“The album is dope as hell.”
“You like it?” Samari asked, eager to hear another voice of confirmation.
“Hell yeah, it’s been in heavy rotation. First because I needed to get a feel for what we would be promoting but then because I just needed it in my life. Got me trying to lock down a man who keeps pretending like I can’t have him when he’s already mine.”
“Oh that sounds like a story I want the details on.”
Kolby rolled her eyes. “There’s no story yet. Just two people in denial because they’re too stubborn to admit how they feel.”
“There’s definitely a story there.” Samari laughed.
“Maybe but right now we have work to do.”
It took a few hours to map out the plans for Samari’s listening party. Not every detail was finalized but they had a blueprint for what it should look like and Samari was getting excited about putting her music into the world.
The songs from the festival were in heavy rotation and people had good things to say. She occasionally braved the blogs to see what they were discussing about her music but the whispers about the video that leaked were still out there.
Especially since Nefatari was doing her best to make sure it didn’t go away by sharing lies about that night. She made it seem like Samari was a willing participant in the activities that took place and it pissed Samari off but Asao kept her level by saying he would handle it.
After he asked if she was cool with whatever consequences were handed down to those involved and she gave her blessing, he told her it would be taken care of. She trusted his word, so she let it go.
Samari’s afternoon was spent with Kolby but early evening was promised to Asao’s mother. She’d reached out with a text asking if Samari would come by and she gratefully agreed because their bond was instant.
She was greeted at the door by Leedren who smirked when he let her in. “You already doing solo visits?” he asked, noticing his son wasn’t with her.
“Kendra asked me to come.”
“I’m not complaining. You’re more than welcome here whenever you want to be.”
He closed the door and brushed a hand over his head at the same time his smile was exposed. When his eyes were on Samari again, she delivered one as well, noticing how there were subtle changes. He seemed more at ease and comfortable in his space. She was sure that a month of being home with his family was the reason.
“What are you cooking my son for dinner?” Leedren asked.
“Why would you think that’s what I’m doing?”
“All them damn groceries she made me buy this morning is why. Go with the fish. He loves that shit and so do I. If she’s teaching you, that means I get to have it later.”
“Wait, there are options?”
“Oh hell yeah. My baby doesn’t play about feeding the men in her life, which means you won’t either ’cause I know you’re not going anywhere.”
“You sound confident about that,” Samari said with a curious smile.
“I’ve seen you with my son. I’m very confident you’ll be here for a while. You couldn’t leave him if you wanted, but if that thought is in your head, just know that’s a fight you won’t win.”
Samari grinned. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know. The streets taught him how to hustle but he learned how a man should love a woman in this house.”
“Your son doesn’t need a spokesperson, Lee,” Kendra said with a smile because his words were true. No matter the man the streets had raised him to be, his father was the first example Asao ever had as to what being a man looked like.
Leedren chuckled, crossed the room, and dropped a kiss on his wife’s temple. “Fish, baby,” he said before he headed to the back to let them do their thing.
In the kitchen, Kendra walked to the refrigerator and removed the two pounds of fish wrapped in kraft paper that she’d asked her husband to pick up from The Marketplace that morning. There was an extensive list of things needed to accomplish her goal but what she needed more was to ensure she and the woman who owned her son’s heart had an understanding.
“You want something to change into?” Kendra smiled as her eyes traveled over Samari. The off the shoulder crop top and jeans she wore looked expensive and they were about to be elbows deep in flour, cornmeal, and grease.
Samari glanced down at her fit for the day then shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine.”
