“I know but it’s not just me, it’sus,” she said, admitting her thoughts out loud.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re nervous.”
“This is me and Sao, together. I feel like when you put stuff out there like that it’s begging the universe to tear it down.”
“Or it’s giving the universe permission to bless what can’t be broken, and like it or not boo, what you two have is already out there.” Sheree placed a hand on Samari’s small round belly. It was exposed thanks to the spandex top she wore and the way hersweats sat low on her hips. Ju’rae hadn’t arrived with her clothes for the night so at the moment Samari was chilling.
“We’re just us though. We’re not making a statement.” Samari’s hand moved to her stomach and she smiled because the baby girl growing there was her whole heart.
She thought loving Asao was a love that couldn’t be compared to anything greater, but now that they were having a daughter, she could truly say she’d never known a love like this.
There were times when she put herself in her mother’s shoes, trying to process whether or not she would stifle her daughter’s dreams under the guise of protecting her, and the answer was always no. Whatever their daughter wanted to be in life, they would support.
Even though Samari’s relationship with her mother was better, the resentment was still deeply rooted from how Aster had turned her back on her daughter. Samari was working to let go of those feelings but it wouldn’t happen overnight.
Regardless, Samari allowed her mother back in, but with provisions. Aster would be there tonight and Samari was hopeful this would be another step in mending what was broken between them. If not, she was perfectly content drawing that line again. However, Samari had extended the invitation and Aster accepted, promising to be there.
“I had to be out of my mind when I agreed to this,” Samari mumbled.
“You were. That dick had you stupid, friend, but this album is perfect and everyone is going to love it. Stop stressing.”
Samari rolled her eyes at the “dick had her stupid” comment because that was true. The dick was what had gotten her into this. After a night of multiple orgasms, she and Asao wrote songs until the sun came up. They recorded them a week later andLyrics and Lovewas born. It hadn’t been with the intent ofsharing the creations with the world. A private project ended up being pushed for release by Dom and Niles after they heard it.
Asao didn’t care one way or another but Samari was anxious because each and every time a couple made bold statements like this, the world did everything they could to tear them down. She didn’t want a target on their backs.
“I feel like releasing this is giving people a reason to try and prove we’re not what we are.”
“Girl, fuck them people. They can’t touch the untouchable.”
“What you in here talking shit about?” Samari smiled when Asao walked through the front door of the club with Niles and Dom. It reminded her of when she’d watched them moving like a unit through the same club the night they’d officially met. Dom was in front, Asao between them, and Niles covering his back. Just like back then, he looked like a man who owned the world.
“Trying to talk some sense into your girl. She’s stressing my godbaby out.”
“What are you worried about, Mari?” He frowned, bending to place a kiss on her stomach before he hooked her chin, dropping his mouth to hers to show love.
“Nothing.”
“Nah, we don’t do that. I carry your problems, remember?”
She smiled. “It’s not a problem, just me overthinking.”
“It’s a problem if you’re feeling anything but love, baby. What’s up?”
“This album was supposed to be for us, just us, but now we’re putting it out there to the world.”
He nodded. “Aight, so what you wanna do? If you’re not feeling the album, we can shut this down right now. I’m cool with that.”
“No the fuck we’re not. Do you know how much money we spent on this damn album already?” Dom said, looking at his boy like he had lost his mind. Asao had no fucks to give.Everything invested hit their pockets pretty hard but he would gladly make sure Dom and Niles got their money back, even if it had to personally come from his account. His priority was to the woman with his heart in her chest and his daughter in her womb.
“Fuck what he’s saying. Tell me what you wanna do, Mari.”
She sighed. “I love the album. It’susbut releasing it feels like we’re inviting chaos into our lives. How many couples do you know who’ve survived things like this? The minute they tell the world who and what they are, everybody and their mama goes extra hard to prove they’re not.”
Asao hooked her chin and lifted her head so Samari’s eyes aligned with his. “You think anybody outside of us has the power to change this?”
She shook her head. “No, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try. I like our bubble.”
“Aight, then tell me what you want to do and it’s done.” He spoke from a place of confidence that he would always step behind Mari however she needed him to.
