Easter
INVOLVED: Summer Sanders, Ellie Rose, Wynter Sanders, Erica Rose, and Josiah Richmond TIME FRAME: Sunday, April 12th, 2020 LOCATION: Rose Home; Los Angeles, California SUMMARY: Ellie prepares a Easter dinner for her, Summer, and Wynter. However, Erica and her boy friend shows up to the small party.
Summer moved around the apartment quietly, brushing her braids over her shoulders as she leaned against the counter now, eyeing all of the food that Ellie had cooked for the holiday. She licked her lips slowly, her hand moving nice and steady as she reached for the ham, trying to break off a piece without Ellie noticing. She was starving and it seemed like the woman had been cooking all day.
Ellie delicately placed the tiny eggs into the decorative baskets on the dining table, humming to herself a little as she did so. She looked at Summer out of the corner of her eye before she rounded the table and moved to drop some more tiny eggs into the baskets on the opposite side. “Summer” Ellie said, not looking up as she squatted down a little, she turned her head to the side and fixed a little bunny on the table before she stood up. “I still have chicken and pies in the oven, quit” she commanded. She shifted the dish housing her freshly baked cinnamon rolls against the table before she moved to walk back into her kitchen. “Steal a deviled egg if you want something to eat…”
Summer’s fingers were so close, she could almost taste the ham in her mouth, when Ellie spoke her name. “Dammit,” she mumbled as she turned and looked at Ellie. She eyed the woman as she moved around and she sighed out, “I don’t want no stinkin’ deviled egg,” she huffed out. “You’ve been cooking forever,” she whined slightly, extremely hungry. “Can’t you see I’m withering away here,” she said rather dramatically.
Ellie looked at Summer and she crossed her arms over her chest “Winter has been waiting as well and she isn’t acting like a child” she pointed out. “You sound really ungrateful right now” she said pursing her lips and squinting her eyes as she tilted her head. “It’ll be a few more minutes Jesus…”
Summer pouted at Ellie, “Wynter is passed out from hunger,” she said pointing to the couch. “You’re killing us,” she went on dramatically. As Ellie told her it would be just a few more minutes, Summer sighed out and she nodded. “Okay,” she finally said with a frown as she looked to the ham longingly.
At Summer’s words she raised her brow “fine” she said “eat” she told her gesturing the food she already had laid out minus the chicken she was browning in the oven. “Grab a plate and eat” Ellie said as she turned to the oven to check her pies now and she pulled the sweet potato one out with a mitten. It was finished baking now, and she didn’t want it to burn. She placed it on the pie rack she had to cool down before she checked the chicken and closed the oven door. Her apple pie would be out next, the crust needed to brown a little more as well.
As Ellie told her to eat, Summer let out a deep sigh and she looked at the food longingly before she said, “I’ll wait…” with a small pout still resting upon her lips. If she ate now, then she wouldn’t be able to eat with them and she wanted to eat with them. With a small hum, she picked up a deviled egg and stuffed it into her mouth hungrily.
Ellie looked back at Summer, giving her a knowing look, the girl was working her very last nerve right now and she had no clue of it. Shaking her head, Ellie grabbed the plates they would use and lined the table with them before she heard a knock at the door, she looked up at Summer and then at it. “You invited someone?” she asked her softly as she rested the last plate down and in place.
Summer ate the egg with a hum, licking her fingers a bit as she did. As someone knocked on the door, Summer looked at Ellie then at the door. She swallowed the food before she said, “no,” shaking her head as she moved to the kitchen, snatching up a napkin to wipe her hand and mouth.
Ellie nodded her head slowly at Summer and she took her apron off, placing it aside on the counter before she looked out the peephole. “It’s Erica” she breathed looking back at Summer before she unlocked the door to her older sister.
Erica waited for someone to answer the door, she knew Ellie was home. The girl had the same routines no matter the changes in her life. She cooked every major holiday on end. Licking her lips, she continued to wait faintly hearing talking on the other end as she held a bottle of wine in each hand and she looked back at Josiah for a moment. “See I told you this was a bad idea” she breathed to him before the door opened and she looked up at Ellie. “El” she breathed softly.
Josiah stood at the door with Erica, his hand rubbing her hip easily. “Shh,” he whispered to her before the door opened and he smiled at the woman. “Hello,” he said over Erica’s head as his chin rested there gently.
Summer looked at Ellie, eyes a bit wide with shock as she nodded. This was going to be interesting. “Okay,” she said as she tossed the napkin away and moved to the door behind Ellie, standing there with her, her chest pressed to Ellie’s back. She gazed at Erica and that man, the one from the bar that night, with a bit of an amused expression. Wow.
Ellie looked at Erica, and the man in her life currently. She had seen someone that day, interesting. She hadn’t met this guy, so she didn’t know who this guy, was. “Hey” she finally breathed after a moment feeling Summer behind her “this is a surprise” she said to her licking her lips, a bit confused.
Erica looked at Ellie as she spoke, and she nodded her head at her “yeah” she said in response. She continued to stand there with the wine bottles in her hand, clutching them tightly. Her eyes moved to Summer who she chose to glare at for the moment before she cleared her throat unsure what she should say right now. “Summer” she said easily however after a time.
Josiah gazed at the blonde as she walked up behind the other woman and he recognized her from the bar. He smiled curtly at her, standing there a bit awkwardly as he held Erica’s hip, rubbing her there lovingly. Well this was awkward.
Summer gazed at Erica and the man, her arm coiling around Ellie’s mid-section protectively. She looked at the bottle of wine in Erica’s hand, then at the man once more, her head cocking to the side slightly as Erica glared at her. She pursed her lips at the woman, saying, “Erica…” easily.
Erica looked back at Josiah and then she looked back at her sister. “This is Josiah, by the way... We are… seeing each other” she announced to her sister. “Josiah this is my baby sister Ellie” she breathed “and the woman behind her is an old college mate of mine” she told him over her shoulder. She looked back at Ellie and said “I came with wine, as a peace offering over everything that’s going on” she told her.
Ellie looked at Erica, her hand still resting on the doorknob as the girl spoke introducing them. “Hello Josiah” she said politely to the man. He was not the problem here and there was no need in being rude to him. As Erica went on to label Summer, Ellie sighed heavily and placed locs over her shoulder and out of her face. “Must we?” she asked her. As she explained she was there to make peace she looked at her “after kicking me out of your house the way you did, yeah” she said nodding her head. “Coming to apologize would be nice,” she told her.
Summer looked at the man after Erica introduced him and she nodded her head. “Hi,” she said alongside Ellie, her eyes glaring at Erica at the way she spoke about her to the man, Josiah. “Summer,” she said introducing herself properly, “Ellie’s girlfriend,” she smirked slightly. As she looked at Josiah. Her arm tightened around Ellie slightly as she shifted her weight some. Summer had heard all about how Erica had kicked her out and truly, that had been the last straw for her. If Erica didn’t want to be friends anymore or even speak to Ellie anymore because of the relationship, Summer simply did not care. However, she knew how Ellie felt, so she would at the least try.
Josiah nodded slightly, lifting his head from atop Erica’s as he said, “Ellie, Summer nice to meet you,” keeping it short and sweet. He was just trying to be polite, truthfully this was not his drama and he really didn’t like drama and petty women. Seeing this side of Erica was a bit of a turn-off for him.
“Well that is what I am here to do” Erica said as she offered over both bottles of wine, one to Ellie and the other to Summer. “I am here to bury the hatchet” she acknowledged. “Josiah made some valid points not long ago and you both are grown. I should just let you two do your thing” she said looking from Ellie to Summer.
Ellie looked at Summer over her shoulder, she squinted lightly before she looked back towards her sister and Josiah. Hm. Him prompting this isn’t a shocker to her, her sister was a tough cookie. That’s where she learned it from. “Well” Ellie said nodding her head a bit as she accepted the bottle of wine “come in then” she told her moving out of her way, knowing Summer better had moved to.
Summer glanced down at Ellie as she looked back at her before she looked back at the couple, still standing in the hallway. She eyed the bottle of wine as Erica handed it out to her and she took it, holding it as she still stood pressed against Ellie. As Ellie accepted the words and stepped aside to let them in, Summer very reluctantly stepped aside as well. She brushed her hands through her braids slowly, eyeing Erica a bit.
Looking at the women, Josiah stood there with a small twitch on his lips. As Erica handed over the bottles, he gave her a small squeeze of approval. He whispered into her ear, “good girl,” softly. Watching as Ellie and Summer moved aside, he smiled at them gently as he ushered Erica forward.
Erica moved into the home looking at Summer again as they moved inside. “Hm” she said, eyeing Summer’s sister “little Wynter” she said shocked. “Haven’t seen that kid in ages” she said seriously as she looked at the spread. “Damn” she breathed “you cooked all of this for greedy?” she asked using her thumb to point towards Summer.
Ellie watched as her sister came in and she sat the wine on the counter as she took in Wynter. She smiled at the young girl nodding her head at the comment. At the next one she smirked at her sister and said “don’t come in taunting my boo” with a grin on her face as she patted Summer’s shoulder. She remembered her pie and she moved to grab it out of the over. She grabbed her mitten and pulled it out, sitting it on the rack as she realized she too can take the chicken out. She took the large pan after grabbing a second mitten. “We can eat,” she said to everyone sitting the pan on the stove. “It’s all done,” she announced. “Wash your hands before you come into my kitchen though; Josiah included…” she said, smiling at the man as she rested the mitten aside.
Summer watched Erica walk into the home and she nodded, looking over at Wynter lying passed out on the couch. “Yeah… she’s almost fifteen now,” she told Erica easily before she rolled her eyes. “I am not greedy,” she giggled softly, knowing that wasn’t the truth in the slightest. She closed the door behind the couple and moved further into the home smirking as Ellie said they could eat, finally. “About damn time,” she said as her stomach growled loudly. She walked over to Wynter and shook the girl’s shoulder. “Food’s ready,” she said.
Josiah stepped into the apartment behind Erica, looking at all of the women as they spoke about the girl laying on the couch before they began joking a bit. Good sign, very good sign. He rubbed his hand over his arm a bit before he shrugged off his jacket slowly. “Uh, is there a place I can hang this?” he asked, directing the question to Summer and Ellie both.
Wynter laid sprawled out on her stomach on the couch. She had passed out from starvation about two hours ago. Sleep was the only cure. So, when Summer shook her shoulder, she groaned, lifting her head slightly. “Food?” she grumbled softly as she sat up a bit, rubbing her eyes, still a bit unaware that there were other people in the apartment.
Erica gave Summer a knowing look and she said “right” to her before she grabbed Josiah’s coat instinctively. “You ate us out of a dorm” she said as she hung the coat up in the coat closet nearby and she licked her lips as her sister’s words. “The bathroom is this way” she told Josiah, grabbing him by his hips and moving him in that direction.
Ellie pointed towards the bathroom fanning them in that direction easily, before she washed her hands in the kitchen sink. She uncovered all the food on the island and easily began to carve the chicken up a bit for people to get so pieces of it easier. When enough of it was cut up, she placed the large knife aside and rested the pair of tongs aside for them to use. She grabbed another plate down to make a fifth spot for Josiah on the table, making sure she decorated that area as she did the others. “You guys can serve yourselves” she told them.
Summer gazed down at Wynter as the girl sat up and she looked back at Erica, “girl, it wasn’t just me,” she said smirking. “You gotta point the finger at Jasmine too.” Looking at Ellie, Summer licked her lips slowly as she left Wynter’s side and moved into the kitchen to wash her hands. She scrubbed them clean easily before she dried them quickly. She moved around and snatched up a plate from the table before she was making her plate with a large grin, slapping a little of everything on it.
Wynter rubbed her eyes a bit more before she squinted, looking at Summer, then over at their guests. She blinked the last bit of sleep from her eyes as she stood up, watching the man and woman with a hum as she followed Summer to the sink, washing her hands behind her as she whispered to Summer, “who are they?”
Josiah looked down at Erica as she took the coat from him before he followed her to the bathroom easily. He washed his hands as they entered before he stepped aside, letting Erica do the same. “Off to a good start,” he said smiling softly at her.
Erica looked at Josiah “yeah” she said as she scrubbed her hands clean with some soap and she then rinsed them. She grabbed a towel and dried them off and set it aside “the night is still young” she told him as she pecked his lips. “Come on” she said as she walked out the bathroom.
Ellie watched Summer and Wynter wash their hands in the kitchen and she shook her head. She was going to kill them as she walked away from the table moving into the kitchen watching them all fix plates; she would let the guest go first and then she’d make her plate last. She always did.
Summer made her plate, looking up at Wynter slowly as she whispered back, “Ellie’s sister and her boyfriend.” She shifted on her feet before she moved to sit down at the table, trying to wait for everyone else before she just dug in.
Wynter nodded slowly, her eyes wide and shocked as she dried her hands before she moved to the table picking up a plate. She looked at Ellie before she moved to place various food items on it, mainly chicken and ham, mac and cheese, cabbage, and garlic mashed potatoes. With her plate made, she moved to sit down, looking at Summer a bit confused. “What’s going on?” she asked, leaning towards her slowly.
Josiah chuckled softly at Erica and he said, “it’ll be fine,” as he hugged her close briefly before he followed her out the bathroom. He moved into the kitchen slowly, looking around at all the food with a hum. “It all looks great Ellie,” he said.
Erica looked at him with a smirk before she moved into the kitchen and looked at her sister. “It does, doesn’t it” she said to him “I’ll fix your plate” she told him easily as she moved to grab two from the table and she looked at Wynter “hi” she said to her easily before she moved back into the kitchen. She sat one aside and began to make his plate quietly “a little of everything okay?” she asked him sweetly.
Ellie looked at Josiah and she smirked “thanks” she told him easily. “It was nothing, I hope you enjoy it” she offered as her sister fixed the man’s plate. Hm. She tucked her lip in before she looked over at Summer and Wynter. She turned her back to them and grabbed 4 wine glasses, walking over to the table she sat them down and moved back into the kitchen and grabbed a corkscrew. She grabbed one of the bottles of wine and moved over to the table opening it before she poured wine into the glasses filling them a little.
Summer looked up as the couple moved back into the space and she watched them closely before she looked at Wynter curtly. “Shh,” she said to her. Summer picked up her fork, sneaking a bite of her mac and cheese with a small hum before she sat the fork back down. “Could y’all move any slower?” she joked, seriously, looking back at them.
Wynter raised an eyebrow at Summer before she nodded slowly, looking down at her plate before she looked up at Ellie as she grabbed glasses and wine. “I’ll take a glass too,” she said with a wide grin, knowing that was out of the question. “Do we have any grape juice?” she asked next.
Josiah smiled at Erica and he pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you, baby,” he said before he moved to sit down at the table, really unsure about where to sit. He rubbed his beard a bit before he looked at Wynter, the resemblance between Summer and Wynter was uncanny. “I can tell you two are sisters from a mile away,” he said casually.
Ellie looked at Wynter giving her a knowing look before she moved to sit the glass of wine aside, she moved to grab the girl a shorter wine glass and she sat it before her. Ellie grabbed some cranberry juice out of the fridge, and she poured some into Wynter’s glass, pecking her forehead, the girl was so annoying like Summer. She moved to place juice back in the fridge before she watched her sister, standing next to her. “He likes you,” she said quietly.
Erica continued to fix the man’s plate and when she was done preparing it, she sat it before him with a smile. She moved back into the kitchen to fix her own plate and when Ellie stood beside her, she looked over at Josiah for a quick moment before she looked back at Ellie. “That’s what you think…” she asked a question laced in her statement as she continued to scooped food on her plate.
Summer looked at Josiah as he sat down before she looked at Wynter. “I don’t look like this clown,” she said pointing her thumb at her sister with a smirk. She looked at Erica as she sat the plate before the man. “So… I see things are going well since you guys met at Lock and Key,” she chuckled a bit.
Wynter rolled her eyes at Summer, pushing her shoulder a bit before she said, “she ugly, don’t compare us,” playfully. She licked her lips slowly as she looked over, watching Ellie pour her juice, she smiled softly.
Josiah looked between the sisters and he chuckled before he looked up at Erica as she sat the plate before him. “Thank you, baby,” he said before he looked back at Summer and he chuckled. “Yeah, going pretty strong,” he smiled.
Ellie looked at Erica and she nodded her head “it’s kind of noticeable” she replied as she told her as she moved to grab her own plate. She walked back into the kitchen and began to prepare her own plate. Putting a small amount of things on the plate she had before she moved back to the table to sit down.
Erica finished making her plate and she looked to Ellie before she looked at Josiah. “Hm” she said as she moved to walk back towards the table, she sat down next to Josiah and smiled at everyone at the table. “We should pray,” she said to them quickly. She placed her hands together and did so quickly over the food. “Amen” she said before she picked her fork up and began to eat the food quietly.
Summer stuck her tongue out at Wynter before she looked across at Josiah with her nose scrunched a bit. “This one,” she shook her head, referring to Wynter. As Erica and Ellie sat down at the table, Summer placed her hand on Ellie’s thigh under it, giving her a small squeeze before Erica mentioned prayer. She nodded slightly, bowing her head respectfully as Erica played before she said, “amen.” Lifting her head, Summer picked up her fork and dug in.
Wynter smirked at Summer, shaking her head once more before she watched Ellie and Erica sit down. She looked over at Summer, arching an eyebrow at her as she bowed her head, shocked that Summer actually did it. “Amen…” she said softly before she lifted her head and she eyed Ellie and Erica. “Y’all look like,” she said easily, pointing between the two with her fork before she ate some of her mashed potatoes.
Chucking at the sisters, Josiah looked over at Erica as she sat beside him and he bumped her with his shoulder lightly. Looking around the table, he nodded, bowing his head. “Amen,” he said easily before he looked up, picking up his fork and eating a piece of his chicken. “So, you two went to college together?” he asked, looking between Summer and Erica.
Ellie looked at Summer as she squeezed her thigh and she bowed her head as her sister prayed over their meal quickly. She said “amen” before she picked up her fork “that is kind of how genetics work little duck” she told her smoothly as she stuck a little potato salad into her mouth. She looked over at Erica at Josiah’s question and she stuck a little more into her mouth.
Erica smirked at Wynter “and you look like Summer” she rebuttal with a grin. “As a matter of fact, you came out looking like her” she clarified as she licked her lip taking a sip of her wine before she sat the glass down. She looked at Josiah and stuck some mac and cheese into her mouth “yes” she answered him truthfully, sighing heavily she said “Summer is like my best friend of whatever” she told him rolling her eyes playfully.
Summer looked across the table at Ellie as she used Wynter’s nickname and her eyes grew wide. She had no idea Ellie had actually heard them calling each other that before. She sat her fork down and took a sip of her wine a bit embarrassed before she looked at Josiah nodding, looking at Erica with a small squint before she said, “or whatever,” playfully. “I’ve know this heffa since freshman year,” she mused looking at Josiah as she picked her fork back up, eating more of her food, “she’s kind of like my ride or die friend, along with another friend of ours,” she told the man with a roll of her eyes, “you know when she acting like she like me… or whatever…” she smirked.
Wynter snorted at Ellie’s words before she looked down at her plate, a blush rising on her cheeks. “Ellie bear,” she whined back at her before looking at Erica and she raised an eyebrow at her. “How would you know?” she asked her, shocked and confused. At the banter between Summer and Erica, Wynter giggled softly.
Josiah looked around the table and he nodded slowly at the women as they spoke and he chuckled, holding his napkin up to his mouth as he did. “Interesting,” he smirked as he swallowed his food before he looked to Ellie, “and you own the boutique, right?” he asked her to be sure. He’d heard quite a bit about these women over the weeks he had been with Erica, but this was his first time actually meeting them face to face, so he was just trying to get it all straight.
Ellie looked at Wynter slyly, a smirk on her face as she stuck some more food into her mouth chewing lightly. She looked between Summer and her sister; a small head shake turned into fits of giggles. “Yes, I do, only because someone else wouldn’t take it off my hands” she said looking at her sister.
Erica looked at Summer hiding her amusement behind a fork full of food and she nodded her head. “Yeah we go way back” she admitted as she covered her mouth chewing. “Pictures” she said to Wynter. She looked at Josiah, optimism in her eyes before she looked at Ellie. “I just had other career paths in mind. I didn’t want to be obligated to carry on a family business…” she said, clarifying for everyone.
Summer looked over at Wynter, smiling a bit. “You don’t remember Erica?” she asked. “You would have been around five or six when you first met her,” she told Wynter easily before she looked at Ellie, then Erica. She ate some of her ham before she stuffed some chicken into her mouth.
Wynter looked at Erica squinting at her slightly before she looked at Summer shaking her head. “No, I don’t remember,” she said truthfully as she looked back over at Erica as she ate some of her mac and cheese. “Mm, Ellie you put your foot in these,” she said with a smile.
Josiah nodded slowly, letting the women banter back and forth, answering his questions in between, and he ate his food casually. He chuckled a bit at the sisters before he said, “well, I’ve heard that you’ve done a great job with it regardless.” He took a sip of his wine before he said, “I admire that being a businessman myself,” he told her easily.
Erica looked at Wynter and said “Summer and I were always together; I don’t know how not” with a chuckle. At Josiah’s words she nodded her head in agreeance.
Ellie looked at Wynter and smirked “thanks boo” she said to her lightly as she toyed with her own food at the moment. “Well thank you, I try,” she said, looking at her sister for a moment. Her sister has been speaking good things about her. At the man’s words she looked at him amused “and what type of business is it that you own?” she asked him.
Summer smirked at Erica slightly, “like always, glued at the hip,” she shook her head a bit. “Truthfully, we had an unhealthy level of closeness,” she snickered some as she picked her glass back up, taking another sip of the wine, drinking it slowly, not needing to get drunk for Easter. Looking at Wynter, Summer said, “do you remember that Bratz doll that you got when you were like 9?” she asked Wynter. “That was from Erica,” she said pointing across the table at her friend.
Wynter nodded slowly at the two before she looked at Summer, rewinding her memory back a bit. “Yeah, I still have that thing somewhere in my closet at the house,” she said referring to their parents’ house before she looked at Erica and she smiled, “that was one of my favorite dolls,” she admitted.
Josiah smiled at Ellie and he nodded as he ate more of his food. At the question, he swallowed and wiped his mouth and beard a bit. “I own two restaurants, called The Richmond,” he admitted, “I am a chef,” he informed the woman easily with a smirk before he said, “and you’re a very good cook, by the way”
Ellie looked over at Summer at her response before she looked over at Josiah again. Ellie rested her hand on Summer’s thigh, and she rubbed her hand up and down it gripping lightly as she did. “Oh really?” she asked him, shocked. “That’s amazing” she told him “at one point of time I wanted to be a baker” she admitted to him. “Thank you” she said “now that means a lot coming from a man who owns his own restaurants” she told him.
Erica chuckled at Wynter “you are still welcome” she winked at her gently before she looked at her sister and then Josiah. “He cooks a mean steak and gravy” she said as she looked over at Josiah biting her bottom lip. “You two are pretty neck and neck… I won’t lie” she said smirking towards them both. “We know I don’t get in the kitchen; I’ll leave that for you two” she told them. “And Summer burns water…. so, she’s eliminated automatically.”
Summer nodded at Wynter with a small smile before she looked at Ellie as she rubbed and gripped her thigh. Summer slowly lowered a hand under the table to grip Ellie’s hand and she patted it gently before she returned her focus to the conversation at hand. “What? C’mon, I can cook,” she said to Erica. “Y’all just never let me,” she pointed out. “I accidentally start one small little grease fire and then I’m banned from the kitchen for life,” she rolled her eyes.
Wynter smiled at Erica. “Thank you,” she said softly before she looked over at Summer shaking her head, “uh-uh, Summer.” She took a sip of her cranberry juice before she said, “you… I can’t remember what it was, but it was like one of those just pop it in the oven dinner things,” she said looking around the table, “and you managed to burn it to a crisp,” she said shaking her head. “We ended up having to order pizza that night, I remember, I was 9…” she told the table.
Eating more of his food, Josiah nodded at Ellie. “Yeah, just a little something, something,” he told her modestly. “Really? It’s not too late,” he said with a hum. “I started my restaurant on a small business loan and now I’m on the verge of opening up a third very soon,” he admitted. “Just gotta really want it,” he said. “Determination and passion…” he told the girl before he snorted at the story Wynter was telling. “That… bad…” he shook his head chuckling.
“Oh, please Summer” Erica said with a snort and she shook her head. “You burn water” she told her seriously, as Wynter spoke she snorted again a giggle leaving her full lips. “That bad baby,” Erica said looking at Josiah with a headshake. “Also, I agree with Josiah. You should do, what do you have to lose?” she asked her sister. “If you don’t want the boutique either, sell it” she shrugged “sell it and keep all the profit hell, I don’t care” she told her.
Ellie looked at Erica and she smirked “you could be in the kitchen; you chose not to be” she told her truthfully. At the man’s words she shrugged them off a bit “you know, we all have our paths in life” she breathed in a heavy sigh her plate just sitting there. She looked at Summer rubbing the inside of her thigh before she said, “how did you two meet again?” curiously, though they never said honestly.
Summer rolled her eyes at everyone at the table. “Y’all just some haters,” she said now as she stuffed more of her food into her mouth, picking up her piece of cornbread and taking a bite of it. Ellie starting her own bakery wasn’t a bad idea, but they did just buy a three million dollar house, jumping into trying to invest in a while new business venture would not be a smart move at the moment. However, despite knowing this Summer said, “you do bake all of the time baby, it’s something to think about earnestly,” before she looked down at Ellie’s hand against her inner thigh. She lifted her head slowly, glancing at Ellie with a raised eyebrow before she once again, reached down and patted Ellie’s hand. A bit protective, huh?
Wynter laughed out, shaking her head as she grabbed her glass, sipping more of her juice. Looking across the table at Josiah, she listened to the man before she looked at Ellie nodding slowly at her words as she ate more of her chicken.
Listening to Ellie and Erica, Josiah ate his food with a hum. “Well, if you ever change your mind about it, give me a call,” he said easily. “I might be able to help you out a bit,” he told her before he smirked at the question and he looked over at Erica, unsure if she wanted him to tell the truth of not.
Ellie’s long acrylic nails glided across the woman’s thigh before she rested her arm on the back of her chair. She smirked “I think we just invested a lot of money into the house, don’t you?” she asked Summer in return. “However, thank you” she said pecking Summer’s cheek, leaving her red lips there. She nodded her head at Josiah’s words, there was no way she’d ever open a bakery. “Well?” she said looking at them both.
Erica looked at her sister, she wasn’t going to call the man before she wasn’t going to consider the idea truly. She always thought to less of herself. She sipped from her wine glass smirking at Josiah “at a club” she shrugged “well a bar… Lock and Key” she said to her easily. “Summer kind of… spotted him beforehand I didn’t believe he was checking me out” she smirked looking at the man. “You know it was one of those… sparks kind of thing” she said knowing Wynter was sitting there.
Summer looked back down, watching Ellie’s hand closely before she moved it and she responded, “well, yeah,” she lifted her head to look at Ellie, “but if it’s something that you really want to do, just thinking it over and planning wouldn’t hurt,” she said easily before Ellie kissed her cheek and she blushed a bit before she looked over at Erica and Josiah with a smile. “Yeah, he was just staring at Erica,” she admitted. “So when he walked over and introduced himself, I dipped…” she chuckled looking over at Ellie with a wink, because that was the same night she passed out on that very couch in the living room before waking up the next morning and feasting from Ellie right on that counter where the food was sitting.
Wynter ate her food quietly now, her eyes bouncing between each person as they spoke before she looked at Erica saying, “so… you had sex…” she pointed out, wondering why she was beating around the bush. “I’m fourteen, not four,” she giggled.
Josiah looked at Summer and Ellie, then back at Erica with a smirk as she began to explain. “I was sitting in the back of the bar with my business partner when Summer and Erica came running into the bar,” he smirked, “Erica caught my eye immediately but I didn’t approach her right away, I just sat and I watched for a bit before I finally made my move,” he told them before he looked at Wynter a bit shocked and he choked on air a bit, patting his chest some.
Ellie looked nodded her head at Summer, she’d think about that later or some other time maybe. As Summer too explained her side, she nodded at her and caught her wink smirking. She looked back across the table and nodded her head before her eyes shot to Wynter. “Wynter,” she said lowly.
Erica nodded with Summer chuckling before she looked at Josiah listening to his side of the story. She smirked at him “I am glad he decided to walk over” she admitted aloud, unable to stop herself before she did. At Wynter’s words she looked at the young girl and tilted her head, oh yeah, the ‘baby’ had grown up for sure. The little comment reminded her Ellie back in the day.
Summer looked at Wynter and said, “that’s it,” as she stood up slowly. She picked up Wynter’s plate and gestured for her to get up as well. “You are now being moved to the kids table” she said as she walked over to the coffee table in the living room and placed Wynter’s plate down there. She picked up a non-decorative pillow off the couch and placed it on the floor for Wynter. “There ya go,” she said before she moved back to the table, sitting back down with a shake of her head.
Wynter looked at Ellie and Summer with wide eyes before Summer picked up her plate and moved it to the living room. She smacked her lips slightly as she grabbed her napkin and her cup. “That ain’t even right,” she hissed as she walked over, sitting her cup down on the table before she plopped down on the pillow with a huff.
Watching Summer get up and move Wynter away from the table, Josiah couldn’t help but to laugh before he said, “best decision I ever made,” as he leaned into Erica a bit, wrapping his arm around her waist and giving her a loving squeeze. “How about you two?” he asked Summer and Ellie, curiously, wanting to know since Summer had known Erica since college. Had Summer known Ellie since she was a child or what?
Ellie gave Wynter a knowing look as Summer packed her up and moved her towards the living room. Shaking her head, she turned back to the table and said “uh,” she breathed cutely “Summer came into the boutique and I gave her my number” she said smoothly. “I didn’t recall from the past, best decision I made however” she said cutely, looking at Summer with a smirk.
Erica looked at Josiah and her heart fluttered in her chest before she leaned over kissing his lips tenderly. She looked back at her sister and she nodded her head, she didn’t know the story either, so she was amused. At her sister's words she smirked smugly at her mimicking Josiah’s words.
Getting comfortable in her seat once more, Summer smiled as she tuned back into the conversation. “Summer was dragged into the boutique,” she corrected with a smirk. “Surprisingly enough, the boutique is not far from my studio,” she explained, “and I was out with Jasmine, a friend of Erica and I’s, we all went to college together,” she said breaking down the connection before she continued, “and I saw Ellie and I was immediately taken by her. I was like trying to flirt but still play it cool on the low and she was really trying to act like she wasn’t checking for me,” she chuckled softly, “so I had to buy these damn shoes,” she smirked looking over at Ellie, “to get her attention and that is when she gave me her number,” she told Josiah and Erica. “Now at the time I had no clue that these two were sisters,” she said pointing between Ellie and Erica, “I didn’t remember from the past either, Ellie looks so different,” she said repeating what she had been saying the whole time.
Josiah listened to the women as they spoke, explaining the story and he chuckled softly, with a nod, smiling over at Erica as she kissed him. He kissed her back lovingly, gripping her cheeks a bit as he pressed another to her lips before he pulled away. He looked back to the couple across the table and licked his lips. “What kind of studio?” he asked Summer curiously. “Also, how did you not know? These two look like twins damn-near,” he smirked, now kind of understanding Erica’s plight about Summer dating her younger sister.
Ellie looked at Summer as she continued to explain how they met, giving precise details to them and dismissing her short story fully. She adjusted her arm on the back of the chair leaning into her a little more watching her lips move as she spoke. Summer was full of crap, they fucked and that was the end of that story nothing more nothing less. As she concluded she raised a brow up at the woman and looked to her sister shifting in her own seat.
Erica listened to Summer, taking in what she was saying glancing over at Josiah ever so often as the woman spoke. Once she was done talking, she looked at Josiah again, smirking at his comment “yep she’s my double…” she said “I see Summer every time I look at Wynter I don’t how she does it…” she said cutely, squinting a Summer a little.
Summer looked at Ellie as she leaned into her and she licked her lips slowly. “You have to realize, I was going in cold, I had no idea that was your family boutique and I hadn’t seen Ellie in years,” she said looking around the table. “I wasn’t even thinking about Erica when I first saw Ellie,” she told them. “Hell, I can walk into the mall right now and see at least two women that look like Erica and Ellie and they not be related to each other or these two,” she said, trying to defend her choices. She squinted back at Erica briefly before looking over at Ellie. “I own a dance studio,” Summer finally said to Josiah. “I’m a dancer…”
Josiah looked at Summer as she went on before he looked at Erica and Ellie. He looked back at Summer nodding slowly as she went on and he chuckled gently. “I guess,” he said easily, smirking slightly.
Ellie looked at Summer as she continued to explain herself to the whole table and she licked her lips. She rested her free hand on the woman’s thigh, and she gripped it gently before she patted her thigh. “I’ve matured in a few places over the years, I get it” she said jokingly. Ellie sighed softly to herself before she said “what started as me coning Summer out of 200-dollar shoes has resulted in a 3 million dollar home and small family” she said cutely.
Erica looked at Josiah and she tried not to smirk or laugh at his comment as she looked at her sister. She took a sip of her wine holding the glass in her hand as she furrowed her bro. 3 million dollars. “Dreams come true” she said shrugging lightly as she took another sip and looked at Summer. “Congrats!” she said to two women lifting her glass “I never got the chance to do that” she said taking another sip from her glass.
Summer squinted at Josiah a bit before she looked at Ellie. She placed her hand over Ellie’s on her thigh, lacing their fingers under the table. She smirked a bit, licking her lips at Ellie’s comment. As Ellie dropped the fact that the home, they bought was three-million dollars, she blushed slightly. Looking at Erica she said, “thank you,” quietly.
Josiah looked at Summer and Ellie, his neck jerking back a bit. Three-million dollars? That must have been some home. “Wow, that’s amazing,” he said looking over at Erica as she congratulated them. “Congrats,” he said as well.
Ellie smirked at her sister “thank you” she said softly to her “you will have to drop by and see it once we are all moved in” she said with a smirk. “And you know, we all aren’t getting any younger…. Gotta make it do what it does, if it feels right” she preached.
Erica looked at Ellie and she nodded her head “sound like a plan” she said to them both. At her words she chuckled “you are like 2 years old El” she said back to her slyly before she looked to Josiah with a headshake. She liked Josiah, a great deal and probably more than she let on but she didn’t see them rushing into a home and a family in what, 2 months?
Summer smiled at Josiah and she said “thank you” to him as well before she looked at Ellie with a smirk. “That’s right,” she said softly. “I mean… when you know… you just know, right?” she said sweetly before she leaned over and pressed a kiss to Ellie’s lips. She looked at Erica and said, “yeah but I… ain’t getting no younger,” with an arched eyebrow at her friend. “We’re not rushing… it’s just… everyone’s relationship progresses differently,” she said softly, looking around the table.
Josiah listened to the women as they spoke before him. He nodded slowly just taking it all in. He wasn’t sure exactly how long Summer, and Ellie had been dating but it didn’t seem long at all. He looked at Erica, hoping she didn’t wish for the same thing to happen between them so quickly, because he just wasn’t that type of guy. He wasn’t going to rush his relationship with Erica.
Erica looked over at Summer and she nodded a smirk on her lips “well you know I’ve never rushed anything my entire life I take my time. So, I agree” she told her easily as she looked at the woman. “Different strokes for different folks” she told her nodding her head. “You aren’t getting any younger” Erica said pointing to Summer “and Ellie has always been too mature for her age, maternal, and domesticated… it makes sense” she said as she finished off her glass of wine, resting it back down against the table.
Ellie looked at Summer, she kissed the woman back nodding her head at her. “I agree,” she said in response to Summer’s statement. At Erica’s words she looked at her sister, knowing her words to be true and she nodded her head. As she laid their situation out on the table Ellie smirked, that’s the one thing Erica had over most people she was too damn clever. She chuckled “well Erica… kids and marriage is knocking at your door too” she said before she looked at Josiah.
Looking at Erica, Summer nodded slowly before she said, “you’re older than me heffa,” with a squint. She squeezed Ellie’s hand in her own under the table as she moved to finally finish her food. As Ellie spoke to Erica, Summer said, “I don’t know…” softly. She didn’t really ever see Erica as the motherly type. She was always all work and no play.
Chuckling, Josiah said, “I don’t know… we’re still in the getting to know each other stages. Marriage and kids will be in the distant future,” he said looking over at Erica, hoping that they were on the same page.
Erica looked at Ellie and snorted lightly “I am only 29 years old” she told her sister. “I have a couple of years ahead to work on kids and marriage” she said, not looking over at Josiah. “And what do you mean by I don’t know?” she asked, pointing over to Summer. Erica got up and grabbed herself and Josiah a cupcake before she walked back over. Here try this” she said softly.
Ellie looked at Summer and then to Erica “I know, I know” she said playfully to her sister. She looked at Josiah and nodded her head at him “yeah these days you gotta mess around a little before you discover if she’s wifey type” she said as she moved to stand up herself. She grabbed the bottle of wine and brought it over to the table filling her and her sister up before she sat it down.
Summer looked at Erica, then at Josiah. She nodded slowly. “Right…” she said before she looked directly at Erica. “I never knew that you wanted kids E, you never really talked about it and you’re so work driven…” she told her friend straight up. “Marriage is one thing but kids?” she questioned, “just never knew that you something you considered.”
Josiah grew quiet as he looked around the table, letting the women talk once more. He just took it all in with a bit of a nod, his eyes showing a bit of shock. “No, uh,” Josiah cleared his throat looking at Ellie. “We’re truly just learning each other, finding out what we like and what we don’t like about each other, seeing what we have in common and if we’re truly compatible for the future to come,” he explained.
Erica looked at Summer licking the icing of her cupcake and she didn’t say anything in response to her for a very long time. “I mean what woman doesn’t?” she asked her curious as she looked at Summer licking her icing once more. “But I get it, you don’t read me as the childbearing type either” she said slyly to the woman. “But yes, J and I are still in our dating phase of things…” she said testing the words on her lips a bit.
Ellie looked between Summer and Erica; she knew in the back of her mind Erica wanted all those things. But she knew Erica put work before everything else in her life because she had goals and she wanted to accomplish them. She understood it and respected it. “I love kids” she said finally to everyone “I can’t wait to have a kid of my own personally” she said softly as she sipped from her glass.
Summer looked at Erica and she shifted slightly. “Some women just don’t…” she said knowingly, she knew plenty of women that simply didn’t want kids. At Erica’s next comment, Summer’s neck jerked back slightly, and she looked at the woman across the table, a bit of hurt flashing across her face before she picked up her glass and gulped down the remainder of the wine. “Excuse me,” she said as she sat the glass back down and stuff up, moving away from the table quickly. She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, pressing her back against the door.
Josiah looked across the table at Summer and Ellie, watching the blonde as she guzzled down her drink before she excused herself rushing off quickly. He looked at Erica, then at Ellie, a bit confused by Summer’s sudden excusal before he nodded at Ellie. “I definitely want a kid or two but like Erica said, we’re surely just in the dating phase. Though, I do see a future between us,” he told Erica, looking at her as he took her hand and gave it a squeeze, “we’re just taking things slow.”
Erica watched Summer leave with a raised brow before she bit into her cupcake, savoring the taste of it. “I love this” she told her sister easily before she looked at Josiah and she smiled brightly at him. He took her hand and squeezed it, and she sat the cupcake down against the table leaning in to kiss his lips again. “So sweet” she said against his lips “I won’t mind pushing out two of your chocolate babies” she told him with a wide grin.
Ellie looked at the two and smirked at them, her sister really liked this guy and this guy really liked her. Wow. She never thought she’d see the day her sister actually found someone she could see herself settling down and having kids with. She looked towards the bathroom and then back at them.
Summer stood in the bathroom, her heart racing in her chest as she began to breath hard. Erica didn’t know. She couldn’t know and if she did why would she be so cruel and say something like that to her. She licked her lips slowly, shaking her hands out a bit as her fingertips started to go numb. She needed to calm down. Letting out a harsh breath, she moved to the sink and she splashed a bit of cool water on her face before patting it dry. “Okay…” she said softly to herself as she pulled it together, her skin a bit flush red. She blinked slowly at her reflection before she tossed the paper towel in the trash and moved back out into the dining space with everyone. She sat back down at the table and looked across at Erica.
Josiah smiled softly at Erica and he chuckled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m light skinned,” he joked softly. As Summer sat back down at the table, he looked across at the woman and asked, “are you alright?”
Erica snorted at Josiah and said “hush” playfully to him as Summer returned. She broke a piece of the cupcake off and popped it into her mouth chewing lightly. “You good?” she asked her.
Ellie snorted at Josiah, so far, she didn’t mind the guy so that was a good thing. As Summer returned and everyone spoke, she looked at her tilting her head expectantly.
“I’m fine,” Summer said softly as she dropped her gaze from Erica to look down at her basically empty plate. She licked her lips before she picked it up and moved into the kitchen, scraping what she didn’t finish into the trash before she looked back at Ellie saying, “I’m going to take this out when we’re all done,” easily, knowingly.
Josiah nodded slowly at Summer’s response before he looked at Erica a bit confused. He then turned his eyes to Ellie, saying, “and now let me try a cupcake,” as he looked down at the one Erica placed before him. “You wanted to open a bakery so I’m going to critique this very harshly,” he said playfully as he picked it up and peeled paper back before he took a bite. He’s eyes grew wide and he looked at Ellie, nodding approvingly as he chewed. “That’s good,” he said, covering his mouth with his hand.
Ellie watched Summer closely and she said nothing as Josiah spoke, she smirked. “It's alright, I’ll take it down tonight” Ellie waved off looking back at Summer and then to Erica. As the man critiqued the cupcake, she chuckled at him “thank you” she said softly. “There’s pies and cinnamon rolls too” she told them. “Babe are you gonna try a sweet potato cupcake?” she asked looking back at Summer.
Erica looked at Summer and then at Josiah, when he tried the cupcake she smirked. “Best in LA” she told him easily as she finished her own cupcake, sitting the paper down on her plate.
Summer nodded at Ellie before she placed her plate in the sink to be cleaned later. She pressed her hands against the counter there, closing her eyes for a moment before she looked back at Ellie, shaking her head. “Uh, no… I’m so full,” she said to Ellie, “maybe later…” she told the woman before she moved back to the table slowly, sitting down. She sat back, clearing her throat a bit. Her mind was running a mile a minute.
Josiah chuckled softly as he took another bite of the cupcake. He looked over at Erica, nodding with a small smirk as he wiped a bit of icing from his mustache. “For sure, the best cupcake I’ve ever tasted,” he said looking over at Ellie.
Ellie looked at Summer again and she furrowed her brows at her before she turned back to the other couple. “Thanks” she added again before she looked at Summer as she sat down. “You guys are more than welcome to take some with you guys” she told them quietly.
Erica looked at Summer again before she looked at the time on her watch, “well look at the time” she said with a smile. “I promised aunt Toya that I would stop by and let her read Josiah” she said with an eye roll. “You know she thinks she’s a damn gypsy” she chuckled as she got up from the table. “I would have visited mom and dad but… you know” she said to her easily.
Summer avoided Ellie’s eyes as she sat there, and she looked across the table at Erica and Josiah with a small nod.
Josiah looked at Erica, then looked at Ellie asking, “should I be worried,” with a chuckle as he got up from the table as well. He placed his hand on the small of Erica’s back, rubbing her there gently. “This was lovely Ellie and Summer, thank you,” he said with a smile.
Ellie looked at her sister and she smirked with a chuckle and a headshake. “No” she said easily “Toya is cool” she said to him easily, of course she would. She is her favorite. “She just likes to get a feel for the people in our lives” she said to him. “Thanks for visiting us” she said as she stood up as well. “Did you guys want to take anything?” she asked them both curiously.
Erica smirked at Josiah and looked at Ellie as she explained the situation to him. “Yeah, Toya is wild” she added as she finished off her wine again, in a few guzzles. “No, no” she said to Ellie “I may drop by and steal some tomorrow or something” she told her. “Thanks for having us” she told her sister as she grabbed her plate and Josiah’s plate, moving them into the kitchen. “Everything was perfect,” she added.
Summer looked across the table at Erica and Josiah as they stood up to leave and Summer stood up alongside Ellie. She was in and out of the conversation, because her mind was running all over the plate. However, she did catch the tidbit about Toya, and she looked at Ellie, “so… I guess I’ll be meeting her soon?” she asked questioningly before she looked back at Erica and she nodded. “You’re welcome…” she said softly.
Josiah looked at Ellie and he nodded a bit with a small smile before he looked at Erica. “I just got two different answers about this aunt,” he chuckled. “Cool or wild, which is it?” he joked as Erica moved their plates to the kitchen. His eyes traveled over to Summer’s younger sister asleep on the couch and he chuckled. “When she wakes, tell her I said it was a pleasure to meet her and the same goes for you two as well,” he smiled.
Ellie looked at her sister squinting lightly before she told Josiah “we should let you decide” easily as she moved towards the kitchen, looking back at Summer. “Yeah babe, I’ve been meaning to do that” she told her, she had been and just didn’t take out the time. “I will make sure I pack you some food up and some desserts” she told her sister.
Erica looked at Ellie and then to Josiah at his words, the woman grabbed her bag and moved to grab his coat for him. She pulled it out of the closet and held it out to him gently “thank you, thank you” she grinned, Ellie spoiled her. “I will come by after work tomorrow” she grinned before she looked at Summer. “Same here” she said after Josiah.
Summer shifted on her feet as she looked at Erica and Josiah. Looking over at Ellie, she nodded slowly, pressing her hands into the table a bit as she stood there. She needed to talk to Erica, but now was not the time.
Josiah moved with Erica as she made her way to the door and he took his jacket, slipping it back on easily. He looked at Erica, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her jawline. “I can’t wait to do this again,” he said as he opened the door, stepping out of the apartment.
Ellie looked at Summer, eyeing her oddly before she looked at her sister and Josiah “agreed” she said to her with a wide grin, a smirk on her lips. Everything worked out she guessed.
Erica allowed Josiah to kiss her and she smirked, she watched him walk out of the apartment and she looked back to Ellie and Summer. “Well” she said softly to them. “I really am sorry” she told both them, she moved to Ellie wrapping her up in a hug. “And I love you” she told the younger girl as she pecked her forehead. “And you too” she smirked at Summer, rolling her eyes. She moved away from Ellie to her, giving the taller woman a hug as well.
Summer took a breath before she moved around the table, walking towards the door. She leaned against the wall, looking over at Erica and Josiah as Erica said her final goodbyes and apologized once more. “It’s okay,” she said softly as she leaned up to hug Erica, whispering to her, “I’ll call you later,” before she pulled away. She looked at Ellie, walking over to her and wrapping her up.
Josiah stood there, watching the women hug and say their goodbyes. “See y’all later,” he waved with a hum. He smiled softly, actually having enjoyed the time. As Erica moved back for him, he pulled her close. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered as he moved to walk away with her.
Erica nodded at Summer saying “okay” to her quickly before she moved out the door. She looked up at Josiah and smiled “thanks” she breathed quietly. “Thank you so much,” she told him as she walked alongside him. “And thank you for coming with me,” she told him lovingly. “It meant the world to me” she said softly looking up at him.
Ellie watched her sister and Summer, with a smirk as the woman and her boyfriend left. She looked at Summer again and she furrowed her brows “what was that?” she asked her. “What is wrong?” she whispered looking at Summer.
Summer watched Ellie close the door behind her and she looked at her, tilting her head to the side a bit at her first question before she waved her off. “I’m fine,” she said softly. “Let’s clean up,” she suggested as she moved for the kitchen.
Ellie looked at Summer and she tilted her head back at her. She locked the door behind them and moved further into the space. “Tell me” she said to her softly “why did you run out like that?” she breathed.
Summer moved into the kitchen, grabbing containers from the cabinets to place the leftover food in. She looked back at Ellie and sighed, “I had to use the bathroom,” she said softly.
Ellie looked at her and she tilted her head at her again “Summer” she said angrily. “We aren’t keeping secrets in this relationship,” she told her. “And I got about 3 million dollars’ worth of reason,” she said seriously. “What did she say to you that has bothered you?” she asked.
Summer kept her back to Ellie as she rinsed out the containers. She listened to Ellie and she shook her head slightly. “Ellie…” she turned to look at her slightly. “I don’t want to talk about it…” she said.
As she refused to speak to her Ellie shook her head “fine” she said grabbed the box the decorations were packaged in and she moved to the table, tossing the fragile porcelain in. She was so pissed off she could kick Summer out of her apartment, but she didn’t for the sake of Wynter. However, you did hear how pissed how she was with every broken piece and ever, slam of glass against another.
Summer flinched slightly as Ellie began snatching up the decorations and throwing them into the boxes. She turned to her fully, shock etched across her face. “Stop,” she said as she moved for Ellie, wrapping her up. “What is wrong with you?” she said looking at her baffled.
Ellie looked at Summer “don’t touch, let me go” she told her upset with Summer. She tosses the box down against the ground and moved to walk away from her and she moved into her bedroom, closing her door.
Summer let Ellie go as she asked her to, looking down at the box on the floor as Ellie stormed away. Summer stood there for a bit, just staring down at all of the broken pieces before she grabbed a trash bag and began to collect them, salvaging what she could. How was Ellie mad at her for simply not walking to talk about something. It was her own something to talk about.