Chapter 9 #2
I watched as the bouncer and server cleared the area.
Everyone was sent upstairs to the restaurant except those that were waiting to do karaoke and at the bar.
We got comfortable at a small, round, brown table by the exit door, and I just shook my head and smiled.
It didn’t take long for us to look over the menu because they only served drinks and pizza at the speakeasy.
If you wanted more to eat, you had to go upstairs to the actual restaurant.
I didn’t care for mixed drinks because they filled my stomach up quickly, plus they were extra sugar, and I reserved that for my sweet treats.
I was cool with vodka or tequila. Cash said vodka tasted like straight up rubbing alcohol, so he got me a bottle of Clase Azul and himself a bottle of Jameson.
When I told him there was no way I’d drink a whole bottle, he said that was his way of making sure we had what we needed without having to wait for the bartender or server to check on us.
“I know you’re protective, scared of bugs, and you stutter when you’re nervous,” Cash said. “Tell me more about you.”
“More like what?” I asked as he poured us both a shot.
“Everything. Start with your origin story, then your villain story if you have one. ”
“Hmm . . . Like I said, I was born and raised in The Hills. My mom was my everything. My dad lives in Spain, and we’ve never really had a close relationship.
I thought that would change after my mom died when I was ten but that wasn’t the case.
” My mouth twisted to the side as I dried my eyes.
“I moved in with my aunt and uncle, Tyreek’s parents, and they have treated me like their own ever since. ”
“So Tyreek is more like a little brother to you then, huh?”
“Yep.”
“That makes things make more sense. I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I know that loss all too well. I lost my pops when I was eleven.”
“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that. No one truly understands the loss of a parent unless it’s something they’ve experienced themselves.”
Silence found us until after we took our shots.
“Why food?” he asked me with a smile.
“Well, I love baking and anything sweet. Mama had a major sweet tooth when she was pregnant with me, which was how I got my name. I’ve always loved eating and baking desserts.
If I could choose, I’d have my own bakery, but I could only make so much money doing that, so I opened my own catering business.
If I had it my way, my aunt Terry would run the catering business, and I’d have my own bakery.
Aunt Terry taught me everything I know in the kitchen.
She absolutely loves cooking, but for me, catering is solely my income. Baking is my true passion. Why food?”
“I guess the answer to why food ties into my villain story as well. Like I said, Pops died when I was eleven. Mama struggled to keep food on the table. She was a waitress and brought food home from the restaurant when she could. When she couldn’t, she went without so I could eat, or she’d send me to Rhakeem’s house so I could eat with them.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart about making sure people eat because of that.
That was also why I got in the streets at thirteen.
When he first died, I was too stuck in my grief to really pay attention to what was going on, you know?
But when I did peep how Ma was struggling to provide for me, I accepted my new assignment. ”
“Do you plan to be in the streets forever?” I asked before taking another shot.
“Nah. That was never the end game for me.”
“So what will you do when you retire? Just focus on your legal businesses or start something else?”
His head tilted as he got a bit more comfortable in his seat.
“I haven’t decided yet. I want to travel and see more of the world.
It don’t mean shit to have all this money without being able to do anything with it because I’m tied to one place.
My businesses practically run themselves because of the teams I have in place, but I got too much integrity to just .
. . let somebody control what has my name on it. ”
“I understand. I’m the same way. I know I could trust my team and Aunt Terry to do their own events while I just chill and collect money, but I can’t do that.”
Our conversation shifted to our likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests.
He loved music, working out, boxing, and sports.
I loved that he considered spending time with his mother as a hobby he loved.
I shared with him that I loved working out, dancing, reading, and making bracelets.
I often gave them away at churches, schools, and hospitals, and he suggested I give him some of my next batch to give to women and little girls at his next food drive .
As was often the case when we were together, time passed much too fast. We made our way out of the speakeasy and went to the beach.
To that bench. There, we smoked and continued to talk and get to know each other.
After a while, silence found us, and it was just as pleasant and enjoyable.
I rested my head on his shoulder and Cash entangled his fingers with mine.
A group of what looked like twenty-somethings started a bon fire, and I didn’t expect Cash to join them.
They started playing a Memphis rapper playlist that gained his attention and fired up a grill.
I should have known food would make this man’s feet move.
We joined them and they were hyped over being with a living urban legend.
Cash was cool with them taking pictures of and with him, but he made it clear they could not post him until after we left.
He did a late night grocery order and had Rhakeem and two other men bring more weed and gummies, and it turned into a little party.
I liked the spontaneity of this careful and calculated man.
If this was the kind of random day that made up the lot of his life, I was looking forward to enjoying it with him.