Page 38 of Standing In The Sun

Lunar exhaled, rubbing a hand over his beard. “She ain’t have a choice. She got locked up…it ain’t so different from your story though so if anyone should extend grace, I’d think it would be you.” He smirked as her face dropped.

Apple had revealed her story to him when they first met. Lunar was easy to talk to and she never imagined he would throw it back in her face. Then again, he never had a reason to - until now. This Ahvi girl held some kind of hierarchy in his life. That made Apple feel slighted.

Her dad raised her, knowing she was a product of something so vile, as her young mother took her own life before she was even a year old. He dedicated his every move to her ever since. She was hauled around the world like a military kid while Dom made headlines in the NBA. His team respected his need to keep her close and allowed her to move like she was a player on the team. So yea, Apple should’ve extended grace to Ahvi even if she didn’t know her full story.

Apple’s brows lifted. “Sorry for talking about your baby mama.”

She just had to throw a little shade.

Lunar’s head fell back in laughter. “I mean, if the shoe fits.” He dodged her playful swing.

Apple studied him, catching something in his expression that he probably didn’t even realize was there.

He cared about Ahvi—was protective of her.Thiswas new. Thisfelt deeper than anything he’d ever given her.

She didn’t say it out loud, though. Instead, she changed the subject. “Your son needs his hair done,” she noted, eyeing Kamari’s wild, coily mane.

Lunar nodded, his eyes locked in on Kamari. “You offering?”

Apple grinned. “Yea, I got him.”

She reached for Kamari, gently lifting him onto her lap. But the second he realized what was happening, he let out a dramatic wail, like she had just told him Santa Claus wasn’t real. His little arms flailed, his body going stiff as he babbled something that sounded like arealargument.

Apple gasped, then burst into laughter. “Oh,yougot an attitude?”

Kamari squirmed, his tiny face twisted in frustration, his hands flapping like he was cussing her out in baby language.

Lunar was doubled over, shaking his head. “Yea, he ain’t goin’ for it. I gotta teach him how to get the pretty ladies cause this ain’t it.”

“Oh, please. You rusty too.” Apple winked. “He too damn cute.”

She tried again, but Kamari wasn’t having it. He was fully committed to his meltdown now, his little body jerking away every time she reached for his hair.

“Com’ere.” Lunar sat next to them, scooping Kamari back into his lap. “Chill out, lil’ man. Don’t you wanna be fly when yo’ mama get home? Show her the big boy you’re going to be?”

Kamari pouted, sniffling.

Lunar sighed. “Aight, I got something for you.”

He reached for Big Lunar’s old phone, pulled up one of the saved videos, and pressed play.

Instantly, Kamari’s eyes locked on the screen, his whole body relaxing like the footage was hypnotizing. His fingers curled around Lunar’s shirt, his gaze unblinking as he watched Big Lunar’s old videos like it was his favorite cartoon.

Apple shook her head in disbelief, “Ain’t no way that just worked.”

Lunar grinned. “Told you.”

They sat there for a while, the sound of Big Lunar’s voice filling the space. Kamari stayed still, his body warm against Lunar’s chest, his little fingers still gripping at the fabric of his hoodie.

And for the first time that night, Apple didn’t have anything smart to say.

She just watched Lunar, watched the way he held Kamari, the way he soothed him without even thinking about it. It all seemed so natural to him.

Maybe theydidneed to be friends because the Lunar she once knew was transforming into everything he was supposed to be. That special glint in his eyes all made sense now. It didn’t before because he seemed lost. Now, he looked like he found the cure to his hidden sadness.

Because whatever was happening between Lunar and Ahvi.

Yea…

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