Page 21 of Our Mother's Sons

The waitress nearly tripped over her feet to fulfill the order. He was still working on the bones, and the way his tongue licked off the sauce had me clenching my thighs together. I didn’t know what type of pull he had to threaten the waitress’s job, but she was scared as hell.

“You own this place or something?”

He dropped the bone on the plate and grabbed the napkin to wipe his hands.

“Nah, but my brother do.”

“Is that his name? Jonah?”

He smirked, “Is that a way of asking my name? But nah, that’s our pops’ name.”

I swept the restaurant again, trying my hardest not to look Dutton’s way, although I could feel his eyes on me.

“This place is amazing. I love the aesthetic, and the food was delicious. Your dad must be proud.”

Feeling mad that Dutton was only a few feet away, I lifted the signature cocktail to my lips and took a sip. One sip turned into three as he watched me. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know his name and trying not to think about how hoeish it really was. Like how in the fuck did I not know his name and he’d had his dick so far up my cooter that I nearly spit it out? I would keep hanging out with Baela because I was just as lonely as she was, but that was my last time letting her drag me to a club.

“He’s dead. Died when we were a few years old. Our paternal grandma raised us. She’s proud, though. I’ll tell my brother you fuck with it.”

His eyes hadn’t left my face, and his stare was so intense that it was almost as if he was picking out all the imperfections on it. I’d hoped like hell nothing was out of place. Just thinking about my makeup shifting from underneath my eyes had me taking another sip. God, I hoped I didn’t look a mess. This man was so damn fine that you wanted to look nothing less than perfect around him.

The waitress returned just as I took my final sip, and this time she had two brown paper thank you bags and our drinks. When she sat everything down, it was as if she was walking on eggshells. This fine ass man was intimidating but not that damn intimidating.

“I’ll take my ticket now.”

“Don’t insult me, love,” his deep voice vibrated next to me as he slumped back in his seat and counted off bills. When he handed the waitress four one-hundred-dollar bills and told her to keep the change, her mood went from somber to cheery.

Him picking up his glass prompted me to do the same and even though I knew that wasn’t good for me, I sipped. I was already on my level, this drink would put me on my ass. On my ass in the presence of this man who I knew for a fact could put a hurting on my pussy wasn’t a good combination. But I needed a distraction from going over there wearing Dutton’s ass out.

“So, who is that light bright ass nigga with that pregnant snow bunny that keep taking a peep over here?”

“Pregnant?” I snapped my head at him.

“Yeah, pregnant. He dared to try and walk his ass in the kitchen because his pregnant hoe is allergic to shellfish and he wanted to tell the chef personally. Fuck nigga almost got his ass blowed off.”

Hearing that Dutton had officially lost his fucking mind had me running my tongue across my teeth. I didn’t know what to do besides drink again, so that was what I did. The more I drank, the less I started to care about Dutton being in the vicinity. I had zero love left for that nigga and hadn’t had loved for him months before he left the relationship but it was the way he went about doing shit that pissed me the fuck off.

“That is my ex-boyfriend.”

“How recent is this ex? He got you kinda tight losing your appetite and shit.”

“Oh trust, I don’t want shit to do with his ass. He wasn’t good for me when we were together and damn sure isn’t good for me now. It’s just the principle of it all. He left me with an apartment, a car note, and other bills. Not only that…I was… not good mentally. We went through some shit and his answer to it was getting me pregnant. I was already paying all the bills and…well, he not only used me, but he cheated on me and was verbally abusive. I let him convince me to distance myself from my only family for nearly a year and shut her completely out of my life. So, seeing him out looking like a million bucks and having a pregnant person on his arm puts me in my feelings a little.” I truthfully answered. I didn’t want Dutton. God knew I didn’t, but the whole situation was delicate, and I couldn’t believe that had been my life.

“Well, I can tell you for sure that nigga don’t look like a million bucks. He look like a bootleg JJ fish with his buckteeth ass. He should have been getting some dental work instead of buying fucking jewelry. I hate to see what the fuck the baby gone look like. A light skinned, beaver teeth blue eyed fish with thin ass strangled blonde hair.” He had the nerve to shudder like he was disgusted.

Tossing my head back, I let out a laugh that was way too loud.

“You so wrong. I can’t stand him, but he’s not ugly. She’s cute too, and you’re acting like you're not light-skinned,” I scoffed as I took another sip of my drink.

“Me and my brother don’t act like other light skinned niggas. Our daddy was black as fuck so I like to think we got his characteristics. We chocolate at heart,” he slammed his glass on the table as I cracked up laughing.

He didn’t know it, but I needed that in this moment. Dutton had done a number on my ass for real.

“You want me to kill him, Bae?”

I was still laughing when his question registered. My giggles slowed as he intently stared, waiting for me to answer. My grin dropped when his hand reached under his hoodie and gripped the steel on his waist.

“Wait. You’re serious?”