Lo returns with a cute pink coffee mug piping with something hot. I can see the steam rising from the top.
“Google him,” she tells Siobhan. “Othello Kingston.”
Siobhan gets to work and then seconds later, “Oh my, yes.Hellyes. He looks like Kofi Siriboe.”
Lo clocks it, and I shake my head giggling.
“This man is waving a giant green flag in your face, and you're still resisting?” asks Siobhan. Her face is etched in puzzlement.
“Right!” Lo exclaims. “Open up, girl! Your heart and your legs.”
“You are terrible,” I smile.
“But are we right?” they shriek in perfect harmony, once again operating on the same brainwave.
“Okay, you guys are freaking me out. Stop with this Tia and Tamara thing.”
They crack up.
“I would take advantage of this fake dating thing if I were you and adjust those rules,” Lo admits. “Let Othello kiss you all over.”
“And even if things don’t work out with you two, at least we have an exclusive withMod,” Siobhan notes. “This is definitely going to remind people not to sleep on us.”
“That part,” Lo agrees. “Honestly, I’m here for all this. The job opportunity and this budding romance with Sky Bae.”
I roll my eyes. “I swear, y’all are the worst.”
“You love us,” they say in unison.
28
jungle house
MARLEY
We return to the deep,lush, exotic woods of the Jungle House, but with the sky turned to night, the mansion takes on a completely different vibe. It looks purely magical, nestled between towering trees, thick vines, and wild, exotic flowers drenched in shadows and soft, golden light. Lanterns and fairy lights hang from the plants and trees like low-hung stars, flickering against the dark leaves. It reminds me of a glowing glass jewel box.
“Damn, this is unreal,” Othello says in astonishment.
He literally takes the words right out of my mouth, which is slightly hanging open. Needless to say, the scene alone puts my taking off earlier behind us.
He rolls the Mustang to a smooth stop in the half-moon driveway. Valet rushes over, and we climb out of the car, still in awe and admiring the mansion.
“It must be nice to have a vacation home like this.”
“I’m telling you.”
As we cross the threshold into the glass-wrapped villa, a high-pitched squeal cuts through the Caribbean music playing from inside.
“You made it!”
Carina, dressed in a whimsical white wrap dress that’s one wind gust away from a wardrobe malfunction, seems to float towards us with a look on her face that says she’s had one too many drinks.
She gives Othello a demure look. “Ozzy!” And then, facing me, she pulls me into a hug.
“Marley!” She smiles brightly.
“Hi Carina. You look amazing,” I offer.
