“Man, come on. Why not?” Ron let out a short laugh.
“I’m not interested in throwing myself back into the spotlight just to chase my glory days. Rapping ain’t me no more.”
I glanced over at him. “Wait. What are you talking about? What messages?”
Ron answered before Quade could. “The team over at Eight24 Records hit him up. YFN Money got a tour stop here next weekend, and he wants him to do a surprise performance. They’re offering him 10K.”
My mouth flew open. “And you don’t wanna do that?”
“I don’t rap no more.”
“You rap to me,” I said quietly, and he turned toward me like he didn’t want me to say that out loud.
“Oh, is that right?”
“Man, it wasn’t even like that,” he mumbled.
“No, but it is like that,” I pushed. “You said something to me not that long ago. You said, ‘Just because your life takes an unexpected turn, it doesn’t mean you stop moving. You adjust. It’s okay to find a new rhythm.’”
That shut him up, and he looked at me like I was betraying him. Ron looked between us and nodded like he was cosigning everything I said.
“You can’t stay ducked off forever, bro. You’re building something, yeah, but that doesn’t mean give up on yo’ dreams.”
“I enjoy being ducked off,” Quade said under his breath. “It’s quiet.”
“But is it you?” Ron pressed. “For real? You really want to trade yo’ mic for construction boots? I mean, come on, Q. WhenI offered you the job, I never thought you would make it a permanent thing.”
His sister tapped her nails on the counter. “Just go out there and do this one performance. Feel it out. See if you get a spark.”
Quade didn’t respond. He just sat there like a kid called to the principal’s office. His mind was already made up. I reached for his hand and wrapped my fingers in his.
“You told me the best things you’ll ever do in life, you’ll do scared. Remember that?”
He swallowed. “Yeah, I remember,… but I’m not scared.”
“I think you are.” I squeezed his hand. “I think you’re scared of failing again, of putting yourself out there to be let down. Maybe now it’s your turn to do something scared.”
He stared into my eyes like I was the only opinion that mattered, like all the noise from his past, his fears, his hesitation, none of it could hold weight against my words.
“I’ll do it,” he said quietly, thumb brushing over my hand. “Long as you’re there.”
Before I could respond, Ron slapped the counter with both palms. “That’s what the fuck I’m talking about. Listen to your girl!” he hollered.
“About time,” Jess added. “Quae Lo back outside!”
Quade shook his head, like he wasn’t excited, but the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
“Tell me I get to go!” Zy cut in from the corner. “Please tell me I get to go. I love YFN Money. I know all his songs.”
Quade raised a hand, stopping him. “Slow down, lil’ man. We’ll see.”
Zy nodded his head and grinned like he already knew he was going. I used my other hand to pull Quade’s face back to mine.
“I’ll be there.” I leaned my head against his shoulder, and he kissed my forehead. He was really doing this, and it felt good to be the inspiration behind him following his dreams again.
The bass was thumpingbefore we’d even made it through security, and I would be lying if I said my heart wasn’t echoing the rhythm. It had been years since I’d been backstage at a show and years since I’d performed in front of a crowd. And yeah, I was shook. I didn’t get scared of a lot of shit, but resurrecting Quae Lo had me bothered. After this, the industry would either come running or pretend they didn’t see me. And honestly? I wasn’t sure which would mess me up more.
“You’re not doing this for them.” Noa rubbed my knee, reading my mind as we cruised backstage by golf cart. She was tucked beside me, her hand resting on my knee, like she knew that was the only thing that kept me from dipping out. I smiled down at her. We’d only been official for two weeks, and it’d beenthe best damn two weeks of my life. The way we fit into each other's worlds was top-tier. I already knew she was my rib, my person. The shit I’d shared with her, nobody else knew, and I knew it was safe with her. I wanted to give her the world, which was half the reason I was here. Ten thousand dollars would help me pay off the repairs for her home.
