Free Push The Button by Feminista Jones Page B

to get another dish. David felt Himself relax even more.

When Marcus returned, he took a seat across from where David stood, affording him the opportunity to address David, face-to-face. He sat down, and when Nicole and Janice brought more dishes to the table, he didn’t bother to stand up.
    David remained standing.
    After all of the dishes were on the table, David pulled out Nicole’s chair and she sat down. He took His own seat next to her and sat back and she began to prepare His plate.
    “Mama, I must say you outdid yourself this year. Everything looks delicious!” David felt His stomach rumbling, an indication that He truly missed His mother’s home cooking. Nicole could really cook things up in the kitchen, but there was something about His mother’s meals that made Him feel warm inside.
    “Yes, ma’am, I must say everything will find its way to my plate today,” Marcus chimed in, patting his stomach.
    “You should get started fixing your own plate, then, Marcus,” Nicole said as she dished a heaping helping of macaroni and cheese onto David’s plate. “Would you like more, Sir?” she asked Him, sweetly.
    “No, baby, that’s enough. Thank you,” David responded as His hand gently made its way up her back. “You take such great care of me, Star.” David looked straight ahead at Marcus and smirked. “Here you go,” he said, passing Marcus a serving spoon. “Dig in!”
    Marcus took the serving spoon and began fixing his plate, no trace of a smile anywhere on his face.  Nicole tried to hide her own smile, but David didn’t.
    “So, Marcus, I haven’t heard much about you…like,  at all . Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” David began. “What do you do for a living?”
    “Well, I’m in construction and contracting. Lu–,” he paused. “Nicole helped me start my own contracting business when we were together. Gave me the seed money,” he explained, looking at her. “I owe her my life, really.”
    “You paid me back, with interest, Marcus. You owe me nothing,” she responded. David looked at her with a side glance, her mouthiness prickling and tickling him simultaneously. Nicole placed David’s plate in front of Him and proceeded to make her own. “Make sure you try Janice’s collard greens. She doesn’t use pork and they are to  die  for.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” he responded. “So, yeah, I’m in construction. Not balling like you, though, brothaman. That ring had to set you back quite a bit.”
    “Not at all actually,” David responded. “In fact, my  brother , Jonathan, knows some people and well, price isn’t an issue when it comes to someone priceless,” David continued. He leaned over and whispered to Nicole.  Eat.  She began to eat her food and it was then that Marcus noticed the glimmer around her neck.
    “Finger blinging, neck blinging, seems this guy here has got you on lock, baby girl,” he said, trying to make light of the sting he couldn’t help but feel.
    “Oh like you wouldn’t believe,” David said immediately. His hand went to the back of Nicole’s neck and His fingers traced her collar. He looked back at Marcus and mouthed one word:  Mine.  David cocked His head to the side a bit as Marcus glared at Him for a moment, and then lowered his own head to focus on his meal.
    David heard a sound He’d not heard in many years, His mother’s giggle. He looked down the table to see her giggling after what seemed like a stolen kiss from Joseph. It was Christmas Day and He couldn’t remember that last time He’d seen Janice look so genuinely happy. She was glowing, laughing, and her smile was lighting up the room. If it were possible, He’d say her food even tasted better than in previous years.  I can’t fuck this up , He thought to Himself. He ran His hand through Nicole’s hair and kissed her temple. She stopped before taking a bite of food and turned into the kiss, smiling. Theirs was contagious because Jonathan pulled his wife,