4. Mahari Creed
“Are you going to let me come by the studio to see you today?” Dynasty asked in a low, seductive tone that had Mahari’s dick rising. He could read in between the lines of her words, and as good as it sounded, Mahari had to decline.
“As lovely as that sounds, it’ll have to be another day. Aspen will be with me all day today, and I need to make sure she’s straight.”
Dynasty smacked her plump lips and mumbled something inaudible that Mahari ignored.
He pulled up to Aspen’s house, noticing Lance’s driver was parked in front of it.
The last thing he expected was for his cousin to be there since he’d been on the road so much.
Mahari wondered if Aspen would still leave with him.
“Well, when can I see you, Mahari? It’s been over a week since I’ve had you, and I’m craving you.”
“What you got up for tomorrow?”
“You if you’re down.”
“Say less. I’ll hit you up tomorrow when I’m free.”
“Sounds good. Be safe out there.”
“Always.”
The beeping from the call ending echoed throughout Mahari’s car before one of Lance’s new tracks filled the air.
He turned it down to get his mind together and allow his member to return to normal.
Dynasty mentioning their escapades from last week had him fiending for her.
She was the only woman he was entertaining, and she held his attention when they were together.
Dynasty was an artist with a label Mahari produced for often. When he and Dynasty first met, the chemistry was intense and immediate. Sessions with her quickly became Mahari’s favorite, and one thing led to another, and he ended up fucking her in his studio one night. The rest was history.
Knocking on Mahari’s window broke him from his thoughts. He looked over to see Lance standing there with his hands cupped around his eyes, trying to peek through Mahari’s almost illegal tint. With a shake of his head, Mahari pushed his door open, and Lance stepped back.
“What’s good, mane?” Lance greeted and pulled him in for a brotherly hug. “You here to steal my woman?”
Mahari and Aspen hanging out wasn’t an unusual thing for anyone. They’d been friends for years which meant they often hung out without Lance or his asking.
“Hell yeah. Is she ready?”
“Good looking out. Keep her occupied long enough for me to slip off after I handle my business.”
Mahari snapped his head back with his nose snarled. “You need to get your shit together when it comes to your relationship, Lance. Why are you even with Aspen if you’re going to continue cheating on her?”
“You think I’m about to let some nigga play house with her and my girls? Listen, I might not be the best boyfriend, but I love Aspen. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“Then do right by her. The shit isn’t that hard, mane.”
It was Lance’s turn to look Mahari upside his head. “Says the man who hasn’t been in a relationship in years. What you know about love, cuz?”
“Don’t do that. You know why I haven’t been in a relationship. You act like my fiancée and child dying doesn’t warrant why I haven’t been in one.”
Lance held his palms up in mock surrender. “My bad. You’re right. My fault.”
“Exactly, and just because I haven’t been in a relationship doesn’t mean I don’t know how to treat a woman. Didn’t my auntie teach you to treat others how you wanted to be treated?”
“And?”
“And say it was Aspen out here doing her thing, not giving a fuck about your feelings. How would you feel?”
Lance rubbed his hairless chin and stared off into space, as if he were in deep thought, before shrugging his shoulders. “It ain’t me, so I can’t say.”
“You’re hopeless, mane.”
“I mean, shit can’t be that bad, right? Aspen hasn’t left me or attempted to in over a year, so why are you and Justin down my throat when she isn’t?”
“Because we both care about Aspen. Don’t forget she’s one of my best friends, Lance.”
“And I’m your blood, so I trump over whatever she means to you.”
Mahari crossed his thick arms and chuckled. “Shit don’t work like that with me. You and I both know that.”
“Whatever, mane. I’m about to dip. Don’t bring her back home until I tell you to.”
At times, Mahari was ashamed to say he and Lance had some of the same blood running through their veins.
Mahari didn’t agree with the way he moved, but it wasn’t up to him to try and change Lance.
Lance would be who he wanted to be, and if Aspen wanted to accept it, who was Mahari to stand in their way?
Watching Lance’s car drive off, Mahari turned his off and headed inside to see where Aspen was.
He could hear rumbling upstairs, so he took them two at a time and headed toward the sound.
Aspen was in the nursery, looking at the wall while tapping her fingers against her lips.
Mahari went and stood beside her with his head tipped to the side.
“What do you think? Should I change the color?” Aspen asked.
“What does Lance think?”
Aspen scoffed and walked off. Mahari followed behind her to her room where she plopped down on the bed. When she tried to lean down to put her tennis shoes on, Mahari kneeled to help her.
“Thank you.”
Mahari glanced up at her. “I don’t know why your ass chose to wear tennis shoes anyway. We both know you can’t put them on, and your feet are going to be swollen by the end of the day.”
“I’m only wearing them because you’re making me sit with you all day, so you can deal with the consequences later.”
“And what exactly are the consequences, Bunny?”
The pleased smirk on Aspen’s face let Mahari know she was about to be on some bullshit.
“A foot massage and some food.”
Standing up, Mahari held his hands out and pulled Aspen up. He cupped the sides of her face, kissed her forehead, and looked in her eyes before replying, “Anything else?”
“I still need to go get some stuff for the twins, if you want to take me one day.”
“Let me check my schedule, and I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you. I’m ready to go.”
Hand in hand, Mahari and Aspen headed to his car. Once Aspen was safely buckled in, Mahari got in and pulled off. He reached in the back seat and handed her a bag full of her favorite drinks and snacks. Aspen did a little dance in her seat, pulling out a bag of white chocolate-covered pretzels.
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to butter me up, Mahari.”
“Nah. I’m trying to keep your spoiled ass from complaining and having me run to the store every five minutes. Everything you and the girls want is in the bag. Whatever you want for lunch later, I’ll order it.”
“Why are you so good to me?” Aspen leaned over the best she could and kissed Mahari’s cheek before going to town on the pretzels.
When they arrived at Mahari’s studio, Mahari went to grab Aspen’s snack bag to carry, but she swatted his hand away and frowned.
He ran his hands through his locs and got out to help her out.
The way she waddled to the front was cute to Mahari.
Taking a quick video and saving it in his album made specifically for her, Mahari opened the door for her.
They were immediately greeted by Mahari’s receptionist, Santana, rushing over and hugging Aspen.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been waiting for you to come back up here.” Santana gushed and palmed Aspen’s stomach. “Girl, the twins are doing you well. You look so good, Aspen.”
“Aw, thank you, Santana. It’s so good to see you. Did Mahari tell you they’re girls?”
Santana’s light brown skin reddened. Her hands flew over her mouth as she looked back and forth between Aspen and Mahari. “No, he didn’t. That’s so exciting! How does Lance feel about it?”
“Yeah, how does he?” Mahari repeated with a raised brow.
Aspen shrugged one shoulder and popped a pretzel in her mouth. “He’s happy, I guess.”
Mahari and Santana shared a knowing glance.
They’d spoken on Aspen and Lance’s relationship a few times.
Santana felt he wasn’t good enough for Aspen and believed she could do better but thought it was best to keep her opinions to herself.
She’d witnessed the women Lance paraded through the studio in Aspen’s absence, and none of it ever set well with her.
He’d even tried his luck with her, but Santana shut it down quick.
Clearing her throat, Santana expressed, “Well, I’m happy for you and can’t wait to shower you and the girls with love.”
“I appreciate you, Santana.”
“No worries. If y’all need anything, let me know.”
With his arm around Aspen’s shoulder, Mahari said, “I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting you to order food up here a few times today.”
Santana winked at Aspen. “I got you, boo.”
They went their separate ways. Mahari did his rounds, speaking to other producers and artists who were already there, before leading Aspen to his office.
She got comfortable on his couch while he went to his desk and powered on his computer.
He needed to answer a few emails, prepare for a meeting, then head into the studio where he would work some magic.
“I’m so proud of you, Mahari.” Aspen broke their silence and got up. Running her hands over her stomach, she walked along his wall, observing his many awards. “Do you remember when you told me this was what you wanted in life?”
Mahari leaned back in his seat and smirked. “I do. We were chilling at the basketball court one day, and I heard a fire ass beat coming from somebody’s speakers.”
“And you immediately replicated it by beating on the table. I wouldn’t have dared told you then, but I was so impressed. You’ve always had an ear for music, and to see everything you dreamed of and worked hard for come to fruition is so inspiring.”
“Thank you, Bunny. You know the road wasn’t easy, but we made it.”
“You made it, Mahari. You put in the work and built this from the ground up. I understand you had some help along the way, but in the end, it was you who had the dream and hustled for it.”