Page 26 of Nothing Without You

I had planned this little outing a few days ago when it was confirmed that the boys would be with their deadbeats . . . I mean, other parents.

“You sure you don’t want to go home and rest?” I asked.

Chyna hit the ball with her golf club and then eyed me. “You’re just saying that because you’re losing.”

I scoffed.

She was right.

“Nah. You just don’t look too hot,” I half lied. She looked hungover as hell, but I also most definitely was offering to end the game early because I was losing. Who the hell would have known her little ass was so good at mini golf? That was what I got for trying to do something different for our first date. I should have stuck to dinner and a movie because my competitive ass was sick of losing.

Last night, I’d lost every single game we played. Mostly, it was because Icelynn and Beretta kept sabotaging each other, and somehow, I kept getting hit with their bullshit too.

Chyna looked at the mini golf course and then back at me and sighed. We still had a long way to go, and I knew she wasn’t up for it.

“Fine. But we’re coming back here for a rematch,” she warned as she pointed at me with narrowed eyes.

“Bet.” I grinned. At least I didn’t have to admit defeat today.

“But let’s get some food before we leave. I think a sandwich or something will help soak up some of this alcohol.”

I put my arm around her. “I told you to stop takin’ shots wit’ Icelynn’s crazy ass.”

“I used to be able to hang with her,” Chyna defended, but she grabbed her head. I knew that shit was pounding. Instead of that pussy she had promised me last night, her ass had gotten just as drunk as the people we were actually trying to get drunk. She passed out as soon as everyone left and spent this morning sick as hell.

“Come on. Let’s get you some food and water.” I grabbed her hand and walked her through the golf course.

Near the entrance was a small restaurant. I’d never been to this place before, but Sami and Millie told me about it and said they always had a good time here. I hoped the food was good enough to cure my baby’s hangover.

“Table for two,” I told the hostess as we approached the stand.

Chyna squeezed my hand, but I ignored her.

The hostess cleared her throat as she looked at me in confusion. “Uh, sir? There’s a line⁠—”

“Aye, did I ask you a question?” I barked.

The hostess jumped slightly, and Chyna tugged on my hand. “Bae, don’t be like that.”

I looked down at her and blinked, ignoring the people in line that I walked past to speak to the hostess. They grumbled about me cutting in line, but I didn’t give not one good gotdamn fuck about none of that.

“You need to eat, right?”

“Yes,” Chyna said slowly.

“Aight then,” I said as I focused back on the hostess. “Table for two.”

“Sir—”

“Look, I ain’t really wit’ the whole back-and-forth right now. Either you get me a table for two right now, or I’ma start walking down this line of ugly-ass people and punching them dead in the face.” I glanced behind me at a short white man with a punchable-looking nose. “Starting with him.”

“Uh . . .” The hostess looked at Chyna for help.

My baby just shook her head and said, “It’s best you just get us that table. I promise to tip well for your troubles.”

The hostess quickly grabbed two menus. “Follow me.”

As we walked behind her, I leaned down toward Chyna and asked, “Why you promising to tip these people? They ain’t even wanna help us until I threatened them. I ain’t leavin’ them shit but a bad review on Yelp.”