Page 89 of Raising Love
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice soft.
I leaned my head against hers, my hand rubbing small circles on her back. “Thank you, too.”
Levi’s cries quieted into soft, even breaths. He was finally asleep again.
The two of us had found our rhythm in this house, learning to work together to care for Levi so neither of us carried the burden alone. It wasn’t always easy, but it had been worth it. And since we’d embraced the relationship growing between us, things felt even more natural.
Now, standing in the market on my third trip here, everything about this little village had become familiar.
“Leo Vanguard?” a voice called from behind me.
I turned to see a pretty, brown-skinned woman approaching with a shopping cart and a bright smile.
“Hey!” she greeted warmly. “What’s up?”
I smiled back. “Just shopping… for groceries. You?”
She laughed, looking genuinely excited. “I’m Alexis.”
“Nice to meet you, Alexis.”
“I don’t usually do this,” she admitted, waving a hand. “I know it’s, like, a rule not to bother celebrities, but I’m just way too hype to see another famous face out here.” Her eyes darted around before landing on someone behind me. “Keith!” she shouted, motioning toward him. “Keith, look who it is!”
I snickered to myself, already turning toward the direction of her gesture.
Coming toward us was none other than the Keith Aaron, the rapper whose career had been exploding recently, especially after one of his songs was featured in a major movie.
“Oh, shit,” I said, adjusting the basket in my arm to hold my fist out for him to bump, which he did. “You out here?”
He laughed, then pointed at the woman. “Yeah, because of my girl. You out here?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I live out here.”
Keith’s brows shot up. “Word?”
“See?” The woman bumped her shoulder with him. “One of the NBA’s hottest players calls Greene Gardens home. Take that.”
I chuckled.
“She’s been trying to get me out here…” Keith’s eyes moved around the market. “I’m thinking it over. It’s beautiful.”
“Very beautiful,” I added.
“But, it ain’t Manhattan,” Keith added. “Feel me?”
“Oh, I feel you.” I laughed. “That’s why I’ve gotten involved with some community initiatives. The businesses around Manhattan are what make it appealing. If Greene Gardens gets some of those businesses to set up locations out here, it could be Manhattan 2.0.”
“Hmph,” Keith huffed.
“They got a business improvement district out here,” I informed. “They hold meetings every month downtown, giving locals an opportunity to participate in discussions on how to attract more businesses and visitors with special events and beautification projects, man…” I nodded. “They got some real big plans for Greene Gardens. Don’t sleep on it.”
“Thank you.” Alexis grunted. “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell his hard-headed ass.”
Keith slapped her on the ass, and I snorted a laugh. He pointed at her next. “You shhh.”
“I’m working with them to develop a local athletic facility so I can have a basketball court, gymnasiums, and sports complex to train in, so I don’t have to go all the way out to the city.” I shrugged. “Home is what you make it. Feel me?”
“I feel you,” Alexis said with a nod. “Anyway, we won’t hold you. I just needed to make a damn point to this guy.”
