Page 42 of Beyond The Stars

She pushed her lips back into his with her eyes closed tight.

“I’m the best man for you so I think you’re picker ain’t broken.” Qamar smirked.

“And she don’t have to be yours to be yours,” Siasia said with a silky voice.

Pinching her chin between his thumb and index finger, he made her look at him.

“Stop running away from home. Stop running your ass back to the club and I’ll create a world for just us. You won’t have to feel uncomfortable in mine… I’ll give you your own.”

She sighed, her breath mingling with his. “You promise?”

“With everything I got,” he whispered, his voice breaking slightly.

The night seemed to hold its breath, the stars twinkling as if in agreement. The cool breeze wrapped around them, carrying the scent of jasmine and the distant hum of the city. Siasia felt a warmth spread through her chest, a flicker of hope igniting. Maybe, just maybe, she could believe in a future where she didn’t have to run, where she could find solace in Qamar’s arms.

“Okay,” she whispered back, her voice barely audible. “I’ll try.”

He smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. “That’s all I ask.”

As they sat there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world around them seemed to fade away. For the first time in a long time, Siasia felt a sense of peace, a glimmer of a new beginning. And with Qamar by her side, she dared to dream of a world that was truly their own.

13

“Noodle, it’s a little too early to be so amped up.” Qamar chuckled, his voice light as he playfully tugged her along the expansive driveway that stretched out like a parking lot, its concrete warm beneath their feet.

“I can’t wait to see Es. You told her I was coming?” Noodle’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, looking up at him as if he held the key to all her dreams.

Qamar felt a familiar tightening in his chest at that hopeful gaze, a reminder of the weight of expectations. The thought of disappointing another person, of not being enough, gnawed at him like a persistent ache. He wrestled with self-doubt daily, yet he masked it well, unwilling to let Noodle see the cracks in his armor. Just as he had with Esmeray, he was ready to embody the person Noodle believed him to be, even if it meant wearing a mask of confidence that felt foreign against his skin.

“Nah. I didn’t tell her. All she knows is I had to handle something really quick. Noodle?” he called her name softly, watching her gaze shift back to him, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Don’t ever let anyone make you feel a way. Even if it’s my people.”

“What does that even mean?” she asked, furrowing her brow, her innocence a stark contrast to the complexities of the world around them.

“Keep your business to yourself. I’ll tell them what I think they need to know.” With a gentle push, he opened the front door, and they were met by the familiar chaos of the house—a vibrant symphony of laughter and life that greeted them like an old friend. It was just as he’d left it the night before, a whirlwind of memories swirling in the air.

After their one-on-one conversation, his heart was heavy with the responsibility of leaving Siasia at his mama’s house. She needed to be ready for the storm that awaited her. While she slept, he had taken Noodle with him. The morning sun spilled through the car windows as they made their way back to Tiny and Maverick’s house in Jade City. His heart ached with the pull of family, but he couldn’t neglect Janay and the newborn, the tiny life that had just begun.

All movement halted as Qamar and Noodle stepped through the door, the energy in the room shifted as they entered; a moment suspended in time as the world outside faded away.

“This your kid, too, nigga?” French was the first to ask, gaining him a few snickers and side eyes while everyone waited to see if Qamar had indeed brought home another baby.

He could see their disappointment, and he gulped it down. Nosey Esmeray finally looked up from sitting with Aku. Her big eyes doubled in size as she jumped down in full speed to get to Noodle. Noodle just as excited to see her, crouched down to grab Esmeray up in her arms.

“Noodle!” Esmeray’s excitement was contagious.

And confusing. Everyone looked at each other for answers to who the cute little girl was and how in the hell did Esmeray know her.

Luna cleared her throat. “Qamar?” Her voice and eyes demanded an explanation.

Still young and innocent without an ounce of couth, Noodle smiled with her hand out and Esmeray now wrapped around her bony hip. “I’m Noodle.” She smiled.

No matter what question still needed to be answered, Luna couldn’t be mean or rude to Noodle. With just as big a smile on her face, she shook Noodle’s hand. “Luna. I’m Qamar’s big sister.”

“I know.” She pursed her lips. She turned towards French with an even bigger smile. “French?” she asked, already knowing since Qamar had shown her pictures of everyone he loved one night on FaceTime.

“How you know, Qamar, Noodle?” French inquired, searching her face for traces of Qamar. Technically, she couldn’t belong to him because she looked to be at least ten but stranger things had happened in their family.

“I’m not his daughter. Anything else you want to know, ask him. I’m just a kid.”

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