Page 29 of All The Smoke

Smiling and reaching for the bags, I began pulling the stuff out to show him what I had gotten.

“I got some really cute stuff despite not knowing the baby’s sex yet.

I saw so much cute stuff in there, ugh. I can’t wait ’til we find out,” I admitted, lifting some of the onesies.

“Look at these,” I gushed. “Ralph Lauren had a sale so I got a lot of these and these.” I showed him the other onesies as well as sleepers and socks.

“Word.” He nodded. “What else you do?”

The smile I was wearing faded as I lowered the outfit to my lap. “Um, we got food in the food court. What’s wrong? I’m telling you about the baby stuff I got and you’re all cold and uninterested.”

“Cap. I love all the shit you got for the baby. That’s just not what’s important right now, baby. What’s important is what else went on in that food court.”

“What are you…” I paused, realizing that he knew about Jamal. “My ex. You’re talking about my ex?”

He angled his head to the side. “You tell me.”

“Jamal is harmless.”

“Then why the fuck you got them red marks on your wrist?”

My eyes went there and I gently caressed the barely visible bruise. He was just as observant as my father.

“He grabbed me and?—”

“I’m gon’ see about him.”

“My mother handled it,” I countered. “She facetimed Mo and?—”

He cut me off again. “No disrespect, love, but telling me ya mother handled some shit over the phone does nothing for me. I know Ice and K-Dot ya people and I’m sure they got eyes on you, but not only are you carrying my baby, you’re my girl.

I know they gon’ always look out for you but I’m stepping on shit behind you, period. ”

“I know.” I sighed. “I don’t want you getting in any trouble behind me.”

“You worth it.” He smirked, then leaned in to kiss me. “You got some shit for you in them bags?”

Smiling and rolling my eyes, I replied, “Yes. I kind of had to get some things for myself after you begged me to.”

“Good, so that means you can stay the night.”

“Um, no.” I chuckled. “I know you don’t have any kind of soap here that I use, plus I need my skincare stuff from home, my cocoa butter stick for stretch marks…

” He kissed his teeth when I mentioned the last part.

“What? I’m trying to prevent them. You know you don’t want my body to be all ugly and nasty looking. ”

“I don’t give a fuck about ya body changing after you carry my kid.” He frowned. “Fuck I look like caring about that shit after the sacrifice you’re making for me?”

“Some men are funny about that.” I shrugged.

“I ain’t some men, I’m your man, and I fuck with the stretch mark shit if you get them. It’s evidence of the solid you’re doing me by birthing my seed.”

“Okay, babe, I still need my stuff though.” I smiled and he nodded.

“Aight, I’m gon’ smoke then I’ll wake Solo up so we can go to ya crib then maybe get y’all food or some shit.”

“ Ms. K,. ” I heard someone whisper followed by a little shake, causing my eyes to flutter open. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust but when they did I noticed a smiling Solo standing over me. “Ms. KK, can you get up now so we can go eat please? I’m starving.”

“Solo!” I heard Solomon’s loud voice boom. “I know you ain’t—Bruh.”

“She was up, Daddy,” his little ass lied. “I promise.”

Chuckling, I sat up on the couch and pulled him into a hug.

“I was, babe,” I lied for Solo. “Why didn’t you just wake me when you finished smoking?”

He lifted his shoulder into a shrug. “Figured you needed the rest after being at the mall and shit.”

“Daddy says we have to feed you and the baby,” Solo said as he removed the blanket thrown across me, searching for evidence of a baby. My eyes traveled to his father because I wasn’t aware he had told him yet.

“Solo, chill, man.” Solomon chuckled and pointed behind him. “Go get ya Crocs on so we can go.” Hopping from the couch, he jetted toward the back of the apartment. “My bad about him. He been pressing me about you since he woke up from his nap.”

“It’s fine.” I smiled. “You should have woken me up. He said he’s starving.”

Sucking his teeth, he waved me off and said, “Man, that nigga good. As many snacks and bullshit as he got in that bitch, he was straight until you woke up.”

Only nodding in response, I got up and folded the blanket I was laying under before getting my purse and going to the bathroom in the hallway to freshen up. I kept a toothbrush and stuff in there for after I ate.

The décor in the bathroom was so fitting for a little boy. He had Sonic the Hedgehog everywhere in here. It was cute as hell and funny because we grew up on Sonic so I wondered if the décor was for Solo or his father.

By the time I finished getting myself together, Solomon and his son were waiting for me by the door. Solo grabbed me by the hand and walked me to the car while his father opened the door for me.

“Such gentlemen.” I beamed.

After I was inside, they rounded the front of the car and got in themselves.

“We gon’ have to get new cars and shit,” Smoke said when he was inside and we were moving. “Ain’t no way we both got two-door whips.”

“I know,” I groaned. “I love my little Bimmer too.”

“You can keep it.” He shrugged. “You just need something more spacious to ride my baby around in.”

“I know, I just can’t stomach having a car payment.” I sighed. “I’m so used to my parents buying my stuff and paying it off.”

“Spoiled ass.” He chuckled. “You ain’t gon’ have no car payment though and I don’t need ya people to buy it. I got you.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. I told you I’m gon’ get the shit,” he countered. “It’s gon’ be closer to the time that you have the baby though because I need to do my research.”

“You’re a real provider, you know that?” I smiled. “No matter how many times I tell you I’m good or don’t need something, or if I tell you I can manage it, you still insist.”

“Because I’m a man.” He shrugged. “I don’t fuck with Bishop like that, but he always taught me and my brother to take care of our family and shit. Ironic as fuck considering he turned his back on his own son, but yeah.”

“Do they know about the baby?” I asked. “Your parents?”

He shook his head. “Naw, but I know Solo gon’ tell them as soon as he get his ass over there.”

Glancing back at Solo who was completely engrossed in his phone, I smiled.

“I want to meet them.”

“Who?” He looked my way briefly. “Bishop and his wife?”

“Your parents, yes.” I rolled my eyes. “And your brother.”

“I can arrange for you to meet Noah, but I don’t know about the other shit.”

“Solomon, stop.” I frowned. “Family is important to me and you let them see Solo. I know you aren’t going to keep this baby from them.”

“Naw, I’m not.” He sighed. “But I ain’t ready for that. I can’t really go in depth about it right now, but naw. Not right now.”

I instantly felt a way about it, considering he was the one that asked me to be in the relationship, but decided not to speak on it because his son was in the car.

“Get out ya head, baby,” he said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. “It’s not you, it’s them. Solo be listening even though he acts like he don’t, so I keep shit at a minimum.”

I nodded. “It’s okay.”

“Naw, it’s not,” he replied. “You deserve an explanation and I’m gon’ give it to you, just wait until my lil man is gone, aight?” Again I nodded and smiled. “But I am gon’ let you holla at my brother tonight when he call. He’s been hounding me about you and shit.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” I beamed.

He and his brother were very close so I couldn’t wait to meet the man he was so fond of.

According to him they were polar opposites, so I couldn’t wait to see that.

Solomon was very nice and sweet to me but I knew that side wasn’t for everyone.

I had heard him talk and remembered how he treated Jamal when we were out together, so there was definitely another side to him.

We ended up eating at Redmond’s because Solo and I agreed we wanted soul food. I wanted smothered baked chicken, pound cake, and lemonade.

“Damn, you ordered the whole menu, ain’t it?” Solomon teased as we made our way to the table after ordering.

“Shut up,” I giggled and descended into the chair he pulled out for me. “I’m hungry.”

“I see, gotdamn.”

“Don’t try to get any when my food gets here then, since you’re talking shit.”

“Girl, trust me, I won’t.” He laughed. “Keep them vibes when my shit gets here too.”

“I’ve never had their ribs though.” I playfully pouted. “And they said the sauce is made in house. I think your baby wants to try them.”

He laughed again. “Yeah, aight. Blame the baby.”

We continued to talk, including Solo asking a million questions about the baby and how it got in my tummy until the food arrived.

I didn’t know if it was because I was hungry or due to me not knowing how to answer his questions, but I was glad to see Truce bringing the food.

Kids were way too inquisitive and most of the time I didn’t know how to answer their questions.

I knew Solo wouldn’t be the last child to ask me how a baby got in my belly.

As we ate, I noticed an obviously infuriated woman approaching the door to the restaurant since I was facing the door.

She snatched it open so hard I was surprised she didn’t pull it off the hinges.

She clearly wasn’t there for food because she bypassed the counter and entered the dining area, scanning the room until her eyes landed on us, then she stormed our way.

“Hey, Mommy!” Solo beamed.

Mommy? Oh god, it’s his baby mama.

“You got me fucked up, Smoke!” she snapped as she got closer. “I know good and fucking well you don’t have my mothafuckin’ child out on a fucking date with you and this bitch.” She pointed her long, stiletto nail in my direction.

My brows dipped as I held my forkful of food a short distance from my lips. I wanted to address the fact that she called me a bitch, but I knew me and my mouth. It was best that I kept it closed, especially with his son being there.

“Bri, gon’ head about ya business.”

“I’m not going no mothafuckin’ where,” she barked. “You got me fucked up.”

“I ain’t got shit fucked up, fuck you mean?” he replied, finally looking up at her. “You better gon’ the fuck about ya business, in here causing a scene while I got my fuckin’ kid and shit.”

“Got my fucking child out here on a date with this bitch. Who the fuck is she?”

“Someone that’s going to whoop your ass if you call me one more bitch,” I replied calmly.

“Kaori, I got it.”

“You better get her .” I frowned. “A baby won’t stop me from beating her ass.”

“A baby?” his baby mama repeated. “I know like fuck this bi—she isn’t pregnant with your fucking baby!” she exclaimed, making the right move by watching her mouth.

“Brianna, you know better than this,” Truce said when she approached. “You cannot come in my place of business acting a fool. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“I’m not going no fucking where,” she snapped.

“Yeah, you is though,” Smoke countered. “I’m trying my best to be patient because we’re out in public, but you testing my patience.”

“Fine, fuck it. Good luck seeing my fucking baby after this,” she stated nastily. “Let’s go, Solo.”

“Brianna, let me holla at you outside,” Solomon said as he rose from his seat.

“Nigga, no,” she spat. “There ain’t shit for us to talk about, talk to this bitch. Let’s go, Solo.” She moved in his direction and pulled him from his chair roughly.

Everything after that happened so fast. Solomon grabbed her up and dragged her out with her swinging wildly at him as they made their way outside. Solo stood on the other side of the table crying, so I went to console him, asking Truce to bring us to-go containers.

I was so annoyed with the entire situation. It was ghetto and reminded me of the kind of shit I said I wasn’t dealing with anymore. I’d done enough arguing and fighting with Jamal and all of the bitches he cheated with.

About ten minutes later Solomon came back inside and picked his son up.

“I’m sorry about all this.” He sighed. “Let me take him to his mother then we can go.”

I didn’t say anything in response, I just nodded and started to pack the food up since Truce had given me the boxes.

After I was done, I exited the restaurant and headed to Solomon’s car.

He and his baby mama were at her car going back and forth still, further annoying me.

I had the right mind to order an iDrive and take my ass home, but I decided against it.

He finally made his way back to the car, using the remote to unlock the door. He approached the passenger door to open it for me but I beat him to it, slamming the door myself once I was inside. I could see him release a heavy sigh and shake his head before he rounded the car to get in.

“You want to just stop and get the shit you need from the store instead of going all the way home?” he asked, breaking the silence about ten minutes into the ride.

“I’m going home and you can go deal with your baby mama.”

“Kaori, please bro.” He sighed dejectedly. “I need to smoke and get my mind right. I really ain’t in the mood to go back and forth with you too.”

“And you don’t have to. I want to go home.”

“What you tripping on me for?” he asked, glancing my way briefly. “You acting like I told the bitch to come in there acting stupid.”

“I just need to think about all of this.”

“All of what?” I could hear the irritation in his voice, but I didn’t care. I was the one who needed to be irritated. I was the one embarrassed, hell.

“This.” I pointed between us. “I just got out of a toxic situation. I don’t want to be part of another.”

“So you saying you don’t want to be together?”

“I don’t know and I don’t know if I want to bring a baby into this.”

He waited a few minutes before chuckling lowly, turning his music up, and weaving through traffic. When we got to my place, he killed the engine and followed me up to my condo. I wanted to protest, but the look on his face told me to just allow him to walk me up.

Once I unlocked my door using my entrance code, he finally spoke. “I know you mad about today, and I guess I gotta give you that, but Kaori we ain’t over and you not aborting my baby.”

“I—”

He cut me off. “You ain’t even gotta say shit, but I’m deadass, love.

Bri on her shit and I’m tight about her threatening to keep my son from me and shit, so don’t make it worse by saying you gon’ kill my kid.

Please,” he pleaded, placing a hand on my belly.

“I love him or her already, and I really fuck with you too. I know you need time to think, just please don’t kill my baby. ”

I wasn’t going to. I couldn’t. I loved my baby already too. I just needed to figure out how I was going to deal with baby mama drama. I never had to before, even with the baby Jamal had on me. He knew I never wanted to see the child or its mother.

“I-I’ll call you later,” I finally said before going inside and closing the door in his face.