Page 58 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“It’s too much.”
“Not for you.” Sol shook her head. “If you’re going to play the part, you have to look it, girl! Trust me!”
“I don’t know what to do with my hair or makeup.”
“I got you. Go get dressed. I brought everything over for that. I thought you were the hair and nail guru?”
“I love doing it for other people. I’m always doubting my skills when I do it for myself.”
“Pssh, well I don’t want to hear none of that. I went to Ulta and got everything for you. I think you’re just nervous.”
“Hmm, I don’t know why I would be. None of this is real.” I studied myself in the mirror and ran my fingers over the soft fabric.
I’d never had anything this expensive against my skin.
“Maybe.” Sol smiled like she knew something I didn’t. “I saw the live though. That was actually some mature conversation you had with my nephew, and he acts like a big kid most of the time. He might surprise you. Don’t even think about this whole contest thing either, just try to have a good time with him tonight. Brick is hilarious and he’s really a sweetheart, he just don’t allow anybody to fuck with him or those he cares about.”
“I can relate to the not letting anybody fuck with you part, but nobody cares what happens to me, and I don’t have anyone I care that much about,” I mumbled.
“I feel like you need to lighten up. You smoke? Need a drink?” Sol suggested.
“Shouldn’t you be trying to give me Bible verses and a serenity prayer or something?”
“Girl, this ain’t that kind of place. I mean, I’m all in favor of the big God like the next, but I’m more spiritual than religious,” Sol voiced, going into the pocket of the ivory blazer over her burgundy sundress.
Her style was very feminine and classy, but I liked that she was so grounded, and I could talk to her like the homie. The vintage DKNY ensemble she wore suited her wide hips and long legs. She reminded me of that pretty actress Salli Richardson, she even had a mole right above her lip like her.
“I got a few options for you. Edibles.” She dangled a custom package of what looked like Gushers but were THC gummies and tossed them on the bed. “And my personal fav, my cookies pen.” She toyed with it in her hands before dropping it on the bed beside the pack. “Pick your poison. I got plenty where that comes from.”
Weed was my vice, and I’d been missing my friend the last couple of days. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but I enjoyed a lemon drop or Moscow mule every now and then. I’d watched my mother be an addict and alcoholic almost my whole life, and it steered me in the opposite direction.
“You the GOAT for this.” I chose the edible and plucked one of the fruit gummies out and popped it into my mouth.
“Alright now, I also have this.” She pulled a small bottle of Don Julio from the bag and sat it on top of her head like the girls be doing.
When she stuck her tongue out and started rocking from side to side, throwing her ass in a circle, I fell over laughing.
“You gotta pre-game fucking with Brick. I guarantee he’s doing the same damn thing. Let’s get you dressed.”
Since I’d already showered, I went to change in the bathroom. By the time I stepped out, Sol was letting this beautiful, pecan brown-skinned chick inside. Her shoulder-length bob was wavy and hung just above her shoulders as she came rushing in, out of breath.
“Sol, what in the world am I doing here? I was just finishing the kids’ dinner.”
“Those little vultures can survive an hour. Trust me. Did you tell Staten where you were going?”
“I just told him you asked me to do you a favor. He didn’t question it,” she answered.
“Good.” Sol nodded.
“Who is this?” I queried, taking in her insane curves and modest attire in her tights, hoodie, and Nike runners.
“Cambrie, this is Six. Six, this is Cambrie. I wanted you two to meet each other now and get acquainted. I’m pretty much the liaison in this family, and since you both are involved with Marek men, I thought you should get to know each other.”
“Involved?” Cambrie repeated. “I’m the nanny.”
“Yeah, yeah. You ain’t going nowhere.” Sol waved her off. “From the looks of it, Six ain’t either. She doesn’t have any friends, and neither do you.”
“Excuse you, I have one friend,” Cambrie objected with a wrinkled nose.
