Page 307 of When a Soul Cries

The humor eased out of me a little. I glanced at Zari in the mirror and noticed her smile soften too.

“How nervous?” I asked.

“She keeps asking if we're moving too fast.”

That didn't surprise me.

I'd learned enough about Sol to know she didn't trust good shit easily. Couldn't really blame her. Every time that girl seemed to get her feet under her, life had come through kicking them back out from under her.

But I'd also watched my brother with her.

Rome wasn't playing.

And he damn sure wasn't playing about Halo.

That little girl had climbed into his life like she'd always belonged there. The first time I saw her curled up on him, I knew my brother was cooked. Then she called his ass Dada?

Shit.

Might as well have handed him adoption papers and a mortgage application right then.

“Tell her breathe,” I said. “We almost there.”

“I did.”

“Then get off my phone and go calm your woman down.”

“I am calming her down.”

“Clearly you ain't doing a good job if you calling me every five damn minutes.”

Zari snorted behind me.

A grin pulled at my mouth as another thought hit me.

“Hold up. Since we asking all these questions…”

Rome sighed. “Kai.”

“You marrying this woman after a couple months. Did you at least get to pinch or sniff the pussy first?”

“KHALIL!”

Ma's scream damn near made me jerk the wheel.

“OH MY GOD!” Zari yelled at the same time, smacking the back of my seat. “KAI!”

I busted out laughing as Rome started cracking up through the speakers.

Ma slapped my arm. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I'm talking to my brother!”

“With your MAMA sitting right here?”

“I forgot you was listening!”

“How the hell you forget I'm listening when I'm sitting beside you?”