Tiana, usually tethered to the reality of ledgers and gumbo pots, found herself leaning against a brick pillar, her apron still dusted with flour. She had come to the club to drop off a catering invoice, but the melody held her captive. It was a song about the things we overlook while chasing the things we want.
As they swayed between the tables, Tiana realized he was right. She had chased the dream of the restaurant so hard she had forgotten to live inside it. She had the crown, the castle, and the respect of the city—but she hadn't realized there was a hollow space in her chest until Nate filled it with a melody.
“I get what I want, but it’s not what I need,” Nate sang, his eyes scanning the crowd until they locked onto hers. NeYo Princess and The Frog Never Knew I Needed With
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wooden charm—a hand-carved frog, a playful nod to the city's folklore. He pressed it into her hand.
"You're leaving before the encore? That’s bad luck in this city," a voice called out. Tiana, usually tethered to the reality of ledgers
After the set, the humidity of the night pressed in as she tried to make a quick exit.
She turned. Nate was leaning against the back door, mopping his brow with a silk handkerchief. Up close, he didn't look like a performer; he looked like a man who had seen the world and found it lacking until just now. As they swayed between the tables, Tiana realized
"I have a kitchen to prep for the breakfast rush," Tiana said, regaining her composure. "And business doesn't wait for luck."