Chapter 11 #2
“Well, that’s not a question that you need to be asking me, Loco, that’s something you have to ask and answer yourself,” he replied before taking a bite of his steak.
“I can tell you what I see in you—the potential, the good heart—but being a father or stepping into that role, ain’t something you get told you’re ready for.
It’s something you decide you are.” He paused to let his words sink in.
“You’ve got some good examples though. Your father never ran from responsibility.
Your boys out here raising kids, and you know I stepped up as soon as I found out about my baby girl.
If you got it in here,” he pointed to his heart, “to show up even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s not about you—then yeah, you got what it takes.
But again, that’s not for me to say. It’s for you to figure out on your own. ”
I nodded, allowing his words to process. I was a wild ass nigga that did what I wanted, when I wanted, with no one else in mind, but if it came down to it, I knew I could and would make sure Diamond and baby girl were always straight.
“Aight, I appreciate that Unc,” I leaned forward so that we could pound fists. “I’m gon’ slide so I can get ready. I’ll fuck with you later.” I reached to dap him up. “Love you, Unc.”
“Same, neph,” he replied. “And good luck tonight.”
I took my bike this way, so I hopped on my shit and hit it to the crib. Since I was gon’ be out the way, I put my shit up. Nobody was stupid enough to fuck with it, and security was pretty tight at my spot, but I didn’t want to tempt a nigga to lose their life by fucking with my shit.
When I made it up to my crib, I showered and got dressed.
I had a car delivered to the airport already, so I was gon’ straight to Diamond’s crib when I got there.
I’d already packed some shit to take with me, and whatever I didn’t have I’d buy while I was there.
That’s how I did shit most of the time anyway.
I grabbed my shit then left and headed to the airport where the jet was already gassed up and waiting.
On the ride over, I decided to do some work.
I had a new album that I was finishing up, so I listened to some of the songs, okayed the new cover that had been sent to me, as well as finalized the details on the tour the label was putting together for me.
It had been a lil’ minute since I’d done my own solo tour, so a nigga was geeked about the shit.
I’d gotten a good bit of work done by the time I made it to A.C.
, so I put all my shit away and pushed work to the back of my mind until I got back home.
I wanted to give Diamond’s fine ass all my attention.
I hit her and let her know I was in the city before I got in the Bentley Bentayga I had delivered and headed to her spot.
Per my request, there was already a dozen roses in the passenger’s seat.
I knew I wasn’t gon’ have time to go find any when I made it, so I requested the shits ahead of time.
I didn’t bother to park in a spot when I got to her crib. I just parked behind her whip because hopefully her ass was ready to come on out when I got up there. I’d texted her to let her know I was outside before taking the steps up to meet her at the door.
“Hey, I just need to get my purse and phone,” she said after opening the door.
She tried to hurry off, but I caught her wrist to stop her.
“No way you come to the door this fuckin’ fine then try to run the fuck off.” She blushed and pushed her bang off her face. “Are these for me?” she pointed to the flowers.
I nodded and handed them to her. “Diamond, I didn’t think you could get no finer, but damn, Lord, you look good as a mothafucka.”
The dress fit her petite frame like a fucking glove, and the shit had a nigga’s mouthwatering. The fresh pedicure made the shoes I dropped a grip on look even better. I needed to hit the designers up and tell them to let her ass model their products for them.
She had her hair pulled up in a ponytail that had some curls and shit in it. They had to be pinned up because her shit was a lot longer than it appeared to be now.
“Makhai, you have to let me go,” she said softly. “We’re going to be late.”
I didn’t want to let her fine ass go, but I did. She placed the flowers on the counter, then went to the back. When she appeared again, she had her bag and phone in hand. I hurried to pull her into my body again. I knew off top that I was going to be all over her tonight.
When we made it down the steps, I helped her into the car then I rounded it to get into the driver’s side myself.
I usually would listen to my music while I was riding, but I wanted to set the tone for the night, so I turned my brother’s unreleased album on.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to let her hear the shit before it dropped but fuck it. I had faith she wasn’t gon’ say shit.
“Oh my God, is this Sy?”
I glanced her way and smirked. “Yeah, but it’s unreleased, so you can’t say shit.”
“I won’t. I love him so much.” She smiled.
“Aight, Lord,” I cut my eyes at her.
“Not like that. Just his music.”
“Yeah, aight.” I chuckled. “Who got baby girl? Your neighbor?”
“No, Kabria,” she answered. “Since we didn’t know what time I’d be done with you and I didn’t want to drag her out in the middle of the night again, she’s keeping her.”
“Oh, so I got you all night?” I grinned.
“Maybe. It depends on how you behave on this date. Where are we going anyway?”
“On a date, love.”
“I know that much, asshole.” She playfully rolled her eyes. “Where is the date?”
“We gon’ be there soon, so you’ll know then.”
“So, it’s top secret. Got it.” She turned to sit back in her seat then started to fuck with some of the buttons on my shit. “Are these seat massagers?”
“Yeah,” I reached to move her hand and turn them on. “My mama the only one that ever uses the shit.”
“Oh… wow.” I glanced to see her close her eyes. “These feel good.”
“You can turn the heat on too.” I hit the button, and her ass was really feeling it then.
“I could stay in this seat all day,” she groaned.
“I’m sorry to disappoint, love, but you gon’ have to enjoy that shit on the way back because we’re here.”
She sat up to see where we were and gasped.
“The Culinary Caboose! I’ve been wanting to eat here since they opened.”
“Well, ya wish is my command.” I said before climbing out then going to help her out of the car.
Hand in hand we walked toward the entrance of the train.
I’d reserved the whole thing for the night because I wanted to enjoy my time with Diamond in peace.
It was hard as shit to go somewhere and not be spotted by fans or paparazzi.
I knew how overwhelming the shit could be, so I made sure it was just us and the staff knew to give us distance.
They’d laid down a red carpet for us to take up to the train.
I held onto Diamond’s hand to help her up the steps then I followed.
The hostess led us to the middle caboose where there was a lone table sitting in the center of the dimly lit car.
There were lights surrounding the space as well as candles on the white linen covered table.
In the center of the table there was a vase full of red roses.
“Makhai, this is so nice,” Diamond said as I pulled her chair out.
“Facts it is,” I agreed, pulling my own chair out and taking a seat next to her.
“What is this?” she asked referring to the food that was already waiting for us.
“Amuse-Bouche,” the server answered, removing the silver lids from each of our plates. “Just a taste to get your evening started.”
He turned to the cart to grab a bottle of champagne then filled our glasses before he left, pushing his car ahead of him.
Diamond turned and took my hands to bless the food then she took a bite of the small ass crabcake. Her eyes closed for a moment while she chewed the food with a smile on her pretty ass face. She giggled when she opened them and noticed me smirking.
“I swear I’m not greedy, this is just really good.”
“You straight.” I chuckled, tossing one of my arms around the back of her chair then grabbing my own to eat it. It was small as fuck, only enough for me to taste, but she was right—the shit was fire.
“Good as hell, huh?”
“On Lord,” I smiled. “I’m mad the shit was only a taste.”
“It’s just an hors d’oeuvre. It’s not meant to be big.”
“Shit a fuckin’ teaser.” I chuckled. “Let’s make a toast.” I suggested grabbing my glass while she did the same.
“What are we toasting to?”
“To you,” I replied, lifting my glass. “I don’t really do this—dates on trains and shit—hell, half the time I’m moving around too much to even sit down and eat at the crib,” I chuckled.
“But you made me want to slow down a little and plan something like this. So, to you,” I moved my glass toward hers.
“The first woman I’ve ever wanted to take out and actually did. ”
Our glasses clinked and we both drank some of the champagne before she said, “This isn’t really your first date is it?”
“On Lord it is.”
“That is extremely hard to believe.”
“Shiddd, I don’t know why.” I chuckled. “You think I be havin’ time to take bitches out and shit?”
She shrugged. “You have time to sleep with women, so naturally I’d think they, at the very least, require that you take them out.”
“Naw, them hoes know to come with no requirements or I’m gon’ move on to the next. I ain’t the nigga for all of that shit.”
“Yet you’re here with me.” She rolled her eyes, and I smiled.
“You different,” I replied then laughed when she kissed her teeth.
“On Lord you are. Before you, I never met a woman that made me want to do this shit, dead ass. I’m used to bitches accepting what the fuck I say and being willing to work them knees out day one.
You wasn’t going for none of that shit.”
“Facts because number one, I’m not a bitch. I’m a grown ass woman. I have never and would never sleep with a man without making him earn me.”