Page 76 of Beyond The Stars

“It's okay,” Siasia finally said, her voice softer than she intended, trying to bridge the gap that had formed. “We’re all just trying to figure this out together.” The words felt like a balm, a small attempt to soothe the raw edges of their fractured relationships.

As the kids continued to run around, oblivious to the adult drama unfolding, Siasia realized that this was not just about apologies; it was about healing, about finding a way to move forward together despite the weight of their shared grief. In that moment, she hoped that maybe, just maybe, they could start to mend the rifts that had formed, one conversation at a time.

“And I think Qamar has more to say,” she spoke up again. Since the death of her mother, Siasia realized life was just too damn short to let ill feelings harbor. There was so much she’d wished she had said to Cynthia when she had the time. There had been so many missed opportunities for her to just bond with the only mother she was ever going to get.

The way her eyes pierced the side of his face, Qamar knew he needed to say something before Siasia put him in the doghouse. The wrong side of her love wasn’t a place he wanted to get familiar with.

“Even when I’m wrong, I still love the fuck out of you. We’ve been going at it since I was old enough to verbally spar with you, Solar. And I know that ain’t no excuse but I ain’t me without you. I ain’t tough. I ain’t charming. I ain’t that nigga on that field because when everyone else had other plans for me, you always told me to do something to stand out—something that could be mine and mine alone. You watched The World Cup with me, learned the game so you could teach me.” His chest tightened, thinking about life with his Solar—the beautifully flawed girl with mommy and daddy issues. “You always been my partner in crime, my fuckin’ keeper.” Qamar sucked in air, trying to keep his shit together. “You was my brother and sister,” he confessed, making Solar laugh as she wiped at her face. Memories of his time running around The Jig with Solar, covered him and made his mental smile.

Solar’s lips cracked open, betraying the smile she was fighting to contain, a glimmer of mischief dancing in her eyes. “Keep going,” she urged, her voice lilting with playful challenge, igniting laughter and howls from their family.

Standing to his full height, Qamar stepped to Solar with his arms outstretched like a bridge that would reconnect their hearts. Memories flooded back—how she had once been twice his size, effortlessly carrying him on her hip through the vibrant chaos of The Jig, her laughter a melody that still played in his mind. In that moment, he enveloped her in his embrace, their bodies molding together as if they were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly, silencing the shadows of their earlier argument.

“I love you,” he whispered, his voice thick with sincerity, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air.

“To the moon, baby,” she replied, craning her neck to meet his gaze, her smile now breaking free like the sun bursting through clouds. The room filled with coos and chuckles. Their bond was a testament to the complex love that defined their sibling relationship—a dance of rivalry and unwavering support. It had never spiraled into anything irreparable; like everything in their family, even the toughest moments were woven into the fabric of their connection.

“Now, let’s talk about you getting kicked out of school and losing an offer to be drafted,” Luna interjected, her neck rolling playfully, the commanding presence of the real mother figure in their lives. She had raised them with a fierce love that rivaled any queen, and though they were grateful for Stephanie, it was Luna who wore the crown, her authority softened by the warmth of her nurturing spirit.

“Now that’s the shit I came to talk about,” Javen agreed, ready to tear into Qamar like only a big brother could do. He’d been hard on him but just maybe he started to slack off too soon.

Maverick agreed. “You fuckin’ up the family’s track record,” he jested, loving the place they allowed him to be a part of Lunar’s world.

Qamar looked at French, pleading with his eyes for him to chastise him—say something because French’s opinion of him held more weight than either of the men talking to him. Theirs was appreciated but French’s was needed.

“Please say something to your son.” Javen placed his hand on French’s back, slightly pushing him up, knowing Qamar needed to hear him say something. Anything.

Siasia held her breath knowing what Qamar’ s heart needed. Noodle plopped beside her, feeling the tension in the air, looking up at Qamar. Ready to determine her like of French on whatever Qamar’s eyes said.

French stepped up with an unreadable expression. He had his own shit that needed to be hashed out but he could never not love Qamar. Qamar had a piece of his heart just like his children did. His love ran so deep for the kid he claimed as his first son that no matter how his feelings felt, he would always put the needs of his kids before his own.

Face to face, French kissed Qamar’s forehead before embracing him in a hug that almost broke the dam on both of their tears. The two months they’d gone without one another was far too long and felt like a decade.

“Damn, man,” Javen fussed, swiping away his own tears.

Luna, Javen, Solar, Tiny, French, and Qamar had all been through some shit. Their struggle and resilience to push through bonded them. The hardships of being unloved and overlooked kids in The Jig—created them.

“I’ll break your fuckin’ nose if you ever do that shit again,” French whispered in Qamar’s ear so only he could hear.

Javen scoffed. “French always trying to have side relationships with Qamar.”

“You jealous, baby?” Luna lifted on her tip toes to pinch Javen’s cheek.

“Hell yea,” he confessed without shame. “You know I got attachment issues.”

“You my favorite.” Solar wrapped her small arms around Javen. Her eyes tangled with Siasia. “Get yo’ good coochie ass over here.” She opened her arm for Siasia to join in on her hug with Javen and Luna. “I know it’s good. That’s the only way a nigga check his family about his girl.”

Siasia couldn’t do anything but shake her head with a knowing smirk on her face. Solar seemed like a good time and hoped she got to know all of his family since they seemed to all be so close.

Stephanie cozied up beside Griff with Malaysia on her side. “Play To The Moon!” she hollered.

“Ma, you loud and wrong.” Solar playfully cut her eyes. “Play our theme music, Aku,” she directed her oldest daughter.

“They ‘bout to start crying,” Little Lunar commented, leaning against the couch near Noodle. “You know the song?” His handsome little dimples deepened every time he talked. He was the spitting image of his deceased father, Lunar.

Noodle shook her head. “Who it’s by?”

“Beyonce.” He huffed as if Beyonce wasn’t the greatest artist alive.

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