Even The Playing Field | BOOK #1 IN THE PSU SERIES

thirty-seven

My education was my superpower. Being a nurse would ensure a decent lifestyle, protection. A roof over my family's head that wouldn't be a motel or a trailer— not that anything was wrong with those, but I wanted a better lifestyle for my future.

I exhaled my breath.

I chuckled, "Yeah. Matti, that seems really tough. You're lucky you turned out okay." I spoke, not in spite, but with guilt. Guilt to my younger self because we deserved better.

And I'd be damned if one of my children ever had to live like I did.

Isn't that why most of us have kids anyways? To ensure that they turn out better than we ever did?

"Black, what's wrong?" His tone breaks me out of my trance. I look at him and smile. I shake my head, "Absolutely nothing, superstar." I smile, he raises an eyebrow. "Really? You look like you're about to freak out?" He scoots closer to me, in concern.

I shake my head and hold out my hand. "I'm fine Matti. Seriously." I forcefully shove in another bite of ice cream into my mouth. He raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Whatever you say, babe." He mocks as he hops off the counter.

My eyes follow him as he walks around the island to the sink. He places the spoon inside and turns on the water.

I focus on my ice cream and the creamy texture of it. I feel an immediate cold pressure on my back. I squeal, "Mattison!" I yell. I hop off the counter and turn to see him smiling at me with the water head attachment in hand.

"That was not funny." I said as he bent over, clutching his stomach. He lets out a laugh, "That was too funny." He says in between laughs.

His laugh is so contagious that I burst out laughing fit with him.

And so the oil and the water could mix.

We had our moments.

I watch as he puts the head back in its place before turning and looking at me. "Matti. You got me all wet." I complain as he chuckles, "Wouldn't be the first time—now would it?" He mocks as he walks towards me.

I roll my eyes at that comment. "I think you need a hug." I state as I walk towards him with my wet outfit. He lets out a laugh, "I think not." He says before sprinting around the island to the opposite side of me.

"What are you five?" I mock as he laughs again. "No. I'm actually nine—" He cuts himself off before sprinting out of the door. "Nine inches!" He yells out before I hear him bursting out laughing, running away from me.

"Matti!" I call out as I run away. "Matti! I won't chase you!" I call out as I hear his footsteps.

I hide in between the fridge and the doorway, out of his sight. I hear his footsteps coming closer, and closer. I giggled quietly.

I watched as his shadow appeared and then he reentered the kitchen. I jumped out at him as he tried to grab me. I ran away from him, around the counter but he followed. As I turned the corner, near the sink, I lost my balance and slipped in the puddle.

I squealed and I heard him fall too, but he broke the fall—I landed on top of him as he laid below me. We both sat silent before slowly I broke. I started laughing so hard that there were tears in my eyes.

I felt his body shaking underneath me. "Black, my multimillion dollar insured body is laying in a pile of water because of you!" He spoke in between laughs. I turned around as he lay there with a smile from cheek to cheek.

"Multi Million dollar legs! A person who has legs that expensive shouldn't be able to fall! And that was totally your fault in the first place. You know if you—" I was cut off by his hand reaching up and covering my mouth.