I ran a music company. I’d spent years inside this business. Music had been my job and my burden and the thing that kept the lights on for a lot of people. I’d forgotten it had ever been anything else. And tonight, for the first time since I was nineteen years old, I’d justenjoyedit. As a fan. As a man. Not as someone holding things up.
And then there was the other thing. I hadn’t celebrated my birthday since before my mother died. Now here I was eighteen years later, leaving a concert Alyssa had spent her ‘surplus’ dragging me to. On my way home with plans to scarf down the last too-sweet cupcakes sitting in my kitchen next to a card that said:thank you for being my friend. I’d be going to bed with the memory of being sung to by Alyssa and Micah, who’d decided the day I was born was a day worth marking loudly.
She’d handed me something I’d put down years ago and never gone looking for. I wasn’t going to be able to say that to her. But I knew it.
When I pulled into our building I said her name softly, and she stirred then blinked up at me, disoriented.
“We home?”
“Yes, Sleeping Beauty. Andyouwanted to drive.” I chuckled.
She smiled, sleep-drunk. “Thank you for letting me treat you, Julian.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Mm, I think I just might,” she teased.
I started to reply that I was looking forward to that. But I didn’t.
“Thank you for today. All of it. Micah’s card. The cupcakes. The show. I’ll remember it.”
And I would. The way she’d built a whole night around nothing but my own joy and things I couldn’t afford to want.
The trouble was I was beginning to want them anyway.
15/
climb that man like a tree
alyssa
I hadmy tablet propped open on my desk, while on FaceTime with my sisters who were catching me up on Jersey gossip. Micah was in the living room with his headphones on, completely absorbed in his game. Pasta sauce was on a low simmer in the kitchen and I had my office door open.
I loved this office.
Julian was right. I did need a third bedroom. This was the smallest room and the one closest to the front door, just off the foyer that opened straight into my living room. There was something to be said about having a separate space for yourself outside of your bedroom. He had been right about a lot of things in this condo, which I’d conceded to myself sometime in week three, sitting at this desk, hearing Micah pour cereal in the kitchen down the hall.
Tamika’s voice boomed through the speaker. “So update us on your down-south life. How’s it going?”
“It’s good. Really good. Micah’s settled and work is picking up. I’m loving the area so far. People are really nice. Southern hospitality isn’t a myth apparently.”
“Yeah, yeah, we know all that.” Jada leaned in. “What about your love life?”
I should have seen that coming. “What love life?”
“Exaaaactly.” Jordan looked up from her nails. “That’s the problem. It’s been way too long since you got some good d?—”
“Jordan!” I laughed.
“Spill. Any prospects?” Jada asked.
“I’m not looking for prospects.”
“That’s because you don’thaveto look.” Jordan came closer to her camera. “Not with that fine-ass Julian around.”
My face heated. “Julianis just a friend.”
Tamika rolled her eyes. “Here you go. If I never hear the word ‘friend’ come out of your mouth again in life, it’ll be too soon.”
