“Remember,while we were in VIP and that woman bent in front of you at a party and started giving you a blow job, just like that.” I laughed loudly. “I remember thinking that that’s how I know I’ve arrived. When a random woman wants you so much, she drops to her knees the minute you step into a room.”
Alonzo shook his head. “The crazy part was that it wasn’t that type of party. For a second, I started to stop her, but back then, my dick answered for me.” He asked with a wicked smile. “Did you ever arrive?”
“Yep.” I rubbed my hands together. “At a restaurant in Puerto Rico. This Latino Mama,” I affected a horrible Spanish accent. “She came up to me while I was with my band, drinking and talking shit. Told me she was a fan of my music when I asked how much of a fan. She kissed me on the lips and gave me a lap dance that ended with her head between my legs. In. Front. Of. Everyone.”
We howled naughtily before dapping each other off, and I stuffed more potato chips in my mouth.
“That shit gets tired after a while, too much noise coming from everywhere, and you don’t even care about the music anymore,” Alonzo commented.
We were in his large studio playing around with lyrics and music for a new song and discussing the upcoming tour. Deli sandwiches, chips, and sodas were everywhere. Alonzo didn’t drink anymore, and once I told him I’d been clean, he’d promised to help me stay on that path, and how he’d found true love and that his life had been much more meaningful once he gave all that up.
“I’m glad everything happened the way it did with those women falsely accusing me of rape. I was living foul. I ain’t never raped nobody, but I did whatever I wanted because I had power, and if you’re not careful, you abuse it.”
“And end up canceled.” I finished glumly, thinking of some of my behavior and attitudes toward women and substances. “Lately, I haven’t been feeling this career.”
“I can tell. Heard it in your last album and could see the deadness in your eyes. I’ve been there. Thought I could help. We need you out here breaking records and barriers. It’s why I reached out.”
“You mean reached out to my management when you could’ve called me?”
His forehead crinkled briefly. “Wasn’t sure how you felt. Had to check the temperature. This business is cutthroat. You’re a superstar now, might not want to be associated with Zo Taylor anymore.”
“Naw, I don’t roll like that. We both came from struggle, and you let me play on your record when people weren’t quite sure what to do with a black man wearing a cowboy hat who plays a guitar, sings country, and raps. No matter how big I get, I neverwant to forget how small I was. And I’ll never forget the people who put me on.”
Alonzo dapped me again, “Can’t ever forget.”
His collection of awards lined one wall, and on the other was a large, beautiful wedding portrait of him and his lovely wife. In the photo, he gazed into her eyes as he kissed her left ring finger. They made a gorgeous couple like Jamaica and me would.
Except she was already married and determined to stay married to Kody.
I wistfully complimented, “That’s a beautiful picture. How long have you been married?”
“Almost two, with a lifetime to go.” He beamed. “She and her son changed my life. She and my baby girl are coming over later to meet you.”
I smiled. “I get to meet the baby?”
“Yes. I’m a sucker for her. Sage better watch me because I swear she’ll be spoiled rotten.”
“Marriage and family look good on you.”
Alonzo waved his hand before grabbing a sandwich. “Took me way too long to realize that. I hope it doesn’t take you that long. Learn from me. Get you a good woman and let all that other trash go. You can only have so much different pussy.”
“The woman I want is married to someone else. Just found out she has my baby.”
His eyes widened, and he dropped his sandwich on the wrapping. “Say what again? You have a baby with a married woman?”
“No, she had my baby when we were teenagers, and I didn’t find out until recently. Just saw her again after fifteen years. The feelings never stopped. Crazy, right?”
“Before I met Sage, I would’ve thought you were crazy, but I know different now. True love doesn’t end just because the relationship did.”
“Well, she wants to stick to her marriage because she needs stability for her children, and I’m this big star who the world needs more of, or some bullshit.” The sting of rejection sharpened my tone.
Alonzo shook his head. “It’s not bullshit. She’s right. Do you know how many talented people want the careers we have? I promise you there are a lot more talented rappers than me, and yet I wore the crown for years.” He spread his arms wide. “Those awards and record sales aren’t bullshit. I didn’t put you on just because you could sing and rap. I put you on because I saw the star in you. And guess what, I wasn’t wrong. You’re meant to be extraordinary, and it takes a special woman to be with men like us. They recognize that they have to share us with the world, and most women are selfish when it comes to their men. My wife struggled with my career. Still struggles because she’s a behind-the-scenes woman and hates all that attention.”
“Sounds like Jamaica.”
“That’s her name?”
“Yeah. We were both teased about our names in high school.”
