Page 33 of Adonis Gates

The cooking class was taking place in an open-air pavilion that was located on the resort. It overlooked the sea giving us a beautiful view. The breeze also carried the smell of sea salt and hibiscus through the air. There were long wooden prep tables set up with cutting boards, the utensils we’d need for the class, bowls of fresh produce, and a variety of spices.

Since we signed up for the class ahead of time, the aprons had our names on them. My eyes glided over the empty spaces for my name. When I found it, I stepped up to the spot and slipped my apron on, anxious for the class. As I readied myself, my eyes scanned everything in front of me—peppers, bundles of plantains and fresh bunches of thyme.

“It’s almost too pretty to cut, right?” the lady that was next to me said.

Smiling, I nodded as I tied my apron behind my back. “I was literally thinking that.”

“Rhea.” She extended a hand which I accepted.

“Jruelle, but you can call me Jru.”

“Jru,” she smiled. “Are you from around here?”

I shook my head. “I live in Atlyn City.”

“Shut up!” her smile widened. “That’s home for me too. I was born and raised there.”

“Wow, small world.”

“Definitely.”

The instructors voice pulled our attention from the conversation. She’d begun welcoming everyone and explaining the recipes we’d tackle. Once she’d given the first set of instructions, we started chopping the veggies in front of us and fell into another small conversation.

“Are you here on a girl’s trip or something?” I asked as I slid the chopped peppers into the bowl in front of me.

She shook her head. “Nope. My family staged an intervention—said I was too deep into work, so they planned this trip, took my laptop, and put me on a plane,” she laughed. “I was mad at first, but after getting here,” she looked around then her eyes settled on me. “I get it. I do work a lot, and hard too, but I never enjoy the fruits of my labor.”

“I get that. I needed a reset myself. Little bit of quiet. Little bit of fun.”

“Exactly.”

We continued small talk while we finished preparing the meal together, which turned out to be good. I was excited to go home and make it for my family. After we were done with the class Rhea asked what else I had planned, so I ran my itinerary down to her. I still decided to finish the rest of my day solo. We’d both come to the island to achieve something for ourselves, so Ididn’t want to steer away from that. She was, however, a really sweet person so I hoped to get up with her back home.

Chapter Eleven

Adonis.

“Damn,” my brother mumbled, grabbing my attention.

His little ass was supposed to be showing me some fucking shoes he’d wanted, but he was obviously doing some mo’ shit on my phone. Reaching over, I snatched my phone from him to see what the hell his ass was looking at.

Tina: **two attachments**

Tina: It’s been a while. Come take care of us.

“Tina know she fine as hell,” he shook his head.

Smacking the back of his head, I said, “quit fuckin’ cursin’ and lookin’ through my shit nigga.”

“You ain’t got up with her in a lil’ minute.”

“You don’t know what I don’ did, lil nigga.” I chuckled. “I’m chillin’ though. Tina want to be with a nigga and that ain’t happening.”

“Right because you stuck on fine ass Jru.”

“Nigga.” I popped him on the back of his head again.

“My bad, bro.” He laughed trying to duck.