Page 3 of Standing In The Sun
He was ready to curl up in the bed and let his thoughts consume him. That was the cycle—do something stupid then replay it over and over in his head.
“You got everything you said you wanted, but I can still hear the ache in you. That’s not fame…that’s grief, baby. That’s grief that never got named right.”
He looked up at the ceiling like it could save him. It had been damn near twenty-five years, he didn’t feel like he should’ve been grieving a man he didn’t know. But Big Lunar’s legacy was so big, it was hard not to wish for pieces of him in real time.
“I just snapped. That’s it.”
“No, that’s not it,” she said. “You tired, you angry. You carrying something that ain’t got nowhere to land, and it’s gon’ tear you up if you don’t put it down soon.”
He pressed his lips together.
“I don’t care ‘bout no blogs,” she continued. “I don’t care ‘bout what Twitter say, or them fake-deep think pieces, or the brand. I care about you. My baby…my first son.”
Lunar exhaled smoke, eyes glossy now. “I ain’t no baby.”
“You mine,” she added, he could hear the smile in her voice. “So that means I’m always gon’ worry, even when you think you got it all together.”
He closed his eyes. “It’s loud in my head sometimes.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But you ain’t gotta live in the noise…your name getting louder, and the spotlight don’t come with no shade. That shit is cooking you from the inside, out.”
Lunar squeezed his eyes together, exhaling a deep sigh. “So, what you think I should do?”
“I’m saying you might need to leaveCalifor a minute,” she said. “Get out the noise…step outside your ego. Go be around people who ain’t gon’ ask you for nothing but your time.”
His brow raised. “Who that even supposed to be?”
“Your family, Lunar...come to Emerald City and be with your family.”
He sighed.
* * *
“Ugh! Y’all are so irritating.” Siasia fussed, pulling out her phone to snap a picture.
The whole family was out celebrating Javen’s retirement—again. In typical Luna and Javen fashion, they did everything big, but their favorite celebrations were always the ones spent with their family.
“Mama, don’t be doing all that,” Qamar teased, landing a sloppy, drunk kiss on the side of her lips.
Siasia blushed, pushing at his chest. “Boy, move.”
“Bu, come get in this,” Little Lunar hollered over the music, motioning for him to join the photo with him, Maverick, Javen, French, and Qamar.
Bu barely lifted his head from the crook of Noodle’s neck. “Nah, you know I like my shittimeless.” He held up his vintage Rolex, the face pristine, untouched. No diamonds, no unnecessary flash…quiet luxury, always.
“This man,” Javen chuckled, adjusting the diamond bracelet on his wrist, the exactopposite of subtle.
Rightfully so.
Javen was humble but didn’t hesitate to take any opportunity to show the world what he’d accomplished, and it wasn’t just about the money. He stuck his chest out proudly when it came to his family— the seeds of their wildest dreams being planted, watered, and now blooming into a legacy that would outlive them all.
“Buy me one like yours then, big money!” Bu jested, calling Javen out.
“You know I’m good for it.”
“That’s right, baby!” Luna hyped from her seat, waving her glass in the air. She was feeling good, and nothing made her feel better than her man talking his big money shit.
“Oh lord,” Tiny rolled her head, noticing Luna was at her limit. “Javen, get your wife some water.”
