Page 91 of All The Smoke
“Babe,” she exclaimed, facing me when we got outside of her building. “A Rolls Royce?! Is this yours?”
“Naw.” I chuckled. “Just our ride for the night.”
The driver opened the doors for us when we neared the whip. Kaori smiled and thanked him as she filed inside and I followed. I’d already given the driver our itinerary for the night, so he knew where to go when we got on the road.
“This is so nice,” Kaori gushed as she cuddled up to me. “I’ve ridden in a lot of nice cars in my life, but never in this.”
“Naw?” I looked down, kissing her forehead. “I figure ya pops had shit like this.”
“He does, but not a Rolls Royce.” She chuckled. “And you know, his cars aren’t this new anymore.”
I could hear the hint of sadness in her voice just like any other time she spoke about her pops.
“Ay.” I cuffed her chin to lift her head. “We not doing that, aight? Ya pops gon’ be home soon. Don’t sweat that shit.”
“I know.” She sighed heavily. “Okay, I’m not going to ruin our night with my BS.”
“Ya pops not BS, love,” I countered. “It’s just nothing for you to worry about. He doing everything in his power to make it home to y’all. Trust him.”
“I do.”
“Good.” I nodded.
“I’m glad we’re going out tonight. I need it. Work has been super long and my feet hurt all the time.”
I chuckled. “Then why did you wear heels, mama?”
“Because you wanted me to look sexy. I don’t have much longer.”
I frowned. “To do what?”
“Look sexy like this.” She pointed. “My belly is growing by the day.”
“Kaori, you attractive as fuck to me no matter what the fuck you got on. Fuck is you talking about?”
“I know, I know.” She chuckled. “I promise my self-esteem is intact, I just… I don’t know. I’m noticing the changes in my body, so I know you do too. It makes me a little self-conscious is all.”
“Aight, look…” I made her face me. “My bad. I don’t care what the fuck you wear, baby. You could have on a hijab or a smock and a nigga would still be on yo’ body, I swear. I only told you to dress sexy like this because I like looking at your pretty ass skin.”
She simpered. “You’re too sweet.”
“I’m deadass,” I let her know. “Now, let’s enjoy the evening together and I don’t want to hear that self-conscious shit no more, aight.”
She smiled and kissed me. “Yes, sir.”
16
Kaori.
Dinner was amazing. I had eaten at Diablo’s quite a few times, but never like I had with Solomon. Everything was so romantic and intimate. We had a personal dining experience with Chef Day and Solomon fed me. Everything was cooked to perfection, and because we’d both gotten different things, I was able to try new items on Day’s menu.
I opted into trying the seared filet mignon with a shallot peppercorn cream sauce and crispy Brussel sprouts drizzled with local honey while Solomon had grilled lamb chops with mint chimichurri and lemon butter melting potatoes. I literally wished I could restart dinner to taste it all over again for the first time.
“I want to take the lotus flower home,” I said as we finished dessert. “Oh and the caprese stuffed garlic butter portobellos,” I groaned. “Everything was too good.”
“Including that lil cheesecake shit you just basically swallowed?” He smirked, referring to the passionfruit crème brulée I had just finished.
“Yes, I could eat that again too.” I chuckled.
