letting her eyes run up the male’s height, a proud grin appearing on her features as she nodded in confirmation. waving a hand over her dark-clad physique to display the versatility of her style. yet, her expression easily ceased at the sound of 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐙'𝐒 comment, kissing her teeth in response. ‘ relax! big mama might be seen, but part of the allure is the mystery behind me, no? ‘ arching her brow with ease, the woman made a move of excitement at the sound of the cork popping out, eager to have her drink. once the man began moving backwards, 𝐉𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈 couldn’t stop her soft laughter as she worked to close the space between them. ‘ khaz, quit it! maybe i just like bein’ wine drunk! will you give it back? ‘ stopping in her tracks, she pushed her plump bottom lip forward, giving the man a glossed over pout.

His head nodded at the admission that he undoubtedly had to agree with. “The mystery and that mouth. With your comedian ass. Allat,” He acknowledged the wine in his possession and read the bottle’s description in a playful manner. “And you raisin’ your voice? Over wine?” He glistened the bottom portion of his lips and peered down at her visage he became transfixed upon for a mere second, craning his neck to inch closer. “I can…I will. I should…” He focused on her lips with an outright stare before tapping his. “Handle these first,” addressing his pair, he went so far as to place the bottle behind his back and playfully puckered then smirked.

     as she maneuvered through the lounge, the femme made a beeline for the snacks table, her eyes twinkling at the sight of the drink options. carefully brushing at her feathered tresses, her mouth easily moved from side to side in thought, gazing over the labels. 𝐉𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈 eagerly picked up a sweet red, kissing her teeth softly once she saw it wasn’t open, trying to find the necessary instrument. ‘ you seen the corkscrew? they want us to tell the truth, and depending on what i get asked, i might need some liquid courage, ‘ she spoke through a giggle.

KHAZ was busy typing into his device as an urgent message garnished his attention, when JELANI’s frame maneuvered in his line of vision that grasped his focus for the taking. He pressed send at once and leaned against the table, watching her attempt at completing the task. He immediately reached for the bottle to assist. “You just gotta color coordinate for niggas, huh?” He eyed the vibrant styling of her hair, and smirked in admiration. “…I ain’t mad at it. It’s nice. But I just know big mama you ain’t pussy out here,” He spotted the corkscrew needed to fulfill the opening of the drink and proceeded in placing pressure with the tool to twist to open. “You need all this to be honest?” He teased, backing away with the now opened bottle.

Crossing her arms over her chest, 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 rolled her eyes and tried her hardest to keep a straight face as smile threatened to break the barrier. “You wanna be matched to a liar? Let me know.” She said as she copied his words verbatim, mimicking his tone to best of her abilities while a laugh of her own emitting from her pair. “You just gon’ have to find another word, that’s all that is.” She raised her middle finger at him. “Well, considering the fact that you never told me what you’re okay with, I honestly don’t have a clue. But that’s a quick fix. Allergies and what you don’t like, just name… four things.” Pressing her hand against his chest, she pushed him backward just a bit as she went to the fridge to see what was in it. “Now why would I tell you what I wanna make, Chef McCoy? That’s cheating.” Tapping her tips against the outside of the door, she looked over at him and smirked. “I’m just tryna feed you, that’s all. But! How long we giving each other? Thirty? Forty-five?”

“Any excuse to touch me? I ain’t mad at it…” Barely impacted by her push, he gave her leeway to maneuver by inching back and gripped the edges of the island, eyeing all the contents displayed once he tore his eyes away from her. “There’s not much I deny in the food department. But if I take a Benadryl I’m aight with the seafood. It’s a hard pass for oysters though. Anything that look too uncooked or raw? ain’t fuckin’ with it. But, uh….” He ran his oral muscle across the bottom portion of his lip in thought. “Let’s use the full 45 although I may not need it. I deadass might fuck you up with my food choice, to be honest.” KHAZ was stationed by the cutting bored and eyed her in a teasing manner, giving her his full attention for a brief moment. The beat of silence warranted his expanded smile by the second. “…can I get a hint? Pretty please?”

𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 was already heading to the kitchen when she received 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐙’s message. Her steps halted as she read what’d he’d sent which in turn caused her to kiss her teeth before resuming her stride. She could partially hear his voice from the kitchen and silently laughed to herself as she entered the area, her eyes scanning the island and everything on it before locking hers with his. “Um… dad, first fix your face and second, I’m here.” Rounding the island, she pulled her hair into a ponytail before trailing to the sink so that she could wash her hands. “I’m glad you still thought of me and my challenge, even though we had a moment,” Turning her head to face him as she spoke, 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 gave the male her attention as she finished with the sink and dried her hands on paper towel then eyed the minimal amount of seasonings that had been provided. “You not serious with this being everything we have.”

“A moment,” His smile expanded as he repeated her reference, and maneuvered around the kitchen space to where she remained. “Almost cut my fuckin’ head off, talkin’ about some ‘moment’.” His mouth twisted to the side, but it wasn’t long before a chuckle followed, insinuating the issue to be long forgotten on his end. “It’s aight, just tells me it’s some shit you don’t fuck around with. And that I know not to call your ass pretty anymore.” He flashed her smile, and regarded the spices she finally addressed. “So you think I’m responsible for the grocery shoppin’? We gotta make it work, shorty. What you tryin’ to make, anyway? A thanksgiving feast?”

she wasn’t good with introductions and felt like everything was always better and flowed naturally when a situation was approached in a less formal way. 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 cut her eyes at the male before letting out a laugh. “you don’t like to eat? it was about to be ‘chopped’ in that kitchen, okay? me against you with the best idea for brunch you could come up with and then, when we were done, we woulda traded plates. good idea, hm?” she smiled cheekily at the compliment regarding her name. “thank yooou. i always tell my mama how she ate that up. i fuck with yours too though, where it come from? what does it mean?”

Clarity shown across his face at mention of the famous show he was familiar with. It pulled a chuckle out of him, envisioning the impromptu challenge between them. “Then I’d have to hear the double-handed compliments of me whipping that ass, and you enjoying my meal,” He jokingly pretended to be in deep thought before pointing at her. “In fact we just might have to do that shit. I just gotta know what your specialties are and if it’ll agree with my stomach If I’m taking such chances.” He continuously teased and the inquiry of this name meaning made him wince. “….it comes from the name Cosmic. My moms is into celestial shit; you know, outer space, stars…aliens and shit. My last name is McCoy. So she just grabbed the first syllables of them and went wild.” He shook his head with a laugh, feeling slight embarrassment.

𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 was anticipating the day, she didn’t know all that it held but she was excited to finally settle down and take a moment to get to know her date. making her way to the pool area, she immediately noticed that 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐙 was already there. 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐎𝐍 sat down next to him and set her water bottle down beside her as she dipped her feet in the water. “i was gonna have you in the kitchen right off the bat, then i changed my mind so it’s a good thing you’re out here and not in there.” she said with a warm smile before she her hand out to the male. “nice to finally meet you, khaz. i’m ashton, but everybody calls me ace.” ( @khzmc )

KHAZ waited patiently for ASHTON’s arrival with a drink to nurse by the relaxed setting. it wasn’t until he peeped a figure approach in his peripheral, that he shifted his focus completely from the water onto her. A smile settled on his lips at her admission as he grasped her extended hand with his. “Likewise, sweetheart. Although we about to beef already. Why I get kitchen duty, Ashton…excuse me,” He touched his chest. “Ace? That’s a dope name too, by the way. I fuck with it.” He brought his glass to his lips.