“Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. Please remain seated until we’ve arrived at our gate, and the fasten seatbelt sign has been turned off. Local time is 3:43, and it’s a balmy 91 degrees with clear skies. On behalf of the flight crew, we thank you for flying Loyalty Airlines and hope you enjoy your stay in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina.”
Kelvin peered out the window, shaking with excitement. His headphones dangled from his neck. He took a picture of the skyline before texting Aliyah that he landed. She texted back shortly after.
Great! See you soon.
Markus waited at baggage claim. The area bustled with people coming off the flight. Friends and family ran out of the crowd to reunite with their loved ones. The sound of laughter filled the corridor.
The big man leaned against a column, trying to look small. Everybody avoided him as they passed. Even in a baggy tank top and sandals, he was still intimidating. His sunglasses probably didn’t help. He sighed to himself then held up a sign with Kelvin’s name on it.
Aliyah decorated a piece of posterboard to get his attention. She knew he didn’t need it, but she wanted to surprise him. She wrote his name in cursive like her autographs. He beamed when he saw it.
“Are you serious?” he yelled from the escalator, “I get a sign!”
He hurried down the steps, jumping over some luggage at the bottom. His backpack slipped and swung between his legs. It tripped him. Markus rolled his eyes.
“Did Aliyah make that?”
“Yeah, she threw it together this morning. She likes to paint. She just doesn’t have time back home.”
Kelvin slung his bag back onto his shoulder. “That’s right. She usually paints out here, doesn’t she?”
He shrugged then handed it to him.
“I can have it?”
“Yeah, she said you’d probably want it. If not, we can chuck it—”
“No, I want it.” He yanked it closer. “Yeah… I got the perfect spot.”
The baggage carousel turned on as they talked. The hum of the conveyor echoed down the corridor. People started gathering along the sides. A few kids ran around behind them.
“Just a heads-up,” Markus said while they waited, “We still have a lot of family over. Most of them don’t fly out until tomorrow, so don’t rush anything tonight. Ain’t no privacy in that house right now, you feel me?”
Kelvin looked up from his sign. He gawked at the big man like it was a riddle.
“Something else,” he continued, glancing at the carousel, “Be cool about the whole fan thing. Li’s just Li out here. The rest of the family thinks no different. I doubt anyone would care, but try to see it from her perspective. You’re her boyfriend now, right? If you wanna protect her image, you gotta protect yours.”
A camera flashed beside them. The burst of light made them both turn their heads. A young couple was taking a selfie and left the flash on.
“Anyway. We’re throwing a big party tonight. Jamal’s been grilling since this morning. We got some lawn games out front with a bonfire in the back. There’s volleyball, too. We don’t usually play until everyone’s pretty trashed. You gotta watch out for Tiffany, though. She’s a hustler.”
Overhead, an automated voice came on, announcing the arrival of their luggage. A screen on the wall showed the crew unloading the bags. People lined up along the conveyor. A suitcase passed through first, followed by a guitar case.
Kelvin pointed to his bag when he saw it. A faded white duffel lay upside-down with the zippers taped shut. The logo on the side promoted a snowboarding company. His shirt had the same logo on the breast pocket. It was his favorite brand. Markus noticed the matching labels and grabbed his bag for him.
“Nah man, I can get it.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, “She’s paying me for this.” Before they left, Kelvin pulled out his phone to take some pictures. He wanted a selfie with Markus and his sign. The banner in the background read, “Welcome to Charlotte!”
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