10. Soundtrack to You and I… #3
“My bad, V. You got good taste, respectfully,” she shook her head. “But look, everything is just how you requested.” I nodded once, sliding her the bills from my pocket and thanked her once she increased the music in the store.
Jersei was in the blues section locked in, flipping the records over reading them in its entirety.
Not wanting to bother her, I went over to the R&B section in search of the next few I would be adding to my collection.
I had all the classics, so when I came, I grabbed what caught my eye or a new artist I wanted to give a try.
“Is it always this quiet when you come?” Jersei asked from the next aisle over.
“Nah, they closed right now.”
“Oh, we can go. I think I’m going to get this one,” she held up a Dru Hill record. “The rest, you already have so they kinda mine already.”
I smirked. “We don’t have to go. They’re closed for you.”
Her brows dipped. “For me?”
“Yes. Are you a parrot?” My head tilted. “I wanted your first experience to be uninterrupted. It can get crowded in here and mutha’fuckas get to reaching all over you. That shit gets annoying. Keep looking around. They on your time, so take it.”
She looked around the store in awe and a smile stretched across her lips. “You’re a good man, Vayce Denver. Thank you so much.”
I winked. Jersei and I went through every row in the store.
Outside of my home, this was one of my favorite places to relax.
There was something about being surrounded by the words that contributed to my healing.
The only thing that was missing was a blunt, but we were too close to the school year to indulge.
Almost an hour in, Jersei had almost ten records in her arms. I took them up front to Terren and led her to the upstairs portion of the shop. It was cozier up here and held most of the signed copies. The music increased and so did the nerves in my body, but I tried hard to play the shit cool.
“This my shitttt!” Jersei clapped to the beat. “I wonder if you’re qualified to give me love and affection.” She rolled her hips and extended her hands to me. I took them, laughing as she closed the space between us.
“Someone who can satisfy my every little need. I’m hoping it’s you,” I pulled her closer and sang in her ear.
With the sweet sounds of Donnell Jones playing in the background, J pressed her back against my chest as her hips slowly swayed into me.
I wanted to sing every word, but for a minute, I wanted to feel our souls intertwining…
deeper…if that shit was even possible. I kissed the spot on her neck, not sexually but to remind her mind and senses that I was here…
to stay. Jersei released a soft moan when I kissed the shell of her ear as the song faded.
“Let me show you one of my favorite parts of the store.”
“Where is it?”
I grabbed her hand and walked toward the deep-cuts section. In the corner of my eye, I spotted it but went toward the opposite end. If it played how I wanted it to, she would work her way there.
Jersei gasped, reaching on the shelf to grab Control .
“You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t her back in the day.
In college, I got the Mohawk with the curls like she did in the video.
I have to have this. Oh my gosh. I know everybody loves Rhythm Nation, but this album is at the top of the list for me.
” I continued behind her, eyeing the end of the aisle.
“Why is this your favorite section baby?” She quizzed, grabbing another record. She flipped it over then put it back and glanced at me over her shoulder. “Because of the classics?”
“I wish I had a deep answer for you, but I always find the good shit up here. Downstairs, it’s easier to get what’s popular or what you can access faster.
Nobody wants to put in the work and find the true hidden gems. It took me one time.
Now I come straight here and tell anybody who is willing to listen. ”
Jersei turned toward me like she’d heard the double meaning. “I see that. I should’ve come up here first, but the more you know, right?”
“Exactly.” I pointed directly at the brown record. “You like that one?”
Jersei frowned and grabbed it from the shelf. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head seeing the image of us. I watched her blink a few times then her head snapped in my direction.
“What is…Vayce? This is us?” Her voice lowered. “Soundtrack to you and I,” she whispered, running her fingers over the image as if confirming it was real.
“Every song I could think of that we have played together is on there. Any song we have sang together and sounded like nails against a chalkboard, it’s there.
Adore, the first song we connected over, it’s number one.
” I hooked my index finger under her chin because she lowered her head when tears fell.
“The songs that remind me of you, your heart, your beauty, or the way you make me feel, they are there. It’s ours, J.
Play it when you need it even when I piss you off,” I smiled, and she chuckled.
“When the nights come and we are apart, I pray the lyrics make you feel me in some way. Every time the record spins, I pray you get a fresh wind of my love for you.”
Her eyes darted between mine and a fresh set of tears dropped. “Love?”
I brushed my thumb against her cheek. “Love, J. I can’t fight the shit no more.
I love you, Jersei Lane. I do. The shit I feel ain’t a like.
It’s a burning desire, a fucking yearn. If I didn’t think you would think I was insane, I would ask you to marry me right now.
Court room, paper signing, jumping a broom, I’on give a fuck.
However I can have you forever, I’ll do it without a second guess ‘cause I know you’re who God crafted for me.
Fuck the timing. My brain, heart, and mind are on one accord and that’s you.
” I pressed a kiss against her lips, tasting the salt of her tears. “Flip the record over baby.”
“Vayce,” she cried. I could tell she was overwhelmed. Not in a bad way, but in a way that her mind was trying to catch up with everything in front of her. She fanned her face, still staring at the front cover.
The front cover art was a picture of Jersei and I at the cabin one night by the fire.
She was making a silly face with her tongue out while sitting in my lap and I was mid-laugh.
Her hair was in a messy bun and mine was covered by a silk durag.
It was special to me because it was our first picture together, but also showed the basis of our relationship, raw, honest, and happy.
This was also my first time seeing the record, but Terren and her team did an amazing job bringing my vision to life.
Jersei finally flipped it over. On the back, was a picture she’d taken from her point of view.
We were outside and her leg was in my lap while I massaged the opposite foot.
The sun setting in the background was the perfect addition to the image, giving it a slight vintage feel.
I watched the exact moment J’s eyes went across the bold wording at bottom.
Will You Be Mine? was inscribed in beige lettering.
“I’ve been out of the game for so long, but I never want you to assume your position. I’m not leaving this season without everything God has to offer me and that includes you. Will you be my girlfriend, Jersei?”
“This is…wow,” she looked from the record then to me.
“Nigga, you got my heart racing. I feel like I’m finna have a panic attack.
” I laughed, holding back tears from being so fucking happy.
“I’m deflecting, but my God, you are amazing.
You’ve knocked me off my feet through every interaction.
I admire how charming you are, Vayce. You have helped me live again and love again, ‘cause yes, I do love you.” I exhaled a breath finally hearing her say it back.
“If the girlfriend ask is like this, I know the proposal is gone have me on the ground.” I hollered.
“I would be honored to be your girlfriend, Vayce Denver.”
“Yeah?” I smiled.
“Hell yeah!” She wrapped her arms around me, and I kissed her lips. It was slow, much like the first time we kissed in my truck. She placed her hand on the back of my neck to deepen it, and I made it a point to catch each of her moans with my lips.
“I got you for life J,” I mumbled between kisses.
“I wouldn’t have told you yes if I felt any other way, baby.”
I smiled, placing another kiss against her soft lips. We left the vinyl shop hand in hand with titles we didn’t enter with, and I knew that this would be the second best yes I would receive in my life.