Page 64 of All The Smoke
“Yourparents,yes.” I rolled my eyes. “And your brother.”
“I can arrange for you to meet Noah, but I don’t know about the other shit.”
“Solomon, stop.” I frowned. “Family is important to me and you let them see Solo. I know you aren’t going to keep this baby from them.”
“Naw, I’m not.” He sighed. “But I ain’t ready for that. I can’t really go in depth about it right now, but naw. Not right now.”
I instantly felt a way about it, considering he was the one that asked me to be in the relationship, but decided not to speak on it because his son was in the car.
“Get out ya head, baby,” he said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. “It’s not you, it’s them. Solo be listening even though he acts like he don’t, so I keep shit at a minimum.”
I nodded. “It’s okay.”
“Naw, it’s not,” he replied. “You deserve an explanation and I’m gon’ give it to you, just wait until my lil man is gone, aight?” Again I nodded and smiled. “But I am gon’ let you holla at mybrother tonight when he call. He’s been hounding me about you and shit.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” I beamed.
He and his brother were very close so I couldn’t wait to meet the man he was so fond of. According to him they were polar opposites, so I couldn’t wait to see that. Solomon was very nice and sweet to me but I knew that side wasn’t for everyone. I had heard him talk and remembered how he treated Jamal when we were out together, so there was definitely another side to him.
We ended up eating at Redmond’s because Solo and I agreed we wanted soul food. I wanted smothered baked chicken, pound cake, and lemonade.
“Damn, you ordered the whole menu, ain’t it?” Solomon teased as we made our way to the table after ordering.
“Shut up,” I giggled and descended into the chair he pulled out for me. “I’m hungry.”
“I see, gotdamn.”
“Don’t try to get any when my food gets here then, since you’re talking shit.”
“Girl, trust me, I won’t.” He laughed. “Keep them vibes when my shit gets here too.”
“I’ve never had their ribs though.” I playfully pouted. “And they said the sauce is made in house. I think your baby wants to try them.”
He laughed again. “Yeah, aight. Blame the baby.”
We continued to talk, including Solo asking a million questions about the baby and how it got in my tummy until the food arrived. I didn’t know if it was because I was hungry or due to me not knowing how to answer his questions, but I was glad to see Truce bringing the food. Kids were way too inquisitive and most of the time I didn’t know how to answer their questions. I knew Solo wouldn’t be the last child to ask me how a baby got in my belly.
As we ate, I noticed an obviously infuriated woman approaching the door to the restaurant since I was facing the door. She snatched it open so hard I was surprised she didn’t pull it off the hinges. She clearly wasn’t there for food because she bypassed the counter and entered the dining area, scanning the room until her eyes landed on us, then she stormed our way.
“Hey, Mommy!” Solo beamed.
Mommy? Oh god, it’s his baby mama.
“You got me fucked up, Smoke!” she snapped as she got closer. “I know good and fucking well you don’t have my mothafuckin’ child out on a fucking date with you and this bitch.” She pointed her long, stiletto nail in my direction.
My brows dipped as I held my forkful of food a short distance from my lips. I wanted to address the fact that she called me a bitch, but I knew me and my mouth. It was best that I kept it closed, especially with his son being there.
“Bri, gon’ head about ya business.”
“I’m not going no mothafuckin’ where,” she barked. “You got me fucked up.”
“I ain’t got shit fucked up, fuck you mean?” he replied, finally looking up at her. “You better gon’ the fuck about ya business, in here causing a scene while I got my fuckin’ kid and shit.”
“Gotmyfucking child out here on a date with this bitch. Who the fuck is she?”
“Someone that’s going to whoop your ass if you call me one more bitch,” I replied calmly.
“Kaori, I got it.”
