What product are we selling this time?
Lyric:Let’s just hang out as friends
get to know one anotherlike you said.
Do something fun.
We can snap a few pictures for my feed
if we’re into it.
Me:Sounds good.
Lyric:Great.
Hope you like sweets.
Me:I absolutely do.
CHAPTER 11Lyric
LIP OF THE DAY:
Berry Bliss
On Friday afternoon, I pull up in front of Juniper’s house at 4:30 p.m. on the dot. It’s three times the size of our apartment and sits on a sprawling corner. In the yard is a slightly weather-warpedBLACK LIVES MATTERsign.
“Yep. White folks live here,” Grammy Viv says from the passenger seat. “We don’t put those signs up. We know we matter.”
“Grammy! Please. I told you one of Juniper’s moms is white. Be nice.”
“I’m just stating facts, Lyric. Tell me the last time you saw one of us with a sign like that in our yard? No thanks, it will bring us more trouble than it’s worth. And don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior with your lil date.”
“It’s not a date. We’re just friends.”
“If you say so.”
I sigh and watch as Juniper opens the front door to her house and heads toward us. I don’t want to bicker, I am already too nervous. Let Grammy think what she wants, I know that this is just a friend thing—and a business thing. But I am going to try to be a little more open, like Kiana said, and part of that is showing Juniper one of my favorite spots.
Juniper is at the car door now, and I watch her smile falter a little when she sees the front seat is occupied. I should have warned Juniper that Grammy was coming, that where we are going is also one of her favorite places, but between racing home from school and getting Grammy out the door, I forgot to text Juniper. Hopefully, I can explain later. I unlock the doors, and then turn to greet her as she slides into the back.
“Juniper, this is my grandma Vivian. Grammy, this is Juniper,” I say.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Vivian,” Juniper says evenly, and I’m grateful that she doesn’t seem outwardly weirded out that I brought my grandmother.
“You too,” Grammy says, with a glance and nod in the rearview mirror to meet Juniper’s eyes. “I promised Lyric I’ll be on my best behavior, so don’t you worry, soon as we get where we’re going, I’ll leave you two alone on your lil date.”
“It’s not a date, Grammy,” I say with gritted teeth as I start the car and pull away from the curb.
“Yeah, uh, we’re just friends, Ms. Vivian,” Juniper chimes in. “I’m new to Lansing, so Lyric has been showing me around.”
“Well, Lansing is just as dull a place as they make them, nothing here except a sad capitol building and some mediocre restaurants, but you know, it has decent hospitals at least. I can’t imagine you’d findanything about Lansing exciting after coming from Chicago. Nowthat’sa fun city.”
“Grammy—what you know about Chicago?” I say, side-eyeing her.
“I know plenty, spent many a night in my twenties going to clubs and other stuff. That’s none of your business.”
Juniper laughs in the back seat. “Chicago does have some great nightlife, if that’s your thing.”
