Island Love

Chapter 34: Bragging Rights

A few days had passed since Beyoncé discovered YN's hidden talent, and she still couldn't get over it. Every time the memory of YN singing Spirit popped into her mind, Beyoncé found herself smiling uncontrollably. It wasn't just that YN could sing—it was the fact that her voice was so pure, so soulful, that it caught Beyoncé completely off guard.
She had to tell someone, but she also didn't want to put any pressure on YN to pursue music if she wasn't ready. That didn't stop Beyoncé from bringing it up, though, during a much-needed catch-up with her girls.
It had been a while since Beyoncé, Kelly, Michelle, Solange, and Angie had all been in the same room. Life had a funny way of making it hard to schedule hangouts when everyone was busy with their careers and families. But today, the stars aligned. They gathered in Beyoncé's sprawling living room, lounging on the plush couches with glasses of wine in hand, catching up like no time had passed at all.
"I can't believe it's been so long since we've all been together," Michelle said, swirling her glass of red wine.
"I know! We haven't really had a chance to catch up since the trip," Kelly added. "And I've been dying to hear how things have been going with you and YN, Bey."
Beyoncé chuckled, tucking a leg under herself as she sat back. "Things have been good. Really good, actually."
Solange raised an eyebrow, giving her sister a knowing look. "Good, huh? That smile says more than you're letting on."
Beyoncé grinned and took a sip of her wine. "Well... let's just say I've been pleasantly surprised lately."
Angie leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Okay, spill. What kind of surprises are we talking about?"
Beyoncé's eyes lit up as she remembered YN's impromptu performance in the studio. "So, the other night, YN was in the home studio just to clear her head or whatever, and I overheard her singing."
Michelle's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Singing?"
"Uh-huh," Beyoncé said, nodding. "And not just singing—she was singing Spirit. And when I tell you her voice is amazing... y'all, she killed it. I couldn't believe it."
Kelly blinked, processing the information. "Hold up. YN can sing? Like... really sing?"
"Like, really sing," Beyoncé confirmed. "I was in shock. I didn't even know she had that kind of talent."
Solange leaned forward, intrigued. "Okay, now I'm jealous. I need to hear this for myself. I knew YN was cool, but I didn't know she had pipes!"
Beyoncé laughed, feeling a wave of pride wash over her. "Trust me, I didn't know either! But I don't want to put any pressure on her about pursuing music. I think she's still figuring out where she stands with it. I just want her to be comfortable."
Michelle nodded in understanding. "That's smart. The last thing you want is to make her feel like she has to do something just because you or anyone else wants it for her."
"Exactly," Beyoncé agreed. "But still... it's hard not to brag. She really has a gift."
The room buzzed with excitement as the girls continued to marvel at YN's hidden talent. They talked about how crazy it was that YN had been keeping that under wraps and how supportive Beyoncé was for not pushing her too hard. But the conversation eventually shifted, and the women found themselves reminiscing about their trip.
"Man, I miss those lazy days on the beach," Kelly said with a sigh. "It feels like forever ago, but that trip was exactly what we needed."
"Agreed," Solange chimed in. "Especially for you, Bey. You were a little hesitant at first, but look how much changed because of it."
Beyoncé smiled, thinking about how that trip had opened the door for her relationship with YN to evolve. "Yeah, I guess I needed that push. Y'all were right about getting away."
Angie chuckled. "We usually are."
Kelly raised her glass. "To more girls' trips in the future! We have to make sure it doesn't take another major life event to get us all back together again."
Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, clinking them together with a laugh.
"You know, I feel like we've all changed since that trip," Michelle said thoughtfully. "In a good way. We all needed that reset."
Solange nodded. "I feel that. Life gets crazy, and it's easy to get caught up in the chaos. But having that time together, with no distractions, reminded me how important it is to stay grounded."
Beyoncé took a moment to appreciate how lucky she was to have these women in her life. They weren't just friends—they were family. Through every high and low, they'd always been there, supporting each other, lifting each other up. It was a rare kind of bond, and one she never took for granted.
As the conversation flowed from lighthearted jokes to deeper reflections, Beyoncé felt a sense of calm settle over her. Even with all the changes in her life—her relationship with YN, balancing motherhood, and managing her career—there was always something constant about the love she shared with her girls.
They laughed until their sides hurt, swapping stories and catching up on everything they'd missed in each other's lives. And while Beyoncé's heart was full from the laughter and warmth in the room, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement about what lay ahead—not just for her, but for YN as well.
Because even though YN wasn't in the room with them, Beyoncé knew that she was a part of this sisterhood now, too. And that felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Later that night, after the girls had left and the house was quiet again, Beyoncé found herself thinking back to YN's voice in the studio. She hadn't wanted to pressure her earlier, but Beyoncé couldn't deny how proud she was of YN. She had a feeling this was only the beginning of something beautiful—whether it was in music or just in life.
Beyoncé smiled to herself as she climbed into bed, already thinking of how to gently nudge YN into exploring that talent more, but only when YN was ready.