“Someday,” I agree.
“Should we order food, and you can tell me all the horrible things that King did?”
“Yep,” I say, but my heart’s not in it.
We order dinner, and the doorman in training brings it up an hour later. A single doorman couldn’t possibly take care of the needs of all the uptight assholes in this building.
“You could do his job.” I gesture at the closed door once I have the food.
“Could you see the headlines in the country club gossip rag?Heiress flees Boston to become a bum in NYC.Which to them is the same thing as a service job.”
“They suck.” I pour her a glass of wine.
“Cheers to that.” She downs the entire glass in a few gulps.
I’m worried about her. She’s allowing her parents to suck the life out of her.
But I’m not one to talk. I left Boston like my ass was on fire to get away from John and my mother.
Chapter 9
Jamal King
We’re volunteering as a team at The Q Solutions, an agency that focuses on helping queer youth. They also have an outreach program for unhoused people. I enjoy being here, and the kids are great, meaning they’re lil chaos demons, but once you get past their outer layer, they’re cool.
My family stresses the importance of giving back. They make sure I’m humble and that I help others as I rise. I’ve been offered brand deals, but I’d rather bring attention to Black businesses and causes for free. Q Solutions is an incredible organization. It’s how I give back and make my parents proud.
I’m in the kitchen with Benz and his boyfriend, Leo. Leo isn’t really volunteering, more like stealing kisses every time Benz walks by. Benz needs to leave his station for the silliest things. Twice he’s come over and asked me how the chopping is going. I might not be a gourmet chef, but I can chop veggies without his help, and he could ask me from where he’s layering the lasagna.
This is O’Keefe, Brant, and Mav’s first time here, so the director, Joanne, is giving them a tour.
Benz scoots by Leo with another kiss, then rolls up to me. “What time is the next shift coming in for dinner service?”
“We’re not going to have any dinner if you don’t stop mauling your boyfriend.” I swat him away. “Go back to work, and you’ll be able to hear me from there.” I wait for him to spread sauce on a layer before I say, “Dinner shift will be here in forty-five minutes. Get busy. Those need to bake for an hour.”
“Shit,” Benz panics, and Leo steps closer to help.
“Oh, my.” Joanne enters with the new guys on our team. “We are behind on the lasagnas. Can you guys pitch in?”
Brant stands next to Leo. “Put me in, Coach.”
“I’m in charge,” Benz says, and gives everyone a job. They form an assembly line, and the first pans go into the oven within minutes.
“This place is sick.” Mav’s head is on a swivel, taking in the industrial kitchen and huge supplies.
“It’s awesome,” Benz agrees. “It helps so many kids, doesn’t it, King?”
Benz hasn’t gotten over his unintentional racist remarks. He’s either trying to smother me with kindness or reassure himself that I’m not mad. I’m not angry… I’m disappointed he said it and that I stayed silent. It’s exhausting being the spokesperson for Black people or acting nonchalant when they inadvertently say something that offends me. The microaggressions from people on other teams are bad enough.
“It does.” I scrape the cut carrots into the ginormous salad bowl.
O’Keefe hasn’t said a word, but I feel his eyes on me. His heart was in the right place when he thought I was being disrespected, but it seems awkward to say thank you at this point.
With the extra help, we finish dinner prep in record time. Joanne takes Brant, Mav, and O’Keefe to meet the after-school program kids in the gym.
O’Keefe occupies too many of my thoughts, and I should be embarrassed, but instead I’m following them at a distance. I’m curious to see how O’Keefe acts with kids—as if he’s better than them or compassionate, like he is with his girlfriend.
I circle around the gym to stand in the back hallway so I can hear them, but they can’t see me.
