Page 33 of Elevator Pitch

“I’m hungry,” Chess says as she stretches and enters the kitchen. I observe as she opens the container for another brownie. Rome makes his way over in quick strides and snatches it from her hand. He pulls it back and holds it above his head so she can’t reach. Chess stands on her tiptoes and wiggles her fingers, trying to steal the brownies from his grip and is unsuccessful.

Rome is still upside down.

I wonder if he's always been capable of this.

“Hell no. You don't need any more of this shit. I know exactly who made these. Where’s your ringleader?”

I look around and didn’t even notice Audrey wasn’t sitting with us anymore.

We hear a loud crashing noise coming from downstairs that causes me to jump, and we’re all looking around in confusion. Rome lets out a huff before he helps me off the floor and asks us to come with him.

I’m very surprised to find him no longer defying gravity.

“Ghost! Come here boy!” he coos.

He makes kissing sounds to lure him out, but he doesn't come.

We navigate the house, following where the crash came from when more noises sound from the basement. Rome quickens his pace and I look around to find that Chess has disappeared. I whisper-yell for her and she soon appears beside me, sliding across the marble floors on her white socks holding a wrapper for chocolate buttercups. One cup is stuffed in her mouth and she shoves the other in mine.

“I was hungry,” she says with her mouth full.

We’re toppling over in a fit of giggles and Rome is sighing as he waits for us to remember what we’re doing.

“We’re looking for my girl and my dog, remember? I really hope he didn’t eat any of that shit you’re tripping on. Babysitting four of you is enough. I don’t need a sick pup to worry about, too.”

When he reaches the basement door, we hear muffled music, and he stands in front of us before opening it, ushering us behind him.

Rome takes careful steps making sure we’re close behind and don’t slip.

When we get to the bottom of the stairs, we find her and Daya jumping up and down in the ball pit, rapping the lyrics to Wu-Tang Clan’sMethod Man. Ghost has gotta be down here somewhere playing. They don’t notice us over the music. He stands off to the side for a moment, admiring her.

“I love that woman,” he says to me with a smile.

He is so gone for her. I love to see it.

I’ve never asked why she has ball pits in her basement, butshe insisted on having them, and I think the dog loves them more than she does.

One is a drained indoor pool that has a trampoline floor filled with plastic balls. Ghost has his own ball pit; it’s an above-ground pool that he can get in and out of easily. Whenever he sees Rome, he runs over to him and is greeted with head scratches before jumping back into his pit.

Chess runs in front of us and uses the diving board to launch herself into the pit. She wears a look of surprise when she bounces off the floor, assuming she forgot about the trampoline underneath. Rome stands beside the pit, looking stressed, and shakes his head. Audrey is hyping her up and starts jumping with her, striking poses mid-air.

I climb down the steps on the other side and stand in the pit, swimming through the balls until I meet Daya in the middle. We join hands and jump around when the song changes to Lil’ Kim’sThe Jump Off.

“Chess is going to throw up and I’m going to have to clean it,” Rome says as he rounds the pool and tries not to laugh at us. I notice him rapping along before he finds Audrey’s phone to turn down the music. Seeing serious Rome let himself have a little fun makes me smile. He squats beside the pool in front of Audrey and reaches his hand out for her.

Audrey grabs his hand and says, “Come in. The water’s fine.”

He chuckles. “I think you should take a break from swimming to eat and sober up. You can get back in the pool later, baby. Come on.”

She rolls her eyes but treks over toward the steps to leave the pit. We follow behind because food sounds good right about now. He makes sure we all get out safely before he walks over to Audrey, assessing her. He picks her up and carries her over his shoulder. Starting off towards the stairs, he whistles for Ghost, who follows behind.

“Let’s get you all fed and see if the neighbors are hungry since Audrey ordered enough for the whole block to eat.”

“Don’t underestimate my appetite. Watch me,” she argues.

He goes into dad mode, seating us at the dining table as he sets up our various orders as a spread in the middle of the table with Ghost on his heels, hoping that he drops something on the floor for him.

“You should let loose every once in a while,” Daya suggests to Rome.

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