I start folding chairs, following her down the line, one row over, peeking over easels.
“I mean it. I miss you.”
She walks out of the garden struggling with the chairs, and heads to a van that has Lit with Lily painted on the side.
It’s nice.
“When did you get a van?”
She cuts her eyes at me and starts loading the chairs into the back.
Damn, Lily’s never shut me out like this before.
I add the chairs I gathered and follow her back in.
We continue this dance. Me asking questions, her ignoring me, both of us loading up her van with her tables and chairs.
When it’s all said and done, she stands outside the back of the van with her hands on her hips.
“Why are you here, Javonte?”
Her voice sounds tired and annoyed.
I miss youisn’t working. “You’re staying busy with this, huh?” I wave my hand towards her van.
She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs.
I shift, shoving my hands in my pockets.
“Javonte, what do you want?”
“I want you.”
She rolls her eyes, walks to the front of the van, gets in, and drives away.
She’s really not feeling me anymore at all.
It’s all good. I got time.
I almost didn’t go to the Starting Five meetup at the rooftop restaurant at the AvenueHotel. But I’m not about to sit and wallow. Ain’t nothing to wallow about. I’m going to get my girl, and I can hang out with my boys.
I got this.
I can tell, though, that my energy is off when I walk in because Devon’s loud ass voice is already on my nerves.
I’m not in the mood for his bullshit today. And when I walk in, he’s going to be on some bullshit.
I tighten up and head over to their table.
“Hey,” they all call out. “Javonte is so kind enough to join us.”
Jalen cracks a joke about my last name. He does it all the time. It’s not even funny anymore.
“What up, what up,” I say, trying to put as much energy into it as I can.
“Aw, hell,” Tank says.
I turn to him. “What?”
