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“ M a, you really messy for that shit,” Qamar fussed at Stephanie while they sat in the living room.
The way his mama decided to drive two hours to stir up shit was beyond him and he needed to understand the reasoning behind it. He loved Stephanie but hated how his family always seemed to be in his business as if he couldn’t figure his own shit out.
Siasia was still a little riled up. It was evident in the way her leg bounced. Her disposition also showed she lacked confidence in that moment. Everyone’s eyes seemed to be on her, making her feel like she was in a fish tank and they tapped the glass taunting her—reminding her she didn’t belong in their world.
Stephanie waved him off. “Oh, there you go making your issues someone else’s. Ain’t no reason you had this girl in my house while you brought your ass back to Jade City to play house with Janay.”
“How was that your business though?” Qamar based.
Siasia looked him upside his head. “Oh so that’s what you was doing? Playing house with your bitch ass baby mama? Nigga, you could’ve left me in Lynn Beach for all this.”
“I’m a woman first, Qamar. It wasn’t right,” Stephanie added, squirming when Griff pinched her side.
“You know you ain’t right when Stephanie makes sense,” Solar hummed with pursed hips. She went between calling her mother by her name and calling her mama, depending on whatever childhood trauma she had swirling around in her head.
“Solar, chill.” French grilled her, making her kiss the back of her teeth before sitting back.
Qamar grilled her, hating how she always had something to say. Instead of addressing her, he put his focus back on Stephanie. “I ain’t say it was right but I wasn’t playing house with her. She just had my baby, the fuck I’m supposed to do be a deadbeat like the niggas you gave birth for?”
“Oh, you on one today,” Stephanie taunted. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done it but I ain’t mad about it either. You show up in the wee hours of the night with Siasia and her little sister. You didn’t tell me anything so I did what was right. That girl don’t know me from a can of paint, and I don’t know her.”
“You said all that to say what?”
Siasia jumped up. “To say, you was dead ass wrong, because you are!” she snapped, hating how Qamar couldn’t seem to take accountability for the hand he played in her whooping his baby mama’s ass. Yes, she knew Janay was somewhere in the cut but it hit different when she woke up and he was two hours away with the girl. She didn’t have that level of maturity and had never seen it to understand it.
Slowly, his honey brown eyes outlined her face. Qamar wanted to be mad but the way her braids hung towards her fat ass, all he could think about was bending her over and calming her down.
“Oop,” Solar’s lips popped.
“Sit down, mama.” Qamar glared at her, warning her to not make a scene— don’t let these muthafuckas get you in trouble .
Swallowing hard, Siasia sat back down, gaining herself a few snickers.
Qamar dragged his sight back to his mother. He loved her so much. Probably more than any of the other siblings. He’d gotten the better parts of her and was her baby. Where she usually coddled him, Stephanie seemed to be switching up on him and he needed to understand why.
“Ma, what’s up? Talk to me ‘cause you feeling like an enemy right now.”
“Oh, Qamar, you are so spoiled that the one time I make you man up, you think I’m against you. I’m for you… been for you since I brought my ass back into y’all lives but what you did was reckless. I told you to handle the situation with Janay and instead, you feed into her fantasy.”
“How? She know I don’t want her.”
“But does she know you want me?” Siasia was back in the mix with a little more courage.
“Mhm, cocky… I like.” Solar’s commentary gained her scolding look from French.
French stood, yanking Solar’s hand. “We out.”
“It was just getting good,” she squealed while being dragged out the house.
Qamar ignored Siasia. “I was trying to be a father unlike all the men you decided to have babies for, Ma.” He cut his eyes at Stephanie. “Did I do it wrong? Maybe but my intentions were good.”
“To you they were but not to Siasia or Janay.” Stephanie doubled down on her thoughts. She knew her son was a good man, but he hadn’t lived life enough to always make the best decision. And unlike most times, she decided to not egg his bullshit on and make him face the shit he was unintentionally creating. “I ain’t against you, Qamar, never will be but be mindful of the things you may or may not be creating. Unnecessary chaos.”
Siasia couldn’t have agreed more with Qamar’s mother. His heart might’ve been in the right place but the execution was anything but.
“You still mad?” Qamar flopped on the loveseat that sat perfectly against the wall, giving the perfect view of downtown Jade City.
They were no longer tucked inside Tiny’s tension filled home. After all the chaos, he felt it was better for them to let the house calm down. Based on the silent treatment Siasia gave him, he no longer felt that was the best route.
Huffing, Siasia swiped her finger down her phone with force. Out of the corner of her eye, she took him in. Dressed down with his leg hanging over the arm of the couch, he looked so cool. The type of swag that poured out of him needed to be studied because even in distress, he didn’t seem to break a sweat.
“I know you hear me.” He laughed before tossing something at her.
“Stop!” She frowned, ducking the balled up straw paper from the fast food they had on the way to the hotel.
“Stop acting like I ain’t here,” he countered. “If you got some shit to get off your chest, the floor is yours.”
“The floor should’ve been mine when you made the decision to show up to my house to whisk me and my sister away to play house with you and your baby mama.” Siasia laid her phone down, ready to unpack everything she’d been feeling the moment she walked in her trailer to him being Captain Save-a_hoe. “You invited yourself into my world. I didn’t ask you to.”
His buttery caramel eyes stared at her blankly— looking for the issues only she seemed to have found.
Placing her feet on the floor, she continued with her rant. “My life ain’t pretty. I ain’t come from a wealthy family. My house wasn’t filled with love and laughter. My mama loves a man that doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself, and she doesn’t love herself enough to see the issue with that. I don’t know who my daddy is, and Noodle don’t share my blood. We don’t fit in here.”
Tucking his lip behind his teeth, Qamar sat up shocked. Shit was officially getting real. Never did he expect for Noodle to not be blood related to Siasia. No they didn’t look alike but neither did him and his siblings, thanks to Stephanie being a rolling stone.
“Say what now?” He stood up to make his way towards her.
Like he knew she would, she tucked herself inside herself. Qamar hated when she did that. He’d witnessed it the first night they spent together. It was something he silently vowed to rid her of.
“I’m just saying… we ain’t from the same place— don’t even live in the same universe. All this proves it.” Her hand waved around the room to emphasize how their lives were different.
The luxury hotel proved it. Without effort, he could afford to put them in a room that cost more than the rent in her trailer.
He scoffed. “You don’t know where I’m from. Matter fact, put your shoes on. We ain’t staying here tonight.”
“Wait!” She jumped up, her hands leading her to him. “What part of we don’t belong here don’t you understand? Like, what about that makes you think I want to go to another rich place with you?”
Siasia couldn’t believe Qamar. It was like he wasn’t hearing her. He wasn’t feeling her or trying to understand where she was coming from—didn’t try to ease the building tension being around his rich life seemed to bring her. She liked him better when it was just the two of them tucked away in his room—away from the world.
“Do I make you feel safe?” Qamar stared down at her. His heart twisted while seconds felt like hours waiting for her answer.
Siasia squeezed her eyes shut. “Qamar,” she whispered through her sigh.
“Do you feel safe with me?”
“I just?—”
Qamar pulled her face towards him. “Are you safe with me?”
Siasia confessed, “The answer scares the shit out of me.”
“And you not answering scares the fuck out of me.” His deep voice fell into the voice of a child—afraid of rejection. “I’m trying, Siasia.”
“Trying to do what?”
His pleading eyes made her mad at herself for giving him a hard time. “Just ride with me, mama.”
How could she say no to anything he asked? If he wanted her kidney, Siasia would give him two without thinking about her own life. With his square face, boyish eyes, and a grown man’s beard—how could she cause his downturned eyes to sink further?
“What about Noodle?” It wasn’t a clear yet but they both knew she was going to ride with him.
Satisfied, Qamar called up Malaysia to ask her to come to the hotel to look after Noodle while he took Siasia on a ride. Without hesitation, Malaysia agreed.
“Do I need to change clothes?” She looked down at her attire, causing her stomach to clench. Dressed in his clothes gave her a feeling she couldn’t put in words just yet. It felt good.
A mischievous look came into his eyes. “Nah, mama, you look good in anything especially in my shit.” Qamar’s teeth sunk into his lip.
Still, she wanted to play coy but her face flushed red.
Qamar pulled her into his arms, coating her in safety. “You safe with me,” he declared. “When you can’t say some shit, I’ll say it for you.”
“You trying to take me to the moon, Qamar?” Wrapping her arms around his waist, Siasia craned her neck up at him.
Gently, he pecked her nose. “Nah, mama, beyond the stars.” He smiled, melting her resolve and walls even more.
Chill bumps coated her skin before her heart warmed her again. Siasia wouldn’t admit it out loud but she was falling for Qamar and fast. He was gentle, kind, and great in bed. He seemed interested in all the parts of her, even the ugly ones. How he had so much self-doubt, she didn’t understand because to her, he was perfect. She dropped to her knees with her carnal desire to rid him of any doubt. Siasia’s mouth pooled with moisture at the thought of tasting his salty flesh. His dick jumped when her slanted eyes peered up at him.
On her knees, with both hands, she slid his pants and boxer briefs down and was greeted with a needy, long, and veiny dick. Kissing the head of his mushroomed dick, she affirmed him. “I trust you, Black man. With my life, Black man.”
Qamar sucked in a huge breath when her mouth covered as much of him as she could. “Shit,” he hissed as she worked her mouth over him. His eyes misted from her affirming him. It was something he never knew he needed to hear but never wanted to go a day without hearing it croon form her lips.
Feeling the weight of his dick on her tongue aroused her—challenging her to swallow him whole. Like the pro she felt she was, she sucked his dick better than anyone. Siasia was a certified head doctor, solidifying his desire to keep her forever. When he moaned and gripped her scalp through her braids, she really went to work. Spit dripped from the corners of her mouth. The sound of her sucking the life out of him bounced off the walls, creating a euphoric vibe.
Siasia palmed his chiseled thighs, sucking him with no hands. She gagged a little but never stopped.
“You eating this dick, mama,” Qamar growled. “You’re doing so good.” He massaged her scalp.
Even on her knees, Qamar made her feel like the most preciously innocent thing on earth. Slowing her neck work, she made love to his dick with her mouth.
Siasia flicked her tongue over the head of his throbbing dick, forcing more blood to rush to it. “Mm,” she moaned, enjoying his taste. “You like the way I suck your dick, daddy?” She pulled back just enough to talk.
“I like everything about you but especially the way you’re gagging on this dick. Swallow it.” He glared at her with adoration in his eyes. His bare feet balled up, digging into the plush carpet of their suite.
Just as she took him to the back of her throat, Qamar’s phone rung, causing him to groan but it didn’t stop his nut from shooting down her throat. “Let me see.” Using two of his fingers, he stretched her mouth wide.
Obediently, Siasia showed him she had indeed swallowed all his kids.
Qamar smiled in satisfaction. “You are fuckin’ perfect.”
Placed perfectly on her knees, she cheesed hard, making her eyes tighten.
“Malaysia,” Qamar answered his phone. “Here I come.” He adjusted his clothes before heading to the room’s door. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being perfect.”
“You didn’t tell me we were going out of town, Qamar,” Siasia fussed, watching the billboards on the highway pass her by.
After Malaysia and the girls got situated, the two of them wasted no time getting on the road. Qamar was ready to take Siasia on a full on tour of his childhood and where he came from, hoping she could see why he was so infatuated with her and Noodle.
“Did you ask?” he teased while gripping her thigh, creating a mess between her legs.
Since she’d been in Jade City with him, he’d been driving another SUV that she was just as in love with as the other cars. Of course, it was blacked out with dark tint and all the bells and whistles a person with kids would need. If she had too, Siasia wouldn’t mind living in it.
“Don’t get smart, nigga.”
“What happened to daddy?” Qamar glanced at her with flirty eyes.
Her eyes widened before she covered in face in embarrassment. “You know, I really hate when bitches call their niggas their daddy.”
“Why?”
Her shoulders hunched up and down. “Shit just sound weird.”
“But not with me?”
“I mean…” Siasia twisted towards him. “Why you call me mama?” She chewed her lip.
“You remind me of home.” There was no hesitation or doubt when the words casually escaped him. Qamar didn’t try to clarify it either. He meant what he said.
If her heart could jump out of her chest, it would for sure find solace in his pocket. She was safe and so was her heart.
“Pick a song.” She giggled.
Music was the soul of her life. The pick a song game was how she understood and coped with her feelings. When all else failed her in her life, she found joy in picking a song and breaking it down.
Qamar tapped the steering wheel in deep thought. After a few seconds, he smiled and said, “ Diary by Wale.”
“I’ve never heard that one.” Her face scrunched while going into her phone to search up the song. Once she found it, she played it, listening intently.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her, waiting for her reaction. “Queen. She deserves the title, but she rejects what I give while she nurse the wounds by them,” he rapped.
Siasia swallowed slow and hard.
“Wife. You deserve the label,” he continued after the chorus almost took her breath away.
Wale recited what sounded like a poem that added to her aching heart that she wanted to mend just to be what Qamar just said she could be; what he claimed he saw in her. Everything she never wanted to be. Something she’d never strived for until he walked up to her, offering her money to sleep with him. At least that was what she thought but as the days went on and he showed up for her in ways no one had ever done before. Nothing felt real. Everything felt mythical.
As the song faded out, she was compelled to blurt, “I want to be everything you want me to be.”
“What do you want to be?” he asked just as the Sapphire City sign appeared on the side of the road. Ten years ago, the sign wasn’t there. It replaced the small city limits sign that locals often ignored and visitors never noticed. So much had changed in the city thanks to his family’s success and the world wanting to make Sapphire City something it had never been.
Deep, sad confusion etched across her pretty, blemish free brown skin. A change in pressure of his hand on her thigh pulled her eyes to him. “Free.” The simple four letter word summed it all up the best way she could. “I know that sounds silly because I ain’t physically shackled but?—”
“But the needs of others and their perception of you makes you feel like you’re choking on the same air you need to breath. Yea, mama, I just want to be free too.” His eyes seemed to plead with her for the understanding that they weren’t so different—tax bracket aside.
Siasia entangled her fingers into his, bringing them to her lips where she placed a delicate kiss to them. “ Reassurance by Jastin Martin.”
To help ease his mind and wipe the look of confusion from his face, she played the song, laughing at how long it took for him to understand her blurting out a song as if they weren’t just playing pick a song. It was new for him but second nature to her. “If you need some reassurance, baby to me you’re perfect. You perfect.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Qamar’s face lighting up.
“How can I keep you?” His question didn’t need an answer. He would figure out the details along the way. “Start it over, mama.”
Siasia cackled but obliged. If the request came from him, the answer would always be actions—doing so, with him and for him came just that easy for her. No thoughts, just actions.
It didn’t take long for them to pull onto a street that looked out of a storybook. Beautiful colored houses, perfect lawns, and kids laughing and playing in the streets. It was movie like.
Lunar Drive .
Siasia read the street sign. Her head jutted towards him for understanding. The name was tatted on his back along with the others of his family. He was officially out of her league now. A whole fucking street named after his people.
“Welcome to The Jig, mama.” Qamar smiled as the sun brightened his eyes.
Kids ran up to the car when he came to a stop and rolled his window down.
“Qamar!” they shouted once his face became clear.
A little boy who looked to be about the same age as Noodle trekked over, tugging on his jeans. “I ain’t seen you on TV yet.” His boyish face scrunched as he reached his hand inside the vehicle to dap Qamar up. His upturned eyes looked around Qamar to see who was on the passenger side. “Hey, miss lady.”
Siasia waved, bashfully.
“I ain’t seen you in a while and that’s the first thing you say to me?” Qamar faked hurt with his hand on his heart. “I thought we was better than that.”
“We is but I’m trying to see you on TV before I let my ma put me on the soccer team. Nigga, ain’t no Black folks on that field.”
“It’s plenty of Black people, Bu.”
Bu twisted up his lips. “They ain’t Black like us. Them niggas speak Spanish and shit.”
“They still Black though.” Qamar snickered at his young friend’s assessment and foul mouth. It reminded him of how reckless he used to be as a youngin.
“Move yo’ dirty self out the way, Bu.” Tootie, another neighborhood kid, shoved. “Qamar, give me some money.” Her small hand was out and all the way in the car. “Hey, girl.” She waved at Siasia.
“Tootie, what you need money for?” Qamar asked, opening the glove compartment to remove a few twenty-dollar bills. Placing the money in her hand, he made sure to pass one out to the other kids crowding around his car.
Tootie patted her head like she saw the other women in the neighborhood do when their scalp itched. “Ain’t no telling. Mama said you can’t be a little lady with no money in your pocket.”
“She told you right.” Qamar shook his head.
No matter how much money they put back into The Jig, the people were still the same. He loved his city, but his neighborhood was where his heart resided. He had it tatted across his chest and made sure to take the lessons of The Jig with him everywhere he went. No matter how much money he got, it would always be home to him.
Slapping hands with a few more of the little neighborhood boys, he pulled off headed to the park they got built in Lunar’s name. It had state-of-the-art equipment with a rec center that cost over five million. The city loved Luna and Javen for all they’d done to upgrade a worn and abandoned neighborhood. All the houses had been torn down and replaced with newer ones. The corner store Luna once worked at had also been replaced.
Although it didn’t look the same, it was still The Jig.
“Two-hour ride for you to bring me to the park?” Siasia asked, looking out at the beautiful landscape.
Qamar cut the engine to his truck. “That’s all you see, a park? Mama, this is me… this is who I am. Where I’m from.” He looked out with pride. “Shit wasn’t always like this. My people fed the neighborhood that never let us starve. My brother died here so I like to believe his spirit is still running these same streets.”
“I didn’t mean it like that… I want to see everything that makes you, you. I’m ready for the rest of the tour,” she laughed, mimicking a line from one of her favorite movies.
“Bring your ass on.” He got out the car before opening the door for her as well.
There was only a small group of boys at the basketball court which meant they pretty much had the park to themselves. The breeze in Sapphire City was cooler than the ones in Lynn Beach. Their spring evenings were breezy and often required a jacket to keep warm. Luckily, Siasia had on one of his large sweatshirts, so she was comfortable.
“How you look so good in my shit?” He twirled her around before catching her in his arms. Her back to his chest, he walked her to the benches. “I wish I would’ve met you years ago.” His mouth moved faster than his mind
“Why, Qamar?” Siasia rolled her neck, pretending to not be fazed when he blurted cute shit to her like that. Qamar was a lady’s man.
“Feel like I ain’t been myself until I laid eyes on you, mama.” He hugged her tighter, making sure she felt what he was saying.
Siasia hugged him back. “Our timing don’t matter. I’m here and you’re here. All that matters is what we do with our time together.”
“You say that shit like this temporary. You already planning your escape?”
Siasia put his hand over her heart for him to feel how rapid it beat. “Ready to run for my fuckin’ life.”
“Aye, little boy!” someone called out from a porch not far from the park. “Come here, nigga!” the person called over again with their hands in the air.
Seeing the house the person was at, Qamar knew exactly who it was. “Come on so I can introduce to someone. He ain’t family like that but I fuck with him heavy.”
“You just be draggin’ me from place to place. Do you have a home?” Siasia joked, not knowing her joke held some truth.
Qamar didn’t have a primary home outside of the condo in Lynn Beach. He literally jumped from house to house depending on his mood. Most of the time, he was at his ma’s house, but he wasn’t above crashing at one of his sibling’s houses. He preferred being under French more than anyone else, though.
“Got me following you like a lost puppy.”
He slapped her ass. “You ain’t trying to be my little house dog?”
Siasia grilled him. “Don’t play.”
He ducked her playful swing at his face. “You think ‘cause you beat Janay up you got hands now?”
“Keep playing with me and you’ll get that same ass whooping yo’ baby mama got. Y’all will be sharing more than a kid.” She smacked her lips.
Qamar held his stomach form laughing. “You funny when you ain’t in that big ass head of yours overthinking everything.”
“If you lived the life I lived you’d be in your head all day everyday too. I have to think of everything… have a plan before shit goes south because it always does. I know you trying to level the playing field, but you never will. I understand your life ain’t always been what it is now, but it ain’t never been like mine either.”
Gazing into her eyes, there was so much Qamar wanted to say. So many ways he wanted to map out their lives together but he was just as scared. He would never admit he was just as afraid of rejection as she was. Instead, he locked their fingers together as they walked across the small street. The smell of fried chicken attacked their senses as he walked closer to the house that had music blasting from the inside.
Siasia surveyed the man who had called Qamar. Even with tattoos on his face, he was still fine as hell. His tawny skin looked perfect against his fresh lineup and his outfit spoke of importance. His button down was rolled up to his elbows while his dress pants hugged his legs beautifully. She swiped at her mouth to make sure none of her slob dripped.
“Jay,” Qamar greeted, wrapping his arms around the beautiful specimen of a man. They embraced brotherly.
Jay stepped back from Qamar to get a good look at him. “Nigga how long has it been?” He examined him, clearly proud of what he saw. “You look good, baby.”
Qamar’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “You too. Out here on your black billionaire shit. I’m trying to get like you.”
Jay was a family friend that was almost a part of the family. Jay and Luna dated while she and Javen were on a break. Qamar would always be team Javen but Jay came in and gave him a different perspective on life. Qamar adored Jay and they kept in touch throughout the years.
“If you give my partner a call, he’ll have you on the best professional team in the country.”
Jay had reached out to Qamar a year ago to put him in touch with an associate he knew that owned a soccer team. The Emerald City Kings were one of the top teams in the country and owned by a Black man. If Qamar wasn’t trying to stay in school to make his family happy he would’ve reached out with no issues. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown and the crown his family put on him, was to never come off. They instilled that into him since he was born. It had always been known that with wealth or without, they had high hopes and expectations for the baby of the family.
Sadly, Qamar ran his hand down his face with a deep sigh. “I know, man.”
Since he was once a part of their circle, Jay knew the pressure Luna put on Qamar. His heart went out to him because he knew how much the idea of success could cripple a person. Qamar had confided him in before and it was one of the main reasons he tried to connect Qamar with his associate.
“Who you out here talking to?” a beautiful dark-skinned woman with wide hips pushed the front door open to ask.
She was goddess like with her big, slanted eyes and enchanting voice.
Siasia could only wave with a goofy, love struck look on her face.
“Oh, this Qamar, Luna little brother,” Jay introduced before his eyes went to Siasia. “And?”
“Siasia.” She smiled bashfully. So far, all the men she’d met that was connected to Qamar were alluring down to the little neighborhood boy who had a foul mouth.
“Siasia and Qamar, this is my wife, Candi.” Jay tucked Candi into his side with pride,
and Siasia didn’t blame him. Candi was beyond beautiful with her dress and blinged out cowboy boots on. Her natural hair pattern was coily but full of life and bounce. And her eyes—they pulled you in and held you captive. She looked ethereal and unreal in the setting of the sun’s light.
“Luna as in broke my man’s heart once upon and time then dropped an album with songs about him on it?” Candi crossed her arms while staring Qamar down.
With his hands up in surrender, he smiled and said, “Guilty.”
Siasia held her breath feeling like shit could go left at any given time. She didn’t know Luna at all but was under the impression that she and Javen had been together since birth. At least that was what their love gave on social media. The way that man took his family everywhere with him and vise verse, she just knew they were true soulmates. So, it was no question as to why the new information of Luna loving another man and making a whole damn album about it shocked the hell out of her.
Candi rolled her eyes. “Tell her, thank you for me. She let this man go for him to find me.” She looked up into Jay’s eyes with love. Her finger jutted back out when she remembered something. “But tell her don’t make another damn song about him.”
Qamar snickered. “I don’t think you got to worry, she retired.”
“So I’ve heard. Moonlight did her big Lauryn Hill shit—drop some fire and went to raise her kids.” Candi nodded with appreciation because motherhood was the foundation of what she felt her life’s purpose was. “You got kids?” She looked at Siasia.
She shook her head, no.
“How that work when I know Qamar got kids?”
“Damn, you been pillow talking?” Qamar jested towards Jay.
“Not too much on my man,” Candi stood in front of Jay. “I seen it on the blogs.” She laughed, lightening the mood.
“Damn, I gotta get my circle smaller,” Qamar spoke out loud but was talking to himself.
Jay’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I been told you that. Come chill with me for a while. You don’t mind do you, Miss Siasia?”
“Um.” Her eyes went to Qamar to gauge his mood. “Sure.” She shrugged once she seen he was okay with it.
“Yes, back that shit up on him, Siasia!” Candi cheered, watching Siasia grind on Qamar.
After going inside, Siasia found out the home belonged to Jay’s mama. She fried some fish now everyone was in the backyard listening to music. With Jay and Candi being older than them, most of the music was from their generation with them spinning a few new school songs every now and then.
Jay’s mama, Jolene, sent someone to the neighborhood store to get them a few drinks. Now, everyone was full and felt great.
“Like this?” Siasia cheesed, her eyes damn near closed from the big smile on her face.
Tossing her ass into Qamar, she put her hands on her knees and created the perfect arch in her back. Slowly, she worked him over as if it was just the two of them.
Qamar’s eyes sat just as low from the weed he and Jay smoked together. The sounds of the music coupled with the feeling of Siasia’s hot pussy, he was ready to take her somewhere to punish her for showing out in front of company.
"I can tell a stripper when I see one," Candi observed. "you dance, Siasia?"
Feeling good and not ashamed, Siasia nodded her head never missing a beat while still dancing on Qamar.
“All the more reason why I’m rooting for you.” Candi winked.
Siasia blushed.
“You trying to take my wife, ain’t it?” Jay ogled Candi, seeing exactly why people were turned on by her.
A mortified look plastered across Siasia’s face. “No!” she spoke quickly.
Jay and Candi laughed. “I’m just messing with you, Miss Siasia.”
“She’s a dope ass photographer too,” Qamar tossed out casually.
Candi look shocked. “For real?”
Normally, Siasia would plug her small side business into any and every conversation but Candi and Jay seemed like real professional people. “I freelance.” She shied away this time.
“Oo!” Candi squealed. “We have a photoshoot coming up with Black Excellence Magazine for the 40 under 40 edition. You want to shoot us?”
Her eyes bounced between Candi, Jay, and Qamar who smiled hard with a head nod telling her to say yes. “40 under 40 millionaires?” she asked for clarification. She’d heard of the list and of course one of her dreams was to have a photoshoot for Black Excellence Magazine. It was one of the top publications for Black people.
“Yes ma’am. You are looking at one of the only Black marijuana companies in the world. Jay is the owner of Black Magic strains of weed,” Candice bragged, wagging her brows playfully.
“ We , Magic… we are the owners,” Jay corrected, calling Candi by the nickname he’d adorned her with when he first laid eyes on her. Said her big catlike eyes and beautiful dark skin reminded him of a magical black cat. She’d been his Magic ever since.
“I—I’m sure,” Siasia stuttered before licking her lips. “I’m sure they have their own photographers.”
“And I’m sure they’ll let us bring our own. Give me your number ‘cause you doing it.” Candi handed Siasia her phone, not willing to take no for an answer.
Doing as she was told, with shaky hands she punched in her contact information.
“I used to like girls too.” Candi pursed her lips, teasing the already flustered Siasia.
Qamar choked on his drink while Siasia plastered a fake smile on her face. Silk’s Meeting in My Bedroom started to play before they could dive deeper into Candi’s confession.
Jolene burst out the door with her arms in the air. “Aye!” She swayed her arms. “What y’all know ‘bout this shit?” she drunkenly asked while winding her hips in glee.
Jay pulled Candi into him further to sing in her ear. “You gotta sing to her, Qamar. That’s how I got my wife. They ain’t never had a singing ass, fine ass, paid ass nigga so you gotta show them why you the winning team.”
Candi giggled, loving when Jay’s non-singing self sung slow jams to her. It had been the catalyst of their relationship. The first time he did it, she fell hard. Now, she was spoiled with a nightly concert.
“Show her why us Geminis the got damn truth,” Jay spoke loudly over the music since Jolene had turned the music up.
Siasia loved his deep southern accent. It reminded her of her mother who had been born and raised in Alabama.
With a goofy smirk on his face, Qamar looked down at Siasia. Intertwining their fingers with just enough space between them for her to see his face. “You’re everything that I’ve been searching for. There’s no need for me to search no more.”
He pulled her hands from her face when she covered them to hide the extreme blushing he had her doing.
Candi playfully punched Jay. “Nigga, you didn’t sing to me like that.”
“I mean that nigga sister is one the best singers of this decade, you didn’t think the talent stopped with her did you?” Jay laughed. “Qamar, my nigga, you making me look bad.”
Qamar ignored them as he continued to serenade Siasia, who was just as shocked as they were. His voice was sexy, with a beautiful tone that seemed to wrap around her like a warm embrace. If he wanted to, she knew he could take the music industry by storm. His presence was magnetic, and he was fine as hell, so the women would go crazy even if he stood on stage saying nothing. The way he poured his soul into the song made her heart race, and she couldn't help but wonder what other hidden talents he possessed. As the melody flowed, she saw glimpses of a future where his name was on everyone's lips, and his music was the soundtrack of their lives. However, she knew soccer was his passion.
Qamar's eyes never left Siasia’s as he sang, making her feel like she was the only person in the world. His voice carried a raw emotion that spoke to her soul, and she felt a connection that was undeniable. Everyone around them faded into the background, and all she could see was him. His confidence was intoxicating, and she found herself drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain.
It felt beautiful in a frightening type of way because the truth was, they weren’t the only two people in their world. No matter how nice it felt, Qamar came with a gang of others—kids, family, and baby mamas. It was a lot and just thinking about it stressed her out.
Her heart begged to differ.
“I don’t have all the answers, mama.” Qamar sighed, hoping his words conveyed the depth of his uncertainty and vulnerability. He looked at Siasia, searching her eyes for understanding. With furrowed brows, Qamar laid his forehead on top of hers.
Emotions flittered across her pretty face. “That’s what I don’t believe. You have more answers than you know. You’re just allowing others to dictate what you believe is right or wrong. It’s your life. You gotta live it for you and your kids, fuck what everyone else has to say.”
Her gentle touch eased his running mind. “You say that like you gone be beside me.”
Siasia pressed her lips into his. Everything in her wanted to be beside him for the next chapter in his life, but realistically, it wouldn’t work. Her life was far too complicated while his was chaotic—it wouldn’t work no matter how much she wanted it to. “In another life, maybe, but right now, I gotta get myself together.”
Her pushback made the caress of her finger felt like sandpaper against his skin.
“See, that’s where you wrong at. You gone be right beside me, floating into the stars on a ship made out of love. You ain’t leaving me, mama.” Mischievously, he smiled before snaking his tongue into her mouth.
A moan escaped her, mingling with the sounds of the music.
Candi cleared her throat, bringing them back down from wherever they had journeyed to.
That was the issue with dealing with men like Qamar. It was just too easy to forget your real life. A life where shit was all kinds of fucked-up. But as she looked into his eyes, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make it work despite the chaos.