I nodded, then responded. “I do very much. Miss Meriland, I love her so much. I can’t imagine my life witout her. If I could, I would live in ha skin.”
She smiled. “You know when my daughter brought Derrick to meet me, I knew he wasn’t the one for her. You could see it in his eyes, you know? As a mother, you want the best for your child. Sometimes, no matter how much you want the best for your child, they are going to do whatever they want to do. When I met you, it was different. I knew you were a good man, but I didn’t know yet if you were the one for her.
“It wasn’t until her soft ass came crying to me about what happened at your house with her period. The way you reacted based on what she told me let me know that you had the capacity to be the man that she needed. I’ve watched you with her, and I know that you are who God has for her. I would be proud to have you as my son-in-law,” she said with a smile.
My heart was full. “Thank you, Mama Meriland. I love you. I promise ta keep Pril happy, protected, loved, and fulfilled.”
I meant that shit with my whole heart. There was nothing or anyone that could pull me up off Pril. We were stuck like Chuck.
A Very ShortTime Later
I Don’t Play About Her . . .
The day was here! The annual spades tournament that my restaurant hosted. It was a big fucking deal with 20 percent of each pot going to charity. This was the sixth year, and we’d outgrown having it at my restaurant, so now we rented a venue.
We had two DJs, one for inside and out. My restaurant wasn’t the only one that catered for this event. There was a food truck lane circle that was in the parking lot. Trucks that wantedto participate paid a three hundred dollar park fee. This year we had twelve food trucks which was the most that we ever had.
This event brought out the city and their money. That was the reason we had top notch security. We’d never had a problem, especially withWashington-Smith Brokerage FirmandClub Litas sponsors. Niggas weren’t crazy enough to fuck with a Washington, Christianson, or Smith. That was suicide.
All of the money from the pots was secured and guarded. Most of the funds were electronic though. I loved this event, and this year, I loved it more. This year my lil one was on my arm.
Jordan and I were always partners on the table. Last week my baby asked me if she could play with me. I told her ass no initially, but pussy is the devil’s tool in the wrong situations.
We got in here, and I let her play two games with me. That was all the games I needed to know her ass needed to get the hell off the table. Pril’s ass reneged, cut me when she shouldn’t have, and under or overbid like her ass was a pro. After the last game, her ass gracefully bowed out when she saw my tight ass jaw. She made it all better in the car a little later, but still. I appreciated my blacked-out SUV.
“Man, when Pril cut your Ace of spades with the big joker, I thought you were going to pick her up and toss her across the room, Cuzzo. I bet you learned not to let her ass play with you again,” Jordan said with a titter.
I took the shot that sat in front of me. “Man, she can’t even look at cards ’round me. I might get triggered.”
Vince chortled. “You can teach her. Shit, you taught dis lil nigga.”
He pointed at Jordan. He was right, I did. “Man, dat was when we was lil jits, not grown ass men. Yeah, I could teach her, but she made it seem like her ass knew how ta play.”
Arms wrapped around my waist, then lips kissed my ear. “Baby, are you still mad at me? I said I was sorry. I thought I knew how to play because, um, Derrick taught me.”
I turned my head and connected our eyes. “Damn, dat nigga really ain’t shit. How you teach someone how ta play spades fucked up?” I turned my body on the bar stool to face her, then made room for her to stand between my legs. I pulled her into me by her ass. “Good thing you got a good nigga now. I’ll teach you.”
“Aye, Cuzzo, you ready ta get back on da table? We up.” Jordan stood from his seat and waited for my response.
I took the time to kiss Pril’s lips while my hands firmly gripped her ass. “You gonna watch ya man on da table? Let em show you how ta play da right way.”
She rolled her eyes, then giggled. “Yes, I will let my man show me how to play.” She leaned in and put her lips near my ear. “Maybe you can teach me in a special way at my house. For every mistake I make, it can be a suck.”
My head bucked back. “Oh, dats how we ga do it? Hell yeah, we ca’ have a teach and suck lesson at da house. Let me and Jordan beat whoeva des niggas is on da table.”
After another kiss to her lips and a smack on the ass, I told Jordan that I was ready. We walked toward the table that we were assigned to next. Our opponents were already seated. My steps slowed when I recognized one of them. All I could do was chuckle before I sat down. “What’s up, fellas? Y’all ready ta get y’all ass beat?”
I peeked over to my baby to gauge her reaction. I didn’t see any kind of jealousy or lust in her eyes, so that was good for her and our relationship. There would have been a real problem had I. What I did see, however, was annoyance. She came and stood next to me. Seconds later, Vince pulled up a chair for her and she sat down.
Ignoring my question, Derrick addressed Pril. “What’s up, Pril? You look nice.”
See, that shit was crazy to speak to your woman before they speak to you. I was going to let that slide. I was an unbothered man who didn’t allow certain things to bother me. That was with good reason. When I allowed things to bother me, I didn’t think . . . I just reacted. My reaction to shit that bothered me was never good.
Pril simply smirked before she looked at me. Her body leaned toward mine, then her lips kissed mine. “Good luck, baby.”
That’s fucking right! Don’t address that bitch. “Thank you, baby. Let’s get it.”
I wasn’t sure who Derrick’s partner was, but his ass looked bothered like fuck. Jordan shuffled the cards, then dealt them. Our game started. No one spoke for the first few moves, then Derrick broke the silence.
