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Chapter 24
“I’ve never seen this place so rammed.”
Sweetest Ting was teeming—Meji was so happy to host us he’d turned a blind eye to the liquor being poured into Sprites. Ty, Shanti, and Chi were up by the front, dictating their song suggestions, while Kofi curated a video playlist for the several-inch flat screen on the wall. Malakai was busy talking to some Third-Year film students aboutCuts,the direction of his next film, lenses and frames and other things that made his eyes light up even more than their natural brilliance did. I had decided to throw a little campaign social to generate heat before the upcoming election and the event had blown up into a party before my eyes.
Aminah sipped on her Coke. “Omo, you’repopularnow. Get with the program. Hot girl on campus. Belle of Blackwell. People want to be wherever you’re at. After I posted the ProntoPic story of us here, my inbox was blowing up. They’re especially interested in you after you put Zack on blast the other day, and yes, while I was skeptical about you makingBrown Sugarpolitical, and, yes, we are yet to see how it will affect our audience numbers in the long run, it’s for the greater good. You’re helping them stick it to theWasteman.
“And it’s bringing people together becauselookat this place. Youever seen this many different social groups come together and mingle ever?You got a Bible Study Babe flirting with a reformed Roadman doing sports science, and I don’t think she’s trying to convert him.”
“Unless speaking in tongues suddenly means something different.” I hitched a brow as said couple brought their lips together in the crook of the corner-most booth.
Aminah was right, factions had folded together and it was so seamless, I’d barely noticed it, cliques separated and mixing. Blackwell seemed more fun this way, more alive, less confined. I had put my internship in slight jeopardy but somehow I didn’t feel an inclination to spiral; something wasshiftingin real life. It didn’t matter how big our audience was, butwhothey were. People who cared.
Aminah handed me a jerk chicken pop and held hers up so we could smash them in a toast. “You did this withBrown Sugar. By announcing a new committee with all the girls, you were signalling something new, validating something new.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, butBrown Sugarwould be nothing without you, and the marketing and the managing.”
Aminah waved a hand of dismissal while nodding at the same time, her long lashes accentuating the twinkle in her eye. “We’re a power couple, babes. Let’s just say that”—she nudged me—“even when you’re reconciling with old frenemies.”
“Wait. You feeling a way about that?”
I’d told Aminah that Rianne and I had been texting since we’d met at RomCon and she’d been nothing but cautiously supportive, still harboring a slight, protective grudge while encouraging of my peace. Like a mother whose child had taken up a hazardous sport.
Aminah shrugged. “No, because it would be insane of me to wonder if your best friend from childhood, with great bone structure, with whom you have nerdy pursuits in common, is going to replace me.”
I grinned. “Yes. It would be. I’m glad I made up with Rianne, but you’re my life partner and your roasting of my nerdy pursuits keeps me balanced.”
Aminah pinched my arm. “I bully you because I care. And I need you in my life to take me to quaint bistros like this to keep me grounded and cool.”
“It’s a diner.”
Aminah nodded without an iota of recognition. “Don’t know what that is, but this is cute. I like the vibe.” She flicked her gaze above my head and her eyes flashed teasingly. “Man, he just can’t stay away from you can he? If this is what he’s likebeforeyou guys have smashed—”
“Aminah.”
She wriggled her brows and somehow managed to elegantly climb over me and out of the booth just as Malakai reached us. “Newbie,” she greeted Malakai stoically.
He bowed his head. “Lady Aminah. You gonna accept my ProntoPic invitation now?”
Aminah shrugged. “I feel like there should be some boundaries between the spouse and the sidepiece but sha make it past the three-month mark I’ll consider it.” She strutted away toward where Kofi stood, eyes eager.
Malakai grinned as I scooted over for him. As he sat, he passed me my requested illicitly mixed rum and Coke and slung an arm around my neck. “I think she basically just said I’m like a brother to her.”
I laughed. “I heard it.”
Malakai cast an eye across Sweetest Ting, a broad smile lighting up his face. It lit me up too. “I always feel so at home here. With you. Ama would have never liked a spot like this.”
I bristled. “So? Why are you even thinking about her right now?”
Malakai’s eyes jumped, alert. “I’mnot.I’m just saying I’m glad I can be me around you. I couldn’t do that with her.”
I’d piled my twists on top of my head and he gently tugged at a straggling twist from my Ankara headwrap. I stayed silent as I tried to work out the arithmetic of what he’d just said. The slight tension was displaced by an overwhelming scent of peony and mild disdain.
Simi stood by the booth. She tapped an elegant, milky, clawed finger on Malakai’s shoulder, chiming, “Girl chat! I am sure you don’t mind.”
Terrifying. I would have wondered why Simi was really here, but both reason and rhyme were beneath her, buckling under her powers of chaos. Malakai hesitated, his eyes flitting between Simi and me, before I hitched a shoulder. I once saw in a wildlife documentary that the best thing to do when facing off a wild lion was to stand your ground. Stay calm. Do not bend.
Malakai whispered in my ear, “Safe word is ‘Malakai, you sexy beast.’”
