Page 24 of All The Smoke

My brows pinched. “The guys he was with didn’t say they didn’t know him?”

“Hell naw,” he growled lowly. “Hell, it was the total opposite for real. They made it seem like he was the ringleader, and because they had lawyers and he didn’t, the courts believed it and hit him with a thirty year bid.”

My eyes ballooned and I gasped. “Really?”

“Really.” He shook his head. “I never regretted not having my bread together as bad as I did back then. I been doing my shit since I was a little nigga, but on some low level shit so I ain’t really have retainer bread when my brother went to jail.

I mean, I did but I couldn’t just cash out like that because my baby mama was pregnant with Solo.

Shit was a lot for a nineteen year old lil nigga. ”

“Yes, that would have been too much at the time,” I agreed. “But your parents, they didn’t help?’ I asked then retracted. “Wait, you do have the same parents, right?”

“Shit, from the outside looking in, you wouldn’t think so.”

My brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

“It means they don’t give a fuck about Noah for real. Noah’s my brother, by the way.”

“I figured.” I smiled.

“But yeah, my pops is the bishop at the megachurch around the way and all he and my mother care about is that shit and his image.”

“Bishop Tate?” I asked incredulously.

“Yeah, that one,” he mumbled.

“I would have never made the connection,” I admitted. “Even with the last names. You don’t exactly scream preacher’s kid.” I laughed and so did he.

“I’m knowing. I be doing that shit on purpose though.” He shrugged. “They piss me off all the time so I make sure to match the energy.”

“Sounds like you.”

“I don’t want to talk about all that shit though,” he said, pulling me closer to him. “How’s my baby doing?”

“She’s fine.” I smiled, touching my nonexistent belly. “Still won’t let mommy eat.”

“She?” He frowned. “Ain’t no she, baby girl. Daddy only make niggas.”

“Shut up.” I giggled. “ If he’s a boy, he won’t be a nigga so don’t call him that, him or Solo.”

“My lil soldiers gon’ be real niggas like they pops.”

Rolling my eyes and laughing, I replied, “Anyways. Do you really want a boy?”

“I don’t care for real long as he or she is healthy,” he admitted, placing his hand on top of mine. “I want both of y’all to be.”

Looking into his deep brown eyes, I tried gauging what he was thinking because he wore his usual serious, intense expression.

“I be knowing how important it is for a woman to be good while she carrying so I’m gon’ try to make shit as smooth as possible. I don’t want my baby to stress because you are, feel me?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“I waited on Solo’s mama hand and foot during her shit…”

“I don’t mean any disrespect, but I’m not Solo’s mom, Solomon, and this isn’t her pregnancy, it’s mine.”

He frowned. “I know that.”

“This is the second time you compared me to her.”

“I ain’t fucking comparing y’all.”

“Comparing our pregnancies is the same thing.”

“It’s not and that’s not what I’m doing,” he countered. “I was just trying to say I was gon’ be present and active, that’s all.”

“You told me that already.”

“Aight,” he sighed, running a hand down his face. “My bad. I just want to make sure I’m getting my point across.”

“I got it, Smoke.” I chuckled, low key annoyed. “Trust me.”

“Kaori…” He cuffed my chin. “I don’t fuck with Bri.” I tried pulling away but he wouldn’t allow it. “I don’t.”

“I didn’t say you did.”

“You thinking that shit though.” He sighed.

“It’s none of my business if you do.”

“I know, but I want you to know I don’t. I don’t fuck with nobody.”

“If you did, there would be nothing I could do about it.” I shrugged and he got silent for a minute.

“Can I take you out?” he asked. “Like to get food or some shit.”

My eyes stretched. “Like on a date?”

He nodded. “Diablo’s or Palmer’s, or hell, wherever you want to go.”

“You don’t have to take me out because you’re trying to prove to me you don’t mess with your other baby mama, Smoke.”

“Solomon,” he corrected. “And I know that. I want to take you out because you fine as fuck, cool as hell, and pregnant with my baby.”

I smiled and blushed. “Fine, but I want to go to Mr. Chow’s. I’ve been craving dim sum.”

He frowned. “Craving what?”

“Dim sum.” I smiled. “It’s like little dumplings.”

“Don’t be feeding my baby no bullshit, bro.”

“I’m only getting it to satisfy my tastebuds,” I replied. “I probably won’t keep it down long.”

The thought of that made me sad. I always craved all the good stuff and when I got it, it came right back up. The peach cobbler and butter pecan ice cream I ate as a late night snack didn’t make it thirty minutes. My fried pickles from the day before were a complete waste too.

“Are you crying?” He leaned in to get a better look at my face. “Kaori, what the fuck?”

“I just… I just…” I began to bawl after not being able to get my full sentence out.

The baby had me acting real unusual because I wasn’t really a crier.

I cried the last time I went to jail and when I caught Jamal’s cheating ass with that girl, but other than that, I didn’t cry.

I only had those times because I was pissed at myself.

I didn’t even cry when my daddy went to jail.

He would have been disappointed if I had because he didn’t raise me to show anyone when I was bothered.

It was cool to express my emotions, but in private.

That was why when I started flipping about Jamal he and my mother were so disappointed.

They definitely taught me differently and better than that.

“Sorry.” I sniffled, drying my tears with the back of my hand.

“You good,” he replied, still rubbing my back. “What’s wrong with you?”

I shrugged. “I was just thinking about the food I’m probably going to throw up later.”

His motions stopped as he glared at me. It wasn’t a menacing glare, more of a “are you serious” kind of look.

“Bruh…”

“I’m sorry,” I whined. “You don’t know how it feels to want something so bad only to get it temporarily and have it taken right back.”

“Naw, but I do.” He shook his head.

Glancing up at him, I tried again to read his expression.

Was he talking about me?

“You need to lay down or some shit for a while?” he asked. “Like to relax?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. I should really get back home. My mom was cooking for me and my grandmother.”

He nodded and stood, extending a hand to me which I accepted. “Aight, I’ll walk you out then.”

Hand in hand, the two of us exited his apartment to my car. I got ready to load into my car when he opened my door but he stopped me and pressed me into the backdoor.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I stammered.

“What day can I get my date?”

“I… My mom is here until Monday, and I have work and school.”

“What you in school for?”

“Dentistry,” I answered. “I’m months away from getting my white coat.”

The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “That shit sexy.”

“Me being months away from my white coat?”

“You doing something with yaself, period,” he answered. “Your parents are laced so I imagine you don’t gotta do shit but knowing you are impresses me more.”

I scoffed playfully. “My parents surely wouldn’t allow me to not do anything with myself. I would have been done, but I got caught up with my ex and my plan kind of derailed.”

“Well, you back on track now.” He smiled and kissed me softly. “I’m gon’ be on ya ass about it too.”

“Great,” I groaned. “Another person to get on my nerves.”

“Naw, another mothafucka that wants you to be the best version of yaself, baby.” He smiled. “My baby needs a good example to follow.”

“He or she will have you.” I grinned.

“You’ll be a better example.” He chuckled. “Trust me.”

Stepping back, he finally allowed me to get in my car.

When I was inside, I started it and strapped myself in with him shutting my door shortly after.

I backed out of the space when he stepped up on the sidewalk and let the passenger window down to say something to him since he stood there watching me with his arms folded across his chest.

“Allen and Allen.”

His brows dipped. “What? I know them ain’t no baby names because naw.”

“No, stupid.” I laughed. “Those are lawyers. My father’s lawyers. Call them and see what they can do for your brother,” I said. “My baby will need their uncle home to love on them when he or she gets here. You can tell them I recommended you.”

I couldn’t quite gauge the look or the flutter I saw in his eyes, but I didn’t miss it.

He didn’t give me a verbal response, only a nod.

After delivering one last smile, I put my car in drive and pulled away with a lighter load on my shoulders because I was a little more comfortable with the space we were now in.