12. Mahari Creed
Mahari was in his zone. He’d been at the studio for hours, working on perfecting a beat he’d been dreaming about.
That was how most of his music came to him, either in his sleep or while he was in the shower.
It was a process no one would understand.
Interviewers asked him about his process and when he explained it, they were perplexed from the complexity of it.
Mahari assumed they thought making music was just playing with instruments, but to him and other producers, it was more. It was their lives.
As he was putting the finishing touches on everything, there was a knock at his door.
Mahari’s brows dropped. It was almost midnight, and he wasn’t expecting anyone.
His crew left hours ago, but he knew there were others there getting their work in as well.
Pausing his music, Mahari got up and went to see who it was.
Aspen stood on the other side of the door with a bag of food and drinks in her hand. The smile she flashed at Mahari was contagious. He quickly kissed her forehead and took everything from her.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Mahari started, using his foot to close the door. “What are you doing here, Bunny? It’s late.”
“I know, but I haven’t seen you all day. You’ve been here since early this morning, so I thought we could have a late dinner together. Well, this will be my second dinner, but I wanted to make sure you ate too.”
Mahari set everything down and snaked his arms around Aspen. Their lips met, and it was the best sensation Mahari had felt all day. Anytime he kissed Aspen, he was in disbelief. The times he’d dreamed about were happening.
“Thank you, baby.”
“What do you always tell me?” Aspen pecked his lips once more. “No thanks needed. Let me do for you like you do for me.”
“How did you get here?”
“I drove.”
“Aspen.”
“Mahari.”
“Why didn’t you let me know? I could’ve arranged for a car service to come get you.”
Instead of answering Mahari right away, Aspen grabbed the bag of food and plopped down on one of the chairs. Mahari did the same, waiting as she passed out the food. They said grace before digging in.
After a few bites of her messy burger, Aspen wiped her mouth and replied, “I may be pregnant, but I’m more than capable of doing most things for myself. I wanted to surprise you, so driving was my only option.”
“If you say so. But for real, thank you. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I smelled the food.”
“When’s the last time you ate?”
Mahari hunched his shoulders. “I’m not even sure. I’ve been so deep in this music that I haven’t done much of anything else. I think I finally got it where I want it, though.”
“Can I hear it?”
With a mouth full of burger, Mahari bobbed his head and pressed a few things on his soundboard before the slow, rhythmic music filled the air.
Every few months, he’d get in his R&B bag.
The one he’d been working on spoke to his soul in different ways.
It brought different emotions out of him, and he knew exactly what artist he wanted to sell it to.
As he continued eating, he watched Aspen to see if she was vibing to it. From the way her eyes were closed while she swayed from side to side, he believed she was. R&B was her favorite genre of music, and when he produced the beat, he did so with her in mind.
When the music stopped, Aspen peered at Mahari proudly. “That was absolutely beautiful, Mahari. How long did it take you to come up with that?”
“It’s been in my head for a few weeks. You inspired it.”
“Me?” Aspen pointed at herself, and Mahari nodded.
“Yes, you.”
“What did I do to inspire something so melodic?”
Rolling his chair closer to Aspen’s, Mahari took her hands and kissed the back of them before kissing her stomach.
“You’ve simply been you, Bunny. After we were open and honest about how we felt for one another, that was when I started dreaming of the pieces to this. It started out with the violins.”
Aspen beamed. “You know I love when you add violins to your beats.”
“Exactly. I think that’s why they came first. Slowly, I started incorporating more things while putting my own flare to it. It came out better than I imagined, and I’m happy you’re the first person I got to share it with.”
“I am too. It’s so beautiful. Does it make you think of Heaven too?”
“It does.” Mahari ruffled his locs. “Is it odd that anything that makes me think of her also makes me think of you?”
“Why would it be weird?”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t want it to upset you or anything.”
“Why would you thinking of the love of your life upset me? Your love with and for Heaven was one of a kind, Mahari. I remember when you first met her. The way you talked about her and looked at her told me everything I needed to know. You were so happy with her, and I truly hate it was cut short. She was your first true love. The woman you were going to spend the rest of your life with. Why would your love for her upset me?”
Was it possible to fall in love more than one time?
Each time Mahari found himself falling deeper for Aspen, there was a certain way his heart skipped a beat.
It would feel like it was swelling in his chest as electric prickles traveled throughout his veins.
His emotions would become mush underneath her gaze and presence.
If he had to describe his love for her in one way, it would be thrilling.
Mahari pulled Aspen closer and expressed, “You always know what to say. You know what to do to make me fall deeper for you.”
“I guess we’re one in the same, aren’t we? Our feelings being aligned speaks volumes.”
“It does. I love you, Bunny.”
“And I love you, Mahari.”
Getting lost in one another’s eyes seemed to be their favorite thing to do. Each time, Mahari viewed Aspen in a different light, one that brightened each time.
Their moment was interrupted by Mahari’s phone vibrating.
He picked it up to see Lance calling. Aspen saw it, too, and excused herself to the restroom.
For a second, Mahari thought about letting it go to voicemail.
Sweat beads formed along his upper lip. He didn’t want to ignore Lance in case it was important.
At the end of the day, he was family, so he slid his finger across the screen.
“What’s good, mane?”
“Damn. I didn’t think you were going to answer,” Lance joked with a low chuckle. “You at the studio?”
“Yeah. Where you at?”
“Can you believe my ass is actually at home?”
“It’s funny how you’re home now when that’s where Aspen wanted you all along. You ain’t got business to tend to tonight?”
“Nah, so I’m here. I can’t lie to you, cuz. This shit is lonely as fuck.”
Adjusting his posture, Mahari leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He glanced toward the restroom before asking, “What you getting at, Lance?”
A harsh sigh parted Lance’s lips. “Have you seen Aspen?”
“You know I have.”
“How’s she doing?”
Mahari sat back and shook his head. Slowly, he trailed his tongue over his bottom lip, trying to gauge where the conversation was going. “Have you tried reaching out to her to see for yourself?”
“I don’t think she’d write me back. Do you know she deleted me off all her social media? I can’t even see if she posts anything about the girls.”
“Get the fuck out of here with that shit.”
“Excuse me?”
Just as Mahari opened his mouth to respond, Aspen emerged from the restroom.
She leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded on top of her stomach.
Hanging up on Lance crossed Mahari’s mind.
There was no need for them to have a conversation about Aspen for several reasons, with the main one being Mahari wasn’t letting up off her anytime soon, if ever.
Two pats to his lap, and Aspen filled the space. Mahari wrapped one arm around her waist while hers went around his neck. With her head resting on top of his, Mahari couldn’t deny how Aspen felt like home. From the enticing scent to her calming aura, Aspen was it for him.
Mahari settled into Aspen’s embrace and replied to Lance, “You heard me, mane. How many times have we had this conversation? How many times have you listened to me or Justin? If you’re calling me on some type of get back with Aspen shit, we can end the conversation now.
Over the years, I’ve tried to help you. I’ve tried to reason with you, but in the end, you always chose yourself over your relationship.
You wanted to do what Lance wanted to do, and look where it got you.
The last time I told you I was done talking about it, I meant that. ”
“Damn, it’s like that?”
“Straight like that. And don’t call yourself being mad at me about anything when you had this coming. I’ve always been straight up with you, and that’s not going to change.”
The line went silent for a moment. Mahari kissed Aspen’s belly, and she pecked the top of his head. A little twinge of guilt stabbed Mahari’s heart, but the love he had for Aspen outweighed it.
Finally, Lance spoke. “Let me find out, Mahari.”
“Find out what?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, mane. If I find out you have anything to do with my relationship ending, it’s you and me.”
Mahari smirked. “How could I have anything to do with something you sabotaged? Let’s be real. You don’t want it with me just like you don’t want it with Justin. You know what it is, Lance.”
Three beeps indicated Lance had hung up on him. Tossing his phone to the side, Mahari glanced up at Aspen who peered down at him with questions dancing in her eyes.
“If Lance becomes a problem, let me know.”
Aspen’s nose scrunched. “What do you mean? He’s always been a thorn in my side.”
“If he reaches out to you, promise to tell me.”
“Pfft. I highly doubt he will since he didn’t seem to want to talk to me while we were together, but I promise.”
“Thank you.”
After the phone call with Lance, Mahari felt something in the pit of his stomach warning him things would get worse before they got better. Only thing was, if it came with heartbreak, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be the same again.