The Sweetest Love — Selimah

Selimah

After dinner, we went to the hot tub. As the water filled the tub, Malik and I changed, and he refilled our wine glasses. We sat across from one another his heated gaze setting me on fire as the wine from earlier coursed through my bloodstream. I kicked my legs through the warm water lazily while nodding my head to the music he had playing from his phone. For the first time tonight, there were no words shared between us, just intense staring.

Whenever I looked away, his eyes stayed on me, making my stomach flutter. I snuck another glance his way, and he nodded his head beckoning me to come to him. Bashfully, I shook my head and moved over. Now we sat diagonal from each other. A sexy, mischievous smile covered his features as he grabbed my leg, pulling me to him. My giggles filled the air, and my head fell back. As I mounted over his lap, he kissed my collar bone.

"Remember the time we snuck and got in your parents' hot tub?" I asked with a smile.

We were sixteen, and his father had just gotten it installed on their newly renovated deck. His father raved to my father about it for weeks until we finally came over for a grand tour. It was my first time ever seeing one in person, while I did find it interesting, I wasn't pressed to use it. But Malik, on the other hand, couldn't wait until his parents were gone long enough for him to get in. When our parents went out for their monthly double date, it was the perfect opportunity for us to see if it was as much of a big deal as Papa Tim made it seem.

He continued to kiss me, the rumbling from his laughter vibrating against my neck caused chills.

"Yeah," he finally said. "They were so mad we didn't drain it afterward."

"You were supposed to drain it, not me."

We lost track of time, and our parents returned to find us in the hot tub. The Thompsons were too busy fussing Malik out to remember to drain out the water. Malik got in more trouble than I did because everyone knew he was the one who orchestrated everything. Like always, I was just his accomplice.

He was put on punishment for a week. They took his phone and car keys so, we didn't speak or hang out for a week. Basketball season saved him from being 100% confined to his room. It sucked because it basically meant I was on punishment too. I had other friends, but Malik was the one I spent most of my free time with there was never a dull moment with us

"Your mom swore we did something that night."

"Nah, she thought I was trying to seduce you."

Thinking back, it did look inappropriate. We had a playlist with old school R&B playing, the porch light was the only lighting, and I was in his lap, making it seem cozier than it really was. But it wasn't anything sexual. I did think he was cute; his arms were toned and muscular from his strict workout regiment, his abs were forming a six-pack, and his mustache has started to grow in with peach fuzz growing on his chin. That night I began to look at him differently. I rationalized the new feelings as my raging teenage hormones. Because there was no way, I was thinking of Malik that way. We’d been friends since the age of five.

 He was my best friend.

The one man —aside from my father— that I trusted with my life

And the only guy friend I had who hadn't tried anything.

Back then, being attracted to him seemed inconceivable. And there was no way he found me attractive, I was shy, lanky Selimah who'd just started to grow boobs and a little curve in my hips. Our familiarity with one another was like second-nature but made our parents keep a closer eye on us while we remained oblivious to the fact that best friends didn't act that way.

"I mean, you did have slow jams playing." I teased.

"Man, you always complained when I played rap music, so I made that playlist for you."

While wrapping my arms around his neck, I replied, "I'm just saying, I could see why Mama T was trippin'. You were always up to no good."

His fingers gripped my waist before lowering to my butt.

"Like now," I whispered against his lips before kissing him.

He chuckled lowly while his fingers glided up my rib cage to my back. The strings of my top loosened from him tugging on them.

"Oh, I'm definitely up to no good right now."