Page 101 of All The Smoke
“Ready to meet his pops.” I smiled. “I’m ready for him too, though. Shit taking forever.”
“You better enjoy this last month of freedom because in six weeks we won’t even know what sleep is.”
“I be up anyway, so it’s straight, but don’t get off topic. You know what I was about to say, Kaori.”
“Can I take Solo with me this morning? Granny wants to see him.” she asked, deflecting because she knew I was going to bring up us moving in together again.
It had been an ongoing conversation, but she always told me she wasn’t ready. She claimed her ex started to move differently when they made that decision, so she didn’t want that happening with us. Shit pissed me off because I was nothing like that nigga, but I let her make it because I knew that was her only relationship before me.
“You know you don’t have to ask.” I sighed. “I gotta go vote today anyways.”
Today was election day for my pops and they had been bugging the fuck out of me because he was going to be at my poll location.
“Okay, and be nice when you go, babe. You don’t have to be around them long.”
Both of my parents had been calling and texting me like a mothafucka since I left their crib that day, trying to settle shit and rectify things, but I wasn’t going for it. My mom had even gone as far as trying to make friends with Kaori, but that shit still didn’t work.
“I’ll be nice if you gon’ move in with me.”
“Your place is not big enough for me, you, and Solo, so we definitely can’t add a baby to the mix.”
“Then we can move into your spot.”
“I don’t want to raise a family in a condo either.”
“Then we need to find a house ASAP.”
“That’s a very long process.”
“Kaori.”
“Babe.” She smiled, taking my face into both of her hands. “I want to live with you, I really do, so I hope that’s not the reason for the rush or concern. Let’s get through at least the baby shower this weekend and Thanksgiving next week, then we can revisit this conversation.”
“We gon’ get even more shit at the baby shower that we not gon’ have the space for, but fine, I’ll chill for now, but right after all that,” I said, giving her ass her way like I always did.
“Right after that we can find a place.” She smiled. “Scout’s honor.”
I had no doubt in my mind she wanted to be with me, I just didn’t want to live apart from her no more. The shit didn’t make sense. Her mama owned her spot but was still making her pay rent, and I paid rent at my spot, but we were always together so it made no sense to pay for two spots.
I allowed her to finish getting dressed while I showered and did the same. I made a mental note to plan some shit to celebrate her graduation from dentistry school. Her ceremony was literally two weeks before she had Silas, so we would be pushing it, but we had to dosomething. Becoming a dentist was some huge shit. It couldn’t go uncelebrated; we just were going to have to do some shit close to home just in case she went into labor.
When the three of us were ready, I walked her and Solo to her whip then climbed into my own, heading to the nearby library to cast my vote. There were cameras and reporters all over the place when I got out there.
Perfect.
After parking, I stepped out of my car and headed inside, making sure to bypass everyone trying to stop me. I ain’t sign up to fuckin’ interview and I was on a mission. Plus, I wanted to save all the questions and shit for later. I made small talk with some of the people in line that recognized me. All of them wereso thrilled to be voting for my crooked ass pops. It annoyed the fuck out of me, but I couldn’t blame them. His ass had the gift of gab if he didn’t have shit else.
Once I cast my vote, I headed out, grabbing the big ass ‘I voted’ sticker and some of the mints in the bowl. Right as I exited the building, my parents were there talking with local reporters. Like I knew they would, they stopped me and started asking hella questions.
“I know we don’t have to ask, Solomon, but just for good measure we will.” The reporter laughed. “Did you vote for your dad?”
“Naw, actually I didn’t.” I grinned, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
“U-Uh, I’m sorry, did you say you didn’t?” she asked, looking between me, my parents, and her camera.
I nodded. “That’s exactly what I said. I made it my business to come up here and vote for the other mothafucka and if y’all had any sense, you would too. This mothafucka a fraud.”
“Solomon…” my mother called out. She looked like she could pass the fuck out while my father looked like he wanted to kill me.
