Page 13

Greene JADE

Beanie Weanie: I’m outside… let us in?

Navy was catching a vibe in the booth as she sang out different notes while scrolling her notes in her phone. Once she realized what she wanted, she instructed me on what to do and closed her eyes.

I sent the code to Beans and the room we were in, as I watched Navy.

Her hand rested on her chest as she started to sing the words to a song, I’m sure she wrote a year ago.

She and Antwan’s relationship was never meant to last. Just like she could see my happiness fading when it came to Shawn, I could see the same with her.

It was always her going out her way for Antwan.

Flying out to visit him like he couldn’t come home to visit her every once in a while.

Talks about his career, and hers was never mentioned.

It was always assumed that she would follow him around, while never giving a shit about her career. How she built a following by being herself and showing the world how to be them. She didn’t need to wear a ton of makeup, make sure her life was perfect or do a ton of designer shopping.

She could grow her following by showing everyone who she really was.

A girl born in Brooklyn to Guyanese parents, and a big family that stuck together.

Navy could be into heels one day and sneakers the next, depending on her mood.

She was well-traveled because she refused to settle for a man to show her the world. She took matters into her own hands.

Navy was someone who knew who she was and what she wanted, and that included never being a mother.

She never cared about how anyone felt about her not having children.

It never bothered her that her boyfriend had different views.

She never tried to change his views, only wanting him to understand hers.

The beat she sang to was a sample of DeBarge “Love Me In A Special Way,” and she was hitting every note. Her brows furrowed as she sang the words. This was therapy for her from the way she held onto every note, balling her fist up without opening her eyes.

“Damn, she really can blow.” I jumped, forgetting that quick that I had told Beans the code to enter the studio.

Don fell in beside Beans as they watched Navy singing her heart out. Her eyes never opened, as she felt every word she was singing out. Her chest heaved up and down, but the passion in her voice never left.

Beans grabbed my face in his hand and looked down at me. “How you doing today, Greene Bean?”

I smiled whenever he called me that because it made me feel giddy on the inside. “Good, actually. What about you?”

“Business is business… I wanted to see you, though. Always makes me feel good.” His phone sounded, and he gave me a wink, and went to answer his phone.

Beans was Menace’s top general, so a lot of things went through him.

He couldn’t just step back and enjoy the breeze because he was the first-person things went through before Menace.

I understood this was his life, and that it was busy and respected that.

We both worked for the Caselli family, so we understood that they came first.

I looked over and Don was watching her every move. His hands were still as he continued to take in everything that she said or did. His eyes told me something different. I saw something different in his eyes as he watched Navy.

“She’s a special person, you know.”

He finally looked over at me. “Yeah, I’m already knowing that.”

I smiled. “You are, too.”

Don gave me a half smirk, not really wanting to discuss shit with me.

Since working with the Caselli family, I noticed that about them.

They weren’t the most affectionate family, and it made me sad.

I lived for a kiss on the head from my uncles, or a warm hug from my aunt and grandparents.

They each kind of existed and came together whenever it was needed.

Stevie was the glue.

She was the one who pushed them to be together more often.

Scheduling family dinners that she knew they would hate but still pushed them because they needed it.

They lost their parents and never had the chance to heal or deal with the trauma.

Despite how rich the Caselli’s were, they were still in survival mode.

Never dealing with their emotions and traumas, always pushing forward because Menace had a plan for his family. Stevie was slowly healing them all, and I never knew if she understood the warmth and love she brought to the family.

“Bitch, I was feeling that shi….” Navy paused, as she looked at us through the glass, and Don was staring at her. “Now what the hell, Greene?”

She exited the booth, staring between us with the stink eye. “So, you trick me to come here to put on a show for free.”

“Voice like that, I don’t have no problem coming out of pocket,” Don replied. I laughed, as I watched the banter between the two, giving them space and going to find Beans.