Page 59 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“One, Cambrie,” Sol emphasized, playfully agitated. “I like you… and that’s saying a lot. Six here has decided to be brave and take on our boy, Brick.”
“Oh, bless you,” Cambrie teased.
“See. You’ve known him about forty-eight hours and?—”
“He’s a lil’ special,” Cambrie mocked, cutting Sol off.
“No shit,” I grumbled, facing the mirror to check my appearance.
“You look cute though.” She came up behind me in. “Here, let me help you take some of these wands out.”
I sat at the vanity so that I could start on my makeup, and Sol and Cambrie assisted.
“I can’t believe you got me over here doing this when I got Saga giving me the cold shoulder, Tavi acting like I’m some re-incarnate of Cruella DeVille, Piaget in her own little emotional world, and Rogue… Lord, what is in that boy’s bloodstream?” Cambrie was exasperated. “I swear, when his feet hit the floor in the morning, it’s just one motion. He’s on GO.”
“How long have you been their nanny?” I asked, applying my makeup spray before doing my beat.
“Girl, about as long as I’ve known Brick,” Cambrie huffed, running her fingers through a thick patch of curls. “By the end of dinner last night though, he made sure I was following him on everything.”
“That sounds like Brick,” Sol snickered.
“I don’t know how he does it. He be ready for anything at any time. He grabbed my phone and swiped and had me following all kinds of shit after dinner last night,” Cambrie went on. “You got some bounce in this hair.” She toyed with it between her fingers.
“Most people wouldn’t believe this hair was over a year old.” I perfected it with my fingers and smiled. “I learned how to make what I have work and refurbish some of the best bundles with different techniques.”
“Girl, I will definitely tell my bestie. Plum and her sisters love some bundles. I’m more of a silk press girl, but I like to switch it up sometimes.”
“I’m getting licensed soon. When I get a chair, you got the discount on the silk press pull-ups,” I assured her.
“I had a feeling you two would hit it off,” Sol observed.
“Not helping with my nerves, Sol.”
“Girl, just go along with Brick. He’s extra as hell, but I don’t think he’s a bad dude.” Cambrie fluffed my weave with her fingertips.
“If this date goes wrong, I’m blaming you publicly, Cambrie.” I put her on notice with a glare through the mirror, and she fell over laughing.
When her phone started to chime, she paused. Removing it from the crossbody bag across her chest, she frowned before swiping to answer.
“Hello.” She paused. “This is Cambrie Rhodes. Is he okay? Yeah. I’m on my way. Thanks.”
“What’s wrong?” Sol asked before I could.
“It’s the new facility where I got my daddy moved. He doesn’t like it, and he’s already giving them hell. I need to go and check on him.” She shoved her phone back into her purse.
“Go.” Sol waved her off. “I’ll call Staten and let him know what’s going on.”
“Thank you!” Cambrie rushed to the door, and instantly my heart went out to her.
I didn’t have a father. Sometimes it felt like I barely had a mother, so I couldn’t imagine what she was feeling. I’m not even sure Darlene knew all her baby daddies. Her door was one that stayed in heavy rotation. It could be some pimp around the way, or a clerk at the fucking gas station. She didn’t discriminate when it came to finessing a nigga for some change.
“I hope everything is okay.”
“Her dad is showing signs of dementia, so he’s in a long-term care facility. She just got him moved,” Sol explained.
“Dang, that’s sad.”
“Yeah. Let me call Staten and let him know what’s going on so he isn’t wondering where she is.” Sol swiped and tapped at her screen before she dialed and put the phone on speaker.
