“Could have,” Jett muttered.
“You’re literally licensed to carry. We’re safe… both of you, relax.” She checked her phone and continued walking.
Capri: We’re hereee. Where you at?
Recommendation: Listen to Who Am I? by Beenie Man
As we turned onto the block, Navy’s grandparents had both sides of the street blocked off with cars and NYPD issued barricades. The music was so loud that you could feel it inside of your chest. The smell of grilled food waffled through the air, along with everyone out on their stoops with plates of food. Every other block had a party going on with cars struggling to find a clear street to drive down.
The beat from the music vibrated within my chest as my body started to move. All the cars that would have normally been parked were gone, and only bikes were allowed through. There were a few Brooklyn Bullies, and then I saw Quasim, Quameer, and Cappadonna’s bikes within the mix.
“You feeling those shots we took before we left,” Navy called me out as she started to wine her hips right along with mine.
I couldn’t help but to laugh because I felt good tonight. Spending the day with Navy was good for my soul. Nothing was hard, forced, or planned out. We just went with the flow today, and that was something I needed. Now, she had me out in Brooklyn when I would have been getting ready for bed, or in my office.
“Nigel, yooo!” Navy hollered out, and a short light skin man came over toward us, pulling a cooler behind him.
“Navy Bleu- Bleu.” The man smiled, as he got closer and hugged her.
He was an older man wearing an old school faded Tommy Hilfiger shirt, jean shorts, and a pair of worn Jordans.
“Did you make my favorite flavor?” She was all smiles as she continued to hold onto him, and he laughed, exposing a nearly toothless smile.
He released her and dug into the cooler that was filled with ice and plastic quarter water containers that were different colors. “Mango and strawberry.” He pulled two of the reddish color containers and handed them to her. Navy tried to hand him money, and he gently swatted her hand.
“Your money is no good with me, Navy Bleu- Bleu.”
She sulked. “You never let me or Greene pay, Nigel.”
“And never will. I need to make my way to the next block.” He smiled, tipped his hat and then continued down the street.
“Ight, Nigel!” Ro hollered and saluted him, and Nigel returned the gesture, on his quest to the next block.
“What is this?”
“Nutcrackers… liquor.” She handed me one, because Jett wouldn’t be partaking in drinking tonight.
His job was to look over Navy, and knowing Don, he probably told him to watch me too. “I’m allergic to mangos,” I told her.
She snatched it back quickly. “Oh shit. I’m sorry, Zoya.”
I tried to keep a straight face until I couldn’t anymore. “I’m not really allergic… I hate mango and people always try and change my mind, so I lie and say I’m allergic.”
Navy stared at me for a second before she unscrewed the cap to her bottle and started to chug it down. “What in the hell is wrong with you?”
I laughed. “A little bit of everything, Darling.”
Capri came skipping over and I questioned how a woman who had just had twins a few months ago, and had a toddler, along with an almost pre-teen, had this much energy. Capri had always been thinner with a shape, but since having her babies, she had this grown woman shape that only having children provided.
“What the hell took you so long to get here?”
I looked at Navy. “We took the train.”
Capri faked like she was pushed back a few paces and laughed. “Stop fucking with me, Zoya.”
“We took the train… if you let her tell it, it was against her will.” Navy handed Capri the drink I refused to drink. “I’ll get you a drink that is mango free.”
Capri busted out laughing. “You over here lying about your fake allergies?”
