Chapter 10 #2
I kept one hand on the wheel and the other on her belly like I was an extra seatbelt.
Normally when we rode together, we’d be multiple conversations in.
It didn’t matter if it was about something she’d dreamt about or something she saw outside.
Dai was gon’ talk. She didn’t have much to say now.
I was sure it was because she knew what was going through my head.
As soon as I pulled into a spot outside the diner and killed the engine, she spoke before I could step out.
“I just want you to know that I didn’t have a problem cutting Trill off.”
I leaned back in my seat slightly and let her continue.
“I just didn’t see it as a priority,” she added. “Especially since we weren’t serious.”
“When it comes to you having dealings with other men,” I spoke firmly, “everything is serious.”
She let out a deep sigh. “But I’m telling you it wasn’t like that.”
I met her eyes and spoke again. “And I’m telling you it is.”
She folded her arms over her stomach and shook her head. “If you’re about to sit in there with an attitude, I can just grab my food and go. I’m not tryna explain to nobody why you in there with the screw face, scaring Amil’s customers off. The people already think you mean as hell.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t aspire to be no other nigga but me. If people think I’m mean, I don’t give a fuck. If you think I’m mean, I give a fuck… kinda.”
That pulled a smile from her. “Well, I think you’re being a jerk to me right now.”
“You want a kiss?”
She nodded.
I turned and leaned over the center console, stopping just before our lips touched. “Keep thinkin’ shit ain’t that serious with you and other niggas, and I’ma break ya fuckin’ neck, okay?”
She stuck her tongue out and licked from my lips up to the tip of my nose then back to my lips to kiss me. “Okay, baby. Can we go eat now?”
“Yes.”
Stepping out of the car, I walked around to her side and opened her door.
I put my hand on the small of her back, leading from behind, as we walked up the steps and inside the diner.
It was a little after ten, so we made it just before the lunch rush.
I could smell maple syrup, waffles, and pastries in the air.
Scanning the floor automatically for Amil, I didn’t see her, but what I did see was Alexis’ happy ass straighten her posture and saunter over to the front.
“Well, look who decided to drop in and grace us with his presence,” she said with a smile that told everything without anyone asking.
Adai glanced back at me, picking up on it immediately. “Excuse me.” She side stepped Alexis like she wasn’t standing there. “I’ll go find us a table.”
She tried to walk off on me, but I knew it was a test to see if I would stay behind to talk to Alexis.
And I was everything but crazy. I side stepped her silly ass too and followed behind Dai.
She found a booth and sat with her back to the door, while I sat across from her with direct vision of it.
We didn’t get a chance to pick up the menu before she came over.
“Good morning. My name is Alexis, and I’ll be serving you today.” She leaned slightly toward me like she was talking to me personally instead of the both of us.
“Actually,” Dai spoke up, “you won’t be serving us.”
“Excuse me?” She turned her attention to Dai.
“I can sign what I said if you need me to.”
“I’m…”
“Hey, y’all,” Danae greeted, walking up behind Alexis.
She sucked her teeth, visibly pissed, as she stood up straight. “Hey, Danae.” She spoke with disdain. “I was just about to take their order.”
“No,” Dai responded. “You were just about to move around. I don’t want nobody waiting on me, drooling over my food and shit because you’re dying of thirst.”
“Ooop,” Danae let out, covering her mouth.
I just smirked and shook my head. Adai could be the sweetest person ever, but that mouth was lethal on and off the dick.
“Excuse me?” was all the comeback Alexis could come up with, and that was a shame.
“I did that already, boo,” Dai fired back.
“You know what?” Danae started to speak. “Alexis, you go and take that four top in the front, and I’ll take care of them.”
Alexis lingered a second too long, causing Danae to give her a look that reminded her that her request wasn’t optional. Tight, she stomped off like a big ass kid.
“Girl, if this belly ain’t stoppin’ shit was a person, it would be you,” Danae said, leaning down to hug Dai. “You was about to whoop her ass, and I would’ve been down a waitress.”
“Then I would’ve felt bad and had to get me an apron and get to it.” Dai laughed.
“No, you wouldn’t have,” I said, glancing up from the menu.
“Anyway.” She rolled her eyes. “I already know what I want.” She rattled off what she wanted, just as she had done earlier.
Danae noted everything without writing it down then turned to me for my order. I got the French toast with strawberry compote and a side of hash browns. She nodded, took our menus, and headed straight to the kitchen.
“So, is that the Alexis that was looking for you?” Dai asked once Danae was out of ear shot.
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” she responded simply before taking her phone out and swiping.
The food came out a short time later. Although she wasn’t talking to me, Dai made sure to sneak a couple bites of my French toast and the strawberries. I let her because by the way she danced in her seat, I could tell it made her happy.
“I need a nap,” she said once she was done. “Let me go pee. Your baby is sitting on my bladder.”
She went to stand, and I got up to help her out the booth. “You got it?”
“Yeah. Unless you wanna come to the bathroom and hold me up while I squat over the toilet.”
“I will if you need me to.”
“No.” She laughed. “You can order me a piece of lemon pound cake to go though.”
“Aight. I got you.”
“Thank you.”
I bent down to peck her lips, and she let me.
“Yeah. You betta let thirsty know Big Mama back in town.”
I chuckled while she walked off to the back where the bathrooms were.
No sooner than she turned the corner, Alexis found her way back to my table.
“I guess congrats are in order, huh?” she said, looking over her shoulder, likely wanting to make sure Danae wasn’t around.
“Yeah.”
“That’s cool. She’s really pretty. And she’s carr…”
“Alexis, you really gotta learn to read the room and understand when you’re in danger. You see what’s going on. Get the fuck on, bruh.”
“Wow. All that? I see how you doing it. I guess I’ll see you around, Pryce.” There was something slick in her response that I made a mental note of.
Standing from the table, I walked over to the register with my check. Danae appeared a few seconds later, just as Adai came back from the bathroom.
“Was the food good?” Danae asked, popping the register open. She took the check from me and slipped it under the till.
“Yes, it was,” Dai answered on our behalf, hooking her arm in mine. “Did you order my cake?” she asked me.
“I was just about to,” I said, handing Danae over a hundred-dollar bill that she pushed back into my hand.
“What you want, boo?” she asked Dai.
“A slice of the lemon pound cake. Please tell me y’all have some.”
“We do. I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, hol’ up, Danae,” I called out to her. “Put this in the register to cover the next customer’s meal.”
She took the money and placed it inside. “Girl, you got it.” She pointed to Dai, who laughed. “I’ma get you two slices of cake.”
I shook my head, while Dai wrapped her arms around my waist. “They don’t know that you’re a big teddy bear.”
“Good,” I said, kissing her forehead.
“Here you go, boo. Enjoy.” Danae slid a shopping bag over to her.
“Thank you. See you later.”
“Later,” I said, and Danae gave me a head nod that made me snicker.
We didn’t see Alexis as we left out, and that was a good thing. I helped Dai back in the car as she held onto her cake like she was scared that it would grow legs and walk away.
“You think Amil would cater our baby shower?” she asked randomly.
“You ask the most random ass questions,” I said, pulling out of the lot.
She laughed. “Random stuff be on my mind. But do you think she will?”
“You want diner food at the baby shower?”
“No. I want breakfast food. Well, brunch. My mother said she has a whole plan in her head, but I hope she makes room for my input on the food at least.”
“Whatever you want.”
“You know what? I should’ve left a minute ago. I like this new and improved Pryce.”
“Girl, stop frontin’ like you ain’t always got what you wanted from me.”
“Yeah. But with push back. Now, it’s giving you get a car, you get a car.” She pointed her finger at the window, and we both cracked up laughing.
This vibe was definitely missed, a vibe that she could always maintain.