Thirty-One
THIRTY-ONE
SOLEIL
“I really just want to stay in tonight, Ky. I feel like it’s been non-stop out and about with Dahlia and Malik on dates. We’re either with his brothers or at Truth and Dare, or eating out. It’s like he’s dying for someone we know to see us out in public.” The phone balances on my shoulder as I load the breakfast and lunch dishes into the dishwasher.
Kyle is calling, once again, to complain that we need to go out. But honestly, I’m just not feeling it.
“Besides, who is going to watch Dahlia? I can’t call my parents to come watch them every time you want me to be your wingwoman while you whore it up.”
“Excuse me,” she gasps. “I don’t whore it up. It’s called a hoe down.”
I drop the forks in the sink and ask, “What is the damn difference?”
“What is the difference? Oh sweet, sheltered Sunny. The diff is that one does it for a fee and the other for free. I’m a hoe. I control who I fuck and not the other way around. I make my own goddamn money and don’t need someone else’s.”
I snort. “Wow. Okay then. I don’t want to be your wingwoman while you hoe it up. Or down. Whatever. I’m not in the mood for shoving my feet into uncomfortable shoes and tight ass clothes only to pay twenty dollars for a drink and go home with. buzzing ears from the loud music.”
“Ugh. When did you become so boring?”
“Um, when I became a mother and couldn’t take a baby to a bar.” She laughs just as my other line beeps. “Ky, hold on. Malik’s on the other line. But don’t hang up. I’m going to tell him I’ll call him back.”
“Hurry up, muffin!”
I click hold and switch and return the phone to my ear. “Hello lover boy.”
“I like the sound of that. Hello doll face. What are you up to?” I can hear the smile on his face.
Over the last few weeks of our relationship, we have spent very little time apart. If he’s not here, having dinner and playing games, we’re at his house sitting by the fire pit and watching movies. Neither Dahlia or I have ever been happier and I realize what I’ve been missing all my life. Someone that respects me and wants to be my partner and not just a husband. Not that Malik and I are walking down the aisle. He just shows me everyday the type of man I’ve always wanted and foolishly thought I had.
Clearly I did not.
“Just telling Kyle why we will not be going out this evening?”
“And why is that? Because you want me to come over and fuck you?” He growls in the way he likes to do when he teases me.
“While that is usually high on my list, tonight it’s because I don’t want to have sweaty bodies rubbing all over me and I don’t have anyone to watch Dahlia.”
“I can solve that for you. Go to Truth and Dare and I’ll make sure you ladies aren’t bothered, and I’ll hang out with Dahlia at your house. Done.”
“What? No caveman attitude tonight? No barking that you don’t want me around other men?” I ask him, only partly joking.
“Oh believe me, baby. I never want other men near you but I won’t be the kind of guy that clips your wings and locks you in a cage. You should go have fun with your friend. But let me say this, if I find out any fucker bothered you, I’ll start cracking necks. No one’s going to touch my girl and live.”
What he said should probably worry me, but I will never tire of hearing him call me his girl and what it does to me.
“Are you sure?” I ask him, knowing that I would make Kyle’s day by agreeing to go with her.
“About putting some piece of shit in the ground if he touches you? One hundred percent. But also about me hanging with my best girl while you go have fun. So tell Kyle to pick you up at eight and I’ll be over at five with dinner and to watch you get ready.”
My smile blooms and if he were here right now, I’d be happy to fall to my knees right here on this tiled kitchen floor and let him use my mouth anyway he wants.
“Well if you’re positive then I will do just that. But I’m going to use you as an excuse to leave early. So you better have some stomach issues real quick because you’re either going to be vomiting or shit your pants.”
“Goddamn. Vomit. Please. Kyle will never look at me the same if you tell her I shit myself. Leave me with some dignity.”
“Got it. See you soon, handsome.”
“See you soon, my sunny girl.” He’s taken to calling me that and I like it.
Only two other people have called me that, but I like it best from his mouth.
I switch over to Kyle and tell her, “You owe Malik a gallon of ice cream. Be here by eight and I’m wearing flats.”
“No you’re not. Bye.”
We’ll see who wins this fight.
I wince and wiggle my toes in the high heeled booties Kyle forced me to wear. I tried to get away with flats, but she practically sat on me and shoved these things on my feet. By the time we finished fighting, Malik and Dahlia sat watching with a brownie in each of their hands and laughing.
For a skinny bitch she sure is strong.
“I need to sit down for a little while. These shoes are killing me,” I tell her as we make our way through the crowd back to our table.
“God you’re a weenie. Come on.” She rolls her eyes and grabs my hand, dragging me back to the table.
We love each other to the ends of the earth and would fight a tiger for the other, but are you really even best friends if you aren’t rude to one another? No. No you’re not.
We sit in the booth that is usually reserved for the Dare brothers, but when we arrived Danté was there to greet us and show us to our seats for the night along with drinks and food on the house. I tried to argue with him about it, but Kyle smacked my arms and told me to hush. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. And trust me, that man is as gifted as a horse.”
I just about threw up in my mouth a little and quickly accepted Danté’s offer after he stood there staring at Kyle with a cunning look on his face. Thank Jesus Ky said she’s done with him and there would be no fucking in the boss’s office. I guess she’s moved on to “younger dick”. I asked her to please put limits on that. She assured me her cougar era didn’t extend beyond a ten year age gap then pointed out Malik is five years younger than me. I was put in my place…hard.
I flop back into my seat, taking the pressure off my feet and grab the glass of water with condensation dripping all down the sides. I’ve only had two drinks but I don’t think I could have another if it was the only thing to drink in the bar.
I take my phone from my back pocket to send Malik a text.
Me: You alright? Dahlia hasn’t forced you into princess makeovers, has she?
Malik: She promised we could watch Samurai Jack if I let her do my hair. It’s called compromise, Soleil.
I laugh and picture the two of them sitting on the couch, watching cartoons about a samurai with bows in their hair.
Me: Sounds fair. Is your stomach feeling okay?
Malik: My stomach is fine. Go enjoy your friend and stop worrying. Jack is about to train a tribe of monkies so I gotta go.
“They’re fine, Sunny. He cares for twenty little ankle biters all day. Dolly is a piece of cake,” Kyle tells me when she notices my face.
“I know.” I darken my phone and set it down on the table. “I just feel guilty that he’s at my house watching my daughter, while I’m drinking at his bar without him.”
“Girl. Don’t feel guilty. Feel thankful. How many men would offer to stay at home with the kid while their girl goes out for a night on the town. Not to mention bank rolls the evening. Say thank you with a little deep-throat action later.”
I choke on the water I’m drinking and my eyes water. Leave it to Ky to make me rethink my loyalty.
“Soleil,” a voice calls and both Kyle and I turn our heads.
The blood drains from my face when I see Wesley standing there with a drink in his hand. He’s dressed in his usual chinos, button up shirt and loafers and I’m not at all surprised that this is basically his uniform. Usually this is what I would love to see a man in. Hell, Malik wears something similar while at school. But I’ve grown a fondness for his black jeans and black shirt and black boots that he always changes into as soon as he can.
Plus, it doesn’t help that Wesley looks like an absolute douche who doesn’t understand the word no . It’s apparent by the number of times I’ve declined his proposals but he just keeps asking.
“Hello Wesley. How are you?” It’s difficult for me to be rude, so I opt for politeness.
“Well my night just got immensely better. Mind if we join you?” He doesn’t waitforan answer before sitting down right next to me, causing me to glue myself to the wall.
What I didn’t notice was his equally douchey friend who was standing behind him who now sits comfortably next to Kyle with his arm thrown over the back.
“Oh I’m sorry. Did I invite you into my space?” She tells him, not the least bit polite. “Please take your Axe using ass and scoot over.”
I bring my water to my mouth to hide my smile. Sometimes I question my friendship with that woman. But most days, I’m so grateful forher.
“I’m Wesley Collier.” He reaches out to Kyle, introducing himself to a woman who couldn’t give two flying fucks.
“I’ve heard of you, Weasley Collier. Kyle.” I don’t know if he quite got what she said, but I sure as shit did.
“And this is my friend, Jaco–”
“Doesn’t matter. Don’t care.” She picks up her highball glass and sucks the last of her drink through the tiny straw.
When she’s done, she lifts the glass and catches our waitress's attention, shaking it and asking for another. Our waitress smiles, having already made friends with her, and walks off to fill her order.
She returns with a fresh gimlet for Ky and an ice cold water for me. She winks at us both then looks skeptically from man to man.
“Hey sweetheart, we’ll take two more Sammies.” Wesley picks up his bottle then clunks it back on the table.
She looks from me to Kyle and we both give her the eye that says please help us . She stands back, her hands crossed over her chest and a smirk across her face.
“Are you both guests of Mr. Dare?” she asks them.
Wesley, thinking he’s being slick, says, “We got a personal invite. So whenever you can, two more.”
She narrows her eyes and nods her head then struts off.
“What’s with her? Are you guests of Mr. Dare? Just because he’s the owner doesn’t mean we can’t be here. We’re paying customers. That thug should be happy people even bother to come here.”
My eyes grow large and I gulp down a ball of fear while Kyle simply laughs.
“That thug is a millionaire who doesn’t need two dollars from you to be happy.” Danté comes walking up just at that moment and sends Wesley into a deathly shade of pale.“I don’t think you were invited to sit here. Was he ladies?”
Wesley opens his mouth and says, “yes,” while Kyle blurts out, “abso-fucking-lutely not.”
“Let me fill you in on something. This is my personal table that I reserve for wanted guests. And Soleil and Kyle are my guests. You two are not. Now, I will tell you nicely once, and one time only, get the fuck out of my table. You’re bothering my girl,” he winks at Kyle, both knowing it isn’t true but sending a message. “And my brother’s girl. I’d hate to have to call him and let him know you’re intruding on their girls night. He’s almost as crazy a fucker as I am when it comes to our women.”
Wesley’s ears are red and his nostrils flare with silent anger. But I bet my whole damn life he won’t say one word to Danté. He sniffs, slams the rest of his beer back, and worms his way out of the booth.
“Isn’t your brother Malik Dare?” He asks Danté.
“He is. So is Hendrix. You know, the one who probably fixes your shitty ass car. Remember that.”
Wesley’s friend stands, having not said one word the entire interaction, and slides past Danté. Wesley flattens his palms on the table and leans in the slightest bit.
“Isn’t that interesting? You’re dating his brother.”
“Yes. One of them, as he has two.” My annoyance for this man has reached its boiling point.
“Right. But your daughter’s teacher is Malik Dare. Who showed up at the park a few weeks back? Malik Dare, who is constantly asking you for ‘help’ at school? Malik Dare, who gets mighty upset when Italk to you? Malik. Dare.” My body shakes but I clench my jaw from making that visible. “Interesting, indeed. Have a good night, Soleil.”
He spins around and walks away from our table and I finally breathe.
“Do you want me to tell Mal about this?” Danté’s face suddenly cools and it’s a contrast to what he normally presents.
I shake my head. “No. It’s okay, I'll tell him. I actually think I’m ready to go.” I look at Kyle who nods.
“I don’t want you ladies driving alone. I think I’ll go with you and Mal can bring me back to my bike.”
“That’s not–” He arches his brow and his black eyes are intense. “We’ll wait for you.”
The argument dies on my tongue and I send a quick text to Malik before getting in the backseat of Kyle’s car while she sits in the passenger seat and Danté drives. He must be angry on Malik’s behalf because he drives Kyle’s little Mercedes like he’s an F1 racer
If this is how he reacts, I can’t begin to imagine what Malik will do.