Page 16 of Call and Response

Maybe… out of reach forme.

But if you asked why I thought that, I didn’t have anactualfucking clue.

Just one more way I was in that damn state of limbo, with no idea how to move forward.

It was supposed to beupfrom here.

Finding my groove, settling into purpose—I was watching from the sidelines while everybody around me did exactly that. They were carving out their lanes, enveloped in love and support while I… tried to keep busy.

It was fucked up.

“Uh-oh. I knowthatlook,” Simone mused as she came breezing through the door, gathering a bundle of the waxed paper we used to wrap certain orders. “You’re coming to the house for dinner tonight. Donotargue with me,” she warned.

“And what if I had plans already?” I asked, taking a seat on a stack of empty pallets.

She sucked her teeth. “Do youhave plans?”

“You know I don’t.” I laughed. “I’m just saying. Icould.”

“You could, but you don’t, so… Come on by, see the kids. Zahra asked about you. You’re hot on social media right now and she needs to prove she actually knows you or something,” Simone argued. “So if not for me, come solely so you don’t let your little cousin down.”

Damn.

She knewthatwas the angle I couldn’t argue. Even when we were all on each other’s nerves, family was everything to me. Simone wasn’t blood, she was my older cousin Roman’s wife, but she’d been so for nearly a decade now.

And honestly… she’d been one of my biggest allies.

When I came home, Roman and Royal both came at me heavy with their ideas for my path, insistent that keeping myself too busy to think too hard was the healthy path.

And maybe it was for them.

They had musical talent too, and even a passion for it, but theyalsoboth had business acumen they’d elected for their primary paths.

That wasn’t me.

Helping here and there was fine, but I wasn’t trying to go through management training, or open a franchise, even though I recognized and appreciated I was being offered a great opportunity.

For a little… I just wanted to fuckin’breathe.

Somehow, Simone had seen it.

“What’s on the menu?” I asked and she rolled her eyes.

“Does it matter?”

“Maybe.”

“Stop playing with me.” She laughed. “Summer got some steaks in from Gilded Ridge.”

My eyebrows went up. “Okay, big money. I’lldefinitelybe on time for dinner if that’s how you’re coming.”

“I knew that would get your attention, but you’re bringing dessert.”

“No problem,” I agreed, already looking forward to the pan of banana pudding fromPot Liquorthat immediately came to mind. I spent the rest of my shift in a better mood than I’d started, and by the time the night was over, I was glad I’d been invited.

It was a good time.

Royal and Anika came over too, as well as Leah and August, both representing half-couples that kept me from feeling like a spare. Lots of laughs, and chaos from all the kids, and just… great energy.

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