Page 79 of Standing In The Sun

Nodding, Pimp stared off at nothing. “You in love?”

“Not sure - it feels too quick.”

“Time aside, you love her?”

Lunar sniffed, the hot air coating his face. Or was it the question at hand that made his body feel hotter? He made eye contact with his best friend. “I don’t know if I’ve ever really believed in God…I know he’s real in context but I didn’t believe he was as good as they said.” He coated his drying lips. “But then something shifted in my heart and my mind, and my body felt different. Big Lunar had to have called in his last favor - the first was Tiny finding something special and the second was everything coming into fruition. All the shit he told them they would be and could be then, me. But it wasn’t about me being successful…” Lunar smiled big. “Nah, it was him giving me the greatest love of all time.”

“So, it’s forever?” Pimp asked, holding onto every word his friend said because he hoped his mama was up there calling in favors on his behalf too. He wanted to be loved out loud and get married as much as the next person.

Lunar’s face lit up like a kid in the candy store. “Even if she think it ain’t real…I ain’t never letting her and Kamari go.”

The soft crunch of tires against the asphalt pulled their attention to the front parking lot. An all-black Audi rolled up, windows down just enough to let the music filter through. The driver stepped out with a kind of confidence that made people take notice without knowing why.

Devonte was the developer and owner of the property they stood in front of. He was in his early thirties, and well off. A chance encounter pulled him into commercial real estate. Now, he was wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

He had light brown-skin, with sharp cheekbones, green eyes that caught the sunlight like glass, and a goatee that was lined so perfectly it looked airbrushed. He wore slacks, a black graphic tee with bold white lettering, and a pair of designer sneakers. His skin had that butter-slick glow, like he drank spring water and minded his business religiously.

“You Lunar?” he asked, extending a hand, knowing he knew who the rapper Nar was.

Lunar nodded, shaking it firmly. “Appreciate you meeting us.”

Devonte smiled, then turned to Pimp, eyes lingering just a second too long. “You with him?”

His question came out in a different way. Not like was he with Lunar, but was hewithLunar.

Pimp shook his head subtly, saying so much without saying a word. “Pimp,” he introduced himself.

Devonte’s grin widened. “Bet, y’all come on in.” He waved his hand, licking his lips while still checking Pimp out.

Pimp’s jeans hung slightly off his waist showing off his designer underwear every time his shirt lifted a little. His locs looked clean and his lineup was always on point. Pimp never left the house half stepping. The gleam in his eyes wasn’t missed. They looked happy yet had a layer of sadness… maybe because he was just unsure about life. Devonte didn’t know all this - but Pimp would be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in Devonte off the physical alone.

They followed Devonte through the front doors into the cool and empty restaurant space. Natural light poured in through the windows, stretching across hardwood floors and highlighting all the modern touches. The place had a faint smell of polished wood and fresh paint.

“This is nice,” Pimp whistled, trailing his fingers along the edge of the marble host stand.

Devonte walked ahead, but not without stealing another glance at Pimp. “Thank you,” he said.

Pimp looked over at him, then turned away to look at the bar which stretched across the back wall.

Lunar chuckled under his breath. He couldn’t wait to clown Pimp’s scary ass later. It was funny seeing his boy openly being flirted with. It was also beautiful because he’d never seen him vulnerable like that.

Most times, Pimp just popped up with someone on his arm—someone he couldn’t be in the open with unless it was a group setting. His friend didn’t get to experience love in the open and now that Lunar had, he wanted it for his best friend too.

They did a slow walkthrough.

Devonte pointed out the updates—soundproof walls, new HVAC, and custom shelving. He answered questions with ease but kept looking back at Pimp like he was still taking notes.

When they circled back to the front, Lunar paused. “This lease is nice,” he complimented, pushing his hands in his pockets. “But I don’t want to rent. I want to buy.”

Devonte raised a brow, impressed. “Buy?”

He loved to see black men making shit happen. It was like a breath of fresh air, especially when they were making it happen in his city. Black ownership was on the rise and he wanted to be at the forefront of it all.

“Yea - full out. No middleman. I want to put this in her name.”

“For your wife?” Devonte’s eyes went to Lunar’s ring finger.

Lunar shook his head while Pimp thought it was funny. “She ain’t my wife yet but she’s special to me.”

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