Page 105 of Standing In The Sun
4 Months later
The doorstoSunsets and Moonlightswere propped open, letting in a lazy breeze and the faint sounds of nearby construction.
Ahvi stood just inside the entrance, eyes wide like a kid walking into her own dream. It felt surreal. It had been months of sketches, samples, late-night decisions and random mood board texts to Lunar at 2 a.m.
Now it all felt real.
The space was split right down the middle—two stories of intentional contrast. The Sunset side was rich in orange, gold, amber tones with chandeliers shaped like open hands, holding Edison bulbs like fire. Velvet booth seats curved along walls painted like watercolor skies. It felt like golden hour was trapped in the room forever.
The Moonlight side had sleek navy walls with silver lines running through them like constellations. Large, spherical lanterns floated overhead like gentle moons, and the furniture was cool slate and black velvet. Floor tiles shimmered like stars scattered across the sky.
The design wasn’t just aesthetic—it was a wholefeeling...awhole story just like her food. A little girl raised by her amazing daddy learned how to cook because her daddy couldn’t.
“This ain’t no restaurant,” Lunar said, spinning Kamari slowly in his arms. “This a love letter.”
Ahvi turned, brushing a curl off her forehead, eyes wet but steady. “That’s exactly what I wanted it to be.” She beamed with pride.
Lunar spared no expense when it came to making her dreams come true. For every no, he paid more money and searched harder for a yes. Every little detail had been crafted by his baby. Ahvi really did her big one.
Kamari pointed to the wall behind her, still giggling from his ride. “Yight! Mama Yook, moon!” He was one now and the world seemed so much fuller now that he could talk and walk.
Lunar stopped spinning him and held him steady so he could see. “That’s right, Kamari. That’s the moon side just like your name.”
Dro was still around, popping in every now and then to see Kamari but Lunar was his constant. Lunar had given him his last name—hyphenated of course because Dro wasn’t that much of a deadbeat. But even without the Moony last name, Kamari’s name meant moonlight. Ahvi had no idea of their future when he was born—but it was like some unknown force had planted a seed before she even knew what it would mean.
“Moon,” Kamari repeated proudly, puffing out his chest.
Ahvi walked over and kissed the top of his curls, then rested her forehead against Lunar’s shoulder. “It’s wild being here, actually standing inmyrestaurant not just talking about it.
“You earned this shit,” Lunar said.
She smirked. “Did I though?”
Lunar gripped her ass, nodding. “Hell yea, you earned it.” Those dimples she loved to stick her tongue in now, flirted with her. “That aside, you did all the work…don’t ever let nobody make you think you didn’t.”
“And you kept me sane through it all.” Her eyes locked onto his.
Lunar grinned, leaned in close, and whispered, “You the sane one.”
She shoved his shoulder playfully, but her smile gave her away.
They walked the space together, Kamari bouncing between their arms, little feet touching ground then flying back up. Staff bustled around them-- painters doing last minute touch-ups. The lighting tech was doing a final check, and the kitchen staff took inventory. And still, somehow everything moved around them like they were the calm in the middle of it.
“I can see it now,” Ahvi said, stepping back. “Opening night. Full house. That energy in the room right before the first plate hits the table. And I’ll be right there, in the kitchen, hands shaking, heart racing, but knowing I did it.”
Lunar stared at her like she was a work of art. “You glowing,” he said. “Like… you been standing in the sun this whole time.”
Ahvi tilted her head, teasing. “Or is it under the moonlight?”
“Nah,” he said, pulling her in by the waist. “You always been the sun. I’m just orbiting.”
Kamari squealed and smacked both their faces with little hands, mad he wasn’t the center of attention anymore.
“Okay,” Ahvi laughed. “You ready to get on this plane, Nar?” she looked up at Lunar calling him by his stage name. Then she gave her baby the attention he was eager to get. “We gotta head to L.A. if your daddy gon’ be famous.”
“Pwaaaane!” Kamari took off running in his crooked little stride toward the exit.
“Private jet baby,” Lunar clarified with a cocky smirk. “Nothing but the best for the loves of my life.”
