Chapter 6 #2
Song after song poured out of her. By the time the sun peeked through the blinds, her fingers were cramped and her mind was exhausted.
Recently she had been detached from music.
How could she create when she felt devoid of the opportunity to share her words with the world?
But last night, she felt hope. A small spark of something potentially breaking her free of the restraints that kept her tied to a label that didn't value or respect her creativity.
Once she cleared the haze from only having a few hours’ sleep, she uncurled her limbs and stretched to soothe the ache from having slept on the sofa. A few hours of comfortable lounging was about all it was good for and she had far exceeded her limit.
She groaned sluggishly, moving into the kitchen to make coffee.
Her body hadn't quite caught up with her brain, so her limbs weren't cooperating.
By the time she finished half of her first cup, she felt a little better.
So she dressed in leggings, a sports bra, and running shoes to hit the gym in her building, Blue Pointe.
She loved running outside more than the treadmill but that luxury was attached to possibly being recognized.
The residents in her building knew who she was but were respectful enough to leave her alone. They also had lives of their own, which kept them occupied enough that they didn't invest in worrying about hers.
In the gym, she picked the treadmill closest to the back, plugged in her Sound Beats, then hit shuffle on her playlist. One she’d made while writing lyrics last night.
There was only one name highlighted but she’d shamelessly indulged, navigating his music, selecting tracks that piqued her interest.
She was familiar with A’so's music. He was a city favorite but he had accomplished things most couldn't without the backing of a label.
He also didn't do a lot of appearances, which was why she hadn't recognized him. Sure, he’d gone on tours and popped up at a club or two, but unlike most successful artists, his circle was small and he dodged the spotlight.
It was rumored that he had a less than pristine past and A'so and his team didn't want unwarranted attention. Whereas most glorified their checkered pasts, it seemed like he was more content leaving it behind and embracing who he had become.
After she set her time and pace, she began with a slow jog to warm up while the low, sexy rasp of a voice she had been intimately connected to last night flowed.
She smiled when the heavy bass dropped and he introduced the cadence which did no justice to how beautiful his voice was when it’d vibrated through her chest and danced across her skin from a few feet away.
His music was so layered. There was an edge to him softened by the sexiness women were drawn to.
She imagined how their voices would blend, her sultry mix and his deep edgy tenor, then she shook the thought.
He never said he wanted to make music with her, only that he would help so she could have her career back.
That didn't, however, erase the visuals she had of the two of them cozy in the studio, making something amazing, or sharing the stage while fans went crazy at how good they were together.
Together.
She rolled her eyes. She’d created a career and life with a man she knew nothing about.
Pure insanity and since when did she care about attaching herself to anyone in the industry?
That was a promise she had made to herself, one she’d held to for years but somehow thoughts of Asao had her considering the possibility, whether she knew him or not.
She knew his kiss, his touch, his voice, his eyes. She knew the way she felt when he looked at her and…
Her thoughts were cut short when a call was announced, cutting through his lyrics. If she didn't love this girl with her whole heart, she would have ignored it.
"I figured you would still be down for the count."
"I want to be but this little munchkin refuses to be ignored." Samari heard the cooing and chatter of her rambunctious goddaughter in the background and a smile blossomed.
"Aww, my pretty little fatty. She got you up early?"
"At six but she went back to sleep after I gave her breakfast so I managed to get a few hours’ rest. Now she's up and I'm going to pay for that nap because she won't be taking one later."
Samari laughed, picturing Sheree frowning at her beautiful baby girl. Annoyed but still smiling.
"That's your fault for forcing her back to sleep after she’d just woken up. You should have just thugged it out and napped when she napped. Now her schedule is all messed up."
"After my night, being up at six was not the move. So I'll deal with the consequences. I might still be able to get her down for a nap later, but…"
Here it comes.
"Speaking of my night. Mine ended with a very intense orgasm from my husband. He said you talked to him."
She cringed, hoping Sheree wasn't upset that she’d overstepped. "I did but…"
"I'm not mad. He was irritated that I let it bother me instead of just talking to him. He's stressed about work and other things. We've been trying to buy a house, we need a new car, and with me not working…" Sheree exhaled a sigh. "Things are tight."
"Ree, why didn't you say anything?"
"What's there to say, Mari? Life happens. We're not destitute, we just have to find a way to manage what we have better. Cantor wants to give us the world but his pockets are only so deep. He's trying to figure it all out so he's been a little distant. I got in my head…"
"And convinced yourself he was cheating."
"Pretty much. But he's not and I know he loves me."
"Good, because he does and he wouldn't cheat."
"I know…" Sheree huffed. "Now, how did your night end? Did you two make beautiful music together.?"
Samari almost tripped and crash landed on the treadmill and decided this was a perfect time to end her run.
"Why would you ask me that?"
Had Sheree recognized him? Samari sure as hell hadn’t.
"Because you, my little songbird, were smitten by that handsome stranger who graciously came to our rescue last night.”
When her pace slowed to a staggered walk, Samari pressed the button to end her workout then stepped off the treadmill, relaxing because maybe Sheree didn't know who he was.
"We didn't need to be rescued and all he did was give us a ride home."
"We were both drunk…"
"No boo, you were drunk. I was pleasantly tipsy but still very in control of my faculties.”
"Okay fine, I was drunk but he gave us a ride, was respectful, and didn't try to get the panties." Sheree paused. "Or did he?"
"No, he didn't."
But he kissed me and promised to help me get back the one thing I love most, music.
"Okay, so did you offer the panties since he was a gentleman?"
She laughed. "No, I did not."
"Mari, seriously. Not even a quickie as a thank you for the ride home."
"Not even a quickie. Sorry to disappoint."
"You should be sorry because you disappointed me, friend. That man was fine, Samari. Lick him like candy kind of fine. I raised you better than this."
Samari frowned, pushing through the glass doors of the gym, heading to the elevator. "You did, Ree, but sometimes your baby bird has to go against the grain and spread her wings. Me not having a quickie with a stranger was spreading my wings."
"Hoe, you're aggy as fuck but I still love you.
I would love you more if you could report on what his dick game is like.
But wait, never mind. Let me hold onto the fantasy.
A man that fine has to have flaws. So I bet he can't fuck, and if he can, he has a little dick.
Yep, thank you for not ruining the fantasy. "
Samari frowned as she pressed the button and waited for the elevator. "You're fantasizing about him?"
"Nope but you are because your tone just got tense as hell. That tells me everything I need to know. Mari has a boyfriend." Sheree sang the last part and Samari felt set up. How the hell had she fallen for that?
"I don't have a boyfriend. I don't know that man."
"Okay then, a crush. Please tell me you have his number or he has yours."
"Wouldn't you like to know? I'm about to step on the elevator. I'll call you this week. Love you, mean it," Samari rattled off quickly, knowing Sheree was going to be pissed and blown by the secrecy.
She would put her out of her misery and admit she had Asao’s number and he had hers after ignoring Sheree for about an hour or so.
But she wouldn't tell her who he was just yet.
She planned to hold onto that privately for a little while longer.
For some reason it felt like confessing his promise out loud would ruin the opportunity.
So for now, Samari was keeping this close to her heart and praying things worked out.
Asao was literally her last hope for getting her life back. One that had been stolen from her.