Page 20 of Gang of Roses: Kash

“I know that ain’t Kash Money in the building!” Donnie shouted from the patio door.

“Kash here?” Deonna questioned looking around.

At times, I thought my siblings fucked with her more than they did me.

“Aye, y’all can say hey and all that good shit but don’t touch her. And no, Dray, she can’t help you decode whatever you been working on for that damn app of yours. Matter of fact,” I grabbed Solenne from my mother’s arms and continued with, “Give me my woman.”

“Baby, it’s okay. I miss them just as much as they do me. Hey y’all and yes Dray, I’ll help you,” she replied going against me.

Everybody wore a smile on their face, and I knew then, this was the last time Solenne would come to Magnolia Valley as anything other than my wife. She fit my life whether she believed it or not. My family gravitated toward her and always gave her the love she deserved. I wasn’t ‘bout to let her wonder off and see what else the world had when I could give it to her.

Nah, she was staying put this go ‘round.

“Alright, alright. Y’all grab a plate and meet us out back. Drinks are in the coolers,” my mother stated before filing out the same door Donnie was hollering in.

I looked down at her and she seemed to genuinely be happy to be here. Placing a kiss on her cheek, I said, “Go enjoy the fam. I’ll be out in a minute with some grub. Still allergic to tomatoes?”

“Yes, D and thank you for this. I didn’t realize how much I needed it. Your family always welcomes me with open arms. If there’s fish just bring me that and a few slices of bread.”

“I got you.” With that, she disappeared out the door and I was left in the kitchen alone.

Grabbing a few paper plates, I began to plate our food. My father did indeed fry up some fish, croaker to be exact. Baby was gon’ eat good, get a heavy distraction from Rose, and get closer to her nigga. It was a win, win situation.

When I walked out the door, my mama was in her face running her mouth. I knew she couldn’t wait to pick her brain. All I needed was for Sol to relax for a day. She had some shit she was getting ready to do in a day or two and she was gon’ need be tunneled.

“Here Ma.” I put two pieces of fish, bread, and homemade coleslaw. She went crazy for Pops’s slaw.

“Thank you, baby.” I watched her tear into that fish like she ain’t had a drop of food in her system all day. Shaking my head, I joined my brothers and let her do her thing. My family was gon’ take care of her out of respect for me. She could let her hair down for once.

The neon lights that lit up the fairgrounds made me feel like we were young again. Attending the fair used to be something we did on the regular during college. It was the most we could do whenever we weren’t swamped with work. The Ferris wheel was Solenne’s favorite. Let her tell it, it allowed her to escape reality for a minute. With her so high off the ground, she was momentarily unattached to anything. I understood that to the fullest.

Hand in hand, we entered through the gates showing off our wristbands. I purchased them ahead of time knowing what our day consisted of. I also bought it out so baby could do any and everything she pleased without having to wait in line. It ain’t cost me nothing but a smooth fifty ball. Solenne was worth every penny.

“I’m guessing you did this?” she asked looking around to only us being the ones trailing the grounds.

“I ain’t feel like waiting in line. Fight me,” I responded.

Shaking her head, she said, “There’s no point. Come on, ‘cause you know what I want first.” She ran straight to the cotton candy stand and picked one off. “Wait, I can eat freely, right?”

“Hell yeah. This all us Ma. Ball the fuck out.” Her smile grew from ear to ear as she inhaled the cotton ball of sugar. “That lil thing still on yo’ bucket list?”

“What thing?” she questioned stuffing her face.

I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Riding my dick on the Ferris wheel.”

Her cheeks were flushed turning a bright red. The only other time I seen her blush this hard was when I told her I loved her. Solenne was soft as cotton and fragile as fuck. Kash on the other hand needed to walk and talk with Jesus sometimes. That muthafucka was ruthless. Her giving me only Solenne meant I was of some kind of importance to her.

“Why are you thinking about that D? Is pussy always on your mind?” she inquired taking subtle steps away from me as if I wouldn’t notice.

Closing the gap, I circled my right arm around her waist and brought her into me. I said God himself was gon’ have to come and pry me from her and I meant that. She released a small giggle saying, “Let me go, D. I want to have some fun first.”

“First, huh? So, you know what time it is…”

“I always know what time it is baby. You’re like a dog in heat when I’m around. Let’s shoot it up right quick though. I can’t leave without a bear,” she said pointing to the shooting gallery.

She had me by the hand pulling me over to the booth. Sol was a shooter and could out bang me on some days. I already knew how this was ‘bout to go and yeah, she expected me to win her a stuffed animal as well. She wasn’t gon’ allow me to leave the premises until I did. It was all good though. We was gon’ treat this shit as friendly competition.

As we picked up the guns, I watched my lady go from soft and warm to a cold face killer. The look in her eyes caused my dick to brick up. It was something ‘bout seeing her shift into this unfuckwithable person that made me want to drop kids off in her. She may have looked innocent, but baby was far from it. Raising our guns, I gave her one final glance and she wore a devious smile. Baby was ‘bout to dust me. I already knew what was up.