1: MEADOW

"I swear if that were Chris, I'd kick his ass from here to Zimbabwe," Kaia says, shaking her head as she rests her chin in her palm.

"Baby, I thought we weren't going there tonight," Chris says, leaning into his wife and wrapping an arm around her.

He kisses her temple, and my best friend turns around and gives him a sexy smile.

"Onyx means no harm. Flirting is in his nature," my cousin-in-law, Makenzi, affectionately known as Mak, says.

"Give the man a break. He's not flirting," my cousin-in-law and Makenzi's husband, Shep, groans.

"Oh, he's flirting, baby," Mak says.

"Yeah, he's definitely flirting," Kaia agrees.

"No, he isn't," Shep disagrees.

"What's he doing, Shep?" Kaia asks.

"He's conversing with a beautiful woman who happens to be desperately in need of some attention," Shep explains.

"She'd get some attention if it were me. I'd pull that fake, cheap ass weave from her head and check her ass before stepping to him to let him know what it is and what it ain't," Kaia says.

"Either that or walk out of this lounge, hop my black ass in the car, and drive home. While he's still figuring his shit out, I'll be putting his shit out," Mak says, glaring at Shep.

Mak isn't an insecure woman by far, but she's gone through a few things with Shep. Their marriage has had its share of challenges, including a six-year-stint where they were married but separated. Not even speaking to one another.

So, I know that her words are associated with that time in her life, which was painful for both of them.

"I would never," Shep says, holding his wife's gaze.

"Make sure you don't," she says, rolling her eyes and turning her gaze back to my husband.

"Chris knows his ass better not pull some shit like that. I won't lie. I'm an insecure bitch," Kaia says.

"Insecure as hell," Chris chimes in.

"Excuse me?" she asks, drawing back in mock horror.

"Stop. Both of you. Because you two love starting arguments that you use as fuel for hot, makeup sex later," I say.

"Damn, Kaia. You out here putting all our business in these streets, babe?" Chris asks offensively.

"No, babe. Just telling Meadow because she's always getting on me about arguing with you. I needed her to lay low on that because if I took her advice, that shit wouldn't be as hot as it is," she says, kissing him.

I roll my eyes while Mak places her hand over her mouth to hold her laughter in, and Shep looks on, confused and concerned.

"Yeah, mind your business," Chris says to me, pointing in my direction as he finally comes up for air.

Unable to hold it in any longer, I fall out laughing, and Mak does too before she takes the mouthpiece of the hookah into her mouth and begins smoking.

"I just say lay off Onyx. He doesn't mean any harm. He never does. It's not his fault that the ladies need attention, and he loves giving it to them. After all, he doesn't mess around, and he always lets them down easy," Shep says.

"Well, she's about to get all the attention she deserves," I say, smirking.

"Now that's a woman who isn't afraid to claim her man," Kaia says as I get up from the table and head to the bar where my husband is ordering drinks.

A curvy, light-skinned sister is resting her hand on his shoulder. The movement is so subtle that most wouldn't have seen it or recognized it for what it was. My husband's shift is so slight, almost imperceptible, but just enough that he turns to face her full-on, forcing her hand to drop from his shoulder.

Onyx smiles at her and tilts his head to the side. He's listening intently to what she says, but that head tilt is his sure sign that he's checked out. I know that move all too well. I've watched the number of times he's used that move on everyone from his parents to friends to strangers. He's even used it on me a few times.

The woman's wearing a low-cut, black dress, and she leans a little closer to give him a peek at her breasts.

He doesn't look down, and a small smile of triumph tilts my lips.

SZA's Weekend is playing softly in the background over the low din of conversation as I weave my way through the tables to the bar. The lights are dim, and the sweet fragrance of cigar smoke as well as the fruity aroma of hookah smoke fills the air.

I run my hands down the sleek fit of my satin, wine-colored dress and glance in the mirror quickly, checking my lipstick and hair. I walk up behind Onyx, wrap my arms around his waist, and then slip between him and the woman.

Tipping up on my toes, I press my lips against his, smiling when he gives me a little tongue. With my arms still wrapped around his waist, I pull back and stare up into his gorgeous golden eyes. My husband's arousal jerks against my thigh.

"I can't take you anywhere, can I?" I ask, smirking at him.

"Nice game, sis. I ain't mad atcha," the woman says, walking away.

Onyx grips a handful of my ass and squeezes. "You're always right there to save me."

"What about when I'm not?" I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.

"You're there in spirit. I feel you," he says, leaning down and kissing my lips again.

"What happened to our drinks that you were supposed to be ordering?" I ask, looking down the bar where the bartender is busy making drinks.

"Still waiting," he says, lifting me up and setting me on the stool beside his stool.

"I'm thinking about taking you home and teaching you a thing or two."

Onyx spreads my legs. Not for the first time, I'm amazed at how confident and beautiful I feel when I'm with my husband. It's like that shy, unsure girl takes a back seat and allows her inner diva to come out.

The way that Onyx has loved me through the years makes me feel powerful.

"What do you want to teach me?" he asks, bending and licking my lips as his powerful hands grip my thighs.

"How to turn that charm down and dial back that sexiness of yours when you're out in public."

Chuckling, he kisses me under my jaw and then whispers, "Do you really want me to do that?" just as the bartender returns with our drinks.

"Thank you," he says to the bartender before turning his attention back to me.

"No, I don't think I do," I say, grinning at him and looping my arms around his shoulders.

"I'll let you take me home and let you have your way with me, though," he teases.

I laugh and turn to glance at our table. I see Mak, Shep, Kaia, and Chris all staring at us.

"Guess we'd better tell everyone goodbye, then," I say, hopping off the stool.

"Or should we?"

"Onyx," I say in a warning tone as I grab his hand and tug him behind me.

We walk through the crowd and back to our table.

"Well damn, that was bold, but I love it," Mak says when we sit down.

"You know, I always thought that if a woman did that, she'd come across as insecure," Kaia says. "But there's nothing insecure about you at all."

"Damn right. Just need the women to know who he belongs to."

"What I want to know is why a man can do the same thing to his woman and no one questions his insecurities?" Mak asks.

"Because we're not. For the most part, we aren't insecure anyway. We're territorial," Chris says.

"And possessive," Shep adds. "I'm possessive as hell."

"Almost to a fault," Mak adds, to which Shep frowns. "But I love it, baby."

We all laugh when she cups his face and kisses his lips.

"I don't feel the same," Onyx speaks up.

"About?" Mak asks before sipping from her cocktail.

"I don't feel the need to go up and claim my woman," he says, looking around at everyone. Shrugging, he looks at me and then at the group at large. "She knows she belongs to me and that I belong to her. I trust her to be the woman that she's going to be, whether I'm there or not. I know that I'm taking care of my wife and handling my business on every front. There's no need for me to get into a dick-slinging contest with another dude over my woman."

"You think that's what it is? A dick-slinging contest?" Chris asks.

"Yeah, I do."

"That's not it at all, man. It's about protecting your woman and keeping her safe from predators. The minute that you step away and another nigga doesn't see your woman with a man, he feels she's fair game. He's all over what's yours, trying to prove he can do it better."

"If she falls for that shit, then let her. I know what I have to offer."

"Onyx, sometimes it's more than that. It's about letting her know that she's protected, wanted, and desired by you. That you still get jealous over her sometimes," Shep says as Mak nods, scooting closer to him.

"I don't think so. We're too grown to be playing jealousy games. Ain't that right, baby?" he asks, leaning in to kiss me.

"Well, what do you think that was that she just did on yo' ass, dude?" Chris asks.

"That was a power move, baby," Kaia speaks up.

I try to push away the gnawing feeling inside of me that tells me that my husband has a problem with my approach. I try not to let the insecurity take root.

"Power move, my ass. The only reason MJ did that was to prove something to y'all. My guess is the women were talking shit before she stepped up," Onyx says.

"They definitely were, man," Chris chimes in.

"Chris!" Kaia says, hitting him on the chest with the back of her hand.

He rubs his chest as if she truly wounded him, saying, "Ouch, baby, what? Ya'll were talking shit, weren't they, Shep?"

One look from Mak and Shep stands and says, "I have to use the restroom. I'll be back."

Shaking his head, Onyx says, "It's been a nice night out with y'all, as usual, but I'm about to take my wife home and show her what she really means to me."

I wink at my girls as a smirk dances on my lips.

Onyx stands and reaches for my hand to help me up.

"Next month? Same time, same bat channel?" Chris asks.

"Yes, sir!" Onyx says, fist-bumping Chris.

I hug the ladies and say, "I'll talk to y'all tomorrow."

"With any luck, if he's as good as you say he is, then we'll hear from you tomorrow evening sometime," Kaia says.

"Or the next day," Mak chimes in, giggling.

"Go home and make your own memories," I tease them as I allow Onyx to pull me away.

On our way out the door, I catch a glimpse of the woman who was flirting with him. She winks at me and smirks before I turn away.

I'm accustomed to this. Women flirt with my husband all the time, and some even try to pose a threat as they slip their numbers to him right in front of my face. In the beginning, it unnerved me, but it no longer bothers me now.

Besides, Onyx reassures me with his love, his patience, and his attentiveness to me.

"You good?" he asks as we're pulling out of the parking lot.

He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckles reassuringly.

"Always, love."

He smiles and turns his attention out the window onto the dark road ahead.

"What about everything else?"

Sighing, I shake my head. "It'll happen in time, you know?"

Slipping his hand from mine, he reaches over and places his hand against my belly. We've been trying to get pregnant for the last year of our two-year marriage, and nothing has happened.

We thought we were successful and were going to take a pregnancy test in a couple of days since I was late but my cycle came this morning, one week late.

I hadn't wanted to be around anyone or go out for our monthly couples' date night after that happened, but Onyx convinced me that I didn't need to remain in the house sulking. He'd also pointed out that our friends and in-laws would be disappointed if we didn't show up.

"I'm sorry, baby. Why don't we stop focusing on trying to have a baby right now?" Onyx suggests, and my heart falls.

"Why?" I ask, turning sideways in the seat to face him.

"Just...maybe we need to just enjoy being married for a while longer. Enjoy living and let it come when it's supposed to."

"Who's to say how long that will be?"

"We can't control it either, though, MJ. It'll happen, baby," he says, picking up my hand again and interlocking our fingers.

"You don't want a baby?" I ask him softly.

"It's not that I don't want a family. You know that I do. I want a bunch of little Onyx's and MJs filling our house up, running, laughing, and tearing shit up. What I don't want is to see you hurting and deep in your feelings the way that you are. Every time you get your cycle, you go into this place that I know hurts you deeply. I don't want that for you."

Shaking my head, I say, "It's finally happening for Poppy."

Onyx releases my hand again and grips the steering wheel. I know that he's battling his frustrations with my comparison.

"Don't do that. You know how much I hate it when you compare us with anyone else. Our journey is our own and not to be compared with anyone else's."

We drive along in silence for several more minutes until we pull into our driveway. Onyx presses the button to open the garage and drives inside.

When I reach for the handle, he grabs my other hand and stills me.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I just hate that everything has to be about the baby. I mean, shit, can't I just fuck my wife sometimes for the sake of fucking?"

"Do you have to be so crude, Onyx?"

"I'm just frustrated right now."

"Well, you're not making it any better."

He leans his head against the seat rest and sighs. "Look, our journey is good enough for me. It's okay that we're where we are, and all things will happen in time. Poppy has wanted a baby for years. She was married to Bryan for a long time, and it didn't happen."

"But it's happened since she's been with Spencer. No sooner than they got together. After all, Bryan had a vasectomy and didn't tell her. So, it's not like she was having fertility issues after all. I am."

"Or maybe you're not. Look, all I'm trying to say is that I want a family just as badly as you do, but we cannot allow it to stress our marriage, our lives, and our intimacy. We have to let nature take its course, babe. And I firmly believe when we stop stressing about it, it will happen. And if it doesn't, that's for a reason too. We just have to stay positive."

I close my eyes and smile. "Maybe you're right."

"You know I am. Now come on, let's go inside and let me love up on my wife."

I force a smile to my lips and open the door to get out of the car.