Page 43 of Welcome to the Table

We walked through the mall as I held my food in my hand, and he held my bags.

Hollygrove was that nigga, and he knew it.

The way he walked, his dreads, and the way they swung with each stride that he took.

His beautiful, blemish-free skin. I couldn’t believe this nigga was single and wasn’t fucking any bitch walking.

His bowlegs swaggered in front of me, making my nipples hard.

All these feelings were new to me, and I wanted to explore them with him.

“I know you watching me walk. Say what’s on your mind. It’s just the two of us,” he said as he hit the button to open the trunk. “And walk in front of me. I can’t protect you from behind,” he said, and I walked faster to be at his side.

“Why are you single? You fine as fuck, and I know bitches be falling to your feet, just get a whiff of the dick and your attention.

“I’m picky on who I fuck, but a bitch could give me head, and I wouldn’t mind. My lifestyle wouldn’t align with a girlfriend unless it was you.” He turned to wink at me.

I couldn’t say shit because his honesty took my breath away. I wasn’t expecting that response.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, but you ain’t ready for that, so don’t fuck with it. When you ready, you’ll come to me. No pressure, and it won’t be forced. It’ll be your heart speaking to me, and I’ll feel it,” he said, never turning to me as he put my bags in the trunk.

I was speechless. Growing up, I thought Hollygrove was so damn mean. His voice was of thunder and made me shiver when he spoke. That was then, but I got it now.

“Damn, y’all just making it to the car?” Hellcat came from behind as Hollygrove closed the trunk.

I wanted to know more about how he felt because I would tell him my truth, but that turned to shit when my brother came. He looked at both of us funny before going to the passenger side. He opened the door, but before sliding, he turned to us and smirked.

“I don’t know what the fuck y’all think y’all got going on, but it ain’t me y’all need to be worried about. Calliope gon’ fuck both of y’all up if y’all fucking. Y’all know how he feels about secrets and shit.” He turned to get in the car, not bothering to hold the door open for me.

I wasn’t worried about Calliope because he was my favorite, and I knew he would understand my feelings. Hellcat was just mad that it was his best friend.

“Come on. This has been an eventful day.” Hollygrove opened the door for me to slide inside before he got in the driver’s seat. I wasn’t finished with the conversation and had some shit to say to my brother. He tried to turn the volume up on the radio, but I grabbed his arm to stop him.

“No, nigga, don’t try to tune me out. What the fuck was that, and who is the pretty girl that likes yo’ ugly ass?”

He laughed. “Some chick that I met at the second line. She was trying to show out and smoked with a nigga.”

He was vague, but I was gon’ press his ass for more info. I knew he had it.

“What nigga she talking about, though? I heard when she said that,” I asked, and he kissed his teeth.

“Why you so fucking nosy? You need to be worried about Calliope and this nigga that’s driving once he figures out y’all fucking.”

Hollygrove looked at me through the mirror. “Hell, chill with that shit, nigga. We ain’t fucking,” he told him with a death stare.

“Yet.” I laughed, and they got quiet. “But who is the nigga you mentioned to this girl?” I asked, switching the topic.

“Nah, fuck that. You fucking my potnah? You finally popped yo’ cherry?”

I was so fucking embarrassed. I put my head down and played with my phone.

“Nah, don’t get quiet now. I asked a fucking question,” he barked at me, sounding like my father.

“I am not fucking Hollygrove, and last time I fucking checked, I was a virgin. Not that it’s any of your business who I’m fucking,” I told him.

The rest of the ride was silent except for the music playing. Hollygrove was pissed but kept his mouth closed, and Hellcat sat there laughing silently because he knew I was mad.

Once we got back to the house, he tried to open the door for me, but I stopped him. He yanked the door open and damn near picked me up out of the car.

“Fuck you, Hellcat! You always try to belittle me! That’s why I don’t like yo’ ass. Everything was cool until you asked stupid shit.”

He threw me over his shoulder, laughing, and I was kicking and screaming. I was trying to beat his spinal cord loose. His big, muscular ass didn’t care. He probably couldn’t even feel that shit. I heard Hollygrove laughing in the distance and gave him the finger.

“Don’t touch none of my shit! I don’t wanna go nowhere with y’all niggas no more,” I screamed at the top of my lungs as he carried me to the door. I heard the door creak open.

“Why y’all pissed my daughter off? Y’all know it’s gon’ take three to five business days for her to calm down if she don’t kill you first. I know it was you, and Hollygrove is guilty for laughing.” My mother’s soft voice spoke for me.

“Athena, she's just mad because she's still a virgin,” he said.

I started beating his back like a drum again. I heard her laugh.

“Put her down, but you better duck. You know she gon’ swing on you.” She continued to laugh.

Plop

That nigga had the nerve to throw me in the bushes and run to his car.

“Mommy, help me, so I can catch this nigga,” I screamed.

He must’ve forgotten I ran track in high school, and my legs still worked.

She grabbed both my hands, lifting me up, and I took off running.

Hellcat was trying to pull his door open and slide in, but he was too slow.

I jumped on that nigga’s back, and we both went to the grass on the left.

I wrapped my arm around his neck, trying to choke his thick neck ass, but failed miserably because he was laughing.

“Get y’all overgrown asses off my rose bush. It’s just starting to fucking grow,” I heard my momma yelling from the front door.

“Get yo’ Ninja Turtle ass daughter off me, shit,” Hellcat said under me, but I wasn’t letting up.

I knew he was eating those roses by now. I felt myself being lifted from his body. I tried to bite the side of that nigga’s neck like I was a vampire. I was going for blood.

“Girl, bring yo’ ass on.” Hollygrove held me, facing outward, until we got to the front door, and he put me on my feet next to my mother.

“Stand yo’ ass here while I get yo’ bags and bring them to yo’ room.” I didn’t move. “Nigga, get yo’ big ass out the bushes.” He walked past Hellcat, still laid out.

While Grove brought my bags in the house, I stood next to my momma with my arms folded, waiting for Hellcat to get up for a second round. He got up, dusting his clothes off, and gave me the middle finger.

“Imma get yo’ ass the second round.”

I laughed at his ass, and he got in his car, slamming the door. His car curved around Grove’s car to speed off. I looked at my momma, and she shook her head from left to right, waving her hand, dismissing me.

“I don’t even want to know what happened, but I see ain’t shit changed but y’all ages. Y’all gon’ replace my damn rose bush, too.” She walked away from me into the house, leaving me with my thoughts.

Hellcat came out of the door and stood beside me. I didn’t have anything to say.

“When you ready, come to me,” he said.

With that, he kissed my forehead, headed to his car, and sped off just as Hellcat did moments before.