"Magic carpet ride
See it don't have to last forever
I know we shouldn't fly so high
But the closer to the sun… the better
See I want to make you feel the fire,
while I burn you with my bad days,
Ooo want to be unsatisfied, (sure)
you can feel the heat comin' from me...baby.

What would I do if we were perfect,
where would I go for disappointment,
words without hate would leave me nothin' else to say"

Van Hunt—"Down Here in Hell (With You)

Sabine dunked her head under the rush of water that charged at her body.

The photographer that Maverick Innovative Sports hired for her photoshoot in France was a jovial Filipino Brazilian with an eye for color and action shots. She did her best to avoid slamming her board on top of his head as she passed by his water-protected lens as he floated in the sea of the South Brittany Coast. Maverick was pushing her to appear in as many surfing locations globally to gear up for her ascension into the Pro Tour. Once again, they were dangling swimsuit launches, partnerships with outside products to sponsor, and even a push toward having her appear in the Olympics when surfing became a legit sporting event in four years.

The pressure on her to be perfect was heavy and she tried her best to do what they asked when they asked, even if it meant leaving Erik at a moment's notice. Sabine was grateful that he understood the life. He lived it himself, and he also understood the pressure of being a hot young commodity that brought in money. Even though Sabine hadn't reached her professional zenith yet, she was just now becoming a name for other Pros to look out for and fear. She had already made the company money by being the new wave of surfers making highlight-reel names in the sport.

Her face marketed Maverick wetsuits and sales went up. Her face marketed a sports drink and sales went up. She had recently signed on to be the face of a new brand of water socks and beach sandals and the stock in those companies rose. Maverick really pushed the idea of her being the new inclusive and diverse face of surfing, and she understood that Blackness was hot at the moment especially with so many companies being dragged for not appearing to be anything less than white-centered. Sabine accepted the role. It paid her well, and it also encouraged more people who looked like her skin color to take up the sport. Jean Fouche could very well say he was a champion of diversity, but the bottom line was that he was a capitalist too, and bringing in new blood brought in more money. Sabine did that for him, and he was waiting for the day when he could do an entire campaign celebrating her entry to the big show. That's when the real money would come in. It was an open secret that Jean Fouche was pushing her to be the female Killmonger.

Sabine felt that she was ready.

Erik's coaching and her strict adherence to diet, exercise, and practice heats every day had her itching to break away from all the qualifying showings she had to do to prove her worth. Everyone knew she was ready to go against the top female surfers. Erik even made comments that she could serve heat to the men in the game too. His own tour year was hot. He won first place in Bali and there was rumbling in the surf league that he could become the world champion again at the end of the year, bringing him closer to Slater's record.

Knowing that Erik was doing well was the only thing that kept her happy when they were apart so much. Her anger with Calista had subsided once she knew the truth. She still felt the woman had a long way to go to become healthy and whole, but at least Erik had the children with him and his family. Sabine did her best to keep her at bay. Calista lived in another city. They didn't have contact with one another. Thankfully, Erik started allowing the children to fly up with Yvette when it was time for visitations so that they could have a few days together alone. Their sex was better. Their quality time was better. Seeing the children happy, healthy, and thriving was the icing on the cake. Summer vacation had started and Sabine sent money to Asia and Yolanda to do weekend surf clinics for girls while she was away. Marina was still employed with them and Sabine could see the growth in maturity. Erik's daughter had turned eleven and Sabine sat in awe sometimes remembering her first encounter with Marina as a shy and quiet little pixie. To see her become a gregarious weekend teacher to other girls and to also witness her evolve into a serious surf competitor made Sabine cry sometimes. Baby shark was becoming her own dynamic personality.

A month after her birthday, Marina received her first sponsorship from Nike. She was so proud to do her first ad campaign in Los Angles with Lebron James and her father. She was photogenic and Nike loved that she looked like Erik. They played up the entire Girl Dad angle with them, and Sabine was breezing through an airport in Spain when she saw a print ad with Erik and Marina in an airport shop. It was the cutest thing in the world to see baby shark with the same competitive expression on her face that matched Erik's famous mean-mugging when he tamed the waves. The ad campaign was a big hit, to say the least.

One of the biggest changes to their lives was that Erik sold the La Jolla house. He was paid two times what he shelled out for it and put the money in a trust fund for the children. They would receive half of it at age eighteen when they went to college, and the rest would be given to them on their twenty-first birthday. Now that he had full custody, he made sure the children were set for life so there was no confusion if anything ever happened to him.

Deuce became involved in his school activities and was commissioned by his Principal to paint a new mural for a wall in the lunch area of his school. His futurist idea for the mural was chosen over 200 entries and he was gearing up to paint the wall when he returned from Oakland. Papi was impressed too and asked Deuce to paint a new mural outside of the restaurant on the wall that faced the parking lot.

Sabine ate a quick lunch on the beach as she watched the photographer fiddle with his camera inside the waterproof housing. Stacy came over to Sabine and handed her a small package that was forwarded to her from Spain.

"It's here!" she exclaimed as she pulled out the platinum grill she had customized for herself.

It started off as a joke purchase because she was so in love with the picture of Erik flaunting his grill that hung in his home office. Stacy watched her put them over her teeth after she rinsed her mouth with water.

"Where are you going?" Stacy shouted as Sabine ran back to the water with her board.

"Come on, man. I got some real pictures to take," she said flashing her teeth at the photographer.

"Paulo Danilo," he said.

"Huh?"

"Paulo. My name is Paulo Danilo," he said.

Sabine nodded and flopped on top of her board as Paulo followed behind her in his wetsuit and fins. The waves kicked up and Sabine carved out some nice turns. She skimmed down into a gorgeous tube and Paulo was right there as she ran her fingers against the green wall before he disappeared under a deluge of foamy white water to avoid getting clipped.

When her work was done, she thanked the crew and peeled out of the royal blue Maverick wetsuit she was hawking, and rode off with Stacy to go eat and sleep. The nap didn't last long because she had to catch a flight out of the country.

She was headed to Oakland.

It was time to meet Erik's family.

###

Sabine's mind was kept busy working on her computer as her flight drew near to the West Coast. The year before she had been asked to write her surf blog for Maverick, and now they wanted posts every week instead of once a month. Her latest offering was an update on her Hawaiian seal, Honey, who had been rescued and relocated to her home waters. Word had gotten back to Sabine that Honey was tracked regularly and had some seal pups. The life cycle continued and she posted new pictures of Honey that were sent to her.

As the plane went into its final descent into the Oakland airport, Sabine sat on pins and needles hoping that Erik's family were just as cool as Yvette. She knew from Erik's sister that his mother had concerns about her and Erik's age difference, but that couldn't be helped.

The Anniversary celebration had been postponed until June because of Marina's Nike ad campaign with Erik. It had become so popular that the company wanted more shoots, so her grandparents moved the gathering to the end of the school year so she could travel with Erik.

When Sabine rolled her suitcase down an escalator and saw Erik at the bottom, she started crying.

"What's with the tears?" he asked.

Sabine was tired, nervous, and she missed him.

Throwing her arms around his waist, she pressed her face into his neck and just took in his scent and relaxed into his strong arms.

"I missed you," she murmured.

He wiped her tears away and kissed her nose.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Don't be."

He held her hand and walked her outside where Yvette was waiting at the arrival pick-up area in a maroon Chrysler 300.

"Hey, Miss thang!" Yvette shouted when Erik opened the front passenger door.

No one else was in the car and Sabine gave a sigh of relief. She climbed into the front seat while Erik tossed her suitcase in the trunk then climbed into the back.

"Okay girl, listen…it is hectic at the house. You and Erik are staying in his old bedroom. All the kids are staying all over the living room and den on blow-up beds. It's packed and wild and everyone can't wait to meet you," Yvette said.

Sabine fed into her energy and felt a little better.

Yvette drove them into East Oakland and when they pulled into the driveway of an upper middle class two-story beige and brick red hacienda style home, Sabine could see the chaos. Tons of kids were running around, BBQ smoke was pouring over the backyard fence making her stomach grumble, and there was music blasting George Benson's "Give Me the Night."

Sabine stepped out of the car and Marina gave the loudest scream that made the adults rush out to see what was wrong. Erik's daughter jumped on Sabine and she scooped the girl up and swung her around. The biggest hug greeted her along with long fluffy curls.

"Finally!" Marina shouted giving Sabine the biggest kiss on her cheek.

"I got here as fast as I could!"

"Not fast enough!"

From the corner of her eye, Sabine saw Deuce and a few of his cousins watching her from the front door. A big smile tugged on the corner of his lips, but he was too cool to greet her like Marina. They spoke a few days earlier but it had been ten days since they were all together. She waved at him and he gave her a head nod.

"Mom, Dad…this is Sabine…Sugar. In-person at last," Erik said.

Erik's mother, Tina, known as Grandma GiGi to everyone, walked out of the house with a wide grin on her face. She was medium height, plump, and wore a sophisticated hairdo that made her look younger than her age. Her hair was dyed auburn with a small patch of white at the roots. She was Erik's color and Sabine saw where he got his lips from. His father, Marlon, was super tall, bulky, dark brown-skinned with big teeth and thick curly salt and pepper hair. They both gave Sabine a hug and she felt welcomed into the fold with genuine affection. There had been video chats and quick phone conversations, but this was her very first face to face with them. Tina walked her into the house and gave names to all the people inside who were friendly but obviously curious about her. The house was warm, filled with wall-to-wall family photos, trophies, and tons of Black porcelain figurines that Tina liked to collect that showed Black cultural touchstones. Black women going to church with grand church crowns. Black women in a beauty shop getting their hair pressed. Cherubic Black angels. Black men in a Negro League baseball game. Black men fishing. Chock full of art, framed college degrees from all the siblings, and framed photos of Erik in his early hey-day surfing, Sabine felt ease wash over her. This home was filled with love and pride just like her own family.

"Hungry?" Tina asked her.

"Starving," Sabine said.

She was led to the dining room where there was food set out all across a long oak table where a few people were still eating.

"Help yourself and get comfortable. We'll be eating all day," Tina said.

Sabine grabbed a sturdy paper plate and piled on tender pork ribs, savory baked beans, and red potato salad. Erik brought her a Coke and she sat down and ate like she hadn't eaten food before in her life. She missed the heavy foods from the U.S.

"Enjoy this now," Erik said and she swatted his arm.

Through the noise of the children playing video games and running in and out of the house, the loud shouts of the male relatives in the backyard watching track and field events, and Yvette fussing with Erik's older brother John-John, Sabine felt comfortable in the chaos.

Belly filled and pushing against her tight pants, she made another plate with different food items. She could smell the obvious stench of simmering chitterlings on the stove and she peeked inside a big pot to see what they looked like.

"Hot sauce is right there if you want some," Deuce said walking in with one of his young cousins close to his age.

Sabine stirred the pot and lifted up the contents. Deuce made a disgusted face.

"Chitlins are nasty," he spat.

Sabine decided to sample it even though she was not a fan. It was well seasoned but a bit chewy for her taste. The hot sauce didn't add anything but heat. She covered it with more beans to hide them on her plate for when she threw them away later. Deuce seemed to be in his element around his father's relatives. He and Erik decided not to tell the family about his paternity while they were there. Deuce didn't want his grandparent's anniversary celebration to be overshadowed by the hidden secret. Sabine knew it still bothered him sometimes to know the truth, but Erik showered him with love every step of the way. Erik told Sabine that he suspected that Deuce was ashamed of who his biological Dad was. All Erik could do was give his son the best life possible to help him dismiss any shame he had about his origins.

After eating a second plate, Sabine walked out into the backyard to find Erik with his male relatives and his other younger sister Letrice. Sabine watched Jamaica smoke the U.S. in a relay race on a TV that was placed on top of a folding table near an open window. The Stevens family was Team Jamaica all the way.

When Sabine grew bored watching the TV, she wandered back into the house. Tina and a few of Erik's Aunts sat on a couch and loveseat sipping beer and gossiping. When they saw Sabine, they insisted that she sit with them. She received the usual inquiries about her background and what she enjoyed about surfing. They commented on her latest Maverick ad as Tina passed around her cell phone to show them the pictures of Sabine in various wetsuits. After a few minutes of chatting and getting to know her, she noticed that they were watching her face carefully. Marina walked through the room with Yvette carrying more sodas from the garage to put into the refrigerator.

"How do you get along with their mother?"

Olivia, Erik's eldest Aunt asked the question with a slick look on her face. Tina looked curious too.

"I don't see her at all anymore so I'm good."

There were smirks and titters and Tina folded her hands on her lap.

"Don't let these hens bother you, Sugar," Tina said.

"I'm not bothered. I really don't interact with her."

"I heard that she introduced you to Erik."

Erik's Aunt Claudia had a wide kind face and her question hung heavy in the room. Sabine wiggled in the side chair she was perched in.

"I was Ma-"

"Nah…y'all not about to grill her. Ask me if you want to know something like that," Erik said.

He stood with a beer in his hand eyeing his Aunts and mother.

"We just want to know how you two met," Claudia said.

"She taught Marina in a surf camp. I met her through Marina."

Sabine kept quiet. Erik's voice was pleasant, but she could tell he didn't want his family thinking anything scandalous. He left the room after giving his mother a "Cool it" look.

"We like you, Sugar. Don't think we're starting anything. We can see you've had a good influence on him," Olivia said.

"He acts less stressed," Tina said patting Sugar's leg.

"It's been an interesting year being together," Sugar said.

"Do you two talk about getting married?" Claudia asked.

"Claudia!" Tina snapped.

"What? Don't act like we're not all sitting here thinking that."

Sabine leaned forward in her seat.

"We haven't talked about anything like that."

"If he asked you would you say yes?" Olivia said.

"Marriage really isn't on my mind right now. I'm trying to get into the Pro circuit—"

"But you do want to get married someday, right?"

"Can we let them enjoy each other? You know good and well he's adjusting to having the children on his own," Tina said.

"He'll want to get married again," Olivia insisted.

"Ohmigod, are you grilling Sugar?" Yvette said.

Erik's sister grabbed Sabine's hand.

"Mama, you know better," Yvette said rolling her eyes at her family.

She dragged Sabine away from the women.

"They have been dying to get into your business since you've been here."

"It's okay."

"They're just happy Erik brought home someone easy going. Calista was not fun to have around and stressed everyone out whenever she came up here. He used to run around after her to make sure she was comfortable with us and it got old quick. They like that you act chill."

Yvette looked around them to make sure they were alone in the kitchen.

"Have you and Erik talked about taking the next step?"

"You are as bad as your Aunts!"

"I can't help it. They brought it up and now I'm curious. I know it's too soon, but at the same time…I guess…I guess I'm happy that you make my ridiculous brother happy. We both know he can be larger than life and a bit much. But…I know he wants to settle down the right way. With someone he loves. I know he loves you dearly…and I look amazing in a bridesmaid dress!"

Sabine threw her arm around Yvette.

"Let's give it some time and put all that on pause."

"I'm an even better maid of honor."

"Stop."

"He's going to ask you one day. You might as well be ready."

Sabine walked back outside to check on Erik. He held his hand out to her from his seat and she went and sat on his lap. He rubbed her back and Sabine could feel the eyes of the women on her for the rest of the evening.

###

"How does it feel?" he asked.

Sabine stroked Erik's chest as they rested on his childhood bed. The room was not what she expected. It was very simple. A queen-sized bed. A cherrywood desk and matching swivel chair. One picture of a 1920s East Coast seascape hung over the bed and one poster picture of the Banzai Pipeline from the 60s. So plain and neat.

Sabine expected posters of all the best surfers or centerfolds of hotties from old Hip Hop magazines. The room really didn't have a personality and this was odd for a man with a personality as big as a house. On his dresser was a small display of scrimshaw under glass protection and a tiny ship in a bottle that was a souvenir from New England.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Being here for a full day."

"Good. I think they really like me."

"They love you," he said kissing down her neck.

"Don't," she said pulling away from him.

"Don't?"

"Your parent's bedroom is right next to this one."

"So?"

"They can hear us."

"No they can't."

"I feel weird doing anything in this house like that."

"Ten days, baby…"

Erik kept kissing her.

"I don't have any condoms with me, so I can get a towel…" he whispered in her ear as he fondled her breasts.

Sabine's arousal was fast. Time and distance made her eager for his fingers all over her, but she pushed back on the idea of sex in his parent's house.

"Let's wait until—"

"I don't want to wait. Been too long. I want to be inside of you."

"This bed squeaks."

"It's old."

Erik stepped off of the bed naked and went to the bedroom closet. He pulled a small thin towel from a shelf and brought it over to the bed.

"Lift up," he whispered.

"Erik, we shouldn't…"

That thing dangling between his legs said otherwise.

"You don't want to? If you don't—"

"I do, but…" she cocked her head toward the wall that separated his parent's room from his.

Erik's bed was right up against it.

"They're sleep."

"They could wake up."

He put his hands on his hips.

"Whatchu want me to do then?"

Sabine slipped down from the bed and got on her knees in front of him. The shag carpet cushioned her kneecaps. She wrapped her fingers around the middle of his erection and kissed the glans. His mouth went lax and he swallowed the soft moan that almost spilled from his mouth. With lips and tongue and tiny nips of her teeth grazing the ridge around his tip, Sabine reintroduced herself to her man's dick. Her clit thumped each time Erik stifled a groan by biting his lip and glaring down at her face as her eyes stayed on his. When she dipped the tip of her tongue in his slit a soft, "Ohhhh" left his throat.

"Shh, we can't do this if you get loud, Erik."

His fingers threaded her hair and he guided her throat around his dick.

"Fuck I missed you," he hummed.

Erik pulled out from her mouth and lifted her onto the bed pulling the towel under her backside. Sabine lifted her legs and rested them on his arms.

"Quiet," Sabine said as Erik groaned plunging into her slick opening.

Erik dropped his chest close to hers as his penetration was slow and calculated to create the least amount of bed shaking. He tried his best not to make the bed squeak any louder than it already did as Sabine braced her back. It was no use. The thrusting from his hips and the joining of their bodies made too much noise.

Her knees knocked together when he shifted to sink into her balls deep and she pushed her hands against his firm stomach. The soft line of hairs that led down to his groin from under his belly button was slick with perspiration and her flowing juices.

"This isn't working," she complained and he lifted her up once more.

Sabine clutched onto his back and stared at it from the door length mirror that reflected all his muscles moving from the closed bedroom door. The tiny brown lamp on the nightstand across from them gave a soft glow to Erik's skin. He lifted her higher as he thrust up into her, and Sabine's eyes watched his ass clench and unclench working to give her all of his hot length as he lifted her up and down. His calves flexed, his thighs tightened and she felt tingling pleasure ripple across her flushed skin as he took her with harsh grunts. Circling her arms around his neck, she hooked her ankles together and accepted the hardness pressing inside her walls. There was a beauty on the nape of his thick neck, the width of his shoulders, and the definition all across his chiseled wide back.

"Fuck…Erik…!"

Sabine gasped and tried not to hold her breath from the searing heat stretching her pussy. It was torturous not being able to shout the way she could when they made love alone, and the hard gurgling pants erupting from her mouth couldn't be controlled.

Sweat pooled along her neck and dripped down her back and fell from her breasts from the body heat flaring out from Erik's undulating form. The pressure against her clit piercing forced her to chomp down on her lips as her vaginal walls spasmed around his dick.

"I feel you cumming on me, Sugar," he hissed in her ear as she bit his shoulder to keep from screaming.

The shivers from her body slowed and he gently placed her back on the bed. She held her legs up and open for him as he sank into her and gave her a few more long strokes before he pulled out and fisted his glans.

"Hmmmmmphhh!" he groaned out loud.

Sabine watched white hot ropes of cum spurt all over her stomach. Erik rested his tip against her clit and twisted his fingers around the swollen head forcing the rest of his semen onto her jeweled bud covering it completely. She saw another small spurt jet out from his slit and dangle there for a second before dropping onto her wrecked folds.

They both heard movement in the next room and Sabine smacked his shoulder hard.

"They heard us," she complained.

Erik handed her the towel and helped her clean up his release. His eyes took in all the semen he drenched her with. His chuckle was playful as they both wiped up the pretty mess he made.

"That was a lot. Been saving up for your ass."

His dick was at a half salute and he squeezed the tip again to make sure he got everything out. He stretched his back.

"Fuck that was good," he groaned before taking the towel away and tossing it in a tight bundle on a side chair.

They crawled onto the bed closer to the headboard together and kissed for a long time until he was hard again. He tried nudging her to ride his length, but she denied him. Someone in the next room left it to go to the restroom down the hall.

"Hop on this dick, girl."

"I said no. We already have your parents up."

"Then jerk me off. You made me get like this. You gotta fix it. I want to eat your pussy but you won't let me. At least play with my dick."

"Keep your mouth shut," she begged.

Erik pressed his lips together and she curled her hand around his dick. It was so hot in her grasp. He was an inferno the moment he stepped into the bedroom with her. She gripped him good with long hard strokes so that the bottom of her fist smacked his balls.

"Got me so hard…" he whispered.

Erik squeezed her breasts and manipulated her nipple piercings making her clit stay swollen. His thick fingers dropped down and tugged on her there before dipping down between her thighs and fingering her with sweet deft touches. Her wetness coated his fingers making them slip tight against her walls when he pressed in deeper.

Sabine lowered her face down his midsection and curled her tongue around his frenulum, teasing the sensitive skin just under the cap of his glans.

"Suck that dick, girl…damn…."

Her head bobbed and his groans grew louder. She tried to peel her lips away to tell him to quiet down, but his strong hand pushed her down forcefully, making her throat work even harder for him.

"Fuck…fuck…fuck…" he huffed as he ejaculated in her mouth.

"Erik, people trying to sleep."

Sabine froze with semen all over her lips as Erik's father's voice boomed through the wall behind them.

Erik didn't respond and Sabine buried her head in his thigh filled with embarrassment. They both stayed in the same position for a full five minutes before Erik's body began to shake with laughter.

"Shhhh!" she protested.

Erik grabbed a pillow and threw it over his face while his body shook even harder.

Mortified, Sabine curled up into a ball under the covers facing away from him. When his laughter subsided, he spooned her and stroked her cheek.

"I can't face them tomorrow," she whispered.

"Don't even worry about it."

She turned around to look at him and hated the wide grin she saw on his face.

Erik fell asleep before she did and she spent most of the night fretting about facing Marlon Stevens.

When the colors of the sky began to lighten from black to blue, to pale magenta ushering in a new day, Sabine and Erik awoke to the sound of knocking against the wall behind them. She stared up at Erik's face and he gave her a gummy smile and reached behind them rapping his knuckles hard against the headboard.

"Aye, Daddy… people tryna sleep," Erik called out.

Sabine slapped his chest and covered her mouth to keep her laughter from filling the room.

###

Erik released the bowling ball in his hand and watched it wobble awkwardly down the waxed lane. It slipped from his fingers and he could hear his family clowning him, especially Deuce and his five nephews whose loud cackles pushed against his back.

He turned around once the ball rolled into the gutter.

"Need the gutter guards?" Tina called to him.

Erik saw his mother and Aunts sitting in the back sipping beer and laughing at him.

"All that big talk and you choked!" Sugar teased.

She stood in the next lane with her bowling ball resting on her hip.

"Just go," he said and that made everyone bust up again.

He watched her take her turn and she knocked down eight pins. When his blue sparkly bowling ball popped back up from the return chute, he let his fingers rest over the hand dryer to help his moist fingers gain a little more holding power.

"Mess up again, Dad!" Deuce heckled.

Erik raised the bowling ball to his face and thrust his arm back throwing a nice fast roll. They all heard the crack of the pins as a loud strike redeemed him.

"Now what? Huh?!" he said raising his hands.

Deuce and his nephews waved off his success as they waited for their turns.

The family reserved four lanes and so many relatives came out that it took time to cycle through turns. Marina was on Sugar's team and he watched his daughter go up next. The bowling ball she chose was way too heavy for her, but it was neon pink with white sparkly stars and she insisted on using it. She ended up just rolling it with both hands and actually did pretty good, knocking over six pins.

"We're beating you!" Marina yelped clapping her hands.

Erik glanced at the scoreboard. His mother's team was in the lead, followed by his father's. Erik's team with Yvette was in last place even though he and his sister were the best bowlers.

"I'm carrying my whole team. Have some respect!" he joked.

Marina smirked and rolled her pick-up turn, knocking down only a single pin.

The entire day had been fun and after their bowling outing, they were all heading out to an all-you-can-eat buffet at a five-star hotel to celebrate Tina and Marlon's marriage. Everyone would be leaving back home the next day, and Erik looked forward to flying home with his family and Sugar. They would have two weeks together before he had to fly out for another competition. Sugar would be leaving a couple of days before him.

Erik floated thinking about how accepting his family was with Sugar. His mother had given concern in the beginning. She told him it was too soon to be with anyone new. Too soon to introduce his children to another woman. He thought his mother was worried that he would turn into his brother and create a new family with new babies soon after jumping out of one relationship. John-John juggled two baby mamas and his parents were not happy about it. They didn't want Erik making the same mistake so fast after a contentious two years of escaping Calista.

Sugar's age didn't sit well with his mother either. She worried about so many things that he was pleased when she finally settled in with Sugar being a permanent fixture in his life.

That's what he wanted.

A long-term relationship with her. He still felt like he was courting her because of their erratic schedules and Erik wanted to spend more quality time with her and the children together. They all grew closer since Calista moved to Burbank, the distance between his ex-wife and Sugar creating a buffer of comfort for his woman. He stayed mindful of her feelings about carving out as much time with her alone as he could, and she accepted that there were things beyond his control when he couldn't, especially when it came to Deuce and Marina.

His love for her had deepened and he even found himself thinking of a future as more than just boyfriend and girlfriend. More than a lover.

A real partnership.

Erik didn't let marriage cross his mind too much because he was fresh from a bad one. But Sugar made him see what a good bonding could create. The day before she arrived in Oakland, he sat in his old bedroom looking at wedding bands online. Just daydreaming and thinking about silly things like where he would take her if they had a honeymoon.

He knew it was too soon. He just like imagining a future with her.

Bowling was a smashing success and the dinner afterward was just as entertaining. When they returned to his parent's home the Stevens clan presented Tina and Marlon with a big fancy cake and expensive gifts. His mother cried. His father acted stoic as usual. It was the perfect weekend and Erik was on another joyful high flying home.

Deuce started painting the mural at his school, and while Marina and Sugar surfed together, Erik used his personal downtime to work at the surf shop and shape new boards. He grew accustomed to the new life he was creating…spoiled even. Even Calista's pilot TV show was a smash, and he watched it with the kids while eating popcorn and guzzling soda. Sugar watched it with them, and she stayed pretty quiet throughout.

Calista was indeed made for the show. She looked amazing. Healthy. Talking about modeling, giving out advice to young designers, and demonstrating modeling techniques to newcomers showed what she was good at. Erik could imagine her opening her own modeling agency or being a professional mentor. He had high praise for his ex and the kids were thrilled with how powerful their mother looked on TV.

Calista sent him money for child support, something he didn't ask for. He just added it to their trust fund, but it gave her a sense of being a provider too. He wondered how they would've been had he met this new Calista in the beginning. Would they have stayed together?

He tossed the thought aside. Life had an order and way of unfolding that he just had to embrace. There was no need to think, What if? The past was the past. Sugar was his future.

On a lazy Saturday, Erik stood in the surf shop laying down colored resin on top of a new shortboard he crafted from an idea Sugar gave him. He spent the morning training with Bruce and wanted to finish up two boards that just needed color and his logo added to them.

His cell phone buzzed just as he finished one good coat on a board.

"Hey," he said pulling down his protective mask.

"Marina is acting weird."

Deuce's voice had a slight inflection of concern. Whatever it was, it was important enough for his son to call him.

"Weird how?"

"She won't come out of her room. Mom called. So we all talked to her."

"All of you?"

"Yeah. Sugar got on the phone and told Mom congrats about her show and then went to get our deep dish pizza from Mario's after we got off the phone. I went to eat ice cream in dining room. When I was done, she was upstairs. I thought she was just playing with her dolls, but she's just on her bed."

"Is she sick?"

"No. She won't say anything. Not even to Sugar."

Erik looked at his watch then stared at the board he wasn't finished with.

"I'm going to put another coat on this board I'm finishing up and then I'll be back at the house. If anything changes, call me or have Sugar call me."

Erik stared at his cell after he finished the call.

His mind went back to finishing his task, and the moment he was done, he cleaned up and returned home.

A half-eaten giant pizza was still in its box on the kitchen island waiting for him to take his share of extra cheese, sausage, olives, and mushrooms. He was shocked to see that there was still a lot of pizza left.

"Hey Deuce," he said.

His son raised his head up from the sectional in the family room.

"Where's Marina?"

"She never came out of her room."

"Did she eat?"

"Nope."

"Has she said anything to anyone about what's wrong?"

"Nope."

Erik kicked off his shoes and climbed up the stairs. Sugar stood in Marina's doorway. When she saw Erik's face, relief washed over hers.

"I don't know what's going on with her. She won't talk to me or Deuce. She didn't eat and I know she was hungry for pizza when I called the place."

"Did something go left with the call with Calista?"

"No. Everything was good. I hopped on the phone to be nice. I told her that her show was very entertaining and she was very good as a co-host."

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, Muffin."

It took a long time for Marina to turn her head to look at him. He stepped into her room and walked over to her big canopy blue and white Princess bed.

"What's wrong baby girl?"

Marina's eyes looked past him at Sugar.

"Talk to me," he pleaded.

Her eyes welled up and she buried her face in his lap.

"You have to tell me what's wrong so I can help you."

She shook her head and her body trembled.

Erik turned to look at Sugar and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Can we eat some pizza together?" he asked.

She shook her head.

Sugar left the doorway to give them privacy.

"We're alone. Do you want to tell me something in private?"

Her body trembled and she just wept in his arms.

Erik held her until she fell asleep. He tucked her under the covers and crept downstairs quietly. Sugar and Deuce sat on the sectional and their faces showed great concern when they saw him.

"I can't get anything out of her. Deuce, what exactly did you all talk about on the phone? She was fine before the call, right?"

"Yeah. Mom called the landline, I answered it. I called Marina to the phone. Sugar was sitting right next to us when we all talked."

"Nothing weird was said or I would've heard it, Erik. That landline is loud," Sugar insisted.

"We got done talking. Sugar left. I went to eat ice cream. She was in here watching TV."

"Did something come on TV to upset her?"

"It's the cartoon network, Dad."

"She didn't want to eat and we ordered her favorite pizza," Sugar lamented.

"Well, she's asleep now. Maybe she'll tell us when she wakes up. I just don't get it."

Erik sat next to Sugar wringing his hands together.

"Go eat something," Sugar said.

Erik went into the kitchen and grabbed a large slice of pizza and heated it in the microwave. He ate at the dining room table, but he could barely taste anything. Cleaning off his plate in the sink, he returned to the family room to check on Deuce. His son was playing a video game and Sugar was on her laptop. It looked like she was working on her Maverick blog because her face was scrunched up in deep concentration.

Heading back to the second floor, Erik checked in on Marina again. She had shifted her body in her sleep and he could see her face with the nightlight ladybug on her nightstand. His daughter was not having a restful slumber. He sat next to her and stroked her forehead. Sugar peeked in on them again.

"Still sleeping?" she whispered.

He nodded and adjusted the blankets around Marina. Stepping over to Sugar, Erik put an arm around her waist.

"I feel like I should call Calista," he said.

"I don't know what she could tell you that Deuce and I didn't."

"Surfing was good with you two?"

"It was fine. She worked on her 360s and we talked about getting a new leash for her board."

Erik spent the rest of his evening reading in his office before he turned in. Sugar was already tucked under the covers fast asleep.

The next morning didn't bring improvement in Marina's behavior. She joined them for breakfast with a blank face as she picked over the eggs and bacon Sugar fixed for everyone. Deuce did his best to engage her with talk about their upcoming trip to Rio to see Erik compete in Brazil. Everyone was thrilled to go because Sugar made arrangements for Marina to meet Belmira who was on fire on the Women's Pro circuit. There were plans to surf together and have a girl's day of shopping, lunch, and showing Marina the world of Pro women in the sport.

Marina's lack of enthusiasm was worrying and she spoke in halting sentences when she did answer anything, but it was her behavior toward Sugar that was ominous. She wouldn't speak to her at all.

Sugar cracked jokes, asked questions about what Marina wanted to do the rest of the day and his daughter just stared at her plate and broke her bacon up into tiny bits. She stuck a few pieces in her mouth as Sugar rattled off things they could all do and it was like she was speaking to a brick wall. Eventually, Sugar gave up and put away her plate leaving them in the dining room.

"Baby girl, that was rude—"

"Can I go to my room?" she whispered.

"What's up with you?" Deuce said, his face perplexed and leaning toward being annoyed.

"Can I go to my room?"

"Do you want any more food?"

"No."

"Okay. Go on up. I want to talk to you later," Erik said.

He watched her leave the table without putting away her plate.

Deuce shrugged his shoulders at Erik.

"I tried talking to her when she got up, but she just refused to say anything," Deuce said.

He reached over and snagged the uneaten eggs on Marina's plate.

It grew worse.

The day progressed and still, there was no change.

A day later…the same.

Erik made an appointment with Marina's old child therapist when a week went by and there was no improvement. He decided not to call Calista because he didn't want her to lose focus on her new job. She was about to fly to New York to tape episodes of her show that had been picked up by the Bravo network. Deuce and Sugar were adamant that there was nothing overt that they witnessed that set Marina on the selective mute behavior. Sugar was feeling the brunt of Marina's silence. His daughter would still say a few sentences to him or Deuce, but she cut Sugar off completely.

On the day of Marina's therapy session, the therapist was unable to crack his daughter's newly created shell. He was told that she cried a bit and when she was asked to draw her immediate family with crayons and art paper, Marina drew Erik, Deuce, her mother, and even Cedro and Belinda at the taqueria. But Sugar was drawn small and far away from the rest of the family grouping.

Erik stared at the drawing himself.

He recognized the figures for each person that was important in her life. She had placed herself near her mother with Erik flanking her other side. Next to Erik was Deuce, and behind Deuce was Cedro and Belinda. At the very far right of the paper, with a three-inch gap between the next family member was a likeness of Sugar on a surfboard. She was drawn half the size of everyone else. The only other thing that was odd about the picture was that Marina had drawn herself without a mouth.

"How could this happen so suddenly? I don't understand it. She was completely fine and then…just like that, she's shutting us out. Especially Sugar."

Dr. Marks had introspective hazel eyes and her angular face was tilted as she looked at the drawing in his hand.

"She has great affection for Sugar."

"She told you that?"

"Not with words. Head nods. The look in her eyes. Sometimes there are things that have happened in the past that finally come to the surface suddenly."

"I can't think of anything—"

"Have they ever had an argument? A serious disagreement?"

Erik tried to think of anything in the last few weeks that would stand out.

"We've been through so much as a family—"

"With Deuce and his mother…"

"Yes. I thought we had turned a corner into something good now that we have dealt with that…but now…it doesn't make sense to me or anyone."

"What has Calista had to say about this?"

Erik put down the picture.

"I haven't told her yet. I wanted to wait until you saw Marina first so I could have some information to give her."

"Talk to Calista. Have her speak to Marina. Maybe there's something going on that Calista can shed insight on."

"We've come so far as a family."

"And you'll keep going far. Be gentle with her. Allow her to communicate as she sees fit for now."

"If there's something going on with her feelings with Sugar, how do I deal with that? How does Sugar deal with that? It's so uncomfortable watching them together. Sugar does her best to be open and it hurts to see Marina push her away."

"Tell Sugar to keep being open. We'll work on teasing out the problem at Marina's pace. If this is her way of processing a hurt or a slight, then she'll guide us. I'll meet with Sugar tomorrow and work with her on tools to cope and help with Marina."

"Okay."

Erik drove home with Marina and he took her to their favorite ice cream spot and bought her a sundae. She ate it and he was glad that she finished the entire thing. Her appetite had improved within the week, but there was so much he missed about her in that week. Her smile. Her laughter. Her special bond with Sugar.

Marina only surfed with Erik in the morning. If Sugar was out in the water early, she would wait until she came out before she went with Erik or Deuce.

Another week went by and Calista flew down to San Diego during a break in taping and the three of them went to lunch with Marina. The girl's attitude improved seeing her mother and Calista tried to pry clues out of her. But Marina's eyes went to Erik's and he saw the shimmer of unshed tears there. She grew quiet again and remained silent for the rest of the meal. They returned to the house and Sugar was gone. Deuce returned from working at the taqueria and the four of them watched television and a strain was on Erik's face the entire time.

During a commercial break when Erik went to the restroom, Calista cornered him near the garage door.

"Where is Sugar?"

"I don't know."

"We should talk to her. All of us."

Erik didn't like the tone of Calista's voice.

"I'm not accusing her of anything Erik. I just want to hear what she has to say about everything myself."

Erik texted Sugar but she didn't respond.

"What does Yvette think?"

"Yvette can't get anything from her either—"

"Something is wrong in this house, Erik. A child doesn't just stop talking out of the blue. You have her under your care full time and it started here…whatever this thing is that has our daughter acting like…a zombie. Jesus Christ. She's like a damn robot—"

"Don't say that about her. She's stuck in something—"

"When I see the therapist with her, I'll get to the bottom of this—"

"Don't take on that attitude. That's not helpful at all."

"Maybe I should keep her with me in Burbank. Rachel is there with me. She can be with Marina while I tape. I could maybe have Muffin be with me on set for a day or two just to get her in a new headspace."

Erik's jaw tightened.

"I'm not trying to take her away, I just think maybe a new environment may help her get back to herself. It's worth a try. Just for a few days. I'll be in L.A. for the next two weeks. Let me have her for five days. I tape for two, and then she and I can have a weekend together. Deuce can be with us too if he wants to come."

"I don't know."

"We have to do something. Try something. I can't stand seeing her this quiet…"

Calista wiped tears from her face and took a step back from Erik to get her thoughts together. Erik checked his phone again. Sugar sent a simple text. She was at the movies and wanted to have some alone time while he was with Calista and Marina. Five minutes later she sent another text that she was going to spend the night at Asia's apartment.

Erik felt a sick heaviness resting in his belly.

"I'll take you and Marina to the hotel now if you want."

"Okay. I'll go get her.

Calista left him to go retrieve their daughter. Erik felt the weight of the world on his shoulders again.

###

Sabine couldn't take it anymore.

No matter what she did at the house, nothing changed the situation there. One morning as she carried her surfboard toward the patio, she saw Marina sitting on the little side bench playing with her dolls. Sabine opened the gate and gave the girl a normal wide smile, doing her best to act the way she had always acted around her.

For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Marina's eyes as she watched Sabine move toward the front door. The look on the child's face told Sabine there was still affection for her there. For a moment, Marina looked the way she did when Sabine first met Erik in person. There was pain there. Misery.

"Marina…we can talk when I come to Rio…we'll have fun, okay? You and me and Belmira…"

Marina's eyes darted back to her dolls and she clutched them to her waist.

Erik walked outside looking for her.

"You ready?" he asked Marina.

She nodded and carried her dolls over to her father.

"Go on and wait with Deuce and Yvette," he told her.

"Bye baby shark," Sabine called out.

Marina gave a wave to her and left Erik's side. He strolled up to Sabine and touched her waist.

"See you in two days," he said kissing her cheek.

Sabine shook her head. It was no use.

"I'm not going to come out there."

"What? Why not?"

Sabine felt a lump grow in her throat.

"I don't know what to do…or how to act anymore. I can feel this tension when we're all together and I see how it stresses you out and you don't need that pressure while you're competing. She does better when I'm not around—"

"Baby, I need you around—"

"I need your daughter to get well, and she won't with me there-"

"Sugar—"

"Don't worry, Belmira will meet with her there. I'll make sure of that at least. She can still have a fun day with her and Yvette."

Erik shook his head and poked his lips out.

"This wasn't the plan."

"I don't have the energy anymore, Erik. I walk on eggshells every day and I'm spent. I need to recharge."

He stroked her arms.

"Just take a few days and fly out later," he cajoled.

She looked away from his face.

"Sugar."

"What did I do?"

Sabine shoved her hands against her chest and tried to keep her face from crumbling into a sloppy mess of tears, but the rush of emotion exhausted her attempts to hold it together. Erik hugged her and she rested her fingers on his chest.

"I see how you look at me, Erik. You wonder what I've done too—"

"She has changed with everyone—"

"That's not true. It's me. It's me! I wish I knew what I did so I could fix this for everyone!"

Erik shushed her tears and murmured in her ear trying to soothe her but it didn't work.

"I'm scared to ask her anything anymore…I don't know what to do…tell me what to do…"

"Just keep being you baby—"

Sabine pushed away from him.

"Go to the airport before you all miss your flight."

"I don't want to leave you like this."

She waved her hand at him and put her board down. Leaving the patio, she had to get away from him and the house and the whole entire situation. Erik ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Be still. Sugar, be still, lemme hold you before I go."

She went limp against him and hid her face in his shoulder.

"Go, Erik. I'll get it together. Hurry up."

She pushed him back toward the house.

"I'm going to take a walk. Clear my head. Call me when you land."

He kissed her cheek and then her lips and she allowed him to cradle her face before he released her. His eyes looked weary.

"We'll talk later," he said.

He held her hand then kissed it. She nudged him to head toward the garage watching him walk away. She turned quickly and headed down the boardwalk.

###

The tequila ran down her chin as she choked on it while laughing.

Arms thrown in the air, Sabine shook her hips and let her hair bounce around her face. It was getting so long that it could no longer hold a full shape anymore. Belmira held the freshly opened bottle of premium liquor to her lips again and Sabine chugged down more liquid heat down her greedy throat and gasped afterward.

Squeezing her eyes tight, she screamed loud and long and Yolanda cackled next to her ear as Asia popped her fingers and grabbed the tequila from Belmira. Tadpole threw his body around wearing a flower crown on his head. The birthday boy was having the time of his life and he picked Sabine up and swung her around.

"Best party ever, Sugar!" Tadpole shouted.

Hard-edged electronica played throughout the Indonesian club and Sabine cut loose like she hadn't done in months. The joy of hard partying. The joy of being with friends she hadn't been with in a long time. The joy of getting away from emotional stress.

She snapped pictures and posed for many and her body thrummed with good vibes.

She didn't go to Rio and Erik was upset.

He tried to hold back his anger over a video chat and she did her best to deflect by saying she wanted what was best for Marina.

The truth was, she was scared.

She worried that Erik would ask her to leave him because of Marina. To counter that, she stayed away. Made excuses to fly to France for work when she was really hiding out with friends. If she appeared busy, then she didn't have to be in their home inflicting pain. She could see it was draining Deuce too, and it was easier to go away and allow Erik's children to breathe.

"You didn't even consider my feelings at all!"

His face was twisted in anger that he was trying to dampen for her sake as he stared at her on the computer screen.

"I did, Erik. It's better if you have a fun little vacation with your family—"

"You're a part of my family, girl."

"I watched you win online. You were amazing—"

"I don't want to talk about that, Sugar. I wanted you to be there to see me win. I wanted all three of you there together. You keep acting like it's us and then you are just some extra—"

"I'm sorry. I thought I was making the trip easier for them and you without…fuck Erik."

Her eyes dropped to the keyboard and she rubbed the side of her thigh. She was sitting on a luxury bed with a bucket of champagne on ice for him. She reached over and picked up the chill slightly damp bottle along with a champagne flute.

"I got this for you," she whispered.

"We should've had that here, together."

His eyes darted around and his lids blinked rapidly.

"Are the kids enjoying themselves?"

Her voice was filled with trepidation.

"They like it here. It's different for them. Deuce is amazed at how many Black people are here. He said it feels like Atlanta."

Sabine laughed and Erik responded to the sound of her breathy release.

"You should be here. I want them to see it through your eyes too."

The video chat ended with Sabine feeling awful and she regretted answering the notification when she first heard it.

The tequila made her tumble into Gato Pete and Esmee and Sabine threw out her hands to hug them both and just love up on her Bad Cat crew. She was overjoyed that so many of her international friends flew to Indo just to party with her and celebrate one of her long time friends. Tadpole was over the clouds feeling the surf love all around him. They were her water people.

Esmee reached out to grab Sabine's neck and she missed, her fingers sliding down the tiny bikini top Sabine had on. The miscalculated grab snapped the fastener on the front of the top and Sabine's breasts were exposed. Everyone laughed and Sabine grabbed the top as it fell down to her side. Belmira and Gato Pete snapped photos and Sabine threw up her hands proudly as she shimmied next to Yolanda throwing back her shoulders.

She sipped more tequila and tossed her head back to let the music wash over her.

"Oh, shit…Sugar…"

Asia raised her phone to Sabine's face.

Gato Pete's post of her topless racked up retweets and repostings on social media. She felt her own phone vibrate in the tiny shorts she had on. Pulling out her cell, she saw comments about her nipple piercings and saw in real-time the numbers rolling up on likes and repostings of the photo. Some random follower posted up a side-by-side picture of Sabine partying topless and the ad photo of her surfing through a tube with her grill. There was a caption under the pictures stating that she was a real one.

She shook her ass again and waved her phone around as her breasts jiggled. That didn't last long when Stacy came running up grabbing her bikini top from her hand and forcing her to put it back on.

"What are you doing?" Sabine slurred.

"Delete that Pete!" Stacy barked.

Gato Pete twirled around Esmee ignoring Stacy. The music drowned out Stacy's continued protests.

"Sugar! You can't have shit like this out there. It's bad for your image!"

"Relax," Sabine shouted kissing Stacy on the mouth to shut her up.

"Don't fuck up your bag!"

Sabine fastened her bikini top and turned her back on Stacy. The club began to spin a little bit and she leaned up against Asia to gain her balance as she moved toward their table to sit down and catch her breath.

Stacy stood in front her grim-lipped and pissed off.

"Make him delete that picture!"

Sabine waved her cell at Pete and he nodded, swiping his finger across his phone.

"See he deleted it," Sabine spat out waving Stacy away from blocking her view of everyone else.

Stacy plopped down next to her.

"Fuck. People already screenshot it," Stacy whined.

Sabine's phone vibrated again.

Erik.

Sabine closed her eyes.

She could already hear what he was going to say.

Stacy stared at her cell screen.

"People are tagging Maverick with the picture."

"You know how many times I've been topless? With pictures?"

"This isn't UCSD, Sugar! That's your fucking employer."

Sabine's phone shook on her thigh again.

"Hey…"

"What are you doing?"

His voice was calm.

"I'm speaking to you from the future," she joked looking at her watch. She was fifteen hours ahead of California.

"Sugar. That picture—"

"You stalking me?"

"I can barely catch you these days with all your traveling. Baby, this is not the thing to be doing—"

"Damn…you've had your dick all across the internet when you started out. Didn't wreck your career. I look good too."

"It's different for women. I know that's wrong but that's just how it is."

"I'm the female you…that's what they want. I'm giving it to them…"

She started laughing and it was jarring to him.

"You're drunk."

"I am."

"You're supposed to be resting. No liquor. No heavy foods. I know you. You'll burn yourself out partying too hard."

"I want to dance my blues away."

She stood up with her phone to her ear on wobbly legs.

"Finish your night and go to bed. Then come back to me. Deuce misses you—"

"I know Marina doesn't."

"Sugar…please. She does. She just can't express it right now."

"I don't want to come back…"

Sabine fell down on the couch and held her left hand to her cheek. Stacy only stared at the dance floor while checking her own phone each time it buzzed.

"Don't say that, girl. I know you're hurting about it, but staying away won't help us."

"I don't want to talk right now—"

"You need to talk to me. Switch over to video chat so I can see your face—"

She swiped her phone hanging up and switched over to the video app.

"You are lit," he said.

"It's a celebration."

"I need you back here. Come home and we'll get back on track together—"

Belmira grabbed her phone.

"Killmonger! Sugar is having fun and we're going to go nuts on the waves tomorrow and then it's off to Rio-"

Sabine snatched her phone back. She turned away from her friends.

"What are you doing, Sugar?" he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't do that. You couldn't go to Rio with us but you can go after—"

"Can we talk another time?"

"When?"

"Can't I just have this little bit of release? Huh? I just want to have a break from training and just chill for a fucking minute! Just one fucking minute!"

"Fine."

His eyes looked offscreen.

"Have fun."

"Erik—"

"Talk to you later."

He disappeared from her screen and she could feel the vomit rolling up her throat as her mouth watered and her body purged liquid that smelled like the top-shelf tequila she consumed.

Sabine threw up all over the floor and Stacy jumped up on the couch protecting her legs as Belmira laughed and reached down to hold back her hair. Peeking out through watery eyes and a runny nose, Sabine stood up fast then puked again.

Gato Pete doubled over with laughter along with Tadpole and the sound of his high-pitched cackles made her giggle even as the sour taste of vomit coated her tongue and assailed her nostrils.

She had no idea it would the last time she heard Pete's laughter like that.

Sabine was in the future on a Thursday as Erik and his children were still in the day before based on her placement on the globe at that moment. Seeing Erik's face, hearing Erik's voice in a man-made past wasn't enough for her to avoid what came for her a mere eight hours later.

Pete reached for her hand and pulled her to her unsteady feet and Sabine shook her hips and popped her fingers and forgot about everything back in Mission Beach.