Page 58 of Welcome to the Table
“Back the fuck up, Raven. You see where the fuck we at and how much attention you got on us? I don’t like that shit, love. That was your warning,” he said loud enough for us to hear it, but his voice was deadly. He knew her, that much I knew for sure.
“Ain’t no backing up. It was okay for you to damn near take my door off the fucking hinges when you thought the nigga you saw me with was mine, so I’m returning the fucking favor. Who the fuck is that bitch over there, smiling at me like shit funny?”
Her eyes met mine, and I wiggled my fingers at her, pissing her off more. I wanted to see this shit unravel. People were looking like it was an episode of Jerry Springer. My brother continued to laugh like shit was funny.
Grove tried to walk toward them, but I stopped him. “No, I wanna see what he gon’ do in front of all these people. Let the shit play out.” I pulled him by the arm.
“Don’t call her no bitch if you don’t know the whole story, Raven. Chill out and walk the fuck off like a lady before I forget that you are one.” His words were cold as fuck. A deadly whisper. I was scared for the bitch.
“You didn’t know the whole damn story, yet you thought I was fucking with somebody. And I’ll always remain a fucking?”
That was all she could get out before Hellcat grabbed the front of her throat, discreetly pushing her body against the hotglass where the food was. I tried to step up, but Grove stopped me.
“Nah, you said let the shit play out like you don’t know this nigga crazy, so let it be.” He pulled my shoulder, stopping me.
Hellcat pulled his knife out and put it to her throat. The crowd couldn’t see it because he towered over her, but we did.
“You don’t know who you fucking with, ma’am, so I suggest you move around before yo’ head be in this buffet on display with the rest of this shit,” I heard him tell her.
She smiled; she liked this type of shit. Hellcat done met his match. I had to get to know this bitch and pick her brain. I felt a hand wrap around my waist, pulling me in front of him with his head in the crook of my neck. The shit felt good. His cologne had me in a trance. I forgot where I was.
“Nah, lil one. She for me. Hell, let her up. Y’all causing a scene,” Grove said, holding me.
I forgot what the fuck was going on around me when he touched me. In public, too? I was in Lala Land.
Hellcat snapped out of his head and turned to look at us. That must have sent something through that nigga’s soul. He let ol’ girl up, pulling her with him.
“No, the fuck she's not yours.” He turned from us and looked at Raven. “Before you start guessing shit, the girl you calling a bitch is my fucking sister. I don’t give a fuck what nigga you fucking with, but that shit about to be dead, anyway.” He towered over her.
I got out of Grove’s embrace and walked over to Raven. I stood between her and Hellcat.
“I am Jaci, Hellcat’s sister, not his girlfriend. The next time you feel the need to call me a bitch, Hellcat pulled his knife, but I will slice yo’ fucking neck.” I smiled at her, stepped from between them, and walked toward the other food and made my order.
I ignored them because I was hungry and ready to go home. They were just standing there, not saying shit.
After I got my food and drink, I walked back over to them. “I don’t know what type of soap opera shit is going on here, but I’m ready to go home, and my feet hurt.” I sat down at one of the tables.
Hellcat looked from me to Raven. “I gotta get my sister home and handle some business, but don’t worry. I will find you, and you will be punished for the shit you just pulled. You gon’ learn the hard way not to play with me like that.” His lips were so close to hers that I had to turn away.
I knew he liked her because if he didn’t, she wouldn’t be alive right now. I turned my attention away from them and focused on Grove. He sat next to me, pulling his chair close enough so no one would hear our conversation.
“What was that about, Grove?” I asked him because that wasn’t necessary. He didn’t have to be all extra.
“That was just a sample of what’s to come. You said you wanted me, right?” he asked.
“So, now you just don’t give a fuck about my brother and what he gotta say?” I asked.
“Why the fuck you whispering? You this big dawg and shit, carrying knives, ready to slice a bitch, and now you wanna be quiet. Nah, speak up,” he told me, and I laughed. He gave me a look like he knew something I didn’t.
Raven didn’t look scared of Hellcat, and I liked that. She also seemed familiar with him, so I was about to pick his brain before we got back to the house.
“Let’s ride,” I heard Hellcat say, and I looked up at him.
Raven was half smiling, giving me an apologetic look, but I had already forgiven her because she didn’t know what was going on. Hellcat gave Grove a look, and I laughed. This shit was about to be funny.
I got up from the table and walked over to where Raven stood. She stood there watching me walk up to her.
“You must really like my brother because you didn’t flinch a bit when he had that knife to your neck. That spoke volumes, or you just don’t give a fuck about your life. Either way, you cool in my book. The loud talking and confrontation are a turn-off to him. But he is the loud one. He was discreet with you because he likes you, but he does not trust you yet. Work on that if you want to get to his heart. We gotta hang out sometime. I like the way you get down,” I told her, and she smiled.
