Page 11

A SOUTHWAVE GOON

I’d been scrolling on a travel site one night. I was half-drunk, half-bored with a pocket full of money. I felt like my life was stuck on repeat, and that’s when I found it.

Sable Cove, California.A Black-owned luxury city with a hood calledSouthwave—beaches, festivals, fine-ass niggas who looked like they’d ruin your life in the best way. The site said they were having a whole festival:Southwave Summer Kick-Off .

I was sold.

My girls and I packed up, booked the trip, and now here we were—VIP only at the Boardwalk, a pre-game to the festival. The sun was hot as hell, burning my skin just right. I’d been needing a real tan, a real vibe, and maybe... a real nigga to match.

Southwave felt like a dream. It reminded me of home—Starlight Hills—but this city had an edge. I loved all the Black luxury, but with that Cali rawness and the men? Whew. Different. They had that hood energy; real beach boys but with blickys tucked in their swim trunks like it was nothing.

I was sitting near an outside bar called Tide’s Edge with my girls. I had my drink in hand with shades on, trying to play it cool, but my eyes kept drifting. That’s when I sawhim.

I ain’t know his name yet, but I knew he was him .

Dark chocolate skin glistening in the sun, tattoos stretching across his chest and arms like art, a fresh fade, wavy, thick chain sitting heavy on his neck.

He was at a stone round table by the basketball courts, playing cards, laughing low with his boys.

“Bitch, we need some weed,” my best friend, Rio, whispered in my ear, nudging me. “You got us out here in hood paradise, let’s go ask them if they’re selling.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Girl, I’m not going over there.”

But right as I said it, the guy I was looking at, and his boys, stood up. I tried to act like I wasn’t looking… like I wasn’t studying the way his gun sat casually in the waistline of his swim trunks, the way his watch caught the sun, or the way he walked like the beach belonged to him.

“Come here, lil’ mama. Let me refresh your drink. I don’t bite.” His voice cut through the air like it was meant for me. Smooth, deep, low...dangerous.

He kept walking without looking back.

My girls stared at me, wide-eyed. “Bitch, gooooo! And don’t forget to ask about the weed!”

I rolled my eyes, heart thumping in my chest, but I couldn’t help it. I got up and followed him.

He was posted up at the outside bar, leaned back in his chair, arms spread wide like a king on his throne. His boys sat down at the other end, giving him space like they knew the vibe.

I sat next to him, shy as hell. “Hey,” I mumbled, trying to act unbothered, but my stomach was tight.

He glanced over, sneered slowly, and my breath caught. His skin was so smooth, tattoos lay on him like they were meant to be there.

“I’m Mula,” he said, voice all raspy and low like he didn’t need to try.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Storm.”

He chuckled, lips curling at the corners. “Should I be scared?”

I smiled. “No.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “Where you from?”

“Small town. Starlight Hills, Colorado .”

He nodded like he’d heard of it. “It’s cold out there. Heard it was a good hideout, though.”

“Exactly. That’s why I’m here for the weekend. Getting some real sun, catching a new vibe.”

He leaned in a little, his cologne hitting me softly, his eyes dark like they could see straight through me.

“Yeah... you definitely gon’ get a different vibe here.”

He sat back, cool as hell, like this was just another day for him.

“Well, I just wanted to buy a pretty girl a drink. Since you’re here for the weekend, I’ll see you around. VisitVelvet South—that’s where I be.”

He dropped a fifty on the bar, smooth as ever, and started to walk off.

“Wait,” I called, my voice catching. “You got some weed? My friends are fiending.”

He laughed, deep and smooth, and waved one of his boys over. “Yo, hook her up with some green.”

The guy handed me a nice-sized bag that should’ve lasted us until the following day. I reached for my wallet, but Mula shook his head, already walking off.

“It’s on me.”

I just sat there, watching him leave, my heart racing, cheeks hot. My girls ran over, eyes wide.

“Bitch! Who was he?!” Rio asked.

I shook my head slowly, lips curling into a grin as I passed her the weed.

“I don’t know... but we gotta find Velvet South.”

Mula was on my mind already.

He might’ve just been my summer fling .

Or maybe... something more.