Page 16 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“You wild.” I chuckled and sat up to adjust myself.
“I sent you tickets to this event coming up. Well, I sent them to Armon, and he should get them today or tomorrow. We got a red carpet; all of the press is going to be there. I’m launching a new line, and I thought you might want to come out and support.”
“Word? That’s what’s up. What’s this one for?”
“Oh, it’s this oil for pregnant women to help reduce stretch marks. I know everybody and they mama has one now, but notlike this, and I have results and testimonies that are going to show why it’s not like that other shit.” I liked that Bella was about her business and confident in that shit.
In most aspects, she was the perfect woman, but I damn sure couldn’t bring her home to my mama and granny. Them two would curse me right into a grave right beside my pops and grandpops. I ain’t have time for that shit.
“No doubt. Bet. I’ll show up and make an appearance.”
“And a date?” Bella checked with me, pulling her robe around her waist and tying it.
I don’t know why she acted brand new when she got that nut off. I knew she was far from innocent.
“Say what?”
“You need to have a date, Brick. There can’t be any indicator of anything between us. It just looks crazy if you don’t show up. Raphael is the one who told me to make sure I had you on the guest list.”
“Good ol’ Raphael.” I snickered at the mention of her weak ass husband.
“I’m serious,” she pouted, stomping her foot to emphasize her point.
“Chill, mama. I got you. I ain’t gon’ make a scene either. I got some shit in the works anyway. I can’t talk about it right now, but an announcement is coming. You’ll know it when everybody else does.” I stood and made sure my pants were straight before grabbing my suit jacket and slipping back into it.
“Thank you.” A satisfied grin swept over her lips and she moved closer. “And thanks for the nut too,” she purred.
“Be easy, mama. I’ll see you later.” I leaned in to kiss her cheek.
I tried not to give women false hope. I found that being honest and open with them got you a lot farther. Bella couldn’t get mad for what wasn’t between us when she had her ownshit going on. Would another woman understand or tolerate the situation? That was hard to say. If the relationship was established as fake from jump though, I saw no reason why either of us couldn’t do what the fuck we wanted, as long as that shit was kept lowkey. On the drive over to Guardian Lodge, I let my thoughts get the best of me. I wanted to fulfill my pops’ dying request more than anything, at the same time, I was a little resentful of him putting all this shit on me from the grave. Shit didn’t seem fair, but if I wanted what belonged to me, it would come with a sacrifice.
Emerald Crane
“Iknow I’m late,” I huffed as soon as I stepped into Tap Inn.
Instead of Chili’s or Applebee’s, this was the local bar and grill around these parts. It provided the same type of vibes and vintage memorabilia on the walls, but it was owned by a couple born and raised in Oak Bluffs. The Fields family had been in business for over twenty years, and I’d been waitressing here for the last six months. My assistant manager and homegirl, Lola, hovered behind the counter. Tying my apron around my waist, I peeled out of my jean jacket and tossed it over my arm.
“I miss anything?” I asked, stopping at the counter to catch my breath while she scribbled some shit on her pad on the opposite side.
“Nope,” Lola answered, popping the ‘p’ at the end before peering up at me. “Other than that no-good ass mammy of yours posted in the back waiting for you. I told her I wasn’t sure what time your shift started today, thinking she would get fed up and leave, but she’s been posted for the last hour.”
Glancing in the direction of her irritated glare, I spotted my mother held up at a back table with her designer clutch in front of her, yapping away on her cell phone. She swore she was that bitch. With a heavy eyeroll, I spun toward Lola.
“Why me? As if this day wasn’t enough.” I dropped my head against the counter in defeat.
This shit was turning into one fucked-up ass twilight episode of my life, and I wasn’t here for it. I honestly wasn’t sure how much more of life I could take, given how things were working out. Most days, I wasn’t sure if I was coming or going. By the time I figured out I’d been walking through life for other people, it was too late for me to focus on me. My daddy was gone, my mama was selfish and self-involved, and my brother didn’t have anybody else looking out for him.
“Girl, what is going on? What happened?” Lola queried.
I hadn’t shared much of my life story with too many people. It was for the simple fact that too many were judgmental and never cared to get their facts straight. I damn sure didn’t have the time to be correcting anybody on a damn thing. It was easier to let muhfuckas think whatever the fuck they wanted. I’d learned that from high school. It wasn’t until I arrived back in the Bluffs that I remembered how that shit felt. When I left for college, I got to become a completely different person. Being back home left me unsettled and always waiting on some shit to hit the fan. I’d been good at maintaining a low profile the last eight months, but it wasn’t like me being here was breaking news. I was surprised that Ivo and Jordan hadn’t heard when I saw them today though. That was a can of worms I was in no way ready to open, but I knew eventually I’d have to deal with it. Never thought karma would come down on me like that.
“I’ll tell you later. Right now, I need to talk to this woman and get her off my back.” Rashida wasn’t the type to sit back and be quiet.
I knew if I didn’t address her, she would just find a way to make a scene, which I did not need. Taking gradual steps toward her table, she spotted me halfway there and waved me over.When I appeared behind the chair across from her, she ended her call.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m still your mother, Emerald.”
