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Cassie laughed. “You are crazy.”
Callie threw her arm around Cassie’s shoulder and led them down the stairs. “Now, if you didn’t have those big boobs of yours, I would let you borrow some of my fancy lingerie I got at my bachelorette party that’s totallynotme. How’d you get such big, natural boobs on that tiny body of yours, anyway?”
“And ridiculous. Did I mention you’re ridiculous, too?”
“You know you love me.”
Cassie pulled her friend in for a hug. “You know I do.”
Callie broke out of her hug. “Wanna know another secret?”
“That you love me, too?”
“Even better. I think there’s a handsome, buff, sexy, athletic, fantastic dad upstairs who does, too. Just don’t let him know I spilled the beans.”
-------------------------
Jamal walked down the stairs in search for Cassie. The staircase was surrounded by pale turquoise walls that reminded Jamal of the ocean were filled with black and white pictures in frames of all shapes and sizes. Some featured Kyle in various action shots on the court. Others were filled with the smiling trio of Cassie, Callie and Aria. JJ held several frames. Of course there were several from Kyle and Callie’s wedding, but Jamal’s favorite was a picture of Callie as a newborn, her mother holding her in the hospital bed, Max leaning down to kiss his newborn daughter’s head as Callie’s mom looked at them in love.
“You like what we’ve done with the place?” Kyle was waiting for Jamal at the bottom of the staircase, leaning against the wood and wrought-iron spindle bannister.
“Sure beats the last time I was here, helping you move in a bazillion boxes of wedding presents and new furniture. But yes,” Jamal said, plopping himself down on the dark gray couch facing the floor to ceiling white rock fireplace, “It’s nice.”
Kyle sat down on the gray and white striped couch perpendicular to Jamal’s. “Yeah, Cal did a good job with it. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell all the renovations would be ready before the wedding.”
Kyle and Callie had bought an old Craftsman style house within walking distance of the University of Oklahoma’s football stadium. Originally built in 1924, it had been converted to a duplex and rented to campus students for years. Kyle and Callie had gotten it for a great price from the landlord who had gotten tired of having to put money into what he deemed a ‘college student money pit.’
“I love how well you guys preserved all the old details,” Jamal said. “It’s really impressive.” All the thick crown molding, elaborate door frames and tall baseboards reminded Jamal of his house. Callie had even found several old doors from an estate sale at a Victorian house in Nichols Hills where Jamal lived in Oklahoma City and turned them into antique pantry doors and even barn door sliding closet doors. Everything throughout the house was white, turquoise, black or gray.
“Yeah, my wifey worked pretty hard on it,” Kyle said, putting his hands behind his head as he leaned back into the couch. “I don’t know why I should be surprised that she finished everything.”
“That’s what I was about to say. Do youknowyour wife? Because there was no way she was moving in after your honeymoon without everything being finished. All the decorations and furniture puts the finishing touch on everything.”
Kyle smiled. “She’s pretty amazing.” Kyle looked up the staircase. “Is JJ asleep?”
Jamal snorted. “Uh, no. Why would she be asleep at your house this early? It’s the weekend, buddy. You’ll be lucky if you get in bed at two.”
Kyle’s eyes widened as he shook his head. “I’d forgotten how late she likes to stay up.”
“Don’t worry. The only good thing about it is she will sleep ‘til noon.”
Kyle laughed. “That’s a good thing. I’m getting too old for late nights. And I’m not even thirty.”
“You and me both, man,” Jamal replied. “She should be down shortly. I’m making her brush her teeth and put on pj’s. Then she will be down here challenging you to a game of air hockey in that awesome game room of yours.”
“You really going to take Cassie out on a date?”
“Absolutely. All we’ve ever done together has been kid related. I love how she’s so great with JJ and all and Ithinkthere’s chemistry-” Jamal stopped at the look on his friend’s face. “Ok, Iknowthere’s chemistry there. But you know me. I’ve never been the type to do casual, no matter how the media likes to portray me. I don’t know, man. I just feel something for this girl that, I don’t know. It scares me.”
Kyle stared at him.
“What?” Jamal asked. “Here I am, sharing my feelings and you’re being all weird and making me feel like a total cheese ass.”
Kyle laughed. “First of all, I don’t think that’s a word. Second of all, welcome to the club man.” Kyle held out his hand to Jamal.
“Why are we shaking hands? What club?” Jamal asked.
“The club of men whose women have them by the balls and they ain’t afraid to admit it.”
