Page 10 of Pulse of True Soulmates

I finished wrapping up Iesha’s foot before I shifted in my seat to face him. “Nah, I don’t think that it matters to the point that I wouldn’t be with her. I don’t know much about it, but I’m learning now. If I have questions, I know she’ll answer them.”

Iesha swung her legs off the chair. “Well, call her now and ask her out. There’s no time like the present.” She crossed her arms over herself. It was clear that she’d been around my mama too long and too damn much.

I grabbed my phone from the table next to me. There was no need for me to act like I didn’t want to ask her out. I pulled her up on my contact list then pressed the call button.“Hey, Deck,”she greeted with the nickname that she gave me without my damn permission.

“What’s up, Aeon? What you up to?”I looked up at everyone in my damn face. Even the dude that Julian was tatting had tuned in.

There was some shifting on her end.“Um, I’m with Fatima hanging out. Are you at the shop?”

“Yeah, I am. I wanted to ask you?—”

“Baby, you want another piece of cake?”Why the fuck does that sound like my mama?

“Um, why does that sound like Princetta? Aeon, where are you and Fatima?”I talked to my mother earlier today, and she didn’t say anything about Aeon and her best friend coming over.

Aeon hesitated, but she responded.“Um, we’re at Mrs. Princetta’s house. She invited us over for dinner.”

“My mama invited you over for dinner, huh? Okay, well I guess I’ll ask you what I wanted when I get there for dinner. I’ll see you soon.”I disconnected the call.

“Yo, my mama does the most. How are you going to invite her over and not tell me that shit. If I didn’t call, I wouldn’t have known. I’ve talked to my mama and Aeon’s ass today, and neither of their asses said shit to me.” I got up to start packing my shit.

Julian started to laugh, then Derrick and Iesha joined in like a little heckle choir. “That man is mad that his mama invited his girl over and didn’t tell him. You better go see about your girl,” Derrick joked.

“Fuck y’all. She’s not my girl yet. Y’all told me to ask her out on a date, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m just going to do it in person.” I heard them talking funny shit, but I refused to entertain their asses. Once I had all my stuff, I chucked everyone the deuces and left them all right there.

Ink Vibingwas only ten minutes from my parents’ house in the south end of Charlotte.How does my mama get to meet the best friend before I meet the best friend?When I got to the house, it felt like I floated to the front door. Since Aeon and Fatima were here, I felt comfortable using my key to walk in.

When I walked in, my face tightened. I walked the short journey to the kitchen. They sat at the table in the kitchen while my mother stood at the stove, frying chicken. It was in the middle of the week. My mama only fried chicken on the weekends. “Mama, you frying chicken on a not weekend day?”

She turned with tightened eyes and a hand on her hip. “Boy, I know you didn’t just walk in my house and not greet people. I just know I raised you better than that, Declan Micheal Phillips Jr.”

I got myself together because she was right. “My bad, Mama.” I walked over to her and kissed her cheek. “How are you doing today?”

She showcased her beautiful smile. “That’s more like it. I’m great, baby. Yes, I’m frying chicken because Fatima and Aeon wanted some.”

I pivoted to put the ladies in my sight. “Hello, Aeon. Fatima, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

She sized me up as I expected her to do. “Hey, Declan. It’s nice to meet you as well. I’ve heard a lot about you too.”

“Midnite, what’s up witcha?” I asked him. He lay at the threshold of the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if my mother told him not to come into the kitchen or not. He just lifted his head, looked at me, then put it back down.

“Aeon, can I talk to you in the living room really quick?” I asked her. Her rude ass didn’t say shit to me when I told her hello.

“Ok, Deck.” She giggled because every time she called me that shit, I gave her a death stare. She walked ahead of me into the living room, giving me the opportunity to watch her ass.

We both sat on the couch. She looked good and smelled good. “You look beautiful as usual.”

“Awe, thank you so much. You look se . . . handsome. You look handsome today.” Her milk chocolate cheeks lifted and rose over. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

I watched her for a moment. She was so fucking beautiful. “I wanted to know if I could take you out on a date?”

EARLIER THE SAME DAY . . .

“Girl,you are tripping. I think it’s sweet that she calls to check up on you and ask if you need anything. I mean, you and her son gonna end up together with his fine ass.” Fatima fanned herself.

She was so extra. When she got home the day that I went to the store, I begrudgingly told her what happened at the store. I didn’t get to the part about Declan before she started to fuss and cuss. I had to calm her down before I could tell her about Declan. She was mute when I told her about him. After I told her that he ownedInk Vibingand was a tattoo artist, she pulled him up on his lounge’s website. She was team Declan from that moment.

My head snapped in her direction. We were on my couch chilling since both of us were done with our day. “Um, what makes you think that we’re going to be together?”

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