Chapter 28 #2
“Have fun, but not too much, and if you do use a condom,” I fussed lightly, plucking Rayven’s forehead.
She scowled, leaning in to whisper, “You didn’t use one.”
“I’m not in college either. Don’t let some nothing ass nigga trick you out of our dream for a quick nut.”
“Oh my God! Please go,” Rayven groaned, covering her ears.
“That’s what you better tell his ass too,” I replied, pulling her in for a hug next.
“Yes, because no babies until after med school,” Blue added.
“Alright, it’s time for y’all to go. It’s been fun, but see ya!” Rayven waved, pushing us in the opposite direction of where we’d been posted up.
“We’re out, but if you need anything, put that number to use.”
Rayven nodded, while my hat shielded the confusion in Navie’s eyes.
“Number?”
Roping my arm around her neck, I guided her toward the parking lot so she didn’t ruin Rayven’s evening with fifty questions.
“Why did you give her your number?”
“So next time she can’t reach you, she can reach me. Or would you rather have her panic and call Sloane ?”
Her brain registered my comment as a threat instead of a solution.
“How do you know about that?”
“I know everything, Blue,” I pulled her in enough to kiss the side of her forehead, “Sisters and brothers talk about shit too.”
“Anyway, what happened to my campus tour?”
“You spent too much time dropping it like it’s hot. Now we’re running behind,” I replied, double.
Navie stopped moving her feet and crossed her arms like a toddler having a tantrum.
“Don’t tell me you’re a lyin’ ass nigga like the rest or a man of your word.”
“Why are you doin’ me like this?”
“Isn’t holding you accountable my job?”
Navie was testing me and pushing boundaries and waiting for repercussions, abandonment, or worse. Being a brat was the only way she knew how to express herself. Luckily for her, I wasn’t a fan of my lady being mad or upset.
“You don’t have to throw a tantrum to get your way. Just ask Daddy for what you need.”
Navie’s eyes narrowed, turning sideways, taking in the campus while weighing her options and nudging her chin back at me because the tour was just a cover for something deeper. Something more vulnerable that made her so hot, she brushed her hand across her forehead.
“I like knowing stuff about you. The real you, like your mom making you tomato soup after your first heartbreak.”
My chin dipped as I looked at the smile curling on her lips, amused.
“You and Inez are getting a ‘lil too close.”
“That’s my girl.”
I didn’t mind sharing Mom with Blue. She needed support, and from where I stood, Sloane damn sure wasn’t qualified to give it.
“So who was she?”
“Can’t remember,” I shrugged.
“You are a terrible liar,” she laughed, knowing I didn’t forget shit, but Kiana Morris wasn’t important.
We passed the quad where I used to post up between classes, past the old brick halls that still smelled like ambition and sweat.
I hadn’t been back to Naylor Southern’s campus in a minute.
The buildings looked the same, but something about being here hit differently with Navie walking beside me.
We moved slowly, Navie taking it all in, me watching her more than the tour itself.
“What dorm did you live in?”
“Dabney Hall.”
“How many times did you get caught sneaking girls in?”
“None,” I replied, because I was smarter than the rest of my homies. “My RA had ADHD, but his people didn’t believe in meds. He was struggling like a motherfucka, and they threatened to pull him from school if he didn’t get his shit together. I helped him and he helped me.”
“You’ve been blackmailing people for a long time, I see. Now, he’s somewhere in the world with a degree he didn’t earn.”
“Shit, I don’t even know if he graduated. I need to look Patrick up and see what he’s up to.”
Navie shook her head, “Sounds like you had a ball in college.”
“Time of my fuckin’ life stressing my mama the fuck out. Every Thursday morning, I woke up to a text with random statistics reminding me to be safe.”
“And did you listen?”
“To her knowledge, yeah. She worried too damn much. I called Evie with all the real shit because I knew she’d hold me down.”
“That poor woman. Did you always want to be a politician?”
“Law was always the dream. Politics came later.”
“Is that why you cosplayed as my lawyer, because you miss it so much?”
“I had to do what I had to do. You wouldn’t let me help you otherwise.”
“You’re still sticking to that story? You did that for me?”
“I did it for us . I got what I wanted, so what do you want out of life?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never slowed down enough to think about it. With the baby coming, I’ve been thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy, but I want something for myself, not just being attached to you. I just don’t know what that is.”
“You don’t have to be ready to take on the challenge. It’s the challenge that gets you ready. Lean into the opportunity in front of you to figure it out.”
“Yeah, maybe. Let’s get you some money for this campaign because broke isn’t a challenge I’m willing to take on.”
“Your scamming ass can’t call me broke.”
“Well, you’ve hitched yourself to me, so if I’m broke, what does that make you not?”
“A smart man.”
Navie did her makeup and got dressed faster than I’d ever seen, but we still walked into the venue an hour late.
She didn’t let that defeat us, smiling while she curled into my side, taking responsibility for our late arrival.
She owned it, admitting she wanted a campus tour while spinning the narrative that I was a man of my word.
That made me a trustworthy candidate and worthy of votes, rather than criticism.
Damn, my baby was good.