The sun had barely crept through the kitchen windows when I wandered in, hoping to steal a few minutes of peace and maybe a cup of coffee before the madness of the day began.
I wasn't expecting company. But then again, nothing in this house was predictable.
"Damn. You military or Marvel?" a smooth voice asked behind me.
I turned, blinking once as Solange Knowles leaned against the kitchen doorway with a glass of green juice in hand and a smirk on her lips. She was dressed in silk and confidence, bob hair and beautiful like she didn't need to try—and probably didn't.
I chuckled, a little caught off guard. "Just ex-military. Marvel didn't return my calls."
She laughed, stepping in further. "Well, whatever you are, you're built like a damn tank. Respect."
At least somebody appreciates the figure.
"Appreciate that," I said, grabbing a mug from the cabinet. "Didn't expect anyone to be up this early."
Solange shrugged, sipping her juice. "I'm always up early when I stay here. Peace is rare in this house. Gotta catch it when you can."
I nodded knowingly. "Makes sense."
She leaned against the counter, eyeing me curiously. "So... you're the one Julius handpicked to guard my sister?"
I gave a half-smile. "Yeah. I guess that makes me the lucky one."
"Lucky and brave," she said with a sly look. "So, how's that going? Handling Queen Bey okay?"
I chuckled into my coffee. "It's going good. She's... focused."
Solange let out a knowing laugh. "That's a diplomatic way to put it."
I raised an eyebrow. "Not wrong though, right?"
"Not at all," she said, her tone playfully ominous. "But I hope you know what you're in for. Bey's not just a job. She's a force. And she doesn't let just anyone into her world."
I nodded, more serious now. "I'm starting to figure that out."
Solange's smirk softened into something more sisterly. "You seem grounded. That's good. She needs people around her who aren't easily rattled."
"I don't rattle easy," I said, standing a little straighter.
"Good," she said, draining the rest of her juice and placing the glass in the sink. "Just don't let her wear you down. She'll test you without even meaning to."
Then she gave me a wink and turned to head out of the kitchen.
"Welcome to the hive, soldier," she called over her shoulder.
I let out a low laugh, sipping my coffee again. The Carter-Knowles clan was definitely something else.
The sun was still high and bright, bouncing off the clear blue water like diamonds. I stepped out into the backyard with a bottle of water in hand, the heat wrapping around me instantly. LA didn't mess around in the summer. I needed a break—five minutes to breathe, to not think about how Beyoncé had been testing every bit of my self-control.
The backyard was quiet except for the soft splash of water. I looked up and spotted Blue in the pool, floating lazily on her back in the deep end. She noticed me and swam over, her wet curls sticking to her cheeks as she reached the edge.
"Hey!" she called out. "You finally came outside."
Blue swam closer as I sat down on the edge, dipping my legs into the cool water. The relief was instant. Blue tilted her head, water glistening on her braids.
"So..." she started, "how do you like the job?"
I smirked. "It's good. It's... interesting."
Blue smirked. "My mom's a lot, huh?"
I let out a laugh. "She wants what she wants. Nothing wrong with that."
"She's bossy," Blue corrected with a grin. "But don't tell her I said that."
I held up an imaginary zipper across my lips. "Your secret's safe."
Blue swam a slow circle around the shallow end. "I still think it's cool that you were a soldier. Like... a real one. Not a movie one."
I smiled at that. "Thanks. But you performing in front of thousands of people? That's pretty cool too. I don't think I could've done that at your age."
She grinned, pride flashing across her face. "It's fun. But kind of scary sometimes."
I nodded. "Same with the military. Doing something brave doesn't mean you're not scared. Just means you do it anyway."
Blue seemed to think about that. Then she stopped and looked at me, head tilted. "You can swim, right?"
I raised a brow. "Of course I can swim."
Her eyes lit up. "Wanna race?"
I look down at my joggers. "Now?"
"Why not? Scared you'll get in trouble?" she teased, lips curled in a smirk just like her mom's.
Oh, she was good.
I narrowed my eyes. "You challenging me?"
She grinned and gave a little shrug. "Unless you're scared I'll beat you."
That did it.
"Alright," I said
Blue squealed with excitement. I jumped into the water, the splash echoing across the yard. Blue was already lining up at one end. "To the other side and back!" she declared.
"Ready when you are."
She counted down. "Three... two... one—go!"
We launched forward, cutting through the water. I kept pace with her easily but let her pull ahead just enough. Her arms sliced the surface, determination all over her face.
She hit the wall first, turned, and came back fast. I followed just behind, timing it so she touched the edge a split second before me.
"I win!" she shouted, beaming.
"You sure did," I said, slicking my hair back and smiling. "You're fast."
She raised her arms in victory, then looked past me—and froze.
I followed her gaze.
Up on the balcony, Beyoncé stood watching us, arms folded over the railing. She was wearing a long silk robe, her hair up, her eyes locked on mine.
Even from here, I could feel her gaze like heat against my skin. She wasn't smiling. But she wasn't mad either. Just... watching.
I looked away quickly, my heart suddenly racing again.
Blue bumped her shoulder into mine playfully. "Don't worry you're not in trouble. She likes to make people nervous."
"It's working," I said before I could stop myself.
She giggled, then climbed out of the pool. "I'm gonna grab a snack. You want something?"
"I'm good. Thanks, though."
I stayed in the water for a moment longer, staring up at the balcony even after it was empty.
She was gone.
But I still felt her.
