“Calm down. It’s not a slight.” Kiano chuckled. “My parents have had me in therapy for most of my life. It’s good to help figure out healthy communication and talk shit out with someone unbiased. It couldn’t hurt to talk about not being in survival mode all the time.” Kiano looked at Stone as he spoke then turned to me. “And I don’t think it would hurt for you to unpack some of the shit you had to see growing up.”
I exhaled. “I’ll consider it.”
“Good.” He took a hit from the joint then offered it to Stone. “What do you think?”
Stone took the joint, shook his head, then took a hit.
“Look, if y’all want to do couple’s counseling or if there is a support group or something, I’d try it out, but I’m good on the one-on-one thing.” He took another hit then offered it to Kiano. “I don’t think having a hustler mentality requires therapy."
“I never said it did.” Kiano gave him a dazzling smile. “I’m just saying I think everyone can gain something from therapy.” He shrugged.
“I’m not writing it off. I’ll even look into it but I think I’m good.”
“Looking into it is a lot more than some people,” I offered.
“It is and we’re proud of you,” Kiano said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Stone waved us off.
We talked a little bit more about random things as we finished smoking then cut all the lights out and settled into bed.
Kiano and Stone had quickly become constants in my life. Stone did my morning run with me when he slept over and Kiano came along when I got my weekly pedicures. Kiano and Stone both worked Monday through Friday while I didn’t, so I was able to film, do cam work, and get anything done that I didn’t want to drag them along for.
I sighed contentedly, wrapped between them.
“I love you guys,” I muttered.
“What?” Kiano ran his thumb over my bare hip.
“Say that again,” Stone whispered.
“I love you guys,” I echoed.
“That’s what I thought you said.” Kiano kissed the side of my head and I looked back so he could kiss my lips. “I love you too.”
I smiled against his mouth but faced forward in time to kiss Stone too.
“I love you too, baby,” he said.
“I know.”
He swatted me and I giggled as I snuggled into them and closed my eyes.
The sound of my phone ringing was what pulled me from the best sleep I’d ever gotten. Stone shifted to reach for it.
“It’s Rene,” he grumbled.
I jerked up in bed and took the phone from his hand. The fact that it was nearly three in the morning had alarm bells going off. I answered immediately.
“Are our parents okay?” I asked.
“What the fuck are you doing, doing porn, Jiselle?” Rene barked.
I blinked a few times in the darkness of the room.
“What?” I forced a little laugh.
“Why the fuck are people texting me that they can see your entire naked ass online for ten fucking dollars, Jiselle?”