She swallowed her nerves and gave him her address. This was either a blessing or a curse, but whichever it was, was happening.
Samari wokeup the next morning with a smile on her face, exhausted but happy and feeling content. Asao drove her home, walked her to her door, and kissed her before promising to hit her up soon. She didn't know if she believed him. When he left, she took a shower, got comfy, and settled onto the couch with one of her many lyric notebooks.
Song after song poured out of her. By the time the sun peeked through the blinds, her fingers were cramped and her mind was exhausted. Recently she had been detached from music. How could she create when she felt devoid of the opportunity to share her words with the world? But last night, she felt hope. A small spark of something potentially breaking her free of the restraints that kept her tied to a label that didn't value or respect her creativity.
Once she cleared the haze from only having a few hours’ sleep, she uncurled her limbs and stretched to soothe the ache from having slept on the sofa. A few hours of comfortable lounging was about all it was good for and she had far exceeded her limit.
She groaned sluggishly, moving into the kitchen to make coffee. Her body hadn't quite caught up with her brain, so herlimbs weren't cooperating. By the time she finished half of her first cup, she felt a little better. So she dressed in leggings, a sports bra, and running shoes to hit the gym in her building, Blue Pointe. She loved running outside more than the treadmill but that luxury was attached to possibly being recognized.
The residents in her building knew who she was but were respectful enough to leave her alone. They also had lives of their own, which kept them occupied enough that they didn't invest in worrying about hers.
In the gym, she picked the treadmill closest to the back, plugged in her Sound Beats, then hit shuffle on her playlist. One she’d made while writing lyrics last night. There was only one name highlighted but she’d shamelessly indulged, navigating his music, selecting tracks that piqued her interest.
She was familiar with A’so's music. He was a city favorite but he had accomplished things most couldn't without the backing of a label. He also didn't do a lot of appearances, which was why she hadn't recognized him. Sure, he’d gone on tours and popped up at a club or two, but unlike most successful artists, his circle was small and he dodged the spotlight.
It was rumored that he had a less than pristine past and A'so and his team didn't want unwarranted attention. Whereas most glorified their checkered pasts, it seemed like he was more content leaving it behind and embracing who he had become.
After she set her time and pace, she began with a slow jog to warm up while the low, sexy rasp of a voice she had been intimately connected to last night flowed. She smiled when the heavy bass dropped and he introduced the cadence which did no justice to how beautiful his voice was when it’d vibrated through her chest and danced across her skin from a few feet away.
His music was so layered. There was an edge to him softened by the sexiness women were drawn to. She imagined how their voices would blend, her sultry mix and his deep edgy tenor,then she shook the thought. He never said he wanted to make music with her, only that he would help so she could have her career back. That didn't, however, erase the visuals she had of the two of them cozy in the studio, making something amazing, or sharing the stage while fans went crazy at how good they were together.
Together.
She rolled her eyes. She’d created a career and life with a man she knew nothing about. Pure insanity and since when did she care about attaching herself to anyone in the industry? That was a promise she had made to herself, one she’d held to for years but somehow thoughts of Asao had her considering the possibility, whether she knew him or not.
She knew his kiss, his touch, his voice, his eyes. She knew the way she felt when he looked at her and…
Her thoughts were cut short when a call was announced, cutting through his lyrics. If she didn't love this girl with her whole heart, she would have ignored it.
"I figured you would still be down for the count."
"I want to be but this little munchkin refuses to be ignored." Samari heard the cooing and chatter of her rambunctious goddaughter in the background and a smile blossomed.
"Aww, my pretty little fatty. She got you up early?"
"At six but she went back to sleep after I gave her breakfast so I managed to get a few hours’ rest. Now she's up and I'm going to pay for that nap because she won't be taking one later."
Samari laughed, picturing Sheree frowning at her beautiful baby girl. Annoyed but still smiling.
"That's your fault for forcing her back to sleep after she’d just woken up. You should have just thugged it out and napped when she napped. Now her schedule is all messed up."
"After my night, being up at six was not the move. So I'll deal with the consequences. I might still be able to get her down for a nap later, but…"
Here it comes.
"Speaking of my night. Mine ended with a very intense orgasm from my husband. He said you talked to him."
She cringed, hoping Sheree wasn't upset that she’d overstepped. "I did but…"
"I'm not mad. He was irritated that I let it bother me instead of just talking to him. He's stressed about work and other things. We've been trying to buy a house, we need a new car, and with me not working…" Sheree exhaled a sigh. "Things are tight."
"Ree, why didn't you say anything?"
"What's there to say, Mari? Life happens. We're not destitute, we just have to find a way to manage what we have better. Cantor wants to give us the world but his pockets are only so deep. He's trying to figure it all out so he's been a little distant. I got in my head…"
"And convinced yourself he was cheating."
"Pretty much. But he's not and I know he loves me."
