Chapter 9
Dreu
Two weeks later
For the first time in what felt like forever, I had a day with no beats blasting in my ear.
I didn’t have to worry about my label calling me or Rina’s annoying ass asking me to “be more marketable”.
I enjoyed my silence and space from work life but started to hate the silence that came with actually being alone.
The silence gave me time to think. Although me and Jatavia talked just about every day, she still hadn’t given into what all we talked about.
I already knew that a relationship wouldn’t come overnight, I wasn’t expecting that from her right off the back.
She still took her ass to work, which was crazy as hell to me, but I understood it in her defense.
I was just happy to be able to talk to her every damn day and get to know the new her. Our conversation last night made me smirk when I thought I came close to convincing her to come visit me.
“Maybe I can come to the studio with you sometimes,” she giggled into the phone. “Help you perfect your rhymes.” She said playfully.
I took that shit so seriously, I clicked on the facetime icon and waited for her smooth chocolate face to take up the screen.
She accepted the video call, and I remained silent just to look at her.
I could just imagine how sweet and soft she smelled like.
She had a satin scarf on her head, a red cotton gown that I was sure she got from Walmart.
Maybe she put that red gown on because she knew it was my favorite damn color. Either way, I was just happy to see her full round face smiling at the camera happy to see me.
“So you want to help me stay on beat?” I chuckled.
“Just a little, Big D,” She playfully rolled her eyes then laid back in her bed. “I was listening to some of your songs, and I think you get too excited and energetic when the beat drops that you get a little ahead of yourself when you start your flow.” She smiled.
I didn’t even take what she said as an insult. My chest swelled with pride from her just mentioning that she had taken the time to actually listen to my music. That shit to me meant that she was thinking about me.
“So what you suggest?” I asked.
“Let the beat breathe first… You gotta nod your head and hold your nuts, like you about to own that shit. Then when you good and ready, you let that shit rip.” She laughed.
“Okay Ms. Producer… Come out to Cali for a couple of days, I gotta hit the studio to start recording my new album. I can put you in a hotel or you can come and stay with me.” I suggested.
She chewed on her bottom lip then looked away from the camera.
“I want to see you, Pancakes. Help a nigga fix his flow in person.” I smirked then quickly tried to muster up sad eyes.
Jatavia told me she would think about it.
Today was a new day, we talked on the phone early this morning before she went to work.
We even texted here and there throughout the day, but she hadn’t mentioned coming to Cali.
Vegas was only an hour flight. I would happily put her on my family jet or have her fly in first class.
I just didn’t want to appear too pushy with her stubborn ass, so I let it rest for now.
I decided to do the only thing that would help me keep my mind off Jatavia.
I went to Bleu’s house. Bleu’s new house sat tucked in the hills, gated to give him the extra privacy away from thirsty ass media.
All of our properties remained on the outskirts of L.A.
Breeze was known as a small city owned by us Langston’s.
Paparazzi didn’t come here at all like that and if they did, it’s because they snuck their way in.
A little bit after him and Truly got married they turned the house he gave her into storage and work.
Bleu had a house built from ground up and let Truly assist him on the blueprint. It was a nice six-bedroom flat style family home, that felt cozy when you walked in. I used my key to get in. Soon as I stepped inside, the smell of sauteed onions, garlic, and something herbal wrapped around me.
I loved Truly cooking because she could really throw down and used her own seasonings that she created to cook with. I quickly kicked my shoes off excited to see my nephews and niece and headed towards the den where I knew my brother would be.
He sat stretched out on the couch with Kreu propped on his chest. True laid beside him in a soft lounger, kicking his little legs like he was eager to run.
“Uncle D, is here to help on this nice Saturday evening.” Bleu said with smile.
“I guess, I’m right on time. I didn’t want to stop by ya mom and dad house to eat, things been weird between them.” I replied, walking over to pick up True.
The twins were identical; they looked like the spitting image of Bleu when he was a baby. They both had a head full of hair and hooded hazel-brown eyes. Truly dressed Kreu in royal blue and True in baby blue to tell them apart.
“Yeah, I know. Dad is talking about—” Bleu purposely cut himself off by coughing roughly.
I could see it in his eyes that he was holding some shit back, but I let him make it.
Things with our parents got really fucking weird lately.
I stayed away on the road a lot, so I didn’t have to deal with the ongoing drama that they had going on.
Bleu second main concern was dealing with the company ever since marrying Truly, he put his own family first, in which I was proud of him for.
All his life, he slaved for Maison Langston’s and made it his priority, now he had a family to tend to.
“I refuse to be the one to deliver bad news. When you leave here…go visit mother.” Bleu looked away from me and focused back on Kreu.
My heart tightened then ached. My mom wasn’t perfect and she was very overwhelming.
For years, I could tell that she was miserable in life.
It didn’t matter how man trips she took out the country monthly nor how busy she kept herself.
She hated to admit that her marriage was failing, her pride was too strong to even acknowledge that mere fact.
I looked down at True, his big brown eyes pierced mine and I felt the tension in my chest lesson.
“What’s good big man? Uncle can’t wait to take y’all to the studio with me.” I nuzzled his neck and inhaled the baby smell that radiated off him. When I pulled back to look at him, he had a big gummy smile that was infectious.
“Support his head.” Bleu warned.
“Nigga, his big ass head don’t need support.” I carefully walked with True and took a seat across from Bleu. “They five months old, he can support his own head.” I tried to school Bleu.
I didn’t know much about babies just like Bleu didn’t, but I knew enough. My nephews were strong and very alert. I looked over at Bleu and couldn’t hold back the smile. He squinted his eyes and offered me a threatening look.
The sharp edge he used to have was gone and replaced with more patience, purpose and quiet confidence that didn’t need to be announced. He also was very much overbearing when it came to all three of the kids.
“Where’s Princess?” I asked.
His face immediately balled up.
“With her bitch ass daddy.” He stated lowly.
“Oh, how that been going?” I asked.
Aubry was still a bitch ass nigga in my eyes. If Bleu gave me the word to beat his ass again I would without a second thought.
“It’s going as good as it’s going to get. Change of subject though.” He spat annoyed.
I chuckled, Bleu was very protective over his Princess.
To him, Aubry didn’t father her like he did on a day-to-day basis.
Truly being the sweet and caring woman that she was held no bitterness towards Aubry.
They came to a mutual agreement that seemed decent to me.
Aubry claimed since he had to work so much now in order to survive, he could only get their daughter once every two weeks and only on the weekends.
Aubry was so spooked out about all the dirt that Bleu had on him he went through Bleu for all updates not wanting to say anything wrong to Truly.
Bleu also opened up a trust fund and savings for each one of his kids like our parents did with us.
He forced Aubry’s bitch ass to pay Truly a fifteen hundred each month.
It all went into Princess’s account for when she turned eighteen.
“I’m in love again.” I leaned against the couch and propped True up on my chest exactly how Bleu had Kreu.
True was more of the active twin. I patted his back, and he kept his head up looking around. I smiled at him and talked baby talk loving his little smile. I could feel Bleu’s eyes set on me.
“I guess you didn’t listen to nothing Truly said.” He shook his head.
“Do I ever listen to anything she say?” I shrugged. “I mean it all sounds good…if you ask me, you and her advice is too uhhh…logical.” I chuckled.
“I bet it is.” She said from behind me.
At the sound of her voice, Kreu and True practically broke their necks to see their momma. Even Bleu’s attention went straight to Truly. Being a husband and entering fatherhood really changed him, completely. I respected it and yearned for a great change like that myself.
“Crazy how life can flip around with a snap of your fingers.” I muttered.
“It’ll humble you real fast.” Bleu smirked just as Truly plopped down next to him.
I sat up and placed my nephew on my leg and bounced him gently. I positioned his spoiled butt in the right angle to see his mom and Bleu did the same with Kreu.
“Me and Bleu sprung off each other, real bad.” She flicked her hair off her shoulders.
I still hadn’t gotten used of Truly with hair. She looked more mature, yet still beautiful. Truly had this light to her that you couldn’t miss when she stepped into a room. She demanded respect from our parents and didn’t let our mom run over nor control her or Bleu when the twins were born.
“I won’t deny that, Truly be having me doing some questionable things.” He chuckled lightly as Truly side eyed him sharply.