Chapter Fifteen: Safe Spaces & Silent Claims
676 Words
“Come on, let me show you something.”
Smoke waved me and Janiyah outside while Zay stayed posted on the couch, half-watching us through low eyes and smoke.
We stepped out the sliding glass door and onto the deck — and I stopped walking.
“Damn,” I whispered.
Smoke’s backyard wasn’t just a backyard. It was a setup.
String lights were already hanging over the fence. There was a huge firepit in the middle, chairs around it. Long tables with folded black linen laid to the side, coolers stacked in a corner, speakers covered with tarp.
Janiyah gasped. “Okayyy! Y’all not playing!”
Smoke chuckled. “Zay said it gotta be clean. No weak sh*t.”
I looked around. “This all for tomorrow?”
“Yeah. By 5pm, it’s gon’ be packed out here. DJ, food, people... energy.”
It looked expensive. Organized. Like this wasn’t his first time throwing something like this.
I could already feel the nerves bubbling up.
A little while later, me and Janiyah sat on the deck stairs with paper plates, legs pulled up, eating the last slices of pizza.
“You gon’ wear that dress he sent?” she asked, smirking.
“I don’t know yet.”
“You are. Don’t play.”
I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t argue.
“I’m just not used to all this, Ji,” I admitted. “People doing things for me. Looking at me like I matter.”
“You always mattered,” she said, licking her fingers. “They just couldn’t see it. But Zay? He see you.”
I felt it in my chest.
“Smoke really into you too, huh?”
Her face lit up. “Girl, yes. He already told me I ain’t gotta work if I don’t want to. I told him chill, I like my independence, but still…”
She smiled. “It feel good, you know? To have someone choose you out loud.”
I nodded, biting my lip.
Because Zay ain’t said it out loud… but he ain’t had to.
When we came back inside, Zay was standing by the window, phone in hand, hoodie on now, ready to leave.
He looked at me like he was tired of waiting.
“Come on.”
I blinked. “You taking me home?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you tryna stay.”
My mouth went dry. “Nah. Home’s fine.”
He didn’t say another word. Just opened the front door and waited.
And I followed.
The drive was silent.
Not awkward. Not cold.
Just quiet.
His hand gripped the wheel like he was deep in thought. His jaw clenched, soft music playing low from the stereo. I kept stealing glances at him — how calm he looked. Like he never had to raise his voice to demand respect.
When he pulled up to my street, he cut the engine but didn’t look at me.
“You good?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You eating tomorrow before the party?”
“I will.”
He finally looked at me. “Don’t lie.”
I smiled a little. “Okay. I’ll eat.”
He nodded once. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I stepped out the car… and for a second, I thought about leaning back in, saying something. But I didn’t.
When I walked inside, the lights were on in the kitchen.
My mama stood at the sink, drying a glass. Her face looked tired, but calmer than usual.
She turned around, leaned on the counter, arms folded.
“I kicked Jamal out.”
I froze.
“What?”
“I packed his sh*t and told him he not welcome here no more. I’m done letting men come before my daughter.”
My eyes started to burn, but I blinked it away quick.
I nodded.
“Okay.”
She stared at me for a second like she wanted to say more… but didn’t.
So I turned, walked to my room, shut the door… and smiled into my pillow.
- Writer
