Eastley and I arrived at Legacy Park about an hour and a half into the festivities. The park was packed with families and groups, all out celebrating the holiday. I felt the tension start to roll off of her as soon as she spotted the crowd. It was funny to me how fast I was able to learn her. I could literally see her start to sink inside herself.
“E,” I started as I pulled my truck into a parking space next to the bikes of the brothers who’d already arrived.
She shook me off. “Don’t say it, Q. I know I don’t have to be here. I know. I’m just trying to get . . .” She sighed. “I don’t know. Some version of normalcy back. This is a normal thing to do . . . support my brother at his friends and family event. Support the club.”
“If it gets to be too much.”
She nodded. “If it gets to be too much, I’ll text you, and we can leave.”
It was my turn to nod. I turned off the pick-up.
Before I could get out, she caught my hand in hers. When I turned to look at her, our eyes met. “Stay close.” Her voice trembled the tiniest bit.
“I got you,” I confirmed with another nod of my head. “I’ll keep an eye out for you. And if I feel like it’s too much, even if you don’t say it, we’re out.”
“Okay.” She agreed.
KD and Asia were holding court at one of the tables under one of our oversized Braveheart Brotherhood Inc. customized tents. We both headed straight for them. I watched discreetly as she moved between the people and took a seat close to Asia.
The conversation carried on around me. I didn’t really notice. My attention, behind my shades, was pretty much on Eastley. She looked simultaneously delicate and fashionable in the outfit she wore—a cropped graphic T-shirt, paired with a pair of shorts that were too fucking short if she wanted my opinion. I mean, almost all the women in attendance were dressed similarly, but I couldn’t help wishing that Eastley had worn a jogging suit or one of those sundresses that went to the floor.
“I can’t really tell East’s little ass nothing, but I ain’t want her to come today.”
I tuned back in just in time to hear KD talking to me. “Yeah, me neither. But you’re right; she won’t listen.”
He chuckled. “You talked to her about it?”
I decided not to tell him about the fact that she had a nightmare the night before. That would just work him up for no reason. “When we pulled up and she saw all the people, I told her we ain’t have to stay. But she said this is her favorite Braveheart event. She said she wasn’t missing it.” I shrugged my shoulders.
He nodded. “Yeah—” He was cut off by the revving of motorcycle engines, loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the music our DJ was playing.
I looked up to see the members of The Lewd Boyz, a local motorcycle club whose history was rooted in bigotry and white supremacy. As they rode through the park, revving their engines and flying their confederate flags, it was clear they were only present to disrupt the Juneteenth celebrations.
KD’s eyes stayed on the white boys. My eyes swung over to Eastley. Even though we were both wearing shades, I knew she was staring back at me. I mouthed the words “You cool?”
She nodded slightly.
Soon enough, the bikers moved on, our DJ turned up the volume, and our celebration continued.
The Juneteenth/Father’s Day picnic was everything I remembered it to be. I chatted with the wives and girlfriends, danced, and ate. I was fully immersed in the fun of the day, feeling like myself for the first time in forever. With the exception of The Lewd Boyz bike club coming through, things had been good.
“Girl, take a picture. It’ll last longer,” Asia whispered in my ear.
The sun had set, so my shades were back in my purse, and my eyes were visible. She could see that I kept cutting my gaze to Quentin. “Whatever.” I waved her off playfully, still not taking my eyes off him. He stood alongside one of the newer brothers, a man I didn’t recognize.
“I know that the club has never had a chaplain, so I don’t really know what the role is supposed to look like. But in my opinion, Bishop is good at it. I’ve seen him have what look like serious conversations with about four brothers since we’ve been here. He’s so nice, and it seems like he’s easy to talk to.”
“He is.” I felt like she was trying to bait me into saying something, so I measured my words and didn’t give her too much. Not that there was much to give. “He has a really calming spirit.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Why’re you sayin’ it like that, Asia?” I chuckled. “I promise that me and Quentin don’t have anything . . . salacious going on.”
“Salacious? Ooh, I like that word. I’ve never heard it before. Does it mean fucking?”
I had to laugh. “It means like obscene or indecent. We’re only roommates.”
“For now. The way you’ve been eye-bangin’ him all day, like those shades were hiding it, tells me that y’all won’t be ‘just roommates’ for much longer.”
