Chapter 7
Shane
“This some good shit right here,” Mylo said as he listened to the track.
Right now, we were wrapping up a studio session and he wanted to listen to beats I had for songs he’d written.
I had a lot of respect for Mylo and enjoyed working with him.
He was naturally talented and his rhymes reflected things he’d been through.
He wasn’t one of these rappers who only talked about money and hoes. He was lyrical and I appreciated that.
“Thanks, man. I got more I can send over tonight. Just let me know what you fuckin’ with.”
“No doubt. What you and that nigga Tripp getting into tonight?”
“Shit. Tripp runnin’ the streets right now. He hasn’t said shit about doin’ anything tonight. It’s a party or somethin’ happenin’?”
“Hell yeah. Mafuckas runnin’ it back from last night,” he shared.
“Shit, I’m good. I’m only in the clubs for work and to support my niggas. If it wasn’t for the music, y’all wouldn’t catch me in them bitches.”
“Damn for real? Just not your scene?”
“Nah, not anymore. I stayed in the club when I was younger and chasin’ pussy. Now that I’m older, that shit ain’t as fun. It gets old real quick. Mafuckas pockets ain’t touchin’ but I don’t wanna spend a thousand every time I walk in just to have a section for a couple of hours,” I admitted.
“I feel that. A nigga do be comin’ out bread to be in these clubs. My girl don’t mind it since I keep her on my arm, but you right. The shit gets old quick.”
“You gon’ marry her soon? You been with her for how long now?” I quizzed.
I met Mylo about five years ago. He was fresh to the industry and putting in that work, having my ass in the studio for damn near twenty-four hours at a time.
We got close while working on his debut album.
He and his girl had been together even before then.
Shorty was with him before the money and fame.
I didn’t know her that well, but she was cool when we were around each other.
Supportive and I never heard about her in any other niggas’ faces.
“It’s comin’ soon, man.”
Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, Mylo smirked as he pulled out a small blue box.
When he lifted the top, my mouth damn near dropped.
It was said that the ring a man gave his woman reflected how he felt about her and I believed it.
The ring was massive, in a classy way. It was emerald cut with smaller diamonds around the band.
This was the type of vision I saw for Exclusive Diamonds.
Had my uncle not been on bullshit when it came to having younger customers, he’d be getting people like Mylo.
Price didn’t exist when it came to his lady.
“Okay, my nigga. That’s what’s up. How long you been carrying that around?”
“Shit…for about three weeks now. I’m just trying to find the perfect time to ask. I wanted to go all out and have this big ass surprise proposal, but Lena don’t like being the center of attention,” he explained.
“So, meet her in the middle. Still go all out, but don’t invite anyone. Do it big with just the two of y’all,” I suggested.
“My mom told me the same shit. I think I’ll do that. A nigga is ready to be a daddy and Lena already let me know ain’t no kids coming until our last names are the same.”
“The right way, my boy. Shit happens, but she ain’t wrong. If I had a sister, I wouldn’t want her letting no nigga baby momma her either.”
“True. But I’m about to slide. I got a video shoot tomorrow and the day after, but I’ll be back in this bitch when that’s wrapped.”
We shook hands and he stood to leave. I listened to a few more of the old beats I made before wrapping it up myself.
I’d be back here tomorrow with an artist I’d worked with a few times in the past. He started working with Spinna, so I was surprised he was calling for my services again.
Spinna might have been a shitty nigga, but I couldn’t lie and say he didn’t produce some of the biggest hits out right now.
He did his job well, but that was all he’d ever get out of me.
I didn’t know Celeste from a box of rocks, but I hated that she was dealing with a nigga who didn’t see her worth.
What was worse was I couldn’t figure out why the hell I even cared.
Having her at my mother’s house felt surreal.
I couldn’t believe I’d convinced her to even get in my truck that night, but I’m glad I had.
With the headspace she was in that night, there was no telling what she would’ve gotten herself into.
After I took her to the phone store, she had me drop her off at some gated apartment complex about ten minutes from where she and Spinna lived.
She wouldn’t tell me who lived there, but I assumed it belonged to her since she gave the gate attendant her name and he let her through with no problem.
Also, her little ass checking the mailbox before she unlocked the front door was a dead giveaway.
I thought it could’ve been her parents’ home, but no one seemed to be occupying the place.
Although I all but forced her to give me her number, I hadn’t used it.
That had been over a week ago. It seemed to get harder to stay away with each day that passed.
The last thing I wanted was to come off too aggressive, but I wanted to see how she was doing.
I’d seen Spinna in passing a few times this past week, but there was nothing for us to say to each other.
I’d have to speak to his ass soon enough when he came to the shop to pick up those sorry ass rings he was putting on Celeste’s finger.
Since the sun was still up when I left the studio, I decided to stop by my mom’s before going in for the night.
It was a weekday and there was a high chance she’d cooked something.
When I pulled up, there was a C-class Mercedes Benz parked in the driveway.
The car didn’t look familiar and I could only hope my mother didn’t have another man in there.
The situation with my dad was complicated, but from what I knew, she was still faithful.
Once I was parked, I debated on whether or not I should go in or leave.
Saying fuck it, I got out of my truck and walked to the porch.
Normally, I’d use my key if my mom didn’t already have the door open.
This time, I rang the bell and waited to be let in.
Just in case there was a man inside, I wouldn’t be taking my chances of walking in on something I wouldn’t be able to get out of my head.
Only a few seconds passed before the door opened and my mother looked at me with an unreadable expression.
“Hey, son. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Is it a bad time? You got a nigga in there or something?”
“Not at all. You can come in, but I don’t know how long you’ll want to stay,” she countered as she stepped aside to allow me entry.
As I walked in, the smell of familiar perfume turned my confusion into anger and annoyance.
“Hi, Shane,” Mia said as she stood from the couch nervously.
She was the last person I wanted or expected to see. The last time she was in my presence, it took all my strength to keep my hands to myself. I was no longer in love with her, but I couldn’t get over the pregnancy I’d known nothing about.
“What the hell are you doing here? Don’t you reside on the East Coast?”
“Yes, but I’m here visiting my family. I’m from Gwendal, remember?” she asked smartly.
“My mom isn’t your family. So again, what are you doing over here?”
“I just came by to talk.”
“Shane, I told you she was coming by one of these days. Had I’d known you were gonna stop by, I would’ve told you not to come right now,” my mother interrupted.
“I just came to check on you and see if you cooked.”
“I did. I’ll make you a plate,” she said as she looked between Mia and me.
When she walked away, I turned and walked over to the dining room table. Hopefully it wouldn’t take long for her to fix my plate. I wasn’t trying to lose my shit with Mia, but I couldn’t help how I felt right now.
“Shane, will we ever get past this? I’ve apologized to you so many times and I don’t know what else to say. I made a mistake, but I never wanted us to break up.”
Lifting my head, we made eye contact and it was crazy to see she looked the exact same way she had the last time I’d seen her.
Since she was a model, her frame was on the slimmer side, but she had the right amount of ass and titties.
Mia’s signature hair style was a jet-black, neck length bob cut shorter in the back.
Her complexion was light caramel and her brown eyes always had a way of luring me in.
I used to look at this woman and feel like I’d really hit the jackpot.
Now, I felt nothing but deceit. The butterflies she used to give me no longer existed and the urge I used to have to kiss and touch her was no longer present.
“There’s nothing for us to get past, Mia. You did what you did and I did what I felt was right. End of story.”
“That’s not fair. You barely gave me a chance to explain myself. As soon as I started talking, you grabbed your things and left. You never let me finish what I had to say.”
“What else is there to really talk about? The first words out of your mouth were nothing but bullshit. There’s no way in the hell you spend years in a relationship with me and don’t include me on a decision like that.
Shit doesn’t even make sense and that’s why I can’t fuck with it.
If you knew for sure that baby was mine, you wouldn’t have done that,” I admitted.
“Here we go again with this. You keep insinuating the baby wasn’t yours and that pisses me off every time you say it,” she countered as she folded her arms.
“I don’t give a fuck what pisses you off, shorty. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the only person with a valid reason to be pissed off about anything. Now please, go back to the couch and wait for my mom. You came over here to talk to her, not me.”