“Well why is she all fidgety and shit?”
“Probably because you were staring a hole in her ass, intimidating the fuck out of the girl.”
“I was not.” I frowned. “If I was looking a way it was because she was staring at me first, acting all nervous and suspicious.”
“Baby.” He laughed and ran a hand down his fade. “What are we even still talking about that shit? I don’t know her ass and I’m out with you.” He turned in his seat so he was facing me andturned me toward him. “We’re having a good night. Don’t ruin it with your overthinking, please.”
“Okay.” I sighed and closed my eyes briefly before kissing his lips. “You’re right, I’ll let it go.”
“Good.” He smiled and pushed some of my freshly straightened hair behind my ear. “Have I told you how good you look tonight?”
I blushed. “Too many times for me to count.”
It was hot out so I had on a pink, suede, two-piece skirt set I got from Passion and paired it with pink J Marc leather sandals and the matching leather bucket bag. He matched me with the pink too. We hadn’t matched on a date in years. It was kind of adolescent in a sense but still cute and I loved it. It gave me all the feels he used to give me when we first met as kids.
The bartender returned with our drinks and took our food order. We ended up going with wings, fries, and fried pickles, which were my favorite. As we ate and drank, we talked. Jamal and I were at each other’s necks so much that we didn’t ever really sit around and talk.
I filled him in on work, school, and my father. Even though they didn’t like him, he loved my family and always showed genuine interest when it came to them. Anytime my granny needed work done at the house, Jamal would send some of his friends to do it so she didn’t pay a whole lot of money for someone else to do it.
“One more shot before we go,” he suggested and pecked me on the lips.
“I’m already a little tipsy, babe. I probably shouldn’t.”
“Just one.” He smiled, bottom lip tucked between his teeth, looking super sexy. Jamal was easy on the eyes. His caramel complexion blended perfectly with the hazel eyes, tattoos littering his skin—my favorite being my name above his eyebrow—and the nose piercing. He was just fine.
Not having much of a choice considering he had already ordered them, I agreed. We took the shot, grabbed our boxed leftovers, and headed out hand in hand.
“Ms. KK?” I heard a little voice call out behind me.
Spinning on my heels and seeing who the voice belonged to, a wide smile invaded my face. “Solo?”
My heart swelled a little when he hugged me around my legs. Kneeling down, I pulled him in for another hug and asked him where his parents were since he seemed to be alone. He pointed and got ready to answer just as the smell of Bond No. 9 crept into my nostrils. I knew that scent because my father loved it and wore it all the time.
“Solo, you know better, bruh,” Solomon Sr. fussed as he approached.
“But I saw my dentist, Daddy.”
“I don’t care, Solo. You know better than to leave me.” He continued to chastise his son, not even looking my way at first but when he did it was electrifying. Butterflies instantly swarmed my stomach and my hands felt clammy as he peered down at me. “What’s up, beautiful?” He finally spoke to me and extended a hand to help me up which I accepted. “You look good,” he complimented, looking me up and down. “Damn.”
“Ay.” Jamal pulled me back roughly.
“Ay, what?” Solomon took a step forward. “And quit fucking jerking on her and shit.”
“This my bitch,” Jamal snapped, catching me off guard because he hadneveraddressed me as a bitch. “I’m gon’ handle her how I want to.”
“Not in front of me, nigga,” Solomon responded. “You gon’ get ya fuckin’ hands off of her right now or get ya jaw broke. Your choice.”
The two men stood in a stare off before I felt Jamal loosen his grip on my arm moments later, then tell me it was time to go. Iwalked away with him, but Solomon gently grabbed my hand to stop me.
“You good?” he asked when we locked eyes.
I nodded. “Jamal is harmless and he’s my boyfriend, so I should go.”
I tried pulling my hand away but he wasn’t having it. He looked past me, frowning at Jamal, who was waiting for me at the door.
“I don’t like that nigga.”
I chuckled. “You don’t even know him or me.”
