Page 13 of A Player’s Prayer (Mills Brothers #3)

“I mean, not really.” I shrugged as I hovered over her petite, yet curvy frame. The gloss she applied to her lips was so damn shiny that I wanted to suck it off. “I figured I didn’t have to—wait!” I called back to her as she walked off. “Kodi!”

“My name is Dakota,” she shouted over her shoulder as she reached her car. “When you learn how to talk to me like a gentleman, maybe we can discuss going out to dinner. Until then, please stick to the hood rats that you’re used to, Adrian. Chao.”

Standing in the middle of the lot, I watched as she slid into her Benz and drove off. This was the second time she’s blown me off, and that shit is pissing me off. I don’t know what she thinks this is, but I’ve never set my sights on something and not get it.

“Damn, bro.” Skip clasped my shoulder as he chuckled behind me. “Let me find out you don’t have the juice like you think you do.”

Arms crossed, I stood there and thought about my approach with Dakota. She’s called me childish, arrogant, and rude. She has also questioned my motives as a man. Even with all of that, there was one thing I knew to be true: I wanted Kodi, and I was going to have her.

“Now, Adrian, if you’re going to be on some foolishness today, you can leave me at home.

” My mother started fussing as soon as she got inside my black and gold Lexus RX.

I had to bring out the new whip because there’s no way she would have gotten inside my Trackhawk.

“You promised me a nice day on the town, and I’m going to hold you to that. ”

Chuckling lowly, I held onto her arm and assisted her into the passenger seat.

I’d only mentioned how bad Mrs. Williams’ wig and makeup looked on the cover of the neighborhood’s HOA bulletin.

Mama was the one who had it out for people to see, knowing that the lady looked like a Mexican clown on the front page.

I chuckled one last time before I got inside the car.

It was a beautiful day out, and I wanted to spend it with my mother, so I was going to tighten up on the jokes.

I also had another reason for wanting my mama’s company today.

Kodi hadn’t left a niggas dome since our unplanned lunch at Burger Barn, and Mama was the only one I trusted to offer me some solid advice.

“Mama, why do you act like your baby boy doesn’t have any home training?

” I glanced over at her as I adjusted the smooth tunes of Johnny Taylor.

Mama didn’t play about listening to music with a whole lot of profanity when she was in the car with us, so the Blues was always my go-to.

Today, I decided I would take her to her favorite restaurant near Grove Isles.

“You act like I’m just a menace to society. ”

“Son, it’s not that you’re a menace, but you’re damn sure a little terror.

Talking about that woman needing to sign up for the circus.

You’re lucky I wasn’t on the phone with anyone to hear you.

” We shared a laugh at my outlandish comments about Mrs. Williams, which confirmed Mama agreed with me, even though she would never say it out loud.

“I know there’s a catch to this little lunch date, Adrian, but I don’t mind. It’s a pretty day out, and I don’t mind spending it with my youngest.”

“You mean your favorite…” I smirked, knowing all she would do was hum a reply.

As we rode the streets to our destination, my mind drifted to Kodi again.

Her always telling me that I’m childish and don’t know how to treat women didn’t sit well with me.

I wasn’t on any bullshit when I asked her out both times, and her shutting me down wasn’t making sense to me when the chemistry between us was there.

Shit, the mere idea of taking anyone on a date was out of the norm for me, so in my eyes, she should be more than happy to agree.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided I needed to change my approach if I wanted her to take my request for her time seriously.

“This place has the absolute best omelets.” My mother smiled as she began to settle and enjoy her brunch. “You sure do know how to make a girl happy.” I’ve never really understood the concept of fish and grits, but whatever made Mama happy.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Evie.

” I nodded before I took a sip of my Sprite.

You wouldn’t be able to tell from the crowd that’s here, but the food selection here was terrible to me.

I settled for chicken fingers to be safe.

Before she could fuss at me for calling her Antonio’s pet name for her, I continued, “There’s this girl?—”

“Oh my gosh! Are you seeing someone?” she all but yelled, grabbing the attention of those nearby. “I never thought I would see the day!”

“Mama, will you please lower your voice?” I asked in a hiss as I grabbed her hand from across the table. The lady had tears in her eyes and everything. “It’s not what you think.” Sighing heavily, I knew by her confused face that I had to give her the rundown on Dakota and me.

For the next series of minutes, I watched her face transform from one of anger to shock to nothing at all. By the time I was done, my mother was quiet, and I was nervous as hell.

“If we weren’t in this room full of people, I would beat your ass, Adrian Mills.

” She pointed her fork at me before taking a bite of her bacon.

“What on Earth made you not only disrespect a paying customer, but damn near get her fired from her job? Adrian, there comes a time when you need to grow the hell up and have some couth?—”

“Mama—”

“No, you will listen…” She held her hand up, causing me to shut my mouth immediately.

“I don’t know why you feel the need to show your ass everywhere you go, but there comes a time when you need to grow the hell up.

Sure, have fun. Laugh. But everything isn’t a damn joke.

Dakota sounds like a good woman with a great head on her shoulders. You don’t deserve someone like that.”

Slumping back in my chair, I was taken aback by what my mother said. I wasn’t trying to marry the girl, just take her out. First, Kodi, and now, my mother, was telling me I ain’t shit had me feeling empty. My life was full of everything, but this situation here had me feeling vain.

“Dang, Ma, I didn’t know you felt so little of me.” I pulled my wallet from my back pocket to pay for our food. “Take your time and enjoy your meal. I’ll be on the back patio.”

“You’re going to sit your ass right there, and you’re going to listen to what I have to say.

” She eyed me in a way that dared me to argue.

Needless to say, I slumped back into my seat and complied.

“Now, if you took my words as harsh, good. You were wrong for how you treated that girl, and she deserves to give you a hard time.”

“But, Mama… I bought her gifts to make up for it.” I eyed her in confusion. “What more can I do?”

Never in my twenty-nine years of living have I ever spent money on a woman before, but I’d dropped bags on Dakota just to say, “my bad.” What the fuck else is it going to take for that girl to give a nigga some play?

“What do you want from her?” Mama eyed me over the rim of her champagne flute. The live band had the place rocking now, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before my mother was on her feet. “You just want her for sex, don’t you?”

Was Kodi fine? Yes. Did I want to drop dick off in her and have her pleading the blood of Jesus over her pussy?

Absolutely. Was that all I saw in her? I didn’t think so, but because this shit was so unfamiliar, that was the trick question since seeing her diss my ass on that video Noemi played back.

“To be honest, Mama, I do, but that’s not all.” Sighing heavily, I wiped my hand down my face in frustration. “I ain’t saying I want forever with the girl or no sh—stuff like that. I just want us to be better than what we are. I want to be her friend, and I want to know more about her.”

Feeling like a chump, I let the conversation die as we continued to eat.

The more I thought about what I’d told my mama, the more I realized it was true.

I wanted to fuck shorty, but I wanted to have conversations with her too.

She had me intrigued, and I wanted to know more about her.

I liked her vibe, her energy. Being around her felt like a warm day during Milly Grove’s cold-ass winters.

After we finished eating, my mother wanted to hit the dance floor like I knew she would. Offering her my hand, I helped her from her seat and led her near the DJ booth.

“If you want different results, Adrian, be the man I raised you to be.” She gave me a small smile as we grooved to Marvin Sease.

“You don’t have to propose marriage to get her to go out with you.

Just treat her like a person, a woman. No lady in her right mind is going to want to be near someone who disrespects them at every turn.

You’re handsome and charming, baby—probably the most charismatic son I have.

” I cheesed at her revelation. “Oh gosh! I shouldn’t have said that.

” She was absolutely right. I was sending it to our family group chat as soon as I left here.

“Treat her like you would want a man to treat me or Gianna. I have all the faith in the world in you, Adrian.” Taking a pause, my mama looked deep into my eyes. “Can I ask you something, son?”

“Anything,” I answered as I spun her around. “You know that, Evie .”

“Boy!” She punched my arm, giggling. “You’re almost thirty, son. Why are you so opposed to settling down? Why are you so closed off to love? Did we do something wrong with you, baby?”

As I peered down into my mother’s awaiting eyes, I thought about her question. Was I afraid? No. Had her and my pops tainted something in me? Not at all. Marrying someone and having children just didn’t seem like the life for me.