Page 21

The train was packed, and we held onto the pole in the middle of the floor, and I stood behind her, making sure she was covered. Her back leaned on the pole when she turned to face me.

“How do you feel?”

“Like I’m on a train.”

“Not much impresses you, huh?”

“You impress me.”

She blushed. “Yeah?”

“Uh, huh.”

She folded her arms while her back against the pole kept her stable from the train moving. “Always a good thing.”

“You take the train late at night?”

She nodded her head yes. “All the time… made my way from an event in the city back home at like two in the morning one night. The brand didn’t provide car services leaving, so I made it home myself.”

I understood she was independent and proud that she could navigate the city on her terms, but the shit made me anxious thinking about her taking the trains late at night. Navy was around 5’5, and although she had ass and thighs, she was still small. Especially to a nigga around my size.

“I don’t want you doing that no more.”

“Why? I have pepper spray.” She held onto my shirt as the train came to a stop at one of the stations. I didn’t reply, just staring down into her eyes and she understood. “Well, then, are you gonna drive me everywhere when it’s late?”

“Already got a car for you to utilize. I’ll put the number in your phone, and when you call, they’ll scoop you from wherever.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Cause that fucking serial killer is still on the loose and you’re a woman out in the world alone. I’m the kind of man, and have been raised by one, who protects women. Not every nigga thinks like that, so I need to protect mine.”

It was the way she snickered when I called her mine that told me she wanted to eventually be mine.

It was a fear that stopped her from wanting to tell me that she would eventually want more.

To her, it was easier to just be friends and see where things went, and I had to admit that was best for us right now.

There was no pressure to be perfect. We could just be without all the politics of dating. I didn’t know the rules when it came to dating because I purposely never dated. Dick and black cars was all I could provide.

She looked around me. “Our stop is next. Nervous?”

“For what?”

“To be hanging with my family. Now let me warn you, my family is a lot. They are crazy as hell.”

“So, giving your pops the keys to my whip wasn’t smart?”

“At all. You probably won’t have any gas in it, either. He and my uncle probably went around the whole city for some soda.”

“It’s cool.”

Soon as we exited the train station, you could smell the food on the grill. Music could be heard in almost every direction. I pulled her over from walking near the street side. She was so focused on getting to her grandparents’ block that she was in her own head.

“Navy, come here, Loca… I got your favorite,” a Spanish woman called her from a window, and she grabbed my hand and pulled me with her across the street.

“Hey Rosario, you finally got cherry in?”

“Hell yeah… took about a month. You want a cup? I can make it for you, or do you want the gallon?”

She had this wicked look on her face. “Gallon… we up tonight.”

“I’ll bring it around front,” she called back and closed her window while we waited on the stoop.

“The fuck are you up to?”

“Nothing… but I’m giving you the whole experience since I’m not having my birthday block party this year.”

“You have a birthday block party?”

“My parents have been throwing it for years, but I have a trip planned around my birthday. A brand invited London out the country, and she invited me as her guest.”

I didn’t know who London was, but I was a little bummed that she was gonna be gone for her birthday. With mine before hers, I was already in my head planning on seeing her. My birthdays weren’t all of that.

Whatever club that happened to be my favorite was rented out and then I ended up leaving with a shorty. It was always the same shit, so being excited never crossed my mind.

“Damn, I thought we could celebrate together.”

“Awe, you done fucked me like that and wanna spend all your time with me,” she paused before she busted out laughing, waving her hand in her face. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” she said between heaves of laughter.

“Fuck you, Bleu.”

“Nah… you want to.”

The door to the building opened, and the woman held the gallon of whatever she bought. She went to dig in her bag, and I went into my pocket before her and counted off two hundred dollars.

“Oh, Papi, it’s only thirty dollars.” The woman waved her hand, like I made a terrible mistake.

“You good.” I took it from her, and she balled it up to put in her bra.

Navy spoke to her for a bit before we were back on our way. The minute we turned onto the block, the grill was by the stoop, and her father was sitting around a card table with three other men. My car was parked right by them as they slammed dominos down and talked shit.

“Rosario, had it? Oh, we getting fucked up!” Greene ran over toward us and looked at the both of us. “Hey Don… now you get to see a piece of my life.”

“Burple, chill.”

“I’m gonna put my stuff in the house… you good?”

I looked at her. “I’m good.”

She took the tub of what I assumed was ice cream or Italian ice and headed up the stairs past her mother and another woman who looked similar. They both were smoking cigarettes and slapped Navy’s butt and teased her about the shorts as she walked up the stairs past them.

“Come on, I’ll get you introduced.”

I pulled Greene back quickly. “His last name… I know it’s not Perkins.”

She smiled. “I forgot you have manners. You should really use them often. His last name is Abrams.”

“Bet.”

She skipped over toward the card table, and her grandfather wrapped his hand around her and leaned his head on her. “Poppa, this is Navy’s friend… Landon.”

Ro looked up and nodded. “Thought I was gonna have to keep the car another day… pull up to work in it.”

I laughed. “You good, Mr. Perkins… rock out with it for work.”

“Ro, man. Call me Ro. Mr. Perkins is my father and his ass dead.” He snorted, as if him saying his father is dead was funny.

The other two men turned and looked. “How are you, Mr. Abrams?”

“Wah happen?” he asked as he shook my hand.

“Means what’s up?” Greene explained because I was confused. “These are my uncles, Joseph and Kemar.”

They both dapped me up. “Come sit and let us take some money from you,” Ro said and started counting out the dominos for me.

“Navy Yavy is my baby deh know?” her grandfather said.

“I can tell she’s very loved.”

“And you wanna love her, too?” Her uncle Joseph questioned.

“Eventually, yeah.” I was honest because I knew my intention wasn’t to play this stranger and no attachment game with her forever.

It worked now because we were still getting to know each other. “You know she used to have a boyfriend, right?” Ro replied this time, as he shuffled between his dominos.

“I’ve heard.”

“Chill out on my guy… didn’t she just break up with homie?” Her uncle Kemar jumped in, and I silently thanked his ass.

Between her father and other uncle, they were ready to see if I was wasting her time and I respected it. “He broke up with her, and I should tap his fucking jaw,” Ro grunted as he put the bottle of beer to his lips.

“Antwan always been a little fucking sweet,” Joseph replied.

“The boy is good… misguided and clearly blind,” her grandfather defended him. “She wasn’t his forever, and I respect that. My Navy Baby deserves to be someone’s forever. Both my color girls do.”

I thought her grandfather was into some racist shit before I realized that Greene and Navy were literally named after colors.

“I can’t sit here and make a bunch of promises on the future because all of that is in Navy’s hands.

I can say that if things move more seriously, I plan to take her serious and honor my word when it comes to her. ”

They ain’t even know with the way I was wrapped around Navy, I was about to fuck around and give her my last name, make her a billionaire, and retire the whole fucking family.

“I got dranksssss!” Navy held up red cups and did a little dance.

“Auntie Shandra, you want?”

“Girl, stop playing with me!” she was the first to grab a cup, and passed out the rest to all of us.

I looked at the red slush in the cup, took a sip, and pulled the cup back. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, strong, eh?” her grandfather laughed. He reached down below him and pulled out a bottle of El Dorado rum. “Give me your cup, give you a little of this.”

I watched this man pour more into my already strong cup and hand it back. He then topped his cup and tossed it back. “And call me Skip. None of that Mr. Mess.”

“Got you, Skip.”

“Eh.” He held his fist, and I bumped it.

“Skip, don’t get that boy drunk!” an older woman called from the top of the steps, and Navy resembled her fully.

I mean Navy resembled her moms, but the woman who I assumed was her grandmother was the blueprint and then she said copy and made Navy and her mother. Her aunt Shandra looked like her brothers and father, and Greene did, too.

“This the truth-teller, Annie… will let us know if he can hang.” He chuckled and nudged me.

“Poppa, did you make enough food?” Navy asked.

“Yeah, enough in the house… go make him a plate.”

I smirked. “Appreciate it.”

Navy stood there with her arms crossed. “You know what… come inside so you can tell me what you want.”

I excused myself and took my cup. The drink was strong as shit, but good, too. My body felt hotter with every sip that I took. “How are you, Mrs. Abrams?”

“Wow, so handsome and well mannered. Nice to meet you, Landon.” I assumed her mother had already told her mother about me. “Call me Nana, or Annie.”

“Call me Shaundra… or Auntie.” Her aunt came and hugged me.

“Nice to see you again, Mrs. Perkins.”

“It’s good to see you again, Landon.” She gave me a hug, and I made my way inside the building.