Page 23 of In the Safety's Zone
“I mean who made it? If it wasn’t somebody’s grandmama or Auntie’s house then you ain’t had it. Unless your mama’nem from the south or wherever then you might have had gumbo. But even everybody from the south can’t get that roux right. I’on’t care what they say.”
Aphrodite was grinning again like she had me. “I had it at an Emeril—”
I faked gagged and shook my head at her trying to hold back my disgust. “Ahhh hell nah. Not that fat white man who still got y’all thinking y’all had quintessential Nawlin’s food. How the man gone stake a claim to a kind of cooking he had to steal from other folk? They trying to colonize our food just like they trying to doTreme. What Katrina didn’t take y’all trying to help them steal.”
Aphrodite’s face lost some of its brightness and I hadn’t meant to offend her but she had to know early on. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know it was that deep.”
“That man might’ve cooked with authenticity at one point, but this mass-produced shit he slanging for profit right now ain’t it. That’s like somebody not knowing what love is in tennis or that you score by fifteens. It’s like the basics of the food game in Nawlins. Like thinkin’ beignets allowed the free women of color to turn a profit.”
She was back to smiling and I was thankful I hadn’t been as harsh as I’d thought. “I’m assuming it’s not?”
“Nope, but that’s a story for another time. I gotta stay focused going underground and shit. I’ll get you back for the train fare.”
Her pretty eyes rolled again as she shifted in her seat as the train got slightly rocky. “Do not even insult me like that. “
I relaxed slightly as she told me we were moving from one part of the city near Sunset Park where the photo shoot had been. I’d never heard of it outside of the movie so I was pissed I hadn’t had time to see the area. Probably wasn’t the smartest to show up after dark anyway no matter how streetwise I was. The train slowed down and she started to get up. I followed her cause I didn’t know where the hell I was or where I was going.
“Didn’t think you’d wake up and be on an adventure today did you?” She was grinning and I didn’t know why she felt so much joy at showing me this but I fucked with it.
“Not at all but this shit is cool. I was happy they even invited me to come but the shoot with you was icing on the cake.”
We climbed up the railway steps and I saw a sign that said Atlantic Terminal. When I saw a bunch of signs for the Barclays Center I at least knew I was in Brooklyn. “I’m positive they’re going to have something negative to say about it—”
“Who? Your team?” I took her hand in mine intertwining our fingers so she knew I had her back. Not sure what I could do but I could at least give her my physical support for whatever it was worth.
She shook her head and tugged her cap further down her head as we moved further up toward the street. This subway stop was fancy as hell with tile mosaics on the wall that read Atlantic Avenue and some kind of weird rock wall looking thing that looked like it came out of the American Gladiators reruns I used to watch.
“My parents. But thinking back on what you said it might definitely be a jealousy thing. How do you think it went?”
“I snapped pictures with my phone of some shots. Look for yourself.”
I released her hand to grab my phone out of my inside pocket. I held it out for her and she took it and started to flip through the pictures I’d captured. My eyes went from watching our surroundings to watching her reaction to seeing us together. Her eyes shone and a soft smile was on her face before it shifted. I already knew what had her face change because mine had done the same.
The chemistry between us as we’d snapped the photos was obvious and it jumped off the screen. I’d kept every touch I’d given her respectful, but that didn’t mean they weren’tsuggestive as fuck. My favorite was when she was looking directly at the camera over my shoulder but you couldn’t see my face. All that could be seen were my braids and the tops of the tattoos on my back and shoulders. They were distinctive enough if people had ever paid attention to me especially the date, but I knew no one would link the two of us together without a reason.
“I can’t believe you let them have you shirtless in this shot.”
Aphrodite was saying it like I needed to have not done it but she hadn’t moved past that image at all. I’d post that shit as a thirst trap just so that she had access to it whenever she wanted to look at me. I hesitated as she looked at the pictures, wondering if she thought I’d taken them on some creep shit. I mean it was kinda some creep shit, but not on some spank bank shit. Shorty just had my ass under a damn spell.
“They said they needed heat, and if one of us was gonna show skin it for damn sure wasn’t going to be you.”
“You’re one of those types of guys?” Her brow was quirked but a smile played across her face, letting me know she was about to run away. She handed me my phone and motioned for me to come with her.
“What type?” I had a clue of what she was getting at but I needed her to confirm.
“Bossy?”
I laughed and took her hand while still letting her lead us where we needed to go.
“Protective. Maybe a little jealous. I guess you have to look at it from where I’m at. It’s easier for me not to be exploited because I’m a man. For a woman, the slightest veering off of the page and people question shit. Wondering what you’re up to and how it will mess up your fame. With me, they don’t have the leeway to question me because I’m not famous and my dick affords me far more protection from their bullshit.”
She almost cringed as we strolled down the street to destinations only she knew. This place was as alive as if it were the middle of the day, which I missed about New Orleans. When you went downtown that place was alive damn near twenty-four hours a day. There were shops and restaurants that showed no signs of closing on both sides of the street and people milling around. Traffic wasn’t nearly as bad here as it had been in Manhattan when Anthony and I had driven over this morning.
“That was blunt.”
“You rather me tell you a lie?”
“No. I get enough of that. Mission accomplished though.” The self-satisfied look on her face had me wondering what she meant by that.
