Chapter 28
“ W here’s Blue?” Ward asked, pushing through the door to our suite.
“Watch it, nigga. It’s Navie to you, and she’s asleep.”
“Damn, that baby put her down.”
“Trying to hang with Rayven and her friends put her ass down.”
I agreed to make an appearance at my alma mater, Naylor Southern, but the administration turned it into something bigger than just a campus visit. It became a homecoming-level celebration, with the student body buzzing days in advance. It was good publicity, and I needed all I could get right now.
“I can’t believe you’ll be in charge of somebody else’s life.”
“Shit, me either.”
“Navie really locked yo’ ass down.”
“How did that date go?” I asked, not refuting his comment.
Ward rubbed his chin, then his smile spread, “It was smooth.”
“Grinning like that, it was more than smooth.”
“What was more than smooth?” Navie yawned, ambling into the living room.
“His date with Kelis.”
She immediately perked up.
“You didn’t tell me y’all had a date. How did it go?” Blue asked.
“He’s acting modest like he doesn’t miss her and shit.”
“Modest won’t get her back. You better put your pride aside and grovel,” Navie advised.
“Is that what Tre did?” Ward asked, glaring at me with a smirk.
“Of course,” Navie’s face twisted at his insane question, “You think I stayed for less?”
I grabbed her neck and she squealed, laughing at herself while I delivered a warning, “Don’t let that nigga get you in trouble.”
“You do have that nigga wrapped around your finger. I might need to listen to you.”
“Of course. I’d never steer you wrong, bro.” Navie reclined into my chest. “Can we get pizza on the way to the yard?”
“You don’t fuck with pizza.”
“Your big head baby does,” she complained.
“Don’t blame my baby. That’s your greedy ass.”
“You said I can have whatever I want. We want pizza,” she patted my chest like the help before standing up, “Make it happen, Daddy .”
“Do I need to give y’all a minute?” Ward asked, playfully covering his ears.
“Blue is just running her mouth.”
Then she returned an hour later, running me too. She couldn’t wait for us to grab pizza on the way because they were hungry now. Hauling to my feet, Ward followed me out of the hotel, clowning how his sister had me jumping at her every request like he wouldn’t do the same if Kelis asked.
After we ate, I sat back, rubbed her belly, and let it sink in.
Initially, I was annoyed that President Anderson had turned a small visit into a spectacle, but getting dressed for this was a full circle.
The sunlight poured through the hotel windows like it had somewhere to be, warming the hardwood floor beneath my feet as I dug through my overnight bag for the one thing I couldn’t find.
“We have to go, Stink.” Navie stood in the doorway, wearing a Naylor Southern t-shirt, which she had tied in the front, and a matching trucker hat pulled low. It arrived in my welcome basket from President Anderson after I turned my visit into an entire event, but somehow it became ours.
“Keep stealing my shit and I’m having you arrested.”
“Too late, you already did that. Twice, actually.”
“The first one was on you. Shouldn’t have been playing hard to get.”
“You had me jailed in compliance. I am hard to get.”
“Now, you’re here on your own and having my baby. What do you have to say about that?”
“No comment.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“Come on, so we can get to The Yard. I know your fans are waiting.”
“You act like you’re not one of them now.”
Navie snorted. “Please. I’m not a fan. I’m a hostage, big difference.”
She winked like the words didn’t sting, and I let it slide because we were pressed for time. Rayven wanted Blue to meet her friends, and I think she needed it too.
What she didn’t account for was her fans. I had become the accessory while she was the main event, and all the girls rallied around praising her fashion sense. Not just on the yard today, draped in buff and crimson, but every red-carpet event that Scandal Leader made sure to highlight.
Blue was at the center of it all because that’s where she deserved to be. I got to play the background, standing guard with Ward, occasionally dapping people up and posing for pictures while Blue danced and sang with Rayven and her friends.
“Who is that for?” I asked as she danced over to me.
“You,” she replied, rimming the Jello shot in her hand.
Raising on her toes, she held it up to my mouth, but I shook my head.
“One of us has to be responsible.”
“When we get home, it’s non-stop work. Have some fun,” she insisted, pushing it into my mouth.
“This shit is nasty,” I groaned, swallowing it like she did me earlier.
“Stop acting like a baby and eat it,” she giggled, while Ward chuckled, shaking his head.
Navie spun around, taking her microphone from Rayven’s back pocket because she’d become the unofficial co-host with Jaleesa.
The Yard was packed, students spilling out across the grass, some perched on the steps of the student union just to get a view.
The band had the place shaking, dancers out front keeping the energy sky-high.
It felt more like a block party than a rally.
It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been back in years; Naylor Southern was always home, and it felt like it, welcoming Navie with open arms. She was on stage, sun catching her just right, mic in hand, that glow pulled every eye in the Yard straight to her.
The host, Jaleesa, held up her mic, shouting over the crowd’s chants. “Alright, Naylor Southern, y’all have been hyped all afternoon, but we’re about to make this really interesting.”
The crowd cheered louder, stomping on the bleachers set up along the edges.
Navie stepped up, looking right at me with that sly grin. “Alright, alright—time for Protect or Roast! Navie’s got the mic. She’s answering for Treason.”
The Yard roared, students stomping on the steps, waving their hands like they were about to watch me get dragged. Navie covered her mouth, pretending to look innocent.
“See, I already know this is a set-up. Y’all ain’t really trynna’ see me win.”
“Aye, tread lightly. You have to come home with me,” I joked, leaning into the mic.
“That’s fine, my Naylor Southern family has my back. Ain’t that right, y’all?” Navie asked, and the crowd erupted, taking her side.
The crowd cheered and laughed, shouting things like “We got you, Navie!” and “You can stay with me, girl!”
The host leaned in. “First question—who takes longer to get ready?”
Navie dropped her hand from her mouth, shaking her head. “Oh, that’s easy. Him. This man spends more time in the mirror than I do.”
The crowd hollered, and some students clapped each other on the back. Somebody yelled, “Not the mirror!”
I laughed, pointing at her like she’d just lied on my name. “I gotta’ make sure I’m matching her fly. She always steps out looking so good. I gotta keep up.”
“The next question should be who’s the biggest flirt,” she complained.
The host was nearly doubled over laughing as he shouted the next one. “Alright, alright—Who’s more likely to order food than steal from the other’s plate?”
Navie didn’t even take a second to lie. “Him.”
I snapped my head toward her, eyes wide. “ Me ? Navie, stop lying to these people.”
The Yard was filled with students drinking and having a good time. I stepped closer, getting right up in her face, mic low. “You’re bold, lying in front of all these people. I have ten minutes to get her food when she says she’s hungry, just for you to finish half your plate, and say I’m full .”
“I can’t help that I get full fast.”
“Then slide your fork on my plate.”
Navie tilted her head at me, eyes gleaming, refusing to back down. “And you let me every single time.”
That set the Yard off—chants of “Oooohhh!” bouncing across the grass like a wave.
I laughed, shaking my head. This wasn’t staged, wasn’t scripted. It was just us, and the Yard could feel it.
“Who’s more likely to catch an attitude in public?”
I tossed my thumb toward Navie while she lowered her chin, laughing, “Don’t matter where we are. If that attitude hits, it’s a wrap.”
“That’s not true. He’s just had more practice at controlling it.”
“Okay, last one. Who has to have the last word?”
We both looked at each other, but Navie turned to the crowd in disbelief.
“He’s a politician, of course, he has to have the last word! Ladies, be careful with those political science majors!” she warned.
I put my hand over my heart, leaning into my mic. “See how she does me in public? On my own campus?”
Navie grinned at me, eyes soft even while she clowned me. “They deserve to know the truth.”
Usually, I was the one in control of the narrative, shaping every angle. But here, letting her joke on me, making me human to these students—it didn’t weaken me. It made me real.
The Yard enjoyed the game and immediately went back to turning up when the DJ dropped the beat.
It must’ve been the hCG because Blue didn’t have two left feet at all.
She had rhythm and endless energy, hyping all Rayven’s friends to the point they wanted her to stay.
I hated to tear her from her happy place, but it was time for our next obligation.
Ward volunteered to get the car because his social battery died an hour before, but even he couldn’t deny Blue’s request to tag along when she asked, ‘What if the baby needs you?’ I’d get on her for using my baby for personal gain later, but for now, I enjoyed the view of her dropping to her knees while Rayven’s friends hyped her up.
Blue announced our departure but promised to come back for homecoming, turning their boo’s into cheers. While I was the guest of honor, Pippen was the star of the game today. I didn’t have to do shit but show up and follow her lead.
“We’re heading out. I love you, and be safe,” Navie hugged Rayven after reminding everyone to vote in the upcoming election before leaving the stage.
“I will. I love you too.”