered like no one else is in this house. There's a time and place for these things.

"Nah, I'm okay. I was just dreaming about something."

"Dreaming, you were...I was just about to ask if you were ready to hit the beach but it looks like you're ready to do some other things. What I tell you about that nasty business in the house?"

It won't happen again. Trust me, it won't happen again. 

****
Heeeeeeey everybody!

Y'all think she's lying, don't you? What if she ain't lying and she being honest?

So, healthy relationships run in the family! Will it run for Journee and whoever she ends up with?

Y'all got some nosey family members in y'all's family? I know I do but I guess they do it because they care.

Since I have a little extra time this week, I'm updating a little more! Thanks for reading my attempt at a romance. Bare with me because I don't even know where I'm going with this yet!

See y'all tomorrow!