19. Myome
MYOME
“It’s always amazing to see you.” Josephine hugged me and rubbed my arms as she pulled back.
“It’s always good to see you too.”
“Me too!” Vienna lifted her arms and I took a knee to hug her as well.
I looked up as Chandler and Lee walked toward us with India who was yawning and gripping her father’s hand.
“Tell your My-My bye-bye,” Lee told her.
“Bye.” India waved.
“Damn, and what about your uncle?” Drix reached for her and plucked her up.
He hugged her tightly, rubbing his face against hers until she giggled.
“Love you.” He tossed her up and caught her then rubbed their faces together again before handing her back to her father.
“Love you,” she repeated.
“There we go.” He plucked Vienna up and shook her side to side as well. “Love you.”
“Love you.” She laughed and he hugged and squeezed her before dropping her to her feet.
We took our time hugging the rest of his family and saying our goodbyes, a typical routine that took nearly fifteen minutes with everyone continuing to talk after saying goodbye. Drix’s father looked at the tattoo on his face and shook his head but didn’t say anything. He just hit him on the back.
Neither of his parents were big fans of him adding a face tattoo to his body but the fact that it was my name eased a bit of the annoyance.
They genuinely treated me like another member of their family and I loved each dinner I got to attend, especially since I’d never gotten to experience a family dynamic as healthy as theirs. It was beautiful to witness but even nicer to be a part of.
I was still thinking about how good this week’s family dinner had been when Drix reached over and put his hand on my leg.
“Where’s your head, Twin?” he asked.
“Hm?” I dragged my eyes from the window and glanced at him.
“You’re sitting over there real quiet. What are you thinking about?”
“I like your family,” I said simply.
He smiled. “They like you too. I promise.”
“Good.”
“That’s it?”
“Honestly? No. Being with your family just kind of makes me think about how different my family is from yours and I don’t know. I know my relationship with my parents and brothers is complicated but I wish it wasn’t. You know?”
“Yeah. I feel you.” He reached for my hand and twined our fingers together. He kissed the back of my hand with his eyes still on the road. “I’m sorry things are complicated with y’all.”
“Me too.” I forced a small smile onto my face and exhaled. “Do you think I should invite them to Radiant Reverie’s album release party, in case they want to hear the music or support me?”
Drix looked over at me. A sympathetic smile touched his face.
“If you want to invite them, invite them, but don’t ever forget I don’t play behind you. If your family comes to one of the biggest nights of your career and upsets you, I’m gon’ act the fuck out and I promise that even you won’t be able to call me off.”
“Okay.” I grabbed his hand in both of mine. “I promise to keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
I plucked my phone up and saw I had two text messages from Charm.
Charmy: Our interview is up.
Charmy: And it’s going really well!!
I liked her message then opened Skroll to look at the snippet that had been posted and shared it.
The comments were going well so far, saying I was being mature and Monica was delusional because Drix had willingly gotten my name tattooed on his face and he’d proven time and time again that he didn’t care about presenting a certain way for the public.
I didn’t read any more than the first ten before I left the app and sent a text to my brothers and father, letting them know the time and location of the release party.
When we got to Drix’s place, we immediately showered together and I collapsed in bed while Drix said he was going to head down to his studio. I didn’t know how he went to the studio nearly every day. His work ethic was unmatched.
I spent my time alone reading a book on my Kindle while music played softly from the television.
I was three chapters in when a call from Drix popped up. Although we were in the same house, I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“You sleeping?”
“Obviously not, Berlin.” I giggled. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you come cut placeholder vocals for me?”
My face twisted in confusion.
“You’re writing a song for someone?”
“Writing and producing,” he corrected. “And it’s for Jameer.”
My voice rose. “You know Jameer?”
“Ay, don’t sound that mothafucking excited about that nigga and get him fucked up, Myome.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry, baby. I guess I just forget how small the industry is and I never really hear about any of your work outside of Rome and Merch.”
“It’s hard not to mention them when they’re always in my damn face.” He paused and I heard him take a hit of his blunt, inhaling and pushing the smoke out. “You gon’ come cut this for me?”
“Yeah.” I yawned. “I’m coming.”
“Alright.”
I set my Kindle down and headed to Drix’s studio where he stood at the soundboard. Music poured out of the room as soon as I opened the soundproofed door. I walked right over and kissed my man.
“You have lyrics for me?”
“Yeah. I got them right here.” He offered me his phone. “Go ahead and sit down and we’ll run through it so I can tell you how I picture it in my brain. Then, we can record it like that, then a second cut of you singing it how you think it fits on the beat so he can have two options.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “I can do that.”
“Alright. Come on. Let’s do it.”
Drix and I got to work, going through the song and making minor adjustments.
I wasn’t a professional by any means but I’d been learning a little bit from Drix and apparently I had a good ear because I heard things that were going on and was able to pick out what I wanted or needed added or taken away.
“How you feeling?” Drix asked once we finished our last recording.
“Good.” I nodded. “What do you think?”
“Sounds good.” He nodded. “Let’s send this shit off and get in bed.”
“Early day tomorrow?” I climbed up and stretched.
“Something like that and I know you have a big day ahead of you.”
“Something like that.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into his body while he saved his file and swapped to his second laptop.
I automatically reached up and ran my thumb over the tattoo of my name and Drix smirked.
I stared at his handsome ass while he finished, then we headed upstairs and slipped into bed together.
I was knocked out in minutes and woke up the next morning feeling amazing. I checked my phone before I even got out of bed, saw no one in my family had responded to my messages, and climbed up to start my day.
I had a meeting with the record label so I needed to look presentable and be on time. I ran through my morning routine then headed downstairs where Drix was sitting at the counter, scrolling through his phone with one hand and holding a coffee mug.
“French toast and eggs are already plated for you,” he grumbled.
“Thank you, baby.” I grabbed the plate and a bottle of water before taking the seat beside him.
“You’re welcome.”
I poured syrup onto my French toast, took a bite, and nodded.
“This is great.”
“Good.” He hopped up and kissed the side of my head. “You want fruit? I can cut you up a banana real quick.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t have to but do you want a banana, Myome? It’s not a trick question.”
I thought about it briefly then nodded.
“Yes, please.”
“A’ight.” He walked around the island and my eyes raked over him.
He was dressed down in black sweatpants, a plain gray shirt, and tennis shoes, but had thrown on his watch and a simple chain.
I watched his muscular arms while he chopped a banana and smiled when he walked over and slid the pieces right onto my plate.
He smelled so good, even from the opposite side of the island.
I took a bite of my food and licked my lips while he leaned against the counter and met my gaze.
I had a burning desire to drop to my knees and please him but I had somewhere to be so I just took another bite of my food and shook my head.
He must have been counting my bites because as soon as I swallowed my third one he announced he was heading out.
“I’ll see you later tonight.” He walked over and kissed me.
“Don’t wait up?” I guessed.
“Nah. Wait up.” He grabbed his keys.
I nodded. “Have fun.”
“I won’t,” he deadpanned and left.
I scoffed and checked my phone again. My Skroll account was still getting traffic from the interview so I closed it almost as soon as I’d opened it and checked my email.
When I was done eating, I cleaned my dishes and made my way to the label’s office.
Allison and Charm were already standing outside of the conference room.
“Hey.” I hugged Charm then Allison.
“Hey, girl.” Charm smiled. “Are you as excited about this as I am?” she asked.
“Definitely.” I nodded. “I’m excited and nervous.”
“Which are all normal emotions,” Allison inserted. “But there’s nothing to be nervous about. We have really great bids, and now that your interview has dropped, your publicity is tilting more good than bad for the most part. We just have to keep it that way until the album releases this weekend.”
“Trust me, I’m not trying to make any more waves or end up viral anywhere, okay?”
“Good.” Allison looked at her watch. “Is Retta coming?”
I shrugged and looked at Charm who shrugged as well.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Well, we both know I don’t talk to her.”
Charm snickered and shook her head.
“She is not that bad.”
“Yeah, okay.” I rolled my eyes and looked at my phone.
“Well either way, if she isn’t here in three minutes we’re going on without her.”
“I’m here,” Retta sang as she halfway jogged over to us. “Sorry. I had a late night.”
“It’s okay. You’re here now.” Allison exhaled then slapped her usual manager smile on and yanked the door to the conference room open.
She gestured for us to enter first.
There were seven people of varying races, ages, and genders sitting around the table and they surveyed us as we sat in the empty seats nearest to us.
“Alright, ladies.” The man sitting at the head of the table clasped his hands. “Let’s finalize these tour dates.”