Page 33 of When I Thug You Like That

“Here you go.”

“You sure this the good shit?” I asked, examining the bottle that looked expensive, but I wasn’t a wine drinker, so I didn’t know what was good and what was trash. “Don’t have me lookin’ bad ‘cause you jealous.”

She sucked her teeth. “Jay, please. You only gon’ give her the same dick you gave me.”

“And you see how you pick up that phone anytime I call now. Plus, I stroke it different when it’s new.” Winking, I grabbed the bottle by the neck and poured the wine in both glasses then picked up the tray. “Preciate you.”

“Whatever. I hope that shit fall on your way over there.” Rolling her eyes, she switched off, while I carefully made my way back over to the ladies.

“Oh, you didn’t forget about us,” Jai’ana said as I set the tray down and handed her a glass then the other to Taina.

“He forgot the food though,” Taina let out, swirling the wine around in her glass then taking a sip. “Oh, you know something. This tastes expensive.”

I chuckled. “Shiidd, I ain’t gon’ lie to you and tell you I know for sure. I just requested some top-shelf shit. I’m ‘bout to grab y’all food now.”

“You don’t have to keep running around for us,” Jai’ana said before I could walk off. “You can just send someone over.”

“The kitchen not far, Ma. I ain’t trippin’.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Girl,” Taina cut in, “let the man be the man. If he wanna bring the wine, let him bring the wine. If he wanna bring us more than one light bite, let him do that too. Shit, if he wanna cover the tab, I ain’t gon’ be the one to fight him on it.”

Jai’ana smiled and shook her head. “Excuse her. She don’t get out much.”

Taina giggled. “And neither does she. While she over here tryna clock my tea.”

“Is that right?”

Jai’ana put her glass to her lips and took a sip. “I thought we were celebrating my new student, not being in my business.”

“How I’ma do that if you won’t let a nigga go to the kitchen?” I countered.

Taina’s head slowly turned toward her and gave her a look that said, what you gon’ say now?

Jai’ana caught it. “Don’t say nothing.”

“I wasn’t.” Taina grinned.

“You was thinking it.”

“And you said don’t say nothing, not don’t think nothing.”

“She got a point there,” I backed Taina up.

“Mind your business, Mr. Sullivan.”

“Big Jay,” I corrected her.

“Jamison,” she shot back.

“Big Worm, Big Perm, I don’t give a damn,” Taina joked. “Can you go to the kitchen please?”

That shit had me and Jai’ana dying.

“Let me go get this food ‘fore your homegirl be ready to fight a nigga. I’ll be right back.”

When I returned to the kitchen, Chef Ry was sprinkling some gold shit on top of the slider buns.