“That was clear.”
“So. . .what moves?”
“Huh?”
“You said you two were doing all the moves to Drunk in Love.”
“Oh yeah. There’s a whole dance set during certain parts of the song.”
“And you know this because?”
“Buzz buzz, baby.”
He looked at me. “You’re part of the beehive too?”
I winked at him.
“Not a bad musician to like.”
“Over eighty-four hits and counting.” I shrugged. “Got to love Queen B.”
He chuckled. “No wonder Ross kissed you.”
I cringed a little. “Would you stop saying that?”
“Why? You’re embarrassed by the intimate moment?”
“It wasn’t intimate.”
“Hmmm.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jealous?”
His serious expression cracked.
I widened my eyes. “I was. . .just joking.”
He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I know, but maybe you had a point. You got more action than me on Zora’s wedding night?”
“No kissing Amber?”
The serious expression returned. “No kissing Amber.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t feel like it.”
“Why not?”
“Just didn’t.” He placed the mask back over his mouth and turned on the radio.
I guess we’re done talking.
Classic Hip Hop played through the car. Long ago, Kamal had thought he would be a rapper. Once his mother heard, that dream lasted no more than a week. She demanded he keep his head in the books, instead of filled with dreams of freestyling into a microphone. That being said, every time I visited Zora, hip hop blasted from Kamal’s room. It was cool that he still kept that love alive.
My phone vibrated in my jeans.
I pulled it out. Karen delivered an image. I pressed on it. A large meme displayed a nude white woman with a short blonde haircut. Her expression looked like she was constipated. The words under the image read, “When Karen didn’t orgasm and wants to speak to the manager.”
Karen: I have to change my hairstyle. It’s so close to the meme Karen's.
Me: You’re black! And your hair is black! Ignore the memes.
Karen: Girl, you never called me back.
Me: I have an unexpected guest.
Karen: Who?
Me: You may not remember him. Zora’s older brother.
Karen: That fine ass motherfucker!! Tell him Karen said hi!
Me: lol
Karen: Don’t laugh. I’m serious. Tell him that Single Karen said hello.
Me: That’ll be at the top of my list. Talk to you later.
Laughing to myself, I put my phone up.
A familiar song came on. I bobbed my head. Kamal followed. And soon we kept the same rhythm rolling through NYC as if no crisis existed within the world.
I think I needed this break from the house, even if we were going out into danger.
Thirty minutes later, we made it to T& T. Kamal parked us in an empty spot.
When we left the car, Kamal led me to the store. “Welcome to SoHo. Have you been before now?”
“No.”
“SoHo is short for South of Houston Street. It’s the eclectic part of lower Manhattan.”
“Lots of artsy people?”
“Yes. You would love it here.”
I drank in the cobblestone streets, charming boutiques, and restaurants lining the neighborhood. “In all fairness, this looks well over my budget.”
“I’ve seen your sculptures. You’ll be able to afford this soon.”
Nervousness filled me. “You’ve seen them?”
“Yeah.” He stopped us in front of a designer boutique and held the door open for me. “I have two big ones in my living room.”
Not walking inside, I opened my mouth and closed it.
“What?”
“How did you. . .” I shook my head. “How did you get two of them?”
“Zora helped me decorate. She bought them for my living room. They go quite well too. It’s all white and—”
“I know what your living room looks like. She sent me pictures, but my sculptures weren’t in the photos.”
“Then she must’ve bought them after she took the picture.” He gave me a wicked smile. “If I remember correctly, they’re from your Questioning Minds series. Copper faces shaped into question marks. They blew me away. Plus, the copper against the white is dazzling. You’re talented. I plan to buy more.”
“T-thank you.”
“Not used to getting compliments?”
“I’m getting there.”
He gestured for me to go inside. “Let’s go. We can’t forget about Ganesha’s date with Madonna.”
“They’re just platonic. He’s saving himself for the right furry one.” I headed inside.
As soon as I entered, I was transported into an enticing space designed to delightfully engage the senses with sights, sounds, colors, and shapes. Where there wasn’t edgy art on the wall, there were flowers and gold mannequins draped in diamonds. The racks weren’t typically low and in a circle. Instead, clothes hung on a string of gems dangling from the walls.
Had I not known it was a boutique, I may have thought it was an eccentric art gallery.
“Navi? Is that you?” Ross appeared from the back, holding a bottle of vodka and three glasses. “And there’s my Jade.”
“Hey.” I waved.
Ross stopped five feet from me and kissed the air. “Jade, I’m so happy to see you. It’s a bright, sexy face for a dark and depressing day. How do you take your quarantini?”