I used to carry her around when we were teenagers this same way all the time. She would climb on my back, and I would hoist her up to my shoulders. It was usually whenever we were at a football or basketball game or a concert.
“Aww,” Torch states.
“Chill that shit out,” I reply over my shoulder as I walk away, moving my hands up to hold hers.
It’s not long before I see my brothers joining us with their old ladies in tow, too, despite the way they teased me before.
“Nigga, you might be inspirational for the rest of the brothers,” Priest teases.
“Whatcha mean?” I ask.
“He means getting them to act right and remember that they have partners who need to be considered. Be a little softer with us,” Ember explains, looking over at me and winking.
“Baby, are you saying I’m not soft with you?” Priest asks.
I laugh and press Charisma’s hand to my lips.
“I want to get down now,” she declares.
I let her down, and she moves in front of me with her back against my chest. I rest my chin on the top of her head, and we lock our arms together. This right here is peace and happiness to me.
“Thank you, baby.”
“For what?”
She pulls away to look up at me. “Bringing me with you today. For a while, I didn’t think you would.”
“Charisma, there’s nothing that I won’t give you if you ask. As long as I can protect you and make you happy, that’s all I want—to give you and CJ the world.”
She nestles back against my chest as the host announces the start of the event. We watch for two hours as several bikers take turns performing tricks on their bikes before voting for the winner begins.
“I’m hungry,” Charisma states after the time to vote has ended.
“Come on, let’s grab you something to eat.”
We head back to the area where the food is set up. They’re serving barbeque and soul food, but there’s a wide variety of food to choose from. Once she has her pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, and some sweet and spicy wings on the side, I get a couple of plates of my own.
“Are you going to really eat all that, baby?” she asks once we’re seated at a picnic table underneath one of the tents.
I glance at my plate of fried chicken, ribs, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, potato salad, yams, deviled eggs, andcornbread. To the side is a plate with a slice of pound cake and a slice of sweet potato pie.
“Yeah. What’s wrong?”
“You’re going to be sleepy before it’s all over and done with.”
I shrug. “We’re out of town for the week; I’ll be fine. It’s not like we’re about to ride six hours back home. Our hotel is only ten minutes away. If I can’t make that, I don’t need to be driving anyway.”
“Okay. As long as you’re not too tired later to do some things.”
I chuckle. “Baby, when have you ever known me to be too tired to fuck?”
She rolls her eyes and replies, “So crass.”
I lean over, grip the back of her neck, and kiss her greasy lips with mine. “But you love it though.”
She smiles back at me and replies, “I do.”
We resume eating, and she speaks again when she’s almost finished eating. “I’ve been thinking.”
